Give Up The Dead is the third book in the Jay Porter series by Joe Clifford.

So far, this is the strongest installment of the series. While Jay Porter is still abrasive, in this novel, it seems Clifford is allowing him to grow and become a more likable character.

In this novel, Porter is still recovering house goods from estates and bumping up against the hidden powerful that would like to do him harm. Clifford brings back previous characters from the earlier novels and introduces new characters.

This chapter also allows the reader to establish stronger emotional ties to the fictional characters in the novel. I look forward to number four and expect Clifford to deliever an even stronger next installment.

Recommended. ( )

This is one of those gritty, atmospheric books, where the setting is a vital part of the story. In fact, the setting was probably my favorite aspect. The story takes place in a small mountain community in New Hampshire, right at the start of winter. The author perfectly captures the New England feel with both the area and the characters.

I immediately connected with Jay Porter, a man who has been kicked around one too many times and is struggling to get back on his feet. I felt the edge of depression creeping in for him. But, as the story progressed, Jay began getting on my nerves. He wallows in self-pity, which he often turns into anger, and he refuses to let go of the past. And, to make matters worse, he's a taker, happy to recruit his friends for help while treating them like crap. The book is written in first person, from Jay's perspective, so all the brooding and disrespect made it difficult for me to stick with him.

Addiction and recovery are at the forefront of the plot. I felt the sinking despair of the characters lost to addiction, and the struggle toward and with recovery for others.

The case Jay Porter investigates is interesting, if not a little convoluted. We go along as he unravels the details, and there are some good twists. My one problem here came with the cops' involvement (or lack thereof). We only really see one cop doing anything, and that's Jay's nemesis from a previous book. The cop comes off as completely inept. I found myself wondering how he managed to do his job without Jay steering him in the right direction. I also wondered where the other cops were and why certain events weren't being investigated with more concern.

Joe Clifford is certainly a gifted author and I enjoyed his writing style. Unfortunately, I'm not sure I liked Jay Porter enough to spend more time with him.

This is the first Jay Porter book I've read, and it works well as a stand-alone.

*I received an ebook copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.* ( )