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The combination of title and cover art have to compel the reader to want to find out more.
Blame the Dead is actually lifted right out of a line of dialogue in the novel. When the protagonist, Lieutenant Eddie Harkins, starts investigating the murder that kicks off this story, the comment he hears most often about the victim is that “he got what he deserved.” The dead man’s colleagues don’t seem to care about bringing the killer to justice. But that’s not an option for the lawman, Harkins, who says, “You can’t blame the dead guy for his own murder.”
There’s more than that to the title, of course. The verb “blame” is weighted, smacking of accountability, a little dash of guilt, maybe a bit of vengeance. And using the word “dead” lets readers know that this is high stakes stuff. I like that the title is staccato, a little rat-a-tat-tat. The...[read on]
Writers Read: Ed Ruggero.
My Book, The Movie: Blame the Dead.
The Page 69 Test: Blame the Dead.
Q&A with Ed Ruggero.
--Marshal Zeringue
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