Synopses & Reviews
A novel based on real events and newly declassified documents,
Magic City is to Miami what
L.A. Confidential and
Chinatown were to Los Angeles. It evokes a time in our nation's history when powerful men were willing to do whatever they thought necessary to achieve their goals.
A simple black and white photograph taken during the 1964 Cassius Clay-Sonny Liston fight on Miami Beach may hold the key to a horrific, politically-motivated crime forty-two years earlier. After it suddenly appears on display at a trendy Miami gallery opening, the photograph is burned in an act of arson that sets off a modern-day murder spree, reaching from the quiet neighborhoods of Miami to the back corridors of the White House.
What the killer didn't know is that there is one remaining copy. When it falls into Thorn's hands, he and everyone he loves become the target of madmen and trained killers, each of whom has his own powerful motive to see the photograph destroyed forever and its mysteries kept hidden.
To find retribution for the death of a loved one, Thorn joins forces with a dangerous enemy to solve a maddening puzzle. At its center are two families from very different worlds with their own dark secrets. Unraveling this dangerous riddle shakes the foundation of his bond with both Alexandra and his closest friend, and sends him on a deadly journey. But cover-ups have a way of disintegrating over time, especially when someone like Thorn is pounding on the door. Magic City is an epic crime thriller--exposing the past of a city in a time capsule of a novel.
Review
Praise for
Magic City:"Hall continues to explore the ever-intriguing psychodynamics of his unconventional hero, but he also adds a new dimension to the series with the fascinating look at Miami in the 1960s... Another outstanding chapter in one of the genre's most consistently first-rate series."
--Booklist (starred review) Praise for
Forests of the Night:"Moves like an arrow--lean and swift--toward its amazing target. James W. Hall is at the top of his form; he's a wonder to watch." --Reynolds Price, bestselling author of
A Serious Way of Wondering and
Roxanna Slade: A Novel"A suspenseful, sharply detailed blend of history, family drama, and thriller, Forests of the Night cuts a wide literary swath, and does it with élan and passion." --Russell Banks, bestselling author of Affliction"Compelling, with actions scenes that bristle with visceral intensity . . . Nearly everyone has real depth, and the author's appreciation for history and its reverberations adds further complexity." --Publishers Weekly
"Hall's Thorn novels continue to set the standard for Floridas noir, but his stand-alone thrillers are equally distinguished. [Forests of the Night] is no exception." --Booklist
Review
“A master of suspense.”
—The New York Times Book Review “DAMN GOOD.”—Miami Sun Post
“Impossible to put down.” —Library Journal (Starred Review)
“Torrid…provocative and memorable.”—The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC)
“A gripping tale of dirty politics, love gone wrong, murder for hire, and international intrigue that is impossible to put down. Highly recommended.” —Library Journal (Starred Review)
“The quintessential South Florida novel.”—Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
“…further solidifies Halls mastery of an element that eludes many other contemporary mystery writers...” —The Miami Herald
“Fast, entertaining… Hall offers lively characters, livelier dialogue, and an excellent depiction of contemporary south Florida.” —Publishers Weekly
“Another outstanding chapter in one of the genres most consistently first-rate series.” —Booklist (Starred Review)
“Halls action scenes are starkly poetic...” —Baltimore Sun
“From an opening scene that charges out of the box like a greyhound on amphetamines, to the climactic denouement that will leave the reader as limp as two-month old kale, the pace…never slows.”—The New York Sun
Synopsis
Based on real events, and newly declassified documents, Magic City, like the films L.A. Confidential and Chinatown, evokes a time in our nation's history when powerful men were willing to do whatever they thought necessary to achieve their goals. A simple black and white photograph taken during the 1964 Clay-Liston fight on Miami Beach sets off a modern-day murder spree that reaches from the quiet neighborhoods of Miami to the back corridors of the White House. When the last remaining copy falls into Thorn's hands, he and everyone he loves become the target of madmen and trained killers, each of whom has his own powerful motive to see the photograph destroyed forever and its secrets kept hidden.
Synopsis
Based on real events, and newly declassified documents, Magic City, like L.A. Confidential and Chinatown, evokes a time in our nation’s history when powerful men were willing to do whatever they thought necessary to achieve their goals. A simple black and white photograph taken during the 1964 Clay-Liston fight on Miami Beach sets off a modern-day murder spree that reaches from the quiet neighborhoods of Miami to the back corridors of the White House. When the last remaining copy falls into Thorn’s hands, he and everyone he loves become the target of madmen and trained killers, each of whom has his own powerful motive to see the photograph destroyed forever and its secrets kept hidden. To find retribution for the death of a loved one, Thorn joins forces with a dangerous enemy to solve a maddening puzzle. Unraveling this dangerous riddle shakes the foundation of his bond with both Alexandra as well as his closest friend, and sends him on a deadly journey into the dark heart of Magic City. But cover-ups have a way of disintegrating over time, especially when someone like Thorn is pounding on the door.
Synopsis
National bestselling author James W. Halls MAGIC CITY is an unforgettable crime thriller—a book that does for Miami what Chinatown did for Los Angeles.
“DAMN GOOD.”—Miami Sun Post
A simple black and white photograph taken during the 1964 Cassius Clay-Sonny Liston fight on Miami Beach may hold the key to a horrific, politically-motivated crime forty-two years earlier. After it mysteriously reappears, the photo is burned in an act of arson that sets off a modern-day killing spree reaching from the quiet neighborhoods of Miami to the back corridors of the White House.
“Impossible to put down.” —Library Journal (Starred Review)
What the killer did not know is that a copy of the photograph still remains. When it falls into Thorns hands, he and everyone he close to him—including his beloved Alexandra—become the targets of madmen and trained hitmen, each of whom has a powerful motive to see the photograph destroyed…and will go to murderous lengths to make it disappear forever.
“Torrid…provocative and memorable.”—The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC)
Synopsis
A simple black and white photograph taken during the 1964 Cassius Clay-Sonny Liston fight on Miami Beach may hold the key to a horrific, politically-motivated crime forty-two years earlier. After it mysteriously reappears, the photo is burned in an act of arson that sets off a modern-day killing spree reaching from the quiet neighborhoods of Miami to the back corridors of the White House.
What the killer did not know is that a copy of the photograph still remains. When it falls into Thorns hands, he and everyone he close to him—including his beloved Alexandra—become the targets of madmen and trained hitmen, each of whom has a powerful motive to see the photograph destroyed…and will go to murderous lengths to make it disappear forever.
About the Author
JAMES W. HALL lives with his wife, Evelyn, and his dogs, Carrie and Stella, dividing his time between south Florida and North Carolina. Visit his web site at jameswhall.com.