Julia Madeleine (author of NO ONE TO HEAR YOU SCREAM, in the Friday’s Forgotten Books blog): http://juliamadeleineauthor.blogspot.com/2011/02/fridays-forgotten-books.html?spref=fb: “STREET RAISED is a raw, gritty, fast paced, beautifully written novel. It breathes with authenticity and a depth that captured me from the first word. Speedy's character is so real it felt as if I'd known him all my life. I loved this book and I gave it a 5 star rating on Goodreads. I highly recommend it if you're into crime novels.”
Bruce Grossman (in his Bookgasm review): http://www.bookgasm.com/reviews/crime/street-raised/: “Sometimes you come across a book that is just so raw and natural, you can’t help but want to see what happens next, especially when it shows you a side of life few rarely (and thankfully) ever see. This is the case with STREET RAISED, a novel from first-time author Pearce Hansen. Expanding on events in his youth, Hansen writes about the people who fall through the cracks of society, and who will do whatever they have to in order to protect their own and survive every day.
Hansen does a great job with these introductions, pretty much grabbing the reader by the throat, showing you that this is the real world, folks – the type of world you drive through as fast as possible with your windows rolled up.
Some of these characters seem to be likable, but on the whole, you sure wouldn’t want to hang out with them for long stretches of time. But these are just small little vignettes leading you into Hansen’s guided tour. You’re so drawn in by his writing, you hope STREET RAISED won’t end too soon, even if things seem headed for a horrific climax.
I’ve really got to hand it to Pearce for writing a book like this: so visceral, raw and unapologetic. It’s such a breath of fresh air for a crime story.”
Russel D McLean (author of THE GOOD SON, in his Crime Scene Scotland review): “Shades of Leonard in this debut novel by Hansen that sees ex-con Speedy trying to adjust to life in the outside world. Like Leonard, Hansen's cast is just trying to get onto the ladder of American life, and the author manages to evoke their struggles with just the right amount of humour and cool. There's an energy and genuine authenticity in Hansen's witty, gritty and coolly noiresque depiction of life on the streets.”
Patrick Millikin of the Poisoned Pen Bookstore: “Damn, I haven't been as impressed with a debut in a long time. The first thing I'm always looking for is a strong, distinctive voice and this guy's got it. This book has a little something for everyone, and Hansen doles it out with passion and authenticity.”
Aldo Calcagno (Mystery Dawg Blog): http://acalcagno.blogspot.com/2006/10/black-hole-of-noir.html: “The Black Hole of Noir. Hansen writes stuff that is so damn dark and right on that it’s scary. This is a voice that needs to be heard, and demands a wide audience. Without a doubt one of the top three books I have read this year.”
Cormac Brown (in his Write Procrastinator blog): http://writeprocrastinator.blogspot.com/2006/10/every-so-often-you-stumble-across-gem_28.html: "My kind of writing, my kind of neo-noir. Mr. Hansen does not disappoint.”
An interview by Amy Stewart (bestselling author of WICKED BUGS: THE LOUSE THAT CONQUERED NAPOLEON”S ARMY AND OTHER DIABOLICAL INSECTS) is posted at the North Coast Journal: http://www.northcoastjournal.com/112306/books1123.html
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Patrick Millikin of the Poisoned Pen Bookstore: “Damn, I haven't been as impressed with a debut in a long time. The first thing I'm always looking for is a strong, distinctive voice and this guy's got it. This book has a little something for everyone, and Hansen doles it out with passion and authenticity.”
An interview by Amy Stewart (bestselling author of WICKED BUGS: THE LOUSE THAT CONQUERED NAPOLEON”S ARMY AND OTHER DIABOLICAL INSECTS) is posted at the North Coast Journal: http://www.northcoastjournal.com/112306/books1123.html
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