A compelling blend of hard-boiled detective fiction and post-crisis realism.
Rat Town Blues by Brian Kaufman is a gritty neo-noir mystery set in a not-so-distant future where the world feels both familiar and uncomfortably off-kilter. The story follows Mark “Slag” Ferguson, who is a down-on-his-luck bartender and an ex-boxer. Slag takes on jobs as an unlicensed private investigator to make ends meet. The enigmatic Kelly Mason walks into his low-rent office claiming her husband is being threatened, and Slag immediately suspects an affair. But as he digs deeper into the case, he uncovers a web of corruption, deceit, and hidden agendas. Slag navigates a city scarred by environmental decline and social unrest, accompanied by Sasha, his mute but loyal rescue dog. The deeper he digs, the more personal the job becomes, challenging his cynicism and moral compass. With a biting narrative voice and a keen eye for character, Kaufman presents a noir that feels both classic and modern, infused with philosophical undertones and emotional grit. As Slag gets pulled further into the darkness surrounding the Masons, he finds that the cost of the truth may be his soul, or at the very least, his already fragile grip on life.
Brian Kaufman’s prose crackles with wit, highlighting all humanity’s bruises through Slag’s interesting journey. He’s a hero with good instincts that readers will agree with and want to follow, and his tough, flawed, and disarmingly honest approach to life is refreshing and realistic to read about. The setting feels chillingly real, with its smooth descriptions offering a world that’s equal parts dystopia and yesterday’s headlines, bringing readers into a masterful reinvention of the classic noir detective tale for our modern age. It’s easy to be hooked by a memorable antihero in a sharply-drawn world, but there’s also the prose itself to engross fans who appreciate literary prowess. Kaufman offers sharp, poetic, and unflinchingly honest storytelling with dialogue that’s snappy, authentic, and dripping with character. Sasha, the dog, is one of the most emotionally resonant companions I’ve come across in recent reads, and it’s little heartfelt details like this that offer readers the chance to connect deeply and be totally invested in the many twists and turns of the story. There are also deeper themes at play, rumbling up from under the surface, and Kaufman explores moral ambiguity with a deft hand to make for a crime thriller that doesn’t just entertain: it challenges and lingers long after the final page has been turned. Rat Town Blues is a compelling blend of hard-boiled detective fiction and post-crisis realism that I would certainly recommend.
