FIRST OF STATE North Atlantic Books Hardcover: October 2010, ISBN 978-1556439155 A Denver Post Bestseller! Robert Greer's latest novel—a prequel to his CJ Floyd mystery series—takes readers back in time to a very different CJ Floyd. It's 1972, and the twenty—two-year-old decorated war vet has recently returned to Denver from Vietnam with post-traumatic stress disorder. Navigating depression, he finds a friend in World War II vet and amputee Wiley Ames, who shares his passion for rare and valuable western memorabilia. When Ames and a mysterious Chinese man are found murdered, CJ's already fragile world threatens to collapse. His attempts to find his friend's killer are thwarted at every turn, and finally he joins his Uncle Ike's business as bail bondsman and bounty hunter. Five years later one of Ames's treasured antique license plates turns up at a Denver flea market, and CJ is once again off and running. Equally a white-knuckle-ride murder mystery and a tale of a traumatized young man coming to terms with his past, First of State features the kind of fresh characters, street-smart dialogue, and ingenious plot twists that have made this series a critical and commercial success. Read an excerpt here (PDF). BUY THE eBOOK Amazon Kindle Barnes & Noble Nook BUY THE BOOK IndieBound Amazon Barnes & Noble   PRAISE "Engaging...reveals much that's new about CJ's background and character...As in Greer's earlier books, the black Five Points neighborhood comes vibrantly alive. This is a must-read for series fans and a great introduction for others."    —Publishers Weekly "Filling his intriguing mystery with images of life in an African American neighborhood in the 1970s and details of antiquing and flea market excursions, Greer creates a richly realized setting. This should appeal to followers of the CJ Floyd series and is a good introduction to new readers. It will also attract fans of African American mysteries as well as readers looking for a good mystery with a setting just outside the ordinary."    —Library Journal "This prequel to Greer's always thoughtful and multilayered Floyd series reveals the pain behind the protagonist's curmudgeonly, emotionally guarded personality and his reluctance to employ violence. CJ Floyd is one of crime fiction's hidden gems, and this is a satisfying entry in a rewarding...series."    —Booklist "First of State takes us back to C.J.'s early days, a time when the Vietnam War veteran was chasing ghosts lurking around Denver's Five Points neighborhood...Greer shrewdly captures how a chance encounter can spin someone's life in a healthy direction...First of State uses the racial tensions of the era, the still-raw wounds of the Vietnam War and Five Points itself to spice up an already flavorful tale."    —The Denver Post "Greer's characters—such as fetching Mavis, a Boston college business student being groomed to take over her father's many Five Points businesses, and CJ's best buddy Roosevelt "Rosie" Weeks, a strapping man who runs an independent gas station and garage—are unique and complicated. Many dozens of these characters make appearances in First of State, and leave before the reader is ready to part company with them. It's a good thing for readers like me who are new to the CJ Floyd series that there are seven more books in which to read up on their exploits, and First of State is an excellent place to start."    —Newwest.com "Fast-moving...Readers are introduced to the intriguing world of antique collecting through the passionate appreciation of certain rare license plates which Floyd collects... The story revolves around Floyd's quest to find license plates in mint condition and at the same time attempts to solve several murders...A must read for the person who enjoys a good mystery or a great gift for the holiday season for the reader who likes a stylish 'Who Done It.'"    —Clark's Eye on Books "The characters were well-developed with colorful personalities...The author did a wonderful job of making the location, Denver, and the time period, the 1970s, an integrated part of the storyline...I recommend this book to mystery readers and readers who enjoy stories with a western locale."    —Apooo Book Club (read the full review) "Filled with twists and turns, compelling and likeable characters and a solid plot, First of State is a engaging mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I have not read the CJ Floyd mystery series, so I did not know these characters. Fans of the series though, will enjoy reading of them when they were younger and how they all met. Thumbs up!!"    —Minding Spot (read the full review) "Robert Greer's latest novel is softer, with tones of Western in it, and fans of his are going to love this new peek at an old friend. As a "prequel" to the CJ Floyd series, this book takes readers back to a time when CJ was not sure what he wanted to do with his life, and Greer does a great job evoking the unsure, shaky 1970s and the innocence of the times. This is a homey, gentler novel than most, and I liked that. If you're looking for a whodunit that won't ruin the surprise with too many clues, try this. If you want a mystery with Western flair, grab this. If you've never read the Floyd books, start here. For y'all, First of State holds much promise."    —The Washington Informer "[A] very enjoyable book....Much of the book surrounds C.J.'s relationship with his uncle Ike Floyd. Ike, who raised C.J. since he was two years old, takes C.J. into his bail bondman and bounty hunter business and encourages him to learn the business as he thinks this will help C.J. ....The interactions and relationship between C.J. and Ike is the best part of the book and goes a long way to providing a better understanding of why C.J. is the way he is....After reading First of State, I read a few chapters of The Devil's Hatband, the first book in the C.J. Floyd series. Although written fourteen years prior to First of State, much of the same style and approach are present. In both books, Greer spends much time introducing the reader to what appears to be a main character, only to have that person murdered. This is an interesting approach that Greer uses that makes the reader really want C.J. Floyd to solve the murder and find the murderer. I'm certainly looking forward to finishing this book and many others in this enjoyable series."    —Minding Spot (read the MostlyFiction.com) "Robert Greer has done it again in this prequel....a real page turner....It keeps you on edge from the beginning to the end."    —RawSISTAZ.com "Well-told...The author uses, for example, the political and racial attitudes and agendas of the early 1970s to help shape—but not define—the character CJ becomes. The author also recognizes that having CJ solve Wiley's murder as a novice might be overly contrived; instead, another case is introduced as training, if you will, and about midway through the plot skips forward five years when a more experienced CJ chances upon a link to the now cold case. First of State is a strong addition to the series, one that gives an interesting historical perspective to the character of CJ Floyd but is also, on its own merits, a first rate murder mystery."    —Mysterious Reviews "I instantly liked the 2 main characters CJ and his uncle Ike, even with their flaws....I am quite interested in reading more of CJ Floyd and how his character evolves and develops over the years."    —CMash Loves to Read "Greer writes with great detail allowing the reader to feel the gritty reality of what is occurring in the story. There is an emotional depth to this novel rarely seen in mysteries that allow readers to become engaged in the plot, rooting for their favorite characters, and feeling like they are part of the action in each scene. The characters seem like real people with all their quirks and flaws. To me, that is brilliant writing and probably one of the main reasons this series is so popular."    —BellaOnline "Upon completion of First of State by Robert Greer, which is a prequel to Greer's CJ Floyd mystery series, I promptly added Greer's previous seven books to my list of books to read... Greer creates the most diverse, detailed, intriguing, and deep characters I have had the privilege to read in a long time... As a mystery fan there are series I do not miss out on, Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander, Arnaldur Indridason's Erlendur Sveinsson and Karin Fossum's Inspector Sejer mystery series come to mind. I am now adding CJ Floyd to my list of mystery novels to be read upon release."    —Rundpinne.com