
The Kind One
Tom Epperson(Author)
Gallery (Publisher)
Published on 15. June 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
352 pages
978-1-4165-9698-1 (ISBN)
Description
In 1930's Los Angeles, someone desperately wants to know who Danny Landon is. That someone is Danny Landon himself. All the young man really knows about himself is that some terrible incident has erased his memory. Danny's boss is a mobster named Bud Seitz; a vicious, sadistic killer who's been given the nickname "The Kind One." According to Seitz, Danny's amnesia is the result of being hit in the head with a lead pipe. But Danny's not sure of anything. How can he be a gangster when he doesn't feel like one? It's not easy being the right-hand man to a big criminal, and it gets harder when Danny's ordered to keep an eye on Bud's lovely young girlfriend, Darla. Danny can't help but fall in love with her. To make matters worse, Danny's life at his bungalow-court apartment is no picnic as he's constantly having to rescue his 11-year-old neighbour Sophie from an abusive home life. It seems that only the kindly Dulwich, a lonely neighbour with his own mysterious history, can bring Danny any peace, offering him tea and sympathy at the end of a hard day.
As Danny manoeuvres through the corrupt, sun-drenched city, he uncovers terrible secrets and finds himself on a mission to liberate those he cares about. Only by following this gripping noir thriller to its violent, shocking climax will the reader discover who Danny really is and if he has it in him to save his friends - and himself.
As Danny manoeuvres through the corrupt, sun-drenched city, he uncovers terrible secrets and finds himself on a mission to liberate those he cares about. Only by following this gripping noir thriller to its violent, shocking climax will the reader discover who Danny really is and if he has it in him to save his friends - and himself.
Reviews / Votes
"Tense, emotional, and unforgiving.... A beautifully written take on the dark Hollywood of the '30s -- a perfect noir novel that is pure and original, with a heavy heart that beats through each page." -- Robert Crais "On every page, the language is crisp and fresh, the details sharp and keenly observed, the dialogue real, never forced." -- Los Angeles Times "Epperson manages to throw in an occasional turn of phrase that Raymond Chandler might have penned....An impressive debut." -- Publishers Weekly "What's memorable about Epperson's take on the '30s is its balance of brutality and optimism. He portrays Los Angeles as the last outpost of the Wild West...but he's even more adept at portraying the eternal hopefulness of a more innocent America." -- San Francisco ChronicleMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York, NY
United States
Publishing group
Simon & Schuster
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 211 mm
Width: 133 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
308 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4165-9698-1 (9781416596981)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Person
Tom Epperson headed west from Arkansas with his boyhood friend Billy Bob Thornton to pursue a career in show business. He's co-written the screenplays for One False Move, A Family Thing, The Gift, and A Gun, a Car, a Blonde. His book The Kind One was nominated for both the Edgar Award and the Barry Award for Best First Novel. He is also the author of Sailor and Roberto to the Dark Tower Came. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Stefani, three cats, and a dog.