Telegraph Hill by John F. Nardizzi
In Telegraph Hill, private detective Ray Infantino searches for a missing girl named Tania. The case takes him to San Francisco, the city he abandoned years ago after his fiance was murdered. Thrust into his old city haunts, Ray finds that Tania may not be lost at all. Tania saw a murder; and a criminal…
In Telegraph Hill, private detective Ray Infantino searches for a missing girl named Tania. The case takes him to San Francisco, the city he abandoned years ago after his fiance was murdered. Thrust into his old city haunts, Ray finds that Tania may not be lost at all. Tania saw a murder; and a criminal gang, the Black Fist Triad, wants to make sure she never sees anything again. Ray enlists help from an old flame, Dominique, but now he has three women on his mind.
Meeting with various witnesses—ex-cops, prostitutes, skinheads—he relentlessly tracks the evidence. But the hunt for Tania fires his obsession with avenging the murder of his fiancé. When the triad retaliates, and blood begins to flow, Ray must walk the knife edge between revenge and redemption on the streets of San Francisco.
“Great read”
Five Star Review on Amazon By K. Resnik
I don’t usually consider myself such a fan of noir, but this book firmly fits within that genre (as well as the thriller and lawyer/thriller genres). It’s also, however, a really good read, with well-drawn characters, a plot which moves right along, intimate portrayals of Boston and San Francisco, and an ending which leaves room for more. As a bonus, the prose is thoughtful and poetic. John Nardizzi has written a good thriller which is also honestly a novel, and avoids being one of those briefly involving but all-too-soon completely forgettable books we all have likely read plenty of. Well worth the price of admission!
About the Author
John Nardizzi is a writer and investigator. His fictional detective, Ray Infantino, first appeared in print in Austin Layman’s Crimestalkers Casebook. Telegraph Hill is the first novel featuring Infantino. Many details from the book are loosely based on legal cases John handled in San Francisco’s tough Tenderloin District and around the country.
Some early ideas–poems and short sketches–came from walking Nob Hill through the Tenderloin. An incredible mix of wealth and poverty in a short space, there was some vibrant poetry bubbling up from the streets–Hollywood Billiards, bars like the Driftwood, Motherlode, taco joints, Original Joe’s, poetry readings at Yakety Yak Cafe and the Royal. John took his word-pictures and stories of the denizens of the city–gang members, cops, prostitutes, talented, damaged artists–and tossed them in a stew until the book Telegraph Hill was ready to be served up.
John has publishing credits in numerous professional and literary journals, including San Diego Writer’s Monthly, Oxygen, Liberty Hill Poetry Review, Lawyers Weekly and PI Magazine.
In 2003, John founded Nardizzi & Assocs., Inc., a private detective agency in Boston. His investigations on behalf of people wrongfully convicted of crimes led to million dollar settlements for clients like Dennis Maher, Scott Hornoff, and the estate of Kenneth Waters, whose story was featured in the 2010 film Conviction.
Prior to working as a PI, John worked as a landscaper, law clerk, and in athletic clubs. He failed to hold any restaurant job for longer than a week.
Any comments, questions or burning thoughts to share? Feel free to stop by johnnardizzi.com