White Heat

"White Heat" by Paul D. Marks, published by Timeless Skies Publishing. WHITE HEAT won the 2013 SHAMUS AWARD by the Private Eye Writers of America. **** Other winners in various categories included Robert Crais, Alison Gaylin, Michael Sears and John Shepphird. WHITE HEAT CHOSEN AS ONE OF THE BEST FICTION BOOKS OF 2012: Rosa St. Claire at Examiner.com just named White Heat one of the best fiction books of 2012, along with Megan Abbott's Dare Me, Blind Night by Michael W. Sherer, Merry Christmas, Alex Cross by James Patterson, The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling, etc. (examiner.com/review/best-fiction-books-of-2012-and-new-titles-for-2013) PUBLISHERS WEEKLY says: WHITE HEAT is a "...taut crime yarn set in 1992 against the turmoil of the Los Angeles riots that followed the acquittal of the police officers charged with assaulting motorist Rodney King.... the author ably evokes the chaos that erupted after the Rodney King verdict." WARNING: WHITE HEAT is NOT for the easily intimidated! It depicts realistic violence, racism, adult situations and contains offensive language, Don't read this book if you can't handle it. 5 stars: Explosive, Visual, Dynamite and Totally Noir White Heat...explodes on the page. Days before the verdict is read in the Rodney King Case in Los Angeles back in the 1992, a weasely little man walks into private detective Duke Rogers office and asks him to locate an old friend, Teddie Matson. The guy is white and Teddie is black, and Los Angeles is just about ready to explode due to racial tensions, but Duke isn't thinking about that, just the $250 he'll make on the easy case. A few days later Teddie Matson is murdered and Duke's guilt meter is through the roof. Turns out Teddie was a well-known TV actress with her own show. This doesn't make checking into her death any easier. But there are a lot more reasons hunting down her killer is going to be a lot more difficult. First, the verdict is in on the Rodney King Case and Los Angeles is going up in flames. The area hardest hit is right where Teddie's family lives. And Duke, being a white man, isn't wanted in South Central L.A. --G.B. Pool 5 stars: Hang on tight for a white knuckle read! Paul D. Marks' debut novel "White Heat" couldn't be better titled, since it burns like a phosphorous bomb, illuminating the mean streets of Los Angeles at a time when they were at their meanest, rawest and most incendiary: during the 1992 riots that tore the city apart after the Rodney King beating verdict... What may be even more remarkable than Marks' evocation of one of LA's most challenging moments is his creation of that rarest of avises, a wholly original P.I. protagonist, in the form of Marion "Duke" Rogers, a former Navy SEAL who struggles to maintain his honor despite a near-crippling guilt complex. If that weren't enough, the author manages to propel his flawed hero into his dangerous, duty-bound quest through one of the most ingenious motives I can remember reading. "White Heat" is a tough, tersely-written book featuring tough, complicated, and not always lovable characters who might push many readers to the very edge of their comfort zone. But it's honest and it's real, and doesn't it doesn't pander to its audience by providing pat or phony answers to the many complex issues it raises. --M2 5 stars: Skillfully woven story Even after the who-done-it is solved, the novel leaves you with the question that is still valid today, why can't we all just get along? --Riverguy P.I. Duke Rogers finds himself in a combustible situation in this racially charged thriller. His case might have to wait... The immediate problem: getting out of South Central Los Angeles in one piece during the 1992 "Rodney King" riots and that's just the beginning of his problems. While Duke tracks down the killer he must also deal with the racism of his partner, Jack, and from Warren, the murder victim's brother. He must also confront his own possible latent racism - even as he's in an interracial relationship with the dead woman's sister. From Publishers Weekly White Heat is a "...taut crime yarn set in 1992 against the turmoil of the Los Angeles riots that followed the acquittal of the police officers charged with assaulting motorist Rodney King.... the author ably evokes the chaos that erupted after the Rodney King verdict." Review "White Heat" is a riveting read of mystery, much recommended. --Midwest Book Review "[White Heat] really caught early 90s LA, in all its sordid glory. And had me turning me pages late into the night. I think WH is up there with the best of the LA novels, but has an air authenticity that many lack. Look forward to reading Broken Windows." --Woody Haut, journalist, author of Neon Noir (Contemporary American Crime Fiction), Pulp Culture (Hardboiled Fiction & the Cold War), Heartbreak and Vine (The Fate of Hardboiled Writers in Hollywood) "Expect the unexpected...in an action-walloping award-winner of harrowing twists and turns..." --Gordon Hauptfleisch - Seattle Post Intelligencer and BlogCritics.org "A gripping tale of prejudice and deceit, set against the tumultuous backdrop of the 1992 L.A. riots. White Heat is all the title promises it to be." --Darrell James, award-winning author of Nazareth Child "Written in a staccato, noir style as intense as the 1992 L.A. riots, White Heat is a stunning debut novel by L.A. native Paul Marks. It grabs you with the intensity of the riots and keeps the anxiety and tension pushing full-throttle right up to the bittersweet ending. Heat is a hard-hitting, noir detective thriller, that also deals with tough issues like racism, the diversity of racism, and the human condition." --Andrew McAleer, best-selling author of The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Novelists and Fatal Deeds "The plot was interesting, and full of twists and turns... The characters' interactions, mannerisms, and dialogue also felt realistic. I fell in love with Duke, Jack, and Rita. I also loved Teddie, even though we never met her alive." --Elizabeth Barone --See the full review at ElizabethBarone.net About the Author Paul D. Marks is the author of the Shamus Award-Winning mystery-thriller White Heat . Publishers Weekly calls White Heat a "taut crime yarn." And Midwest Book Review says "White Heat is a riveting read of mystery, much recommended." His story Howling at the Moon is short listed for both this year's (2015) Anthony Award and Macavity Award for Best Short Story. It was published in the November 2014 issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and came in #7 in their Reader's Poll Award. And he just sold another story, Ghosts of Bunker Hill, to Ellery Queen (publication date to be announced later). His story Fade Out will be in an upcoming Akashic's Mondays Are Murder in August. And his latest noir-thriller, Vortex, will be out in early summer, 2015. He is the co-editor of the anthology Coast to Coast: Murder from Sea to Shining Sea, coming in 2015 from Down and Out Books. Paul is also the author of over thirty published short stories in a variety of genres, including several award winners. Five of his stories can be found in the collection LA Late @ Night. According to Steven Bingen, author of MGM: Hollywood's Greatest Backlot, he [Paul] has the distinction, dubious though it might be, of being the last person to have shot a film on the fabled MGM backlot before it bit the dust to make way for condos. **If you like this book, please post a review or "like" it on Amazon! Facebook:** If you like Paul's book, please friend him on Facebook: facebook.com/paul.d.marks Visit Paul at PaulDMarks.com Book details: published 2012. Order now on BookShops.in with fast, reliable delivery across India.