Liar's Dice - (A Shane Cleary Mystery) by Gabriel Valjan (Paperback)

About the Book

Shane Cleary, reluctant PI, is asked to find the nephew of the local crime boss in 1970s Boston.

Book Synopsis

Boston might be white with snow, but there's nothing but a winter's darkness for Shane Cleary, a former cop, veteran, and reluctant PI. There's an international war within the mafia over drugs, and he has been asked to find the nephew of the local crime boss. When federal agencies descend on the city and order the police department to stand down on a homicide, the BPD reaches out to Shane for answers.

Shane's past in Vietnam comes to haunt him when the corpse of a veteran is found on Boston Common, frozen to death in front of the State House. Then, a former army buddy comes to town looking for justice. His presence endangers all that Shane holds dear.

Shane must come to terms with a side of himself he thought he had left behind. The mounting body count and circumstances compel him to play a game of Liar's Dice. Can he deceive and detect deception around him? Protect those he loves, while he solves the cases?

Review Quotes

"Warning: Pick up a copy, turn the page, and you'll be hooked. Liar's Dice ticks the boxes: an interesting tale that's economical and tight, descriptions that are full and rich, dialogue that's real, and characters that spring to life. Gabriel Valjan just has a way of making every word count."-Dietrich Kalteis, winner of the 2022 Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence for best novel

"Gritty, smart, sharply written...Liar's Dice is a welcome addition to the canon of fine PI fiction."-Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author of Sleepless City

"A fast-paced mystery that kept me flipping the pages, needing to find out what would happen next. Shane Cleary is a complex, brilliantly written protagonist.  A terrific read."-Hannah Mary McKinnon, internationally bestselling author of Never Coming Home

"Gabriel Valjan is the godfather of organized crime fiction and Liar's Dice is all the proof you need."-James L'Etoile, author of the Detective Nathan Parker series

"Gabriel Valjan writes like a poet but his PI Shane Cleary packs a wallop worthy of Mickey Spillane. In Liar's Dice he delves deep into the hearty of dirty old Boston, playing the cops against the mob as his own dark memories threaten to overwhelm in this moody, unforgettable noir."-Clea Simon, Boston Globe-bestselling author of Hold Me Down

"Liar's Dice is a blast! Mobsters, Vietnam, assassins, and 1970s Boston, not to mention sharp characters, witty prose, and a twisting-and-turning plot. A great read with a message that will stick with you long after you put it down. Do yourself a favor and get this fantastic novel."-David Heska Wanbli Weiden, Anthony and Thriller Award-winning author of Winter Counts

"Gabriel Valjan crafts a vivid portrait of 1970s Boston to life in Liar's Dice. Shane Cleary deserves to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the city's other famous PIs-a haunted but compassionate character who cuts through a swath of Mob crime with Valjan's trademark wit and style."-James D.F. Hannah, Shamus-winning author of Behind the Wall of Sleep and She Talks To Angels