博客來The Kid from California Short Story Series was inspired by the early pulp fiction detective novels of Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, and Robert B. Parker, followed by David Baldacci’s Archer Series which convincingly demonstrates that those stories and their stereotypical characters can be updated to appeal to modern readers. The series is also based on my personal knowledge of Southern California - Palm Springs, in particular - and the history of the Mob in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main character, Patrick Malloy, is a young man from San Diego trying to get ahead in the 1960s while working as an enforcer for the gangsters and occasionally as a bodyguard for Frank Sinatra. Those themes offer lots of possibilities for dark and dangerous stories mixed with a young man’s angst, moral dilemmas, and a few romantic episodes. In these three stories, Patrick is trying to stay true to himself and his own moral code while working for the Mafia owner of a Las Vegas casino. He’s continually challenged to avoid becoming a murderous gangster without becoming a victim himself.
Enjoy!
Del
