They seek power at any price, and pay with the devil’s own coin!

From authors including National Book Award winner Pete Hautman, Deadly Ink 2007 winner Darrell James, and renowned social commentator turned short-story writer Mike Davis, a chilling and subversive collection of new crime stories with stark themes of greed, corruption and insatiable ambition in the very highest places.

“The author’s grasp of Southern California politics is razor sharp.” — Booklist


Excerpt:
“Berk let his gaze move to the darkened textile mill, the rust stains that colored the corrugated siding, the busted window panes. He thought of the tobacco lobbyists that would be in his office, ten a.m. tomorrow morning. Drab creatures. Thought of the press conference later that day. And wondered, as the girl drove away, just how far down the polls he might slip before sunrise.” — From The Art of Avarice by Darrell James

Gary Phillips’ acclaimed novels chronicle the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles through the jaundiced eyes of his African-American investigator Ivan Monk. He is a long-standing LA political activist and labor organizer. His new political murder mystery, Citizen Kang, is currently being serialized online by The Nation.

With stories by:

• Ken Bruen
• Michele Matinez
• Mike Davis
• Twist Phelan
• Robert Greer
• John Shannon
• Pete Hautman
• Ken Wishnia
• Darrell James
• and others