Black Mountain

By: Laird Barron

Narrated by: William DeMeritt

Ex-mob enforcer Isaiah Coledrige has hung out a shingle as a private eye in New York's Hudson Valley, and in his newest case, a seemingly simple murder investigation leads him to the most terrifying enemy he has ever faced

When a small-time criminal named Harold Lee turns up in the Ashokan reservoir--sans a heartbeat, head, or hands--the local mafia capo hires Isaiah Coleridge to look into the matter. The mob likes crime, but only the crime it controls . . . and as it turns out, Lee is the second independent contractor to meet a bad end on the business side of a serrated knife. One such death can be overlooked. Two makes a man wonder.

A guy in Harold Lee's business would make his fair share of enemies, and it seems a likely case of pure revenge. But as Coledrige turns over more stones, he finds himself dragged into something deeper and more insidious than he could have imagined, in a labyrinthine case spanning decades. At the center are an heiress moonlighting as a cabaret dancer, a powerful corporation with high-placed connections, and a serial killer who may have been honing his skills since the Vietnam War. . .

A twisty, action-packed follow-up to the acclaimed Blood Standard, Black Mountain cements Laird Barron as an inventive and remarkable voice in crime fiction.

Critic reviews

“Coleridge is a large, unbelievably strong, scarred man—a thug, yes, but a thinking-person's thug…Readers with a tolerance for violence will want to meet him."—Booklist (starred review)

Further Praise for Black Mountain

“Isaiah Coleridge [is] an intimidating presence...A big bruiser who likes nothing better than a good fight.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Things get downright hallucinatory as [Coleridge] proceeds toward a climax that seems as much Bram Stoker as Lawrence Block. [A] supportive librarian-girlfriend and a loyal partner-in-arms give the p.i. the emotional backup he needs to return (no doubt) for further bizarre adventures at 'the mysterious intersection of coincidence and fate.'"—The Wall Street Journal

"Black Mountain is a crime-horror hybrid that takes the most entertaining elements of both genres and mixes them into something new that pushes the boundaries of contemporary crime fiction…With those elements on the table, Barron uses his elegant prose as glue…This is at once more elegant and bloodier than most contemporary crime fiction, more eloquent and vicious, smarter and more ruthless. This is crime fiction hurled headfirst into Lovecraftian darkness…Black Mountain is an entertaining, blood-spattered, and unusually self-assured novel with a meticulously constructed plot that masterfully braids several narratives into a single story.”—Los Angeles Review of Books

“Barron’s second novel featuring retired mob strongman Isaiah Coleridge is as nasty as a cornered pit viper—and its plot is about as sinuous. . . . Barron peppers the text with literary references and philosophical reflections that provide rich counterpoint to the violent bashing and bloodletting. Fans of hardboiled crime fiction and wiseguy vernacular will be well satisfied.”—Publishers Weekly

"Like a lyricist, Laird Barron excels at manipulating the tones and cadence of language."—Associated Press

"There's an atmosphere in these novels that rivals the darkest episodes of True Detective. Barron's prose bites you like a cornered animal...Do you enjoy crime novels? Are you fascinated by investigators hunting down creepy serial killers? Do you like your noir dosed with existential horror? Then stop reading this review and go pick up a copy of Laird Barron's Black Mountain."—San Antonio Current

Great story, much better narration.

Black Mountain picks up soon after Blood Standard. Again, it's a melding of genres, the grim stylization of hardboiled, but leaning more toward Laird Barron's signature horror stories with Lovecraftian elements in this one. Fascinating, like all LB's stories (being unable to tear your eyes away from a car crash about to happen).

Intense, grimmer with less wise cracking, Isaiah is hired to investigate the Croatoan, a legendary mob hit man that had a side hobby as a serial killer spanning decades. Question is whether he's truly dead when wise guys start showing up with his signature all over them (cut into distinct pieces with a serrated knife). Or is it a copy cat? Possibly an apprentice seeking revenge? Isaiah finds himself navigating the seedy underbelly of government contract corruption, wealthy industrialists and mob politics to find the answer.

William DeMeritt's narration has improved from Blood Standard. Woot! Gone is the workmanlike delivery. He has range, timing and crisp, distinct characters and the entire story steps off the page. Yay!

Well worth the credit.

Masterful

William DeMeritt's masterful performance of this wonderfully twisted second installment of Isaiah Coleridge's exploits is not to be missed!! DeMeritt imbues Barron's wonderful characters with such individuality and life that I am able to "see" the novel unfold as I listen. Am eager to move to Book 3!

Another great story by a great writer

Spooky but beautifully written. This is the fifth or sixth book of his i have read… they never disappoint

Amazing, totally amazing

Loved this book, the story itself is very gripping but what what impressed me the most is how the cosmic horror was tied in at the the end, truly genius writing!!

[Un]holy shit.

I am absolutely giddy with this series so far. The grounding of Laird’s sphincter-like multiverse in a seemingly less affected (afflicted) reality was exactly what was needed to give it that last push into possibility. I am afraid.