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Last Call at the Esposito (The Elder Darrow Mysteries)
by Richard J. CassElder Darrow, Beantown&’s favorite bar owner and amateur sleuth, returns in &“an immersive and satisfying addition to the category of Boston crime fiction&” (Kirkus Reviews). When a burial detail to the paupers&’ grave on Boston&’s Rinker Island comes up with one extra coffin, homicide detective Dan Burton is called in to take the case. The murdered man is a neighborhood activist against the effort of rich and powerful interests to bring the Olympic Games to Boston. At the same time, Donald Maldonado, cousin of the infamous Icky Ricky Maldonado, tries to create a place for himself in the Boston underworld, taking over his cousin&’s criminal activities. He jostles with one of Burton&’s childhood friends for a piece of the illegitimate prospects of the Games coming to town: construction contracts, union connections, and so on. Complicating matters is that Esposito owner Elder Darrow&’s thieving girlfriend has stolen something of Maldonado&’s and he wants it back. Badly enough to kill anyone in the way. Real estate speculators offer to buy the Esposito and turn the block into a velodrome for the proposed Games. Elder is tempted, unsure that he wants to continue in the bar business. The confusion turns the world around Mercy Street into an uproar. Praise for Richard Cass and the Elder Darrow Mysteries &“Richard Cass writes the kind of mysteries I first fell in love with—clever, twisty, and brimming with characters as colorful as they are well-drawn.&”—Chris Holm, Anthony Award-winning author of Michael Hendricks Novels &“Cass&’s version of noir Boston is dark and beautiful as a back alley after a morning rain.&”—Gerry Boyle, author of the Jack McMorrow Mysteries
Last Call at the Nightingale: A Mystery (The Nightingale Mysteries #1)
by Katharine SchellmanFirst in a captivating Jazz age mystery series from author Katharine Schellman, Last Call at the Nightingale beckons readers into a darkly glamorous speakeasy where music, liquor, and secrets flow."Schellman is at the top of her craft and delivers a murder mystery with clever twists and turns and memorable personalities."—Denny S. Bryce, Bestselling Author of Wild Women and the BluesNew York, 1924. Vivian Kelly's days are filled with drudgery, from the tenement lodging she shares with her sister to the dress shop where she sews for hours every day.But at night, she escapes to The Nightingale, an underground dance hall where illegal liquor flows and the band plays the Charleston with reckless excitement. With a bartender willing to slip her a free glass of champagne and friends who know the owner, Vivian can lose herself in the music. No one asks where she came from or how much money she has. No one bats an eye if she flirts with men or women as long as she can keep up on the dance floor. At The Nightingale, Vivian forgets the dangers of Prohibition-era New York and finds a place that feels like home.But then she discovers a body behind the club, and those dangers come knocking.Caught in a police raid at the Nightingale, Vivian discovers that the dead man wasn't the nameless bootlegger he first appeared. With too many people assuming she knows more about the crime than she does, Vivian finds herself caught between the dangers of the New York's underground and the world of the city's wealthy and careless, where money can hide any sin and the lives of the poor are considered disposable...including Vivian's own.
Last Call for Blackford Oakes (The Blackford Oakes Mysteries #11)
by William F. Buckley Jr.The brilliant CIA agent goes up against infamous Soviet spy Kim Philby in this &“lively, entertaining&” Cold War thriller (Publishers Weekly). Blackford &“Blackie&” Oakes is the greatest spy in American history, but he&’s no longer allowed behind enemy lines. As the former director of covert operations for the CIA, he knows too much to risk falling into enemy hands. But something has come up that requires him to go farther behind the Iron Curtain than he ever has before—and if he&’s captured, he&’ll have no choice but to take his own life. But Blackie doesn&’t mind; he&’s always wanted a chance to die for his country. Previously, a team of assassins had targeted Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev, and Blackie acted on secret orders from President Ronald Reagan himself to save the Russian&’s life. Now, Gorbachev is in danger once again, and his death could reignite the Cold War just as it&’s coming to a close. To avert World War III, Blackie infiltrates Moscow, where he comes face-to-face with the Soviets&’ own master of espionage: notorious defector Harold Adrian Russell &“Kim&” Philby. Witty and urbane, and featuring an unforgettable cast of characters both real and imagined, Last Call for Blackford Oakes is a delightful ending to one of the greatest espionage sagas in history.
Last Call: Number 35 in Series (The Destroyer #35)
by Warren Murphy Richard SapirDuring a CIA budget war, a group of assassins mistakenly triggers an ingenious CIA plot originally planned in the 1950s - and a long-dormant network of government-sanctioned assassins are unleashed upon the capitals of Europe. A worldwide killing spree of top-level Russian officials begins. Only the Destroyer, with the all-wise Chiun and the ever-wild CIA Agent Rub Gonzalez, can stop them from reaching their primary target - the Soviet Premier. Remo must protect him, and keep the fragile, cold peace intact . . . or else risk a catastrophic world war. Breathlessly action-packed and boasting a winning combination of thrills, humour and mysticism, the Destroyer is one of the bestselling series of all time.
Last Car To Elysian Fields: A Dave Robicheaux Novel (Dave Robicheaux)
by James Lee Burke'A lyrical and lovely novel that takes Burke back to the top of the crimewriting tree where he richly belongs' Independent On SundayIt is a rainy late-summer's night in New Orleans. Detective Dave Robicheaux is about to confront the man who may have savagely assaulted his friend, Father Jimmie Dolan, a Catholic priest who's always at the centre of controversy. But things are never as they seem and soon Robicheaux is back in New Iberia, probing a car crash that killed three teenage girls. A grief-crazed father and a maniacal, complex assassin are just a few of the characters Robicheaux meets as he is drawn deeper into a web of sordid secrets and escalating violence.A masterful exploration of the troubled side of human nature and the dark corners of the heart, peopled by familiar characters such as P.I. Clete Purcel and Robicheaux's old flame Theodosia LeJeune, LAST CAR TO ELYSIAN FIELDS is vintage Burke - moody, hard-hitting, with his trademark blend of human drama and relentless noir suspense.Praise for one of the great American crime writers, James Lee Burke:'James Lee Burke is the heavyweight champ, a great American novelist whose work, taken individually or as a whole, is unsurpassed.' Michael Connelly'A gorgeous prose stylist.' Stephen King'Richly deserves to be described now as one of the finest crime writers America has ever produced.' Daily MailFans of Dennis Lehane, Michael Connelly and Don Winslow will love James Lee Burke: Dave Robicheaux Series1. The Neon Rain 2. Heaven's Prisoners 3. Black Cherry Blues 4. A Morning for Flamingos 5. A Stained White Radiance 6. In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead 7. Dixie City Jam 8. Burning Angel 9. Cadillac Jukebox 10. Sunset Limited 11. Purple Cane Road 12. Jolie Blon's Bounce 13. Last Car to Elysian Fields 14. Crusader's Cross 15. Pegasus Descending 16. The Tin Roof Blowdown 17. Swan Peak 18. The Glass Rainbow 19. Creole Belle 20. Light of the World 21. Robicheaux Hackberry Holland Series1. Lay Down My Sword and Shield 2. Rain Gods 3. Feast Day of Fools 4. House of the Rising SunBilly Bob Holland Series1. Cimarron Rose 2. Heartwood 3. Bitterroot 4. In The Moon of Red Ponies * Each James Lee Burke novel can be read as a standalone or in series order *
Last Car to Elysian Fields: A Novel (Dave Robicheaux #13)
by James Lee BurkeSheriff Dave Robicheaux returns to New Orleans to investigate the beating of a controversial Catholic priest and murder of three teenage girls in this intense, atmospheric entry in the New York Times bestselling series.For Dave Robicheaux, there is no easy passage home. New Orleans, and the memories of his life in the Big Easy, will always haunt him. So to return there means visiting old ghosts, exposing old wounds, opening himself up to new, yet familiar, dangers. When Robicheaux, now a police officer based in the somewhat quieter Louisiana town of New Iberia, learns that an old friend, Father Jimmie Dolan, a Catholic priest always at the center of controversy, has been the victim of a particularly brutal assault, he knows he has to return to New Orleans to investigate, if only unofficially. What he doesn&’t realize is that in doing so he is inviting into his life—and into the lives of those around him—an ancestral evil that could destroy them all. A masterful exploration of the troubled side of human nature and the darkest corners of the heart, and filled with the kinds of unforgettable characters that are the hallmarks of his novels, Last Car to Elysian Fields is Burke in top form in the kind of lush, atmospheric thriller that is &“an outstanding entry in an excellent series&” (Publishers Weekly).
Last Chance (Robyn Hunter Mysteries #1)
by Norah McClintockRobyn's scared of dogs—like, really scared. But she agrees to spend her summer working at an animal shelter anyway. (It's a long story.) Robyn soon discovers that many juvenile offenders also volunteer at the shelter—including Nick D'Angelo, a boy from Robyn's past. A boy she hoped to never see again. Nick has a talent for getting into trouble, but after his latest arrest, Robyn suspects that he just might be innocent. And she sets out to prove it...
Last Chance (Robyn Hunter Mystery #1)
by Norah McclintockA new series from Norah McClintock, five-time winner of the Arthur Ellis Award for Crime Fiction! When a protest march goes awry and a store is accidentally damaged, Robyn Hunter finds herself on the hook for the mishap. To make amends, she reluctantly agrees to volunteer at an animal shelter for the summer. Robyn is terrified of dogs, so working at the shelter is no picnic. But bigger problems surface when she think she sees a boy with a troubled past "stealing" from the donations to the shelter. It turns out that Robyn was wrong about the boy, but now he's in more trouble with the law and it's up to Robyn to clear his name.
Last Chance Hero: Colton's Secret Son Nanny Bodyguard Last Chance Hero Last Chance Hero
by Melinda Di LorenzoWhen her life is in danger, a woman is reunited with the fiancé she thought was long dead in this gripping romantic suspense mystery.Jordynn Flannigan was sure her fiancé was dead—along with all their dreams for a future together. But the stranger who just saved her from a kidnapper is none other than Donovan Grady, who supposedly died ten years ago. Now his enemies have found Jordynn, and he’s not going anywhere without her by his side—and under his dangerously close protection . . .Donovan had to disappear to save those he loved. He can’t ask for Jordynn’s forgiveness, but he can keep her safe while they unravel an insidious conspiracy. As their reignited passion proves too hot to resist, the truth strikes devastatingly close to home. And their second chance might prove the most deadly trap of all.
Last Chance Investigation (Sierra's Web #12)
by Tara Taylor QuinnUSA TODAY bestselling authorHaunted by his last case…And his first love! When a message in a bottle points to the possible copycat case of a just-solved crime, Detective Levi Griggs is determined to find closure and the potential new victim. Even if at the case&’s center lies Kelly Chase—the woman who shattered his heart. Renowned psychiatrist Kelly certainly doesn&’t expect to find herself pursuing a mystery with the high school love she left behind. But as she and Levi untangle the past, they&’re running out of time in the present…From Harlequin Romantic Suspense: Danger. Passion. Drama.Feel the excitement in these uplifting romances, part of the Sierra's Web series:Book 1: His Lost and Found FamilyBook 2: Reluctant RoommatesBook 3: Tracking His Secret ChildBook 4: Her Best Friend's BabyBook 5: Cold Case SheriffBook 6: The Bounty Hunter's Baby SearchBook 7: On the Run with His BodyguardBook 8: Their Secret TwinsBook 9: Old Dogs, New TruthsBook 10: Not Without Her ChildBook 11: A Firefighter's Hidden TruthBook 12: Last Chance InvestigationBook 13: A Family-First ChristmasBook 14: Danger on the RiverBook 15: Deadly Mountain Rescue
Last Chance Reunion
by Linda ConradTwo Lone Star stories from bestselling author Linda Conrad! TEXAS COLD CASE Determined to solve the cold case of his mother's murder, Colt Chance returns home to Texas. Turns out the new deputy sheriff is the woman who broke his heart. But when someone targets Lacie, Colt'll have to decide between the vengeance he seeks and protecting the one he still loves.... TEXAS LOST AND FOUND After witnessing a murder, firefighter Nina Martinez finds an ally in medic Josh White. On the run, they discover that Nina is the long-missing Chance sister, Cami. Will Cami embrace the love from Josh and her real family before it's too late?
Last Chance for Glory: A Novel
by Stephen SolomitaA broke PI attempts to prove the innocence of a wrongly convicted homeless manLate at night by posh Gramercy Park, a woman peers into the backseat of a parked car. She&’s never seen a dead body before, but there&’s enough blood that she has no doubt what she&’s looking at. She remembers seeing a strange man nearby, and the police use her fuzzy identification and a few other bits of tenuous evidence to finger Billy Sowell, an alcoholic bum with limited intelligence and a patchy memory, as the killer. Who cares if he&’s guilty? Billy&’s an easy conviction, and his case is forgotten until years later, when it falls in the lap of PI Marty Blake. Blake will take anything as he tries to rebuild his practice after a year&’s suspension for illegal surveillance, and he attempts to clear Billy&’s name using his expertise at computerized investigation. But when it comes to proving the New York Police Department wrong, virtual sleuthing will not be enough. For this computer expert, it&’s time to play tough.
Last Chance: Last Chance Rescue Book 6 (Last Chance Rescue)
by Christy ReeceFor fans of Maya Banks, Nina Bruhns, Pamela Clare and Julie Ann Walker. The sixth novel in New York Times bestselling author Christy Reece's addictive Last Chance Rescue series of sexy suspense and thrilling adventure. McKenna Sloan saved Lucas Kane's life and then vanished. Lucas moved mountains trying to find her again, and finally McKenna relented - for one fleeting night. The truth is, McKenna's life is all about the dark, deception-filled world of Last Chance Rescue, and for her, there's no hope of love or Lucas. But fate, and Lucas's determination, soon change everything. A kidnapped young woman, a lure to out a killer and the fierce need to bring a criminal to justice combine for one explosive event. For a woman who specializes in staying away from relationships and staying in the heart of danger, this is the most impossible mission of all. Because the odds are deadly, and the passion won't die.Don't miss the other pulse-pounding novels in the Last Chance Rescue series, Rescue Me, Return To Me, Run To Me, No Chance, Second Chance, Sweet Justice, Sweet Revenge, and Sweet Reward, or the steamy southern suspense of the Wildefire series by Christy's alter-ego Ella Grace which begins with Midnight Secrets.
Last Chance: Last Chance Rescue Book 6 (eternal Romance Ebook) (Last Chance Rescue #6)
by Christy ReeceThe thrilling conclusion of the back-to-back trilogy that includes "No Chance" and "Second Chance. " Original.
Last Chance: The stunning new thriller from the legendary SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author (The Spider Shepherd Thrillers #22)
by Stephen LeatherA GLOBAL CABAL OF HITMEN. ONE MAN STOOD IN THEIR PATH.'Two things to make a Summer afternoon great: a Stephen Leather novel, and a cold beer' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Spider keeps getting better and better' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'The best series I have ever read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐A group of professional killers, known as The Office, are carrying out hits for the Iranian government across the European continent, hitting targets amongst the wealthiest and most privileged.After a slew of murders in London, MI5 decide that enough is enough. The Office must be destroyed, root and stem.Dan 'Spider' Shepherd, the secret service's most dangerous weapon, is tasked with infiltrating the organisation and unmasking its leader. But just how far is he willing to go in the name of justice . . . ?A hundred-mile-an-hour whirlwind of a novel from one of the world's most gifted thriller authors.PRAISE FOR STEPHEN LEATHER'Let Spider draw you into his web, you won't regret it' Sun'He has the uncanny knack of producing plots that are all too real' Daily Mail'Leather knows the inner workings of the security services. But beyond the enthralling storylines he also asks some tough questions about contemporary Britain' Financial Times'A master of the thriller genre' Irish Times'Stephen Leather writes really exciting action thrillers. It's like being there yourself' Chris Ryan
Last Chance: The stunning new thriller from the legendary SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author (The Spider Shepherd Thrillers #22)
by Stephen LeatherA GLOBAL CABAL OF HITMEN. ONE MAN STOOD IN THEIR PATH.'Two things to make a Summer afternoon great: a Stephen Leather novel, and a cold beer' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Spider keeps getting better and better' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'The best series I have ever read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐A group of professional killers, known as The Office, are carrying out hits for the Iranian government across the European continent, hitting targets amongst the wealthiest and most privileged.After a slew of murders in London, MI5 decide that enough is enough. The Office must be destroyed, root and stem.Dan 'Spider' Shepherd, the secret service's most dangerous weapon, is tasked with infiltrating the organisation and unmasking its leader. But just how far is he willing to go in the name of justice . . . ?A hundred-mile-an-hour whirlwind of a novel from one of the world's most gifted thriller authors.PRAISE FOR STEPHEN LEATHER'Let Spider draw you into his web, you won't regret it' Sun'He has the uncanny knack of producing plots that are all too real' Daily Mail'Leather knows the inner workings of the security services. But beyond the enthralling storylines he also asks some tough questions about contemporary Britain' Financial Times'A master of the thriller genre' Irish Times'Stephen Leather writes really exciting action thrillers. It's like being there yourself' Chris Ryan
Last Chance: The stunning new thriller from the legendary SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author (The Spider Shepherd Thrillers #22)
by Stephen LeatherA GLOBAL CABAL OF HITMEN. ONE MAN STOOD IN THEIR PATH.'Two things to make a Summer afternoon great: a Stephen Leather novel, and a cold beer' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Spider keeps getting better and better' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'The best series I have ever read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐A group of professional killers, known as The Office, are carrying out hits for the Iranian government across the European continent, hitting targets amongst the wealthiest and most privileged.After a slew of murders in London, MI5 decide that enough is enough. The Office must be destroyed, root and stem.Dan 'Spider' Shepherd, the secret service's most dangerous weapon, is tasked with infiltrating the organisation and unmasking its leader. But just how far is he willing to go in the name of justice . . . ?A hundred-mile-an-hour whirlwind of a novel from one of the world's most gifted thriller authors.PRAISE FOR STEPHEN LEATHER'Let Spider draw you into his web, you won't regret it' Sun'He has the uncanny knack of producing plots that are all too real' Daily Mail'Leather knows the inner workings of the security services. But beyond the enthralling storylines he also asks some tough questions about contemporary Britain' Financial Times'A master of the thriller genre' Irish Times'Stephen Leather writes really exciting action thrillers. It's like being there yourself' Chris Ryan
Last Chants (The Willa Jansson Mysteries #5)
by Lia MateraHelping a family friend who&’s been framed for murder has a San Francisco lawyer living like a fugitive in this mystery by the author of Prior Convictions.Attorney Willa Jansson&’s found a new position in the growing field of multimedia law—it&’s the &’90s, after all. Given her track record, she&’s hoping this job will be smooth sailing. Unfortunately, during her morning commute through the Financial District, she sees a friend of her mother&’s—mythologist and pacifist Arthur Kenna—about to be arrested for holding a stranger at gunpoint. Willa does the first thing she can think of to save him: she pretends to be Arthur&’s hostage.Arthur explains that it was the alleged victim who&’d placed the gun in his hand, but Willa knows the police won&’t buy that—especially after Arthur&’s assistant is found dead. Forced to hide out in a Boulder Creek mountain cabin belonging to an old flame of Willa&’s, the fugitive duo soon realizes their only way out of the woods is to locate the real killer. Doing so means digging into Arthur&’s assistant&’s past, and divining the truth in a community of high-tech gurus, strange survivalists, a cybernetic shaman, and a nudist who thinks he&’s the demigod Pan . . .&“Effectively blending the seemingly incongruous elements of high-tech computing and ancient mythology, Matera has produced a first-rate mystery, exhibiting her usual hallmarks of excellent plotting, solid characterizations, and brisk pacing.&” —Booklist &“Few writers possess Lia Matera&’s wry humor, especially when it comes to putting down lawyers, or her eye for Northern California fauna.&” —San Jose Mercury News
Last Christmas: The Private Prequel (Private)
by Kate BrianAriana Osgood has everything an Easton Academy girl could want: straight A's, the perfect boyfriend, and a coveted spot in exclusive Billings House. But on the first night of Christmas vacation, a blizzard traps her on campus with irresistible bad-boy Thomas Pearson. Alone. Instead of snuggling with her boyfriend next to a cozy fire in Vermont, she's huddling for warmth with Thomas in Ketlar House. As the snow transforms Easton into a winter wonderland, Ariana finds herself falling for Thomas. But someone is watching their clandestine romance unfold, someone intent on turning their holiday weekend into a nightmare... Last Christmas reveals the secret of what really happened before Private began -- and the shocking truth will change everything for fans of Kate Brian's bestselling series.
Last Contract
by Clark HowardA hit man tries to make a clean break from his murderous career in this chilling novel from an award-winning author. He has no police record, not even a traffic ticket. But he&’s killed twenty-seven people during his career as a professional assassin. And sometimes it&’s not just the target who takes a bullet—if the bodyguard or mistress is unfortunate enough to be around. When the time comes, it happens fast: assemble the weapon, load, ditch the evidence. Now he wants out—but the people he works for may not allow that—in this suspenseful thriller from a crime writer whose works have earned numerous honors, including an Edgar Award and two Shamus Award nominations, and been adapted for film and television.
Last Dance
by Carolyn KeeneWhen strange happenings coincide with the opening of a new dance club, Nancy is suspicious. The owner of the club is the heart-throb of every girl in town, and it's not until Nancy finds a stack of old love letters that she realizes that the Last Dance could be her last case.
Last Dance Before Dawn: A Mystery (The Nightingale Mysteries)
by Katharine SchellmanLast Dance before Dawn is the final book in the luscious, mysterious, and queer Nightingale mystery series by Katharine Schellman, set in 1920s New York.Vivian Kelly has finally created a home and a family at the glamorous speakeasy known as The Nightingale, where no one cares who you are in the daytime. After all, in the underground world of 1920s New York City, everyone has a secret to keep, and they’re on the Nightingale's dance floor to leave those secrets behind. But sometimes it takes more than a dance to escape your past. When a stranger from Chicago shows up at The Nightingale looking to settle old scores, Vivian and the Nightingale's owner, the mysterious and alluring Honor Huxley, send him packing. They soon discover, though, that the stranger was just a warning. Slowly, the people who have made The Nightingale their home realize that someone is following them. Hunting them. And that someone won’t stop until they unravel a mystery that’s been cold for years: a missing girl, a boy out for revenge, and a truck full of cash that disappeared in a job gone horribly wrong. Vivian just wants to protect the people she loves, and she's willing to dig into the dirt of the past to make it happen. But some questions are safer left unanswered, and now that Vivian has built a family for herself, she has more to lose than ever before.
Last Dance: A Winston Patrick Mystery
by David RussellWinston Patrick reluctantly leads some kids in suing their school when a same-sex partner is refused entry to the prom, but opponents will stop at nothing to make their point, not even murder. Winston Patrick was a successful lawyer who defended the downtrodden of Vancouver’s criminal world. Dissatisfied with his career, he traded in the courtroom for the high school classroom. Winston is barely surviving his first year at a Vancouver high school when his students present a human rights issue. A student wants to bring his same-sex partner to the high school prom, but the school won’t let him.Winston reluctantly leads his proteges on their first legal quest: suing the school. He never thought that fighting for a student’s rights could have deadly consequences, but as the issue gains publicity, Winston discovers that their opponents will stop at nothing to make their point not even murder.David Russell’s first Winston Patrick novel, Deadly Lessons, was shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis Award for best first crime novel.
Last Days
by Peter Straub Brian Evenson"The deceptively simple prose keeps the book brisk and even gripping as its puzzles grow more craggy and complex. This is Evenson's singular, Poe-like gift: He writes with intelligence and a steady hand, even when his characters decide to lop their own limbs off."--Time Out New YorkWhen Kline is kidnapped by a dark sect that believes amputation brings you closer to God, he's tasked with uncovering who murdered their leader. Will he uncover the truth in time to save himself, take on the mantle of prophet, or destroy all he sees with a rain of biblical violence?
Last Days in Shanghai: A Novel
by Casey WalkerLuke Slade, a young Congressional aide, begins this business trip to China like all other international travel he's endured with "Lyin' Leo": buried under a slew of diplomatic runarounds, non-functioning cell phones, and humiliation from the Congressman at every turn. But on day two, a new challenge rears its ugly head: Leo goes on a drunken bender and disappears into the night. Unsure what dubious business his corrupt and buffoonish boss had planned, Luke must piece together the Congressman's lies while maintaining appearances with their Chinese contacts.Amidst the confusion, a little bleary from jet-lag and alcohol, Luke receives a briefcase full of money from the mayor of a rural Chinese province. Luke accepts the "gift" in his daze, but when he later realizes his mistake and tries to return the cash, he discovers even more anxiety-inducing news. The mayor is dead.As Luke tries to unravel the complex minefield of corruption he's tumbled into, he must also confront his own role in the events. Unwitting marionette? Fall guy? Or perhaps someone more capable of moral compromise than he would have liked to believe. Last Days in Shanghai is an unforgettable debut by a writer to watch. It's both a hold-on-to-your-seat thriller and a pitch-perfect exploration of present day China-the country's rapacious capitalism, the shocking boom of its cities and the wholesale eradication of its traditions.