I make multiple references to music in THE REDEMPTION FILE. Music has always been a big part of my life, and I’ve gone through many different phases with artists and genres. I felt it was only natural to incorporate music into my book. Although I don’t mention any specific songs, the following provide a strong representation of the soundtrack to the story.
Juice (Know the Ledge), Eric B & Rakim
Daryl Hunter deals in drugs, and receives an urgent text message that he needs to respond to fast, prompting him to race through the city in his Ford Explorer. He turns up the music to give him momentum, allowing the base to take over the car. I like to think Daryl enjoys old school hip-hop like myself, and this is a great amp up song, mostly from the base line that grabs you from the opening. It’s also an anthem of the rise and fall of a hustler who grew up on the streets, delivered by the greatest MC of all time. It reflects a life style similar to that of Daryl and his cousin, Andre.
The Four Horsemen, Metallica
Roger Austin is on his way to an important business luncheon. Like Daryl, he’s listening to music to put him in the proper mood, and Roger still enjoys heavier stuff from his days in the army. The song title refers to the four horsemen of the apocalypse from the Book of Revelation, but is also believed to be a metaphor for the four members of Metallica and their early days as a touring heavy metal band. For Roger, this song could take on a different meaning, as readers will find out later in the story. Honorable mentions on Roger’s playlist are Killing in the Name by Rage Against the Machine and Cowboys from Hell by Pantera.
I Won’t Back Down, Tom Petty
Detectives Shields and Jameson are on a stakeout, observing a pool bar from an unmarked police vehicle. They are actively working a case and following up on their only potential lead. Shields pulls rank over the radio, and forces them to listen to the last station in the city that still plays classic rock music. I’m thinking that this song, one of more popular selections in Petty’s vast catalogue, would be a staple in the station’s rotation. Originally, I thought about putting another Petty hit, The Waiting, in this spot, because Shields is a cop that prefers not to sit around and wait for things to come to him when working a case. But I Won’t Back Down symbolizes the main protagonist, Detective Brandon Sidney, as he pursues justice for his murdered partner and best friend.
Superstition, Stevie Wonder
In Andre and Daryl’s backstory, they have a childhood friend, Caleb, that goes on to find success as a musician and rapper. Even though he’s not a major character, Caleb provides the financial backing for Andre’s club, The Beacon. As a teenager, Caleb discovers his mother’s record collection, made up of mostly Motown classics. I would like to imagine that Stevie Wonder’s Talking Book is part of that collection. Caleb is inspired by the music he discovers and begins writing his own lyrics to rap over these songs. With a steady drumbeat, this funk masterpiece exhibits a moderate tempo that would be a perfect sample for a hip hop song. It was music that saved Caleb from a life path that Andre and Daryl ultimately could not avoid.
The Rising, Bruce Springsteen
From the album with the same name that was a response to the 9/11 attacks on New York City, this is a powerful anthem about hope and strength. As Sidney searches for the ones responsible for murdering his partner, he uncovers a hope that he has not felt for some time. He finds his own inner strength to battle his personal demons so he can uncover the truth, even if it means pushing the limits of being a police officer.
Detective Brandon Sidney is one of the most accomplished detectives in East Hill City, a thriving metropolis with its fair share of crime. Living in the wake of a personal tragedy, Sidney is dealt another emotional hardship when his partner and best friend, Derek Hill, is murdered. When evidence surfaces that shows Derek was on the take, Sidney must maneuver through an underworld of weapon smugglers, drug dealers, mob bosses, and rival cops to try and solve Derek's murder and clear his partner's tarnished name. If Sidney survives long enough to solve the case, it will push him to the edge of his own moral limitations, and force him to confront his own traumatic past.
Mystery [ Independently Published, On Sale: January 6, 2026, Trade Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9798991987806 / eISBN: 9798991987813 ]
Marc Sinibaldi was born in the Boston area and grew up on the South Shore of Massachusetts. Being an avid reader for most of his life, he started writing a personal blog in 2013 that focused on some of his favorite topics, such as sports and pop culture. When he doesn’t have his nose in a book, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, catching a movie, and rooting for his favorite Boston sports teams.
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