“The writing snaps. The story crackles. The characters are achingly real. I tore through Rag and Bone in a single session. What else can I say? Read Joe Clifford.”

―Meg Gardiner, best-selling author

“Gritty and gripping, with prose that cuts to the bone. Joe Clifford has crafted a modern noir that pulls no punches.”

―Riley Sager, New York Times best-selling author

“Clifford is one fine writer ... for those who eat, drink, and sleep noir, this one's for you.”

―Booklist

“Joe Clifford’s Rag and Bone is tough, tight, and engrossing, filled with genuine emotion and unsparing authenticity.”

―Lou Berney, Edgar Award-winning author

“…will appeal to fans of noir fiction.”―Library Journal

“As often happens in life for those with addiction issues, Clifford’s [Rag and Bone] doesn’t portray a fairy tale happy-ever-after ending. The author strives to depict through his characters the dangers of drug addiction. In that, he succeeds. Brilliantly!”

―Bookreporter.com

Praise for the Jay Porter series:

“An estate recycler picks up the fragments of his life by helping others to pick up theirs. What a brilliant noir concept. And Broken Ground, the newest addition to the terrific Jay Porter series, has brilliant writing to match. 'Freezing rain pelted the glass, like bb pellets fired from a bully’s tree fort.' Wow. The depth of the characters. The vividness of the New Hampshire winter setting. The importance of the novel's theme. Joe Clifford’s a crime writer to pay attention to.”

―David Morrell, New York Times best-selling author

“Clifford paints true-to-life characters with the same gritty touch as the best of Dennis Lehane. Straightforward and edgy, Lamentation gnaws with nail-biting tension on every page. A must-read for contemporary hard-boiled mystery fans.”

―Robert Dugoni, best-selling author

“Joe Clifford's latest in the Jay Porter series is a tense, emotional tour de force ferried along on a mystery that's both timely and chilling. Don't miss this!”

―Jamie Mason, author of Monday's Lie

“Clifford's edgy prose and masterful pacing, combined with flawed and profoundly human Jay Porter at the helm, make Broken Ground irresistible.”

―Wendy Walker, author of Emma in the Night

“Joe Clifford writes with empathy, wisdom, and wicked wit about characters at the edge of society, sobriety, and their own tenuous sanity. Broken Ground is a feast, and Jay Porter is a unique noir hero who shines brightly in a dark world.”

―Nick Petrie, author of Light It Up

"Another deftly crafted novel and an inherently riveting read from beginning to end, by an author with a genuine gift for originality, deftly scripted characters, and a distinctive narrative storytelling style, Rag and Bone by Joe Clifford will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library collections.”―Midwest Book Reviews

Award-winning author Joe Clifford was born in Berlin, CT. He now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Justine, and two sons. He is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University and holds an MFA degree from Florida International University. However, prior to these scholarly accomplishments, Joe had been a heroin and methamphetamine addict―an addiction that landed him homeless on the streets. After ten years, Joe turned his life around. He now uses the backdrop of his own extreme experience to shine a light on the misunderstood and marginalized. No one can write with the authority of Joe Clifford when describing the reality of alcohol and drug abuse. Rag and Bone is the fifth novel in his award-winning Jay Porter series.