City of Strangers: A Jack Liffey Mystery (Otto Penzler Books) - Hardcover

9780786711635: City of Strangers: A Jack Liffey Mystery (Otto Penzler Books)
View all copies of this ISBN edition:
 
 
In the sixth novel of this best-selling private-eye series, Jack Liffey probes the complex ethnic mix—Muslim, Jewish, Baha’i, Christian, and secular—of the Persian communities in Los Angeles. A gripping tale that confronts youthful idealism with perfervid fundamentalism, it lands bright, earnest Fariborz Bayat, who has gone missing from an elite L.A. high school with three other Persian-American boys, in a cell of Arab terrorists. Hired to find the boys, Liffey finds himself in a nightmare, unless he and Fariborz can thwart the cell’s plot to set off a dirty bomb full of radioactive waste high over L.A.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly:
Shannon's superb sixth book (after 2002's Streets of Fire) to feature L.A. PI Jack Liffey explores the complicated ethnic mix of Los Angeles's Iranian community. Hired by psychiatrist Dicky Auslander to find his missing teenage daughter, Rebecca, who disappeared with four Iranian boys from an exclusive private school, Liffey learns a lot about this virtually invisible minority while discovering dangerous links to a fanatic Muslim sheik and a brutal Mexican drug family. Liffey is also forced to take a hard look at himself-part of the condition of his employment being regular sessions with Rebecca's father. Just dumped by his longtime ladyfriend, who became a born-again Christian, and not allowed to see his own teenage daughter, Maeve, because of unpaid child support, Liffey finds himself even more lost and depressed than ever, breaking into tears at inappropriate moments. He's somewhat consoled by two promising new women he meets during the course of the investigation, and Maeve's mother eventually relents and lets Maeve both help and hinder Jack in the search for the missing teens. Liffey also has to shoulder a lot of physical pain in the course of his search-though Shannon is shrewd enough to lighten the reader's load with a sharply observed gallery of pompous adults and touching children. As his fans well know, reading a Jack Liffey novel is no day at the beach. But then again, neither is life in Southern California.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist:
*Starred Review* With his sixth Jack Liffey book, Shannon's series is still on an upward trajectory. When college friend Dicky Auslander's daughter goes missing, Auslander, now a self-important psychologist, retains Liffey on the condition that he undergo therapy during case updates--mutual friends have tipped the shrink that the detective's life is not going so well. Liffey sort of agrees and finds the daughter's absence may be tied to that of four prep-school Persian Americans who have taken the first steps toward militancy in the name of Islam. As if that's not enough, a link to money stolen from Mexican drug lords leads Liffey into dangerous territory south of the border. The middle-aged gumshoe also struggles to solve problems presented by his own headstrong daughter--who has made Liffey & Liffey business cards--and the mysteries of his own heart after his latest breakup. Between crime-solving and parenting dilemmas, Shannon offers sage ruminations on belief, belonging, and responsibility. Liffey is a terrific character--smart, funny, sad, and a keen observer of social strata and the world at large. His journey after the truth is realistically messy, and we're with him every step of the way. If only all mystery novels were this good. Keir Graff
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

  • PublisherCarroll & Graf
  • Publication date2003
  • ISBN 10 0786711639
  • ISBN 13 9780786711635
  • BindingHardcover
  • Edition number1
  • Number of pages256
  • Rating

Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace

Stock Image

Shannon, John
Published by Carroll & Graf (2003)
ISBN 10: 0786711639 ISBN 13: 9780786711635
New Hardcover First Edition Quantity: 1
Seller:
LINDA'S BOOKS AND STUFF
(SEBRING, FL, U.S.A.)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: New. Dust Jacket Condition: New. 1st Edition. USED - Trade Hardback. Binding tight. Clean and bright. No creases. Pages no marks, writing or highlighting. Some shelf wear. Ship quickly in bubble wrap. Tracking provided on most orders. Professional book dealer with storefront since 2001. All orders are processed promptly and carefully packaged. Shipped in 1-2 business days. Seller Inventory # 003151

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 15.00
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 4.75
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Shannon, John
Published by Carroll & Graf (2003)
ISBN 10: 0786711639 ISBN 13: 9780786711635
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
GoldenWavesOfBooks
(Fayetteville, TX, U.S.A.)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. New. Fast Shipping and good customer service. Seller Inventory # Holz_New_0786711639

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 22.14
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 4.00
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Shannon, John
Published by Carroll & Graf (2003)
ISBN 10: 0786711639 ISBN 13: 9780786711635
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
MVE Inc
(Hickory, NC, U.S.A.)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: New. First Carroll & Graf Edition. perfect. Seller Inventory # 550-5

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 23.89
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 3.99
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Shannon, John
Published by Carroll & Graf (2003)
ISBN 10: 0786711639 ISBN 13: 9780786711635
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
GoldBooks
(Austin, TX, U.S.A.)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. New Copy. Customer Service Guaranteed. Seller Inventory # think0786711639

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 27.47
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 4.25
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Shannon, John
Published by Carroll & Graf (2003)
ISBN 10: 0786711639 ISBN 13: 9780786711635
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
Wizard Books
(Long Beach, CA, U.S.A.)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. New. Seller Inventory # Wizard0786711639

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 55.85
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 3.50
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Shannon, John
Published by Carroll & Graf (2003)
ISBN 10: 0786711639 ISBN 13: 9780786711635
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
BennettBooksLtd
(LOS ANGELES, CA, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title! 1.2. Seller Inventory # Q-0786711639

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 94.99
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 5.02
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds