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.

©2019 Laird Barron (P)2019 Penguin Audio

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)

“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)

[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.

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!!

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

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.

Great story, superbly written and performed!

Mr Barron’s 2nd installment in this series is a great read/listen! I can’t wait for his next book! The author has seamlessly and successfully made the transition from horror to crime. Bravo!

violent and intelligent

Laird Barron is amazing he has me completely wrapped up in this series once I'm done typing this I'm starting book three!

Love this series!

I've read Laird Barron's short story collections and didn't expect this series to be both riveting and kind of...endearing? This one is by far my favorite of the three, and the creepiness managed to just barely suggest something approaching cosmic horror. If you like horror and noir but tired of the same ol' "mystic bayou" tropes, this series is for you!

Amazing

Laird Barron is without a doubt the best author I have ever read. I love every single one of his stories. This series while not being a horror novel is so well written I love listening to it over and over again.

even better then the first

this series just keeps getting better, can't wait to consume the third. different then Barrons other book some but satisfying all the same!