S.J. Rozan – författare

The secrets of a group of childhood friends unravel in this haunting thriller by Edgar Award winner S. J. Rozan. Set in New York in the unforgettable aftermath of September 11, Absent Friends brilliantly captures a time and place unlike any other, as it winds through the wounded streets of New York and Staten Island...and into a maze of old crimes, damaged lives, and heartbreaking revelations. The result is not only an electrifying mystery and a riveting piece of storytelling but an elegiac novel that powerfully explores a world changed forever on a clear September morning.In a novel that will catch you off guard at every turn, and one that is guaranteed to become a classic, S. J. Rozan masterfully ratchets up the tension one revelation at a time as she dares you to ponder the bonds of friendship, the meaning of truth, and the stuff of heroism.From the Hardcover edition.

Three years ago, a child’s death blew open a vortex of corruption inside Manhattan’s lucrative construction industry. And it sent one innocent man to jail. Joe Cole is a former city investigator who now lives a broken life, cut off from his wife and daughter, and from the city he once knew so well. But for Joe, everything changes when a woman’s murder and a teenager’s rooftop freefall rip open old wounds—and reveal a shocking layer of rage and deception.It is Joe’s former partner, beautiful, hard-charging investigator Ann Montgomery, who first sees the lies, forcing Joe out of his self-imposed isolation to help her unravel the cover-ups and secret relationships that allow the powerful to hide their crimes. Soon, the two are entering the darkest corners of their city, delving into the hidden desires of a borough president who wants to be mayor, the motivations of a charismatic community activist, and the machinations of a mayor whose ambitions know no bounds. As the secrets of each player are exposed, as the primal forces of greed, sex, and power come to the surface, Ann and Joe know they must press their search all the way to the end—because the most powerful revelations are yet to come.From a brilliantly choreographed press conference to a scandalous love affair gone terribly wrong, In This Rain takes us into the heart of a sprawling, brawling city—in a masterpiece of suspense that proves once again the unique and daring genius of S. J. Rozan.From the Hardcover edition.

Bold, original, specially commissioned new stories from some of our greatest writers on two irresistible subjects: sex and crimeWhen we asked this amazing line-up of authors to write their heart out on the twin subjects of sex and crime, they jumped at the idea, and they''re at the top of their games:A strong, aggravated man fingers the knife in his pocket while considering a pretty woman at the bar. But what becomes of his prey when they move to the bedroom? Elsewhere, a man discovers he visits the same hair salon as the victim of a gruesome murder. And a modern-day Don Juan has a hobby of marrying vulnerable women, getting access to their bank accounts, and then robbing them blind.A glittering line-up of our best writers (including Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Val McDermid, Edmund White and Patrick McCabe) weave fresh and memorable stories from a pair of classic themes: sex and crime. This tantalising collection abounds in dark-haired vixens and crimes of passion. Some stories are brooding, others twisted; some offer righteous satisfaction while others linger long in the mind. This innovative, exciting and intriguing book is a rare treat for fans of great fiction, whether it''s high literature, good old-fashioned suspense, or anything in between.

Sherlock-esque crime set in early 20th century London, packed with action and martial arts elements, this is the first book in a series to feature a daring, opium-addicted Chinese judge and his shy, academic sidekick, solving fiendish mysteries among the Chinese community in London's Limehouse district.Two unlikely allies race through the cobbled streets of 1920s London in search of a killer targeting Chinese immigrants.London, 1924. When shy academic Lao She meets larger-than-life Judge Dee Ren Jie, his life abruptly turns from books and lectures to daring chases and narrow escapes. Dee has come to London to investigate the murder of a man he'd known during World War I when serving with the Chinese Labour Corps. No sooner has Dee interviewed the grieving widow than another dead body turns up. Then another. All stabbed to death with a butterfly sword. Will Dee and Lao be able to connect the threads of the murders-or are they next in line as victims?John Shen Yen Nee and S. J. Rozan's groundbreaking collaboration blends traditional gong'an crime fiction and the most iconic aspects of the Sherlock Holmes canon. Dee and Lao encounter the aristocracy and the street-child telegraph, churchmen and thieves in this clever, cinematic mystery that's as thrilling and visual as an action film, as imaginative and transporting as a timeless classic.

“Powerful. . . . A redemptive and absorbing work.”—The New York Times Book Review, on Spidertown“Scary, sexy, exuberant. . . . Rodriguez has seized a truth of our times . . . and given us a crackling good read.”—Los Angeles Times Book Review, on Spidertown“Rodriguez uses the repetitiveness of life in the ghetto itself to make the tension and desperation of Spidertown achingly palpable.”—People, on Spidertown“A joy to read! Rodriguez’s writing has never been more accomplished, more lyrical, more trenchant, or more humane. In these pages you will find marvels, but also a young man writing with the ferocity of life itself.”—Junot Díaz, on The Buddha BookWhen Puerto Rican ladies’ man Alex awakes one morning to find a mysterious woman in his bed, he assumes he’s suffered another embarrassing blackout. He soon learns, however, that Ava is no one-night stand—in fact, he’s never met her before. As her story begins to unfold and her reason for appearing in his bed emerges, it is not just Alex’s life that she risks, nor her own, but the entire character of the South Bronx.Abraham Rodriguez, Jr. was born and raised in the South Bronx. His first book, The Boy without a Flag, was a 1993 New York Times Notable Book of the Year. His novel Spidertown won a 1995 American Book Award and was optioned by Columbia Pictures. His most recent novel, The Buddha Book, was published by Picador in 2001. He currently lives in Berlin, Germany.