Twice as Dead - (City of Shadows) by Harry Turtledove (Hardcover)

About the Book

"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 pricce."--

Book Synopsis

"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.

Review Quotes

Praise for Twice as Dead

"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

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 NetGalley

"This is the start of a new series from Harry Turtledove. It's an interesting departure from the alternate history he's written a lot of, and although it starts a series it works well as a stand alone" 4 Stars---Lorriane Cormack, reviewer via NetGalley

"Will definitely be looking at more books from Mr. Turltedove." 5 Stars--Kathryn McLeer reviewer via NetGalley

"The 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 NetGalley

"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 from NetGalley

Goodreads Review:
"Twice as Dead is 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_13

Praise for Harry Turtledove and previous works:

"[A] colossal and brilliant saga"--Publishers Weekly on The Victorious Opposition

"Turtledove is the standard-bearer for alternate history."--USA Today

"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

"Powerful . . . demonstrates Turtledove's continuing mastery of historical fiction . . . almost impossible to praise too highly."-Booklist on American Empire: The Victorious Opposition

About the Author

Harry Turtledove is renowned for his alternate history and historical fiction, characterized by meticulous research and imaginative 'what if' scenarios. His engaging narrative style appeals to both history buffs and speculative fiction fans. Turtledove's awards include the Hugo Award for Best Novella, the HOMer Award for Short Story, and the John Esten Cooke Award for Southern Fiction. He has won multiple Sidewise Awards for Alternate History and he was named an honorary Kentucky Colonel for his literary contributions. Publishers Weekly dubbed him the "Master of Alternate History."