Twice as Dead (City of Shadows Book 1)

"Turtledove admirably adheres to the noir aesthetic with his street-level focus on the resilience and resistance of society’s outcasts. Readers waiting for Walter Mosley's next hard-boiled novel will fill the time nicely with this sympathetic but unsentimental tale of the ghostly underclass."—Publishers Weekly_______________________Rudolf Sebestyen is missing, and Marianne Smalls is involved in an illicit affair with the shady Jonas Schmitt. Both cases converge when Dora Urban, Rudolf’s beautiful and mysterious half-sister, and Lamont Smalls, Marianne’s suspicious husband, hire Jack Mitchell, a hard-drinking, chain-smoking private investigator. Dora wants Jack to uncover what happened to her brother, while Lamont seeks proof of his wife’s infidelity.But Dora is a vampire, in a city teeming with creatures of the night.As Jack dives deeper, he discovers that both cases are linked to vepratoga—a dangerous new drug spreading through Los Angeles. Twice as Dead is brimming with vampires, wizards, zombies and zombie dealers, the Central Avenue jazz scene, an exclusive after-hours club, adultery, a New England ghost who prefers Southern California’s warmer clime, corrupt cops and politicians, spying rats, and a smart-mouthed talking cat.When Jack’s home is burned to the ground, the strands of his investigations culminate in a showdown at a tire factory, where even the reliefs on the walls are not what they seem. In this unique noirish urban fantasy set in postwar Los Angeles, Jack finds more adventure, danger, and romance than he ever imagined—and learns that success may come at too high a price.NetGalley Reviews for Twice as Dead"I loved this book. The story is well-told and well-paced; it was difficult to put the book down. The characters and world-building are excellent and there are many passages so well-written that I would read them over several times. I found the noir attitude compelling but I did have to look up some words. Overall this is a great read and I look forward to more books in the series." 5 Stars—Stephen Goldberg, Reviewer via NetGalley"This was a fantastic job in the genre and had that feel that I was looking for, it was a strong opening chapter in the City of Shadows series. The characters were everything that was needed in this universe and worked with the plot of the book. I was invested in what was happening and am excited for more. Harry Turtledove wrote this perfectly and everything worked overall." 5 Stars—Kathryn McLeer, Reviewer via NG"Will definitely be looking at more books from Mr. Turltedove." 5 Stars—Kathryn McLeer reviewer via NGThe author’s writing, buildup, and plotting is great, even though there were a couple things that weren’t a personal preference, not a problem with the book. His way of immersing the reader in the timeframe is exceptional without losing sight of the characters and what’s happening." 4 Stars—Penny Noble, Reviewer via NeG"The tone has echoes of Lovecraft Country or LA Confidential with supernaturals. Though the plot progresses slowly at first, the ending had several Call of Cthulhu adventure-style boss battles and revelations." 5 Stars —Scott Rhine, Reviewer via NGGOODREADS REVIEWS:"A riveting journey into a world where the supernatural and the human realm intersect in shadowy corners."https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205212842-twice-as-dead?ref=nav_sb_ss_2_13PRAISE FOR TURTLEDOVE AND HIS PREVIOUS WORKS“[A] colossal and brilliant saga”—Publishers Weekly on The Victorious Opposition“Turtledove never tires of exploring the paths not taken, bringing to his storytelling a prodigious knowledge of his subject and a profound understanding of human sensibilities and motivations.”—Library Journal

Publishers WeeklyNetGalley Reviews for Twice as Dead"I loved this book. The story is well-told and well-paced; it was difficult to put the book down. The characters and world-building are excellent and there are many passages so well-written that I would read them over several times. I found the noir attitude compelling but I did have to look up some words. Overall this is a great read and I look forward to more books in the series." 5 Stars

“Turtledove admirably adheres to the noir aesthetic with his street-level focus on the resilience and resistance of society’s outcasts. Readers waiting for Walter Mosley's next hard-boiled novel will fill the time nicely with this sympathetic but unsentimental tale of the ghostly underclass.”

Publishers Weekly on The Victorious Opposition

“[A] colossal and brilliant saga”

USA Today

“Turtledove is the standard-bearer for alternate history.”

Library Journal

“Turtledove never tires of exploring the paths not taken, bringing to his storytelling a prodigious knowledge of his subject and a profound understanding of human sensibilities and motivations.”

Publishers Weekly on American Empire: Blood & Iron --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

“Nobody plays the what-if game of alternative history better than Turtledove.”

About the Author

Harry Turtledove, known as the "Master of Alternative History," is the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of a number of bestselling series and standalone novels. He received his PhD from UCLA in Byzantine history and worked as a technical writer for the Los Angeles County Office of Education before becoming a full-time fiction writer. He also served as the treasurer of the Science Fiction Writers of America. He has written a number of successful series, including the Crosstime Traffic series, the Darkness series, and the Worldwar I Colonization series, among others. His standalone works include Ruled Brittania, Every Inch a King, Conan of Venarium, Household Gods, and Justinian. --This text refers to the audioCD edition.

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