What It Was: Deluxe Slipcase Edition

Washington,D.C.,1972.DerekStrangehasleftthepolicedepartmentandsetupshopasaprivateinvestigator.Hisformerpartner,Frank"HoundDog"Vaughn,isstillontheforce.WhenayoungwomancomestoStrangeaskingforhishelprecoveringacheapringsheclaimshassentimentalvalue,thecaseleadshimontoVaughn'sturf,wherealocaldrugaddict'sbeenmurdered,shotpoint-blankinhisapartment.Soonbothmenareonthetrailofaruthlesskiller:RedFury,socalledforhislooksandthecarhisgirlfrienddrives,butanamethatfitshispersonalityalltoowell.RedFurydoesn'thavearetirementplan,asVaughnpointsout-hedoesn'tcarewhohehastocross,orkill,togetwhathewants.Astheviolenceescalatesandthestakesgethigher,StrangeandVaughnknowtheonlywaytocatchtheirmanistodoittheirownway.Richwithdetailsofplaceandtime-thecars,themusic,theclothes-andfueledbynon-stopaction,thisisPelecanoswritinginthehard-boilednoirstylethatwonhimhisearliestfansandplacedhimfirmlyintheranksofthetopcrimewritersinAmerica.