The Ways Of The Dead throws the reader straight in the deep end, witnessing the tragic murder of a teenage girl whose father is a powerful judge in Washington, D.C. But was it a random killer or is it something to do with her father’s profession? That’s the question that newspaper reporter Sully Carter is desperately trying to find out, but the deeper he digs, the more complicated things become. The Ways Of The Dead might not revolutionise the crime novel genre, but it’s a page-turning, gripping debut novel from Washington Post writer Neely Tucker. Although it’s the cliched story of a hard-drinking, seasoned journalist with an attitude problem, the narrative never feels formulaic or tedious due to Tucker’s sharply observed story, well-drawn characters and pitch perfect writing. The Ways Of The Dead is an intricate, absorbing and a thoroughly enjoyable read – fans of the crime and whodunit genre won’t regret picking up a copy.
