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Hard, Hard City
Terry Orr, the enigmatic hero of "Hard, Hard City," is still tortured by the deaths of his wife and child in a horrific subway accident some six years ago. But as he emerges from the lure of his obsession, he's realized how much he loves his bright, precocious daughter Bella. When she and her friend Daniel Wu ask Terry to search for Allie Powell, a gifted Fashion Institute of Technology student who has suddenly disappeared, he can't refuse.
Terry soon discovers that documents and cash have been stolen from the Upper East Side home of John McPorter, an elderly family friend with whom Allie had been staying. He begins to ask questions in the boy's hometown, affluent Silver Haven, New Jersey, and meets with unexpected violence. And thought the trail leads to murder, and he finds his own life is in danger, Terry relentlessly pursues the truth to help the teen who has been traumatized by the sins of his parents. And, perhaps, to win the admiration of a daughter he fears lost to him.
"Fusilli's characters are skillfully drawn and his plot exceptionally well structured. It's his settings that really shine, though. This is a lover's look at New York City. It's noir the way a master can write it."
-- The Globe & Mail
"Fusilli's a master of his craft, each line brimming with his sense of urban
life and nail-biting suspense. The hardness of the city and his prose is
diamond-bright and conjures up a realm you cannot forget."
-- The Providence Journal
"Morality is very much the issue for this principled hero...As told through Terry's moody narrative voice, Fusilli's vision of Lower Manhattan as a vital but vaguely disquieting neighborhood has always given this series a dark and gritty edge. Here, he throws longer, more menacing shadows."
-- The New York Times
"Although he has only published four novels, Jim Fusilli…has already proven himself to be one of the strongest voices in the hard-boiled mystery genre. 'Hard, Hard City' continues the outstanding work of his previous books, distinguishing Fusilli for both the quality of his prose and his talent for narrative."
-- The Chicago Sun-Times
"Fusilli's fine new "Hard, Hard City" reads seamlessly…With each new book, the troubled Orr and his budding daughter and quirky friends become as real as any cast I can think of in a crime series."
-- The Washington Post
"Superb sense of place, finely wrought characters and the feel of classic noir fiction give this book its edge."
-- USA Today
"Fusilli's themes echo those of his mentors, Raymond Chandler, Ross Macdonald and Robert B. Parker: wealth engenders dishonesty and corruption and, as with the latter two, neglected children. (He) is a serious novelist who excels in creating a noirish view of Manhattan and strong characters whose relationships continue to evolve with each book."
-- Publishers Weekly
"Fusilli has become a master at blindsiding his readers. He has few equals in this regard -- Ross Macdonald, possibly one or two others --- and his timing is so subtle, so exquisite, that one is compelled to turn the page while simultaneously being almost afraid to do so... 'Hard, Hard City' is appropriately named, a work that further ensconces Fusilli's name and work onto the short list of the best in the genre."
-- Bookreporter.com
"Orr is an introspective and complex character, and the supporting cast is well-drawn and diverse. The descriptions of post-9/11 Manhattan are spot-on, and the plotting is intense and briskly paced. You'll want to read Fusilli's earlier books as well, both for continuity's sake, and because they are all brilliantly crafted."
-- Bookpage.com
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