Damnation Street

They are two sworn enemies with a single obsession: a woman on the run from them both.

Scott Weiss is a private detective. John Foy is a professional killer. The woman is Julie Wyant, a hooker with the face of an angel.

 Julie spent one night with Foy—a night of psychopathic cruelty that Foy called love. Desperate to get away from him, she vanished without a trace. And Foy wants her back.

 There’s only one man who can find her: Weiss, the best locate operative in the business. She’s begged him not to look for her, fearing he’ll bring the killer in his wake. But Weiss can’t stay away.

 Now, from a town called Paradise, through a wilderness that feels like hell, Weiss searches for Julie—and the killer follows, waiting for his chance.

 They are two expert hunters matching move for move—until it ends on Damnation Street.

They are two sworn enemies with a single obsession: a woman on the run from them both. Scott Weiss is a private detective. John Foy is a professional killer. The woman is Julie Wyant, a hooker with the face of an angel. There’s only one man who can find her: Weiss, the best locate operative in the business. Now, from a town called Paradise, through a wilderness that feels like hell, Weiss searches for Julie—and the killer follows, waiting for his chance. They are two expert hunters matching move for move—until it ends on Damnation Street.

Publishers Weekly

A select group of authors have the skills needed to read their own works for audio and Klavan can be counted as a member of that club. Damnation Street tells a dark tale of two men's obsession. Middle-aged ex-cop Scott Wiess, now running a private detective agency in San Francisco, has pursued a psychotic, professional killer known as the Shadowman for years. The killer is stalking a beautiful prostitute named Julie Wyatt in an attempt to fulfill his own perverse version of love. Wyatt becomes the focal point for both men, leading to a final heart-stopping confrontation between the two adversaries. In his "author's note," Klavan states that this book, like the two proceeding it, is a "fictionalized memoir" of his time working for a real detective agency. Based on truth or not, this is a well-written, suspenseful book, and the author proves the perfect choice to bring his words to life on audio. Klavan has a surprisingly pleasant voice and handles the numerous characterizations, shifting points of view and gritty dialogue like an old pro. Simultaneous release with the Harcourt hardcover (Reviews, June 26). (Sept.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

ANDREW KLAVAN is the author of the best-selling novels True Crime, filmed by Clint Eastwood, and Don't Say a Word, a film starring Michael Douglas. His work has been nominated for the Edgar Award five times and has won twice. He is a contributing editor at City Journal and his articles have appeared, among other places, in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times. He lives in Southern California with his wife Ellen. They have a daughter, Faith, and a son, Spencer.