{"product_id":"rain-dogs-9781504082044","title":"Rain Dogs","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"[A] gritty, wide-angled modern noir\u003c\/b\u003e . . . \u003cb\u003eThe first standalone novel by Birtcher, author of the Mike Travis series, pulls no punches.\" --\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In 1976, as America celebrates its bicentennial, the drug game changes. Cocaine makes a comeback, bringing with it a previously unheard of level of violence. The copious amounts of blow crossing the US-Mexico border herald the beginning of a brave new--and terrifying--world. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Far from the brutality on the border, the nameless narrator and his partner--both Vietnam vets--live a mostly peaceful life growing pot under the northern California redwoods. But when their livelihood is threatened by heavily armed robbers and a worthless rat, they find themselves drawn into a war with no good guys. Caught in the crossfire between a paranoid Mexican drug kingpin and dirty federal agents, they'll soon realize that--like every other player in the game--they're just pawns in a vast conspiracy that starts at the top . . . \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"A top-class thriller.\" --\u003ci\u003eSan Francisco Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"White-knuckle tension and crisp, clean prose . . . Many books call themselves 'thrillers, ' but this is the real deal.\" --\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Birtcher combines a gritty, action-filled thriller with a nuanced, almost contemplative character drama . . . Thoroughly entertaining.\" --\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"A thriller with genuine shocks and chills.\" --\u003ci\u003eCafe Libri\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e Baron Birtcher spent a number of years as a professional musician, and founded an independent record label and management company. His first two novels, \u003ci\u003eRoadhouse Blues\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eRuby Tuesday\u003c\/i\u003e, are \u003ci\u003eLos Angeles Times \u003c\/i\u003eand Independent Mystery Booksellers Association bestsellers. Birtcher has been nominated for a number of literary awards, including the Nero Award for his novel Hard Latitudes, the Claymore Award for his novel \u003ci\u003eRain Dogs\u003c\/i\u003e, and the Left Coast Crime \"Lefty\" Award for his novel \u003ci\u003eAngels Fall\u003c\/i\u003e. He was the 2016 Silver Falchion Award winner for his novel Hard Latitudes and the 2018 Winner of the Killer Nashville Reader's Choice Award for his novel \u003ci\u003eSouth California Purples.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Birtcher currently divides his time between Portland, Oregon, and Kona, Hawaii. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Open Road Integrated Media LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50456237015314,"sku":"9781504082044","price":20.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_67787bb1-d07c-4c3d-833d-628ede20ae4a.jpg?v=1729903903","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/rain-dogs-9781504082044","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}