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—Scott Dominic Carpenter, author of Theory of Remainders
In 1990s San Francisco, the gruesome death of former district attorney Harrison Rose uncovers a 19th-century double homicide aboard the ship Hurricane, and begins the hunt for Inca gold smuggled from Peru to California by wayward Catholic priests.
During the Gold Rush, dozens of ships were abandoned in San Francisco by sailors bedazzled by the news of gold in the California hills. These ships were buried under downtown landfill, and a huge Inca treasure is aboard one of them. Rose's daughter Hannah hires old flame George Krishna Walker to investigate after the police rule her father's death an accident. Walker, born in San Francisco and raised in India, is drawn into a web of intrigue, historical puzzles, mortal danger, and the rekindling of his love for Hannah.
His search for a modern-day murderer and the ancient golden hoard unravels two criminal organizations, one a Chinese triad doing business all over the Pacific Rim, the other an artifact-smuggling ring called Caruso that uses code related to the famous tenor.
Driven by what he learns in his investigation, Walker undertakes a dangerous journey into the Peruvian jungle in search of evidence related to Rose's death and the Hurricane's cargo. He delves into the conquest of the Incas and learns about an immense golden ransom paid to conquistador Francisco Pizarro, believed to be buried aboard the long-lost Hurricane. One torment follows another as Walker faces death and torture, forcing him to face his own violent past and his age-old fear of losing those he loves most.
With the help of unconventional consultants and techniques, Walker solves both cases and falls in love, again, with the daughter of the deceased, and she with him.
George Walker is reminiscent of Arkady Renko in Gorky Park and other books by the late Martin Cruz Smith; the plot echoes the complexity of Terry Hayes's I Am Pilgrim. The emotional landscape features Walker's South Asia past and his conflicted attraction to Hannah Rose. Passage of the Hurricane is a map of history, adventure, and emotions across generations. Set against the iconic backdrops of San Francisco, the California missions, and Peru, it delves into love, loyalty, redemption, and the pursuit of truth. With an intricate plot and strong characters, the novel promises to be a standout addition to the mystery and thriller genre.
“This raucous tale of murder in San Francisco rewards the reader with sharply drawn characters from different cultures, and the tension never lets up. Writing so good it’s intimidating. Highly recommended.” —Stephen M. Murphy, author of Beneath the Gavel and the Dutch Francis legal thriller series
“After reading just a few pages of Passage of the Hurricane, I was hooked and couldn't stop! With its richly drawn characters, lively dialogue, and evocative descriptions of San Francisco, it’s a fantastic, riveting tale.” —Don George, author of The Way of Wanderlust
“The mysteries keep evolving and shifting. From drugs to prostitution to smuggling to murder. Could there be more? Yes, of course. And you never want it to end.” —Tania Romanov, author of One Hundred Years of Exile
“Passage of the Hurricane is more than just a terrific mystery novel—James Lawrence draws you almost magically into historical times and places. It is as much a gripping detective story as it is a mesmerizing dive into the past. Pure gold.” —Gary Buslik, author of A Rotten Person Travels the Caribbean
“Passage of the Hurricane is the most riveting and propulsive thriller I have read in years, and a remarkable literary achievement from James Lawrence. Seamlessly plotted, brilliantly researched, the novel is packed with crackling, chewy dialogue delivered by unforgettable and instantly iconic characters. Chief among them is Private Investigator George Krishna Walker, a Sam Spade for our time, whose crime-solving adventure gripped me unrelentingly from the first page and did not let me go until the last. Along the way, the reader is swept back into the history of clipper ships, Spanish missionaries, and the Gold Rush that helped create the great City by the Bay. The book is also a kind of love letter to San Francisco itself—its fog, Chinatown dives, secret gardens, and Golden Gate Bridge that crowns it all—which provides perfect romantic backdrop for the twists and turns of this meticulously crafted yarn. Sequel, please!” —Marcia DeSanctis, author of A Hard Place to Leave
James Lawrence is a pseudonym for the writing team of James O’Reilly and Larry Habegger, who have worked together on literary projects since the 1980s. An earlier version of Passage of the Hurricane appeared in the San Francisco Examiner as a daily serial in 1982, followed over the next few years by three reader-participation mysteries. James and Larry have also written dozens of stories for magazines and newspapers and co-authored a syndicated newspaper column that appeared in five countries over thirty-two years.
In 1993 they launched the award-winning Travelers’ Tales publishing company, which has published more than 160 books of travel literature, memoir, and the occasional work of fiction. James and Larry have worked together on all of these books.
James was born in Oxford, England, grew up in San Francisco, and now lives with his wife Wenda on the banks of the Icicle River in Central Washington. Larry lives with his wife Paula Mc Cabe on Telegraph Hill in San Francisco, where he looks down at the waterfront and ponders the mysteries concealed beneath the piers.Part One
Gold Mountain
Part Two
Child of the Sun
Part Three
City of Saint Francis