The Singer's Gun

"Greatvoice! Loved it!"—KellyJustice, Fountain Books

"Making good on the promise she showed in her debut,Mandel has crafted a taut novel that defies categorization in all the best ways…Usinga spellbinding structure of fractured scenes and complex chronologies, Mandelreveals his mystery to the reader in small, addictive doses. This is a book tobe read compulsively, and then read again for its exquisite detail and its beautifulprose...riveting.”— Patrick Brown, Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena

"Mandel's newest offering is thebest sort of book: thrilling, provocative, and gorgeously written. 'TheSinger's Gun' will appeal to mystery lovers, literature lovers, andeveryone in between. Absolutely not to be missed!"—Gina Glenn-Moon, Malaprop's Bookstore & Cafe

"In her second novel, Mandel shows that the critical success of herdebut book was no fluke. She hits the literary trifecta of compellingprose, utterly convincing characterizations, and a universally appealingstory." — Emily Crowe, Odyssey Books, South Hadley, MA

"When I first read Last Nightin Montreal I said to myself this (and books like this) is why I became abookseller in the first place. Well, after having finished The Singer's Gun I have to say it again…Thanks so much forsending me the manuscript of this book. It is one of those quiet books thatspeaks loudly of the human condition and of two people caught up in itall." — Micheal Fraser, Joseph BethBooksellers, Cincinnati, OH

"A wild read full of corruption, betrayal and the desperate desireto find a place in society. A twisty, subtly-layered, smart mystery, Ifound myself too intrigued to put it down - and the ending!... Can't wait forher third!"— Elizabeth Lewis, Rainy Day Books, KansasCity

"Wrapped in mystery but not your classic whodunit. It's got acouple great love stories in it--but it isn't a romance. It's an intricatestory told in various locales but boils down to this simple statement:Wonderful characters inhabit these places between the beginning and the end. Ifound myself missing several of them for a variety of reasons. It's fast-pacedyet smart and even tender. I can't wait for more from this young writer." — HansWeyandt, Micawber's Books, St. Paul,MN

“I love Emily’s writing style – every word serves a purpose. It’s a bitromance, mixed with drama and suspense. I didn’t see the plot twist comingwhich is always a nice surprise!”—bookwormwithaview

"THE SINGER'S GUN has masterful pacing and a shocker of a plot,but it's the engaging, conflicted, sweat-blood-and-tears characters that stealthe show." —Jenn Northington,Breathe Books, Baltimore

"Mandel's characters are very real, and like her last book shedoesn't shy away from the grey areas of life…But Anton and Aria play outarguments that illustrate that nothing has really changed, one person's sin isanother person's salvation. And even salvation can go horribly awry." —Chris Rickert, General Manager, Joseph-BethBooksellers, South Side Works, Pittsburgh

"Emily Mandel has done it again -- she's given her readers intriguingcharacters and a story that develops as much by revealing secrets from the pastas by events unfolding in the present. Her narrative voice is so compelling andclear for a young writer -- she is definitely one to watch!" —Emily Pullen, Skylight Books, Los Angeles

"Mandel's new novel, like LASTNIGHT IN MONTREAL,is practically bashful about how clever and well-constructed it is. So letme tell you. It has a subtle grace, marvelous characters, and places that arejust as alive as the people. And like MONTREAL,there are many scenes and images from it that are still with me." —Stephanie Anderson, WORD, Brooklyn, NY

"...In the middle of this wild story of identity fraud andinternational crime is a weak-kneed young man whose strongest commitment seemsto be to his cat. Anton wants to take the high road ethically and distancehimself from his parents' shady business (selling stolen goods), but he canonly do so when he steals someone else's identity. He wants nothing more thanto work in an office, get married and live a normal life, but his fiancéecancels the wedding twice, a government agent finds out about his part-timework for his cousin (selling social security cards and passports), and hiscousin blackmails him into doing "one last deal."…What starts out asa darkly comic crime thriller morphs into a novel of gripping suspense…"—Alice Meloy, Blue WillowBookshop, Houston

"I finished it last night, and holy cow, Emily is amazing! Iloved the book. In fact, as much as I loved LAST NIGHT IN MONTREAL, I thought this was evenbetter. I am totally amazed at her writing style, her ability to write emotionsand get the reader to feel what the characters are feeling, the way shedescribes people and settings- without really having to go into a lot ofdescription. It's like a film running in my head WITH a musical accompaniment.Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!" —DrewGoodman, The Bookmark at the U, SaltLake City, UT

"A wonderful read--one of those great books that comealong once in a while. You just can't neatly put in a category. It has so muchto offer--family relationships, loyalty questions, the struggle to rise abovequestionable circumstances, and an on and off wedding. But most of all it is afinely written novel." —MaryGay Shipley, That Bookstore in Blytheville, Blytheville, AR

“Reads like an enchantment. Stunning. Anton Waker wants amoral life, a simple everyday American job, to do anything other than follow inhis family's shady footsteps. His one mistake is to start his new life with alie he can never take back. Anton's thinking is seductively convincing. Hemakes us believe his good intentions as much as he does. It is scary howrelatable he is.” —Laura Hansen, Bookin'It, Little Falls, MN

“The Singer's Gun is a model for writers everywhere:Emily St. John Mandel has been both daring and adept with the structure,characters, and plot of this great story. Here is a book that should be taughtin English classes, yet it's as compellingly read as any first-rate thriller. Mandelis world-wise enough to accurately map the fault lines of her characters(and our world), and idealistic enough to show us the beautiful light thatshines through the cracks.” —Hap Houlihan, The Morris Book Shop, Lexington, KY

“Recklessly entertaining…[a] break through novel…Highly recommended.”—Joseph’s Reviews

“Ithoroughly enjoyed this quietly suspenseful tale.”--Jamie Fiocco, FlyleafBooks

“TheSinger's Gun was all I was hoping it would be and more. Often I readpassages to my husband simply so I would have someone to discuss the novelwith. The Singer's Gun is written in a heartbreakingly beautiful prosewith a heavy dose of extremely well timed and quite clever wit...I truly cannotpraise this novel enough and my only regret is that I had not read this novelwith a colleague so I could discuss the key issues and all those delicatelywoven grey areas.”—rudpinne.com

“TheSinger’s Gun is as riveting as any suspense novel and as beautifullywritten as any literary fiction you can find. I was so involved in the storythat I gasped out loud when I realized where Mandel was taking us. It’s goingto be easy to sell!” —Lisa Sharp, Nightbird Books, Fayetteville, AR

“EmilySt John Mandel's latest novel, THE SINGER'S GUN is a little bit coming ofage story, a love story, a family story and psychological suspense allrolled up in a package secured by lyrical writing -- a book without borders.. . of love gone bad but a good love waiting in the wings to save the day. Thebook makes you think but also makes you savor.”--Vicki Erwin, Main Street Books, St Charles MO

“The most original book I’ve read in a long time. Itis a taut book, a thriller written with beautiful language. Not a word iswasted. It’s proof that Emily St. John Mandel will be with us for a longtime! And we will be the ones who benefit. Highly recommended.”—Nancy Simpson, The Book Vault, Oscaloosa, IA

"Emily Mandel is a tremendous writer. TheSinger's Gun is simultaneously a page-turner and a finely written piece ofliterary fiction. Fans of the tv show THE WIRE will find much to like ina story that is a meditation on identity, criminal behavior, and the boundariesof love. I was a fan of Mandel after reading Last Night in Montreal; and nowafter reading The Singer's Gun I can truly say she is one of the mosttalented young novelists out there." --Michelle Filgate, RiverRun Bookstore, NH

“A literary thriller with heft that moves so smoothly it’salmost as if you’re not reading at all but dreaming this excellant story ofcrime, passion, and betrayal.” – PeteMock, McIntyre’s Fine Books