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One-Shot Harry

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( 1,011 ratings, 159 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
One-Shot Harry by Gary Phillips is a gripping crime thriller set in the backdrop of 1960s Los Angeles. It follows Harry Ingram, a Korean War veteran and freelance photographer, who becomes embroiled in a tense investigation after capturing a suspicious car crash on film. As Harry delves deeper, he uncovers layers of racial tensions and conspiracy, putting his life on the line for justice.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this gripping crime thriller if you have a penchant for historical fiction blended with mystery and intrigue. Set in 1960s Los Angeles, this atmospheric tale offers a compelling protagonist embroiled in a web of deception and danger. It's perfect for readers who appreciate stories rich in cultural and social context, filled with vivid descriptions and a strong sense of time and place.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Race and civil rights in 1963 Los Angeles provide a powerful backdrop in Gary Phillips's riveting mystery about an African American crime scene photographer seeking justice for a friend—perfect for fans of Walter Mosley, James Ellroy, and George Pelecanos.

Los Angeles, 1963—Korean War veteran Harry Ingram earns a living as a news photographer and occasional process server, chasing police radio calls and dodging baseball bats. With racial tensions running high on the eve of Martin Luther King's Freedom Rally, Ingram risks becoming a victim at every crime scene he photographs.

When Ingram hears about a deadly automobile accident on his police scanner, he recognises the vehicle described as belonging to his good friend and old army buddy, a white jazz trumpeter. The LAPD declares the car crash an accident, but when Ingram develops his photos, he sees signs of foul play. Ingram feels compelled to play detective, even if it means putting his own life on the line. Armed with his wits, his camera, and occasionally his Colt .45, One-Shot Harry plunges headfirst into the seamy underbelly of LA society, tangling with racists, leftists, gangsters, zealots, and lovers as he attempts to solve the mystery.

Master storyteller and crime fiction legend Gary Phillips has filled the pages of One-Shot Harry with fascinating historical cameos, wise-cracks, tenderness, and an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride of a plot with consequences far beyond one dead body.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

One-Shot Harry by Gary Phillips receives high praise for its vivid depiction of 1963 Los Angeles, capturing the era's racial tensions and historical context with authenticity. Reviewers commend Phillips for his engaging storytelling and for creating a memorable protagonist in Harry Ingram, a Black news photographer navigating a gritty, racially divided city. The novel is appreciated for its nuanced portrayal of social issues alongside its gripping crime narrative, establishing it as a standout work in historical crime fiction.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781641294577

Publisher: Soho Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 14 March 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: Soho Press

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 139.0mm

Height: 209.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Gary Phillips has published novels, comics, novellas, short stories and edited or co-edited several anthologies, including the Anthony-winning The Obama Inheritance- Fifteen Stories of Conspiracy Noir.Almost 30 years after its publication, his debut, Violent Spring, was named one of the essential crime novels of Los Angeles. He was also a writer and co-producer on Snowfall, a show streaming on Hulu about crack and the CIA in 1980s South Central where he grew up.

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