Early Praise For THE SECOND GIRL

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UK Cover

I am so overjoyed with the early praise for THE SECOND GIRL, and from such incredible authors. Thank you all!

“Like the very best of classic crime writing, THE SECOND GIRL made me want to read faster and slower at the same time. Now I want David Swinson to write faster.”

Michael Robotham, internationally bestselling author of LIFE OR DEATH and SHATTER

"Within the first couple of pages, David Swinson pulls off a masterly piece of characterisation: he creates a damaged, damned protagonist who no sane person would want to get close to, and then he grabs you by the collar and hauls you into Frank Marr's mind so fast and so thoroughly that none of that matters. The writing throws sparks, and the ferocious plot peels back layer after layer of Frank's character as we - and he - find out how much of his humanity is still left."

Tana French, author of THE SECRET PLACE

"Once you’re drawn into Frankie Marr’s world (in, oh, the first few pages of this fine novel), you won’t want to leave. Marr is one of the most compelling and complex protagonists to come along in years. And, not content with just creating a memorable hero, author Swinson also offers up a breakneck plot, which he recounts in muscular prose and with a commanding knowledge of cops, bad guys and the streets of Washington, D.C. Reminiscent of The Wire and the writing of George Pelecanos and Dennis Lehane, The Second Girl is a winner."

Jeffery Deaver, author of THE STEEL KISS

"Like Dennis Lehane and Richard Price, David Swinson gives us a gritty urban crime novel popu-lated with morally complex, utterly believable characters. Swinson knows how to build suspense, and he has a great ear for the patois of the streets, but it is Detective Frank Marr’s tightrope walk between noble and darker impulses that makes The Second Girl such a rewarding read from start to finish."

Ron Rash, author of SERENA

"David Swinson steps into the mean streets of American fiction with an unforgettable character, Frank Marr, and that journey takes readers into realities most people never see.  THE SECOND GIRL is a non-stop drive through American crime, punishment and even an alley or two of justice.  Swinson's fiction is making its mark on our cultural wall.  It's great to see fiction created by an author who paid his dues to learn our hidden realities."

James Grady, author of LAST DAYS OF THE CONDOR

"The Second Girl is a down-and-dirty thriller with real heart from an author who knows what he's talking about. This is firmly in George Pelecanos territory and it doesn't get much better than that."

Mark Billingham author of THE BONES BENEATH

"In a world of pretenders and wannabes, David Swinson is the real deal. THE SECOND GIRL crackles with authenticity, and introduces an antihero in Frank Marr as compelling as the habit he can’t shake. In Swinson’s hands, Marr is a reflection of the mean streets of DC he calls home: tarnished, drug-addled, but maybe—just maybe—not too far-gone to save."

Chris Holm, author of THE KILLING KIND

"Brimming with equal parts authenticity and heart, THE SECOND GIRL boasts a cops-and-corner-boys milieu as gritty and compelling as anything in The Wire, as told by a tough-talking P.I. protagonist with a vulnerable side. David Swinson is a hell of a fine writer, and THE SECOND GIRL is a stellar first entry in what’s sure to be a can’t miss series."

Owen Laukkanen, author of THE WATCHER IN THE WALL

"THE SECOND GIRL is as good as it gets in crime fiction. Compelling, gritty, authentic, and an anti-hero you end up rooting for. It reminded me of THE WIRE and I enjoyed it every bit as much. Great read; close to perfect."

Peggy Blair, author of HUNGRY GHOSTS

"This is a tight, tense tale that sucks you in [and] won't let you go. There is a feel [of] "The Wire" about this book, along with writing that's reminiscent of Michael Connelly or Jo Nesbo's best work. Gritty, authentic action, spot-on dialogue, a sense of place and voice, and the plot just moves like a river. I felt like I stuck a toe in and got caught in that cold river where [Frank Marr] liked to dump people...I was swept away, and washed up in the end with a sense of relief and hope...which is just what I like in a crime story. Well told, David Swinson!”

Toby Neal, author of the Lei Crime series

THE SECOND GIRL is due to be released June 7, 2016 by Mulholland Books, and is available for preorder now in the United States and the United Kingdom.