Yvonne‘THE EXTRADITIONIST‘ (BENN BLUESTONE #1) by TODD MERER
FIRST LINES / BOOK BEGINNINGS
ALUNE
The Logui people live beside a mountain they call Anawanda – “the center of the world” – which is the highest peak of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the northernmost Andean range in Colombia.
Things happen in Colombia.
…
A FEW YEARS LATER
BENN
You need four things to tell a story: a beginning, a middle, an end, and you can’t be dead.
Survival’s my ticket to tell this story. No one else is left to contradict it. The other characters have gone to hell and aren’t coming back. I tell myself that I’m blameless; that they would have perished whether or not I was involved; that, if not me, it would habe been someone else. But, deep down, I know I’m lying.
Because I was not merely an instrument but the key.
Because I ignored lines between good and evil.
…
THE PREMISE
Narcos meets John Grisham in this fast-paced thriller about a larger-than-life lawyer who knows too much.
When the world’s most notorious cartel bosses get arrested, they call Benn Bluestone. A drug lawyer sharp enough to exploit loopholes in the system, Bluestone loves the money, the women, the action that come with his career…but working between the lines of justice and crime has taken its toll, and he desperately wants out. He’s convinced himself that only an insanely rich client can guarantee him a lavish retirement.
When the New Year begins with three promising cases, Bluestone thinks he’s hit pay dirt. But then the cases link dangerously together—and to his own past. Does the mysterious drug kingpin Sombra hold the key to Bluestone’s ambitions? Or does the key open a door that could bring the entire federal justice system to a screeching halt and net Bluestone a life in jail without parole?
…
WHAT IS ‘BOOK BEGINNINGS’ ?
Would the first few lines of your book make you want to read on?
If so, would you like to share them with us, (without revealing too many spoilers of course) ?
Visit your host, Gilion @ ‘Rose City Reader’
You can then leave a link to your own book beginnings post, or just browse for some great reads, there are always plenty of new authors and titles to be discovered.
Don’t forget that Gilion and all the other contributors to this meme love to hear from you, so why not leave a comment or two at the same time?
I can’t wait to do a little blog hopping myself and check out all the great Book Beginnings you have!
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What a great beginning – I see why you shared as much as you did. It’s got me curious. I haven’t heard of this author before – thanks for sharing.
I’m featuring The Paris Secret by Karen Swan this week.
When there is a prologue or prequel chapter, I am always undecided whether to share a couple of lines from both that and the first chapter proper, or not.
This time around it was a real no-brainer, as the first few lnes of both were so full of intrigue and promise!
Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you are enjoying your weekend so far 🙂
Quotes are great, but not sure this is a book for me.
When the premise quoted that this book was a cross between ‘Narcos’ and ‘John Grisham’, I guess I had an idea what to expect, even though I have never watched an episode of ‘Narcos’ myself.
Those first few lines only bear out my thoughts, so whilst I shall definitely be continuing on with ‘The Extraditionist’, whether or not I go on to read the second Benn Bluestone book, ‘The Whiye Tigress’, remains to be seen.
Thanks for stopping by this week, it is good to ‘meet’ you and your visits and comments will always be welcome 🙂
Yes, I’ve always heard Colombia is mad with excitement.
I’m not sure that the kind of treatment the Logui people are being subjected to in author Todd Merer’s world, could be classed as excitement. Although to be fair, the Logui seem able to dish out almost as much bad treatment as they receive! (I did cheat a little and read on past the couple of lines I shared).
Thanks for taking the time out to comment, I always look forward to your visits 🙂
That opening really grabbed me. I want to know what happened. See what we are featuring at Girl Who Reads
Author, Todd Merer, has certainly done what was required with those opening lines, hasn’t he? Who wouldn’t want to keep on reading?
Although it has to be said that if the first lines also set the tone of the remaining storyline, you really do need to be into a hard hitting thriller, with plenty of death and violence, for it to appeal to you.
That will be a big juicy ‘yes’ from me then!
Thanks for stopping by today. I love ‘meeting’ new people and will always value any visits and comments that you make 🙂
That sounds intense. I’m putting it on my TBI list: to be investigated. 🙂
A TBI list, that’s a new one on me.
Oh Dear! I can feel a new way coming on, of adding even more books to my schedule and fooling myself into believing that I am getting on top of things, when all I will really have done is shared the mountain of books between more lists!
I LOVE IT 🙂
My first thought was that it might be one I’d prefer in film format. Reading on, though, I realized it sounds quite good, even if not my normal type of thriller. I read a cop series based in Brazil and I know those South American countries can be exciting (to say the least!). I wonder how much of the actual story takes place in Colombia.
If I am being honest, I’m not too sure that this is one I would normally choose to read, as I am not really into the world of drug cartels, only in as much as I think they should all be destroyed permanently!
Given the authors involvement with some of these seedier, sleezier characters, in his day job, reading this book with an open mind, is probably going to be quite a challenge.
Having said all that though, those were some really great lines with which to open the first chapter proper, especially …
“You need four things to tell a story: a beginning, a middle, an end, and you can’t be dead.”
I have always looked for the first three, to form the basis of a review, however the fourth option appeals to my sense of mischief.
I haven’t actually started reading the book yet and none of my previous posts, including a guest post with the author, really give an indication as to how much of the action takes place in Colombia itself and how much is a US courtroom based drama, which I suspect might well be the case, given Todd Merer’s background.
I hope that you are enjoying your weekend. The heatwave continues unabated here, 5 weeks and counting, although there have been one or two flash floods around over the past couple of days, so I am hoping that some much needed rain is one the way very soon 🙂
I do love the excerpt, and what a great cover and blurb. Thanks for sharing…and here’s mine: “THE OTHER WIFE”
When I began reading ‘The Extraditionist’ as the prelude to writing up my BBOF post, I was immediately struck by the sharp narrative and short punchy sentences of the opening lines.
If this style of writing carries on throughout the book, I can see that author Todd Merer and I are going to get along just fine!
Thanks for taking time to stop by and comment, it is always great to hear from you 🙂
What a word: EXTRADITIONIST. I am going to try and use that in a sentence today. Ha! Enjoy. My Frida Quotes – The Prince and the Dressmaker
A great word for sure, but it would appear to be totally made up in its exact form, as I am sure someone would be sure to point out if either of us tried using it in conversation!
It kinda ‘does what it says on the tin’ in relation to the book though, doesn’t it, so does a little poetic license matter too much?
Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your weekend 🙂
That reminds me… I want to start Narcos… Oh, well – Happy weekend!
Lauren @ Always Me
To be honest, I had to research ‘Narcos’, to even find out what it was, as we don’t tend to watch much television, particularly ‘box sets’.
On the rare occasions we do sit down, we either seem to be catching up on news and current affairs programmes, or hubbie will find an action movie to watch.
I seem to spend every spare waking hour trying to keep on top of my bogging and posting though.
I hope that your weekend is going well and Happy Reading 🙂