The Blackbird Papers

A Novel

By: Ian Smith

Narrated by: Brent Jennings

A rainy night . . . A stranded motorist . . . A Good Samaritan passerby … a Nobel Prize–winning professor . . . The setup for a shocking murder designed to cover up an even more sinister crime . . .

The Blackbird Papers marks the debut of Ian Smith, a major new talent in crime fiction, and of Sterling Bledsoe, his smart and occasionally combative sleuth.

World-renowned Dartmouth professor Wilson Bledsoe is returning from a party celebrating his latest honor when he encounters a broken-down pickup on the secluded country road to his home. The next day, the discovery of his body with a vicious racist epithet carved into his chest leads to the quick arrest of two loathsome white supremacists. The local authorities seem ready to accept the case at face value as a racial hate crime. But the murdered professor’s brother, FBI agent Sterling Bledsoe, has inserted himself into the investigation and isn’t ready to buy into this pat solution. A look around his brother’s lab and brief interviews with his students and colleagues pique Sterling’s curiosity about Wilson’s pet project: a nearly completed paper on the mysterious deaths of hundreds of local blackbirds.

Fast-paced and cleverly constructed, The Blackbird Papers introduces a major new talent in mystery and crime fiction.©2004 Ian Smith; (P)2004 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

“Ian Smith’s debut novel, The Blackbird Papers, is exceptional on all levels: the characters and setting are fresh, the plot is riveting, and you feel like you are in totally new territory. Take note of a career about to soar.”—Harlan Coben, author of No Second Chance

Enjoyed the book...

The story was good with a few surprises I wasn't expecting, which is always nice.
One thing I really liked is the story is about a black main character and the book was narrated by a black man.

Predictable plot, awful narration

After all the hype associated with this title (and the fact that it was written by a fellow DMS-grad), I must say I was very disappointed. The plot was predictable, the ending telegraphed well within the first half of the novel, and--worst of all--the narration was dreadful.

I also listened to the sampler for the abridged version and found the author's reading to be preferable. Now that I've finished the book in its unabridged form, I can't help thinking that maybe the abridged version would be better on both counts (content and narration).

The 3 star rating I gave this book was definitely on the generous side.

A womderful Murder Mystery

I?m a fan of mystery, intrigue and suspense so I was delighted to hear The Blackbird Papers would satisfy my reading requirements in this genre. New author, Ian Smith has added to the literary scene by effectively writing a great book. I certainly was not disappointed when I sat down to read this book and further think people who like to read a good ?whodunit? will be thrilled with this novel.

I don?t know what to talk about first. The characters are: Prize winning science Professor Wilson Bledsoe, his lovely wife Kay, the president of Dartmouth College Dr. Wallace Mortimer, and FBI agent and brother to Professor Bledsoe, Sterling Bledsoe. The limited number of supporting characters further enhances the ease in remembering who is who and who did what, as the reader embarks on a journey to find out who killed Professor Bledsoe. First, who would have reason to kill him and secondly, what was their motive? As the mystery unfolds it is discovered Professor Bledsoe was conducting secret research on the overwhelming numbers of dead blackbirds found in the serene countryside of Hanover, New Hampshire and for his gruesome discovery, somebody wanted him dead. Those close to the professor and his research are equal targets and Sterling has to jump in and get up to speed quickly before the tables are turned on him.

I read the book in two days; I simply couldnt put it down. There were several times when I uttered an audible gasp, my breath caught and I experienced shudders. Sterling is determined to find out who would do such a thing to his peaceable brother.

Discovering & reading The Blackbird Papers was an elation. I felt the book was well written, wonderfully researched and elegantly apportioned with the accoutrements of suspense and intrigue. I had reservations about reading it only because I thought the author might use words, which would require the companionship of a dictionary but I was wrong.

Loved story line

Story has lots of twists and turns… action. Really a good listen. Will look for more books by this writer.

very long winded

I found myself zoning out the author took too long to get to the point .