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City Blues #2
Angel City Blues
Los Angeles: 2065
A wealthy young woman vanishes from her high-security apartment without leaving a single strand of DNA behind. No trace of the victim’s disappearance is recorded on any of the building’s many cameras or security sensors. Her apartment’s memory cores have been destroyed beyond any hope of recovery.
To find the missing woman, Private Detective David Stalin must unravel a crime with no apparent motive, no imaginable means, and no conceivable opportunity. The truth, when he finds it, will blur the lines between pleasure and pain. Between fantasy and reality. Between life and death…
A wealthy young woman vanishes from her high-security apartment without leaving a single strand of DNA behind. No trace of the victim’s disappearance is recorded on any of the building’s many cameras or security sensors. Her apartment’s memory cores have been destroyed beyond any hope of recovery.
To find the missing woman, Private Detective David Stalin must unravel a crime with no apparent motive, no imaginable means, and no conceivable opportunity. The truth, when he finds it, will blur the lines between pleasure and pain. Between fantasy and reality. Between life and death…
282 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 2014
About the author
Jeff Edwards
69 books133 followersJeff Edwards is a retired U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer, and an Anti-Submarine Warfare Specialist. His naval career spanned more than two decades and half the globe - from chasing Soviet nuclear attack submarines during the Cold War, to launching cruise missiles in the Persian Gulf. Collectively, his novels have won the Admiral Nimitz Award for Outstanding Naval Fiction, the Reader’s Choice Award, the Clive Cussler Grandmaster Award for Adventure Writing, and the American Author Medal. He lives in California, where he consults for the Department of Defense.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 21, 2017
Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - https://www.amazon.com/review/R1DXYP7...
Hard-boiled Detective - Urban Tech Noir
David Stalin - and what an unfortunate name is that? - is a private detective in future Los Angeles, circa 2063. This Los Angeles is definitely approaching Blade Runner/cyberpunk levels of dysfunction, with technologically-advanced, wealthy enclaves sitting near run-down, crime-ridden slums that technology has mostly left behind.
Stalin has been hired by uber-wealth Leanda Forsyth to find out what happened to her daughter. Forsyth's daughter was a novice reporter who went to her apartment one evening and simply disappeared. The police have gotten nowhere, and Forsyth has reached out to Stalin to take a fresh look at the evidence and follow it to wherever it leads.
Where the trail leads runs from slums where organ poachers hijack tourists to Japanese orbital colonies that attempt to recreate the ambience of Tokyo circa 1860. Along the way, Stalin is introduced to SCAPE technology, which permits experiences to be downloaded and replayed as a virtual reality for consumers. People being people, SCAPE technology is not limited to experiencing diving with dolphins, but is being used to support a blackmarket of porn, snuff, and crime chips to people with jaded, corrupt tastes.
Stalin follows the leads where they go, which is often through other people who are standing in the way, with threats, bullying, fists, and bullets where needed. Stalin is Dashiel Hammet's "Continental Op" updated for the late 21st century, with more backstory and artificial intelligences, including his house and the stored cyberpersonality of a former cop, to help him.
All in all, this is a satisfying detective/science fiction story. I thought the beginning was moving slowly, but about half-way in the story amped up and didn't look back. The pace of the story made me forgive the deus ex machina ending, which, actually, I found rather satisfying, for all that I know in retrospect that it is a deus ex machina ending.
Apparently, this is a sequel to a book written by author Jeff Edwards around twenty-five years ago. I assume that story has more of the Stalin backstory.
I am looking forward to more Stalin stories.
Hard-boiled Detective - Urban Tech Noir
David Stalin - and what an unfortunate name is that? - is a private detective in future Los Angeles, circa 2063. This Los Angeles is definitely approaching Blade Runner/cyberpunk levels of dysfunction, with technologically-advanced, wealthy enclaves sitting near run-down, crime-ridden slums that technology has mostly left behind.
Stalin has been hired by uber-wealth Leanda Forsyth to find out what happened to her daughter. Forsyth's daughter was a novice reporter who went to her apartment one evening and simply disappeared. The police have gotten nowhere, and Forsyth has reached out to Stalin to take a fresh look at the evidence and follow it to wherever it leads.
Where the trail leads runs from slums where organ poachers hijack tourists to Japanese orbital colonies that attempt to recreate the ambience of Tokyo circa 1860. Along the way, Stalin is introduced to SCAPE technology, which permits experiences to be downloaded and replayed as a virtual reality for consumers. People being people, SCAPE technology is not limited to experiencing diving with dolphins, but is being used to support a blackmarket of porn, snuff, and crime chips to people with jaded, corrupt tastes.
Stalin follows the leads where they go, which is often through other people who are standing in the way, with threats, bullying, fists, and bullets where needed. Stalin is Dashiel Hammet's "Continental Op" updated for the late 21st century, with more backstory and artificial intelligences, including his house and the stored cyberpersonality of a former cop, to help him.
All in all, this is a satisfying detective/science fiction story. I thought the beginning was moving slowly, but about half-way in the story amped up and didn't look back. The pace of the story made me forgive the deus ex machina ending, which, actually, I found rather satisfying, for all that I know in retrospect that it is a deus ex machina ending.
Apparently, this is a sequel to a book written by author Jeff Edwards around twenty-five years ago. I assume that story has more of the Stalin backstory.
I am looking forward to more Stalin stories.
March 29, 2017
Love this world, but the story on this was somewhat predictable by comparison to the first book.
July 8, 2018
Having read the first book, I dove immediately into the second, _Angel City Blues_. While I really liked the first, the second feels simply average.
This book doesn't drip the noir like the first. Also the language is more straight forward and less colorful. While there are twists throughout, the author plays it straight.
This time around our intrepid PI is hired by a wealthy woman to find her daughter. This leads to commentary about the gap between rich and poor. But it doesn't do much with it. For me, part of the problem was taking our PI into space, away from the City of Angels. This keeps the main character out of his element and away from House. Whereas in the first book he could be home to brood while drinking scotch & listen to the blues, he can't do that here. For me, this takes away from his character. Reading about rich people in space is nice, it is the gritty environment of LA that made for a better read the first time around with this character.
This book doesn't drip the noir like the first. Also the language is more straight forward and less colorful. While there are twists throughout, the author plays it straight.
This time around our intrepid PI is hired by a wealthy woman to find her daughter. This leads to commentary about the gap between rich and poor. But it doesn't do much with it. For me, part of the problem was taking our PI into space, away from the City of Angels. This keeps the main character out of his element and away from House. Whereas in the first book he could be home to brood while drinking scotch & listen to the blues, he can't do that here. For me, this takes away from his character. Reading about rich people in space is nice, it is the gritty environment of LA that made for a better read the first time around with this character.
January 6, 2018
Gumshoe cyberpunk
In a world of virtual reality gone bad, detective David Stalin takes on a case of a missing rich girl. When his client has endless funds and is willing to spend anything to find her daughter, Stalin soon find himself in deeper than he can handle...and he's quite the resourceful fellow.
Downloaded personalities, terrifying virtual reality chips, off planet nano-disassemblers, Edwards loads up with exciting cutting edge technology and a mystery that twists and turns.
Well written, this page turner more than satisfies.
In a world of virtual reality gone bad, detective David Stalin takes on a case of a missing rich girl. When his client has endless funds and is willing to spend anything to find her daughter, Stalin soon find himself in deeper than he can handle...and he's quite the resourceful fellow.
Downloaded personalities, terrifying virtual reality chips, off planet nano-disassemblers, Edwards loads up with exciting cutting edge technology and a mystery that twists and turns.
Well written, this page turner more than satisfies.
February 16, 2019
I was so excited to find the second book in this series about David Stalin, a hard-edged detective in a gritty near-future Los Angeles reminiscent of the worlds of Phillip K. Dick. Climate change and pollution have forced most people inside hastily constructed domes over the cities. While the domes protect the people inside, they also create a "hothouse" environment where social tensions are accentuated. A classic tough-guy detective story set against a high-tech cyberpunk background.
November 22, 2017
I got this ebook through eBook Discovery in exchange for an honest review. Good scifi noir detective novel. Just far enough in the future to make interesting thoughts about where society is going. Lots of action. Recommended.
February 18, 2023
Sci-fi detective
Great mix of near future sci-fi and old school detective story. Because it is set just a few decades in our future, the advancements are realistic and based on the science we have now.
Great mix of near future sci-fi and old school detective story. Because it is set just a few decades in our future, the advancements are realistic and based on the science we have now.
March 24, 2017
Tough guy detective set in the future in gloomy L.A. Dark story with a femme fatale and no hope of it ending well. It might be in the future, but this is a classic example of noir, right down to the chain Stalin's chain smoking.
Great imagination and portrayal of technology out of control. I hope this is the future that awaits humanity.
Great imagination and portrayal of technology out of control. I hope this is the future that awaits humanity.
February 17, 2018
Too Much Description
I give it a 3.5 because it was a little too technical for me. The descriptions of places took up too much of the book. I had to force myself to complete it.
I give it a 3.5 because it was a little too technical for me. The descriptions of places took up too much of the book. I had to force myself to complete it.
October 28, 2023
Not as good as the previous book but still an entertaining noir sci-fi mystery. It still had the gritty and dark feel but it wasn't as intriguing as the first book. 3 out of 5 stars.
October 26, 2025
Excellent 👍
Jeff Edwards, please I need more ....of David Stalin's books or series.
You did a great job with the first 2.Please I need more of the action...
Thank you so much
Jeff Edwards, please I need more ....of David Stalin's books or series.
You did a great job with the first 2.Please I need more of the action...
Thank you so much
February 6, 2015
Angel City Blues by Jeff Edwards
Jeff Edwards generally writes military fiction. Dome City Blues was his first entry into science fiction. In a ruined earth people of the population lives in Domes to protect themselves from the environment that they have ruined. A grieving former private detective rediscovers his life. In this his second SciFi, Angel City Blues, Jeff explores nanotechnology, artificial intelligence or electronic intelligence, revenge and greed.
Edwards recently co-authored with his wife, Brenda, The Lonely Little Bumbleshoot. Edward's breadth of talent has now spanned three genres! I did have some difficulty encompassing the sweet, gentle nature of the Bumbleshoot within the envelope of blood, gore and weaponry I often see in Jeff's books. I can only guess that wedded bliss has allowed him to reach out and touch his softer self.
I, in my ever so humble opinion, truly feel that Jeff Edwards is becoming a force to be reckoned with in multiple genres. As I felt on finishing this book as well as Dome City Blues, my only hope is that Jeff Edwards continues to write science fiction. I consider this a stellar first effort. His character, David Stalin, was developed as an eminently likable human being with demonstratable flaws. His hopes and fears were realistic and generated an empathetic read.
The future as seen by Edwards is not necessarily one we hope comes to past. It does, however, logically follow from parts of today's life. This book had the feel of the best old detective stories and the trappings of a dystopian future.
I highly recommend it.
Body of work of Jeff Edwards
Web Site: http://navythriller.com/books
Jeff Edwards generally writes military fiction. Dome City Blues was his first entry into science fiction. In a ruined earth people of the population lives in Domes to protect themselves from the environment that they have ruined. A grieving former private detective rediscovers his life. In this his second SciFi, Angel City Blues, Jeff explores nanotechnology, artificial intelligence or electronic intelligence, revenge and greed.
Edwards recently co-authored with his wife, Brenda, The Lonely Little Bumbleshoot. Edward's breadth of talent has now spanned three genres! I did have some difficulty encompassing the sweet, gentle nature of the Bumbleshoot within the envelope of blood, gore and weaponry I often see in Jeff's books. I can only guess that wedded bliss has allowed him to reach out and touch his softer self.
I, in my ever so humble opinion, truly feel that Jeff Edwards is becoming a force to be reckoned with in multiple genres. As I felt on finishing this book as well as Dome City Blues, my only hope is that Jeff Edwards continues to write science fiction. I consider this a stellar first effort. His character, David Stalin, was developed as an eminently likable human being with demonstratable flaws. His hopes and fears were realistic and generated an empathetic read.
The future as seen by Edwards is not necessarily one we hope comes to past. It does, however, logically follow from parts of today's life. This book had the feel of the best old detective stories and the trappings of a dystopian future.
I highly recommend it.
Body of work of Jeff Edwards
Web Site: http://navythriller.com/books
February 13, 2017
Enjoyed it as much as the first. Jeff is a talented writer who has a great way with descriptions.
May 21, 2015
Holy Moley, was this ever fun! A hardboiled noir SF cyberpunk mystery, partly Blade Runner. but mostly tried and true Chandler. Very much so in terms of snappy dialog and plot.
I liked the restraint of our narrator; he's scared when he should be for good reasons, isn't overly in love with his gun, and cares about people who are in need. But isn't afraid of thumbing his nose at the powerful.
Yes, there is a literal deus ex machina, but, overall, I really want to read the one before this, and hopefully there's another one coming.
I liked the restraint of our narrator; he's scared when he should be for good reasons, isn't overly in love with his gun, and cares about people who are in need. But isn't afraid of thumbing his nose at the powerful.
Yes, there is a literal deus ex machina, but, overall, I really want to read the one before this, and hopefully there's another one coming.
December 18, 2016
Sequels find it very hard to live up to the expectation of the predecessor and this angel city blues was no exception.
While dome city blues was a wonderful marriage between detective noir and sci-fi, angel city blues was clearly science fiction. Our protagonist still retained the strong and sullen image, the parts that it was missing were the jazz, the inner turmoil that plagued him in the first novel.
Once those elements are gone the novel lost its usp and was similar to any other novel in the same genre.
While dome city blues was a wonderful marriage between detective noir and sci-fi, angel city blues was clearly science fiction. Our protagonist still retained the strong and sullen image, the parts that it was missing were the jazz, the inner turmoil that plagued him in the first novel.
Once those elements are gone the novel lost its usp and was similar to any other novel in the same genre.
December 24, 2014
I was pretty nervous about picking this book up after how much I loved Dome City Blues and with how long of a break there was between the two books, but I was VERY pleasantly surprised (and extremely happy) with how great this book turned out.
Regardless, private detective David Stalin is back in this gritty futuristic cyber-noire mystery (how's that for a bundle of catch words?) and you don't want to miss out on his latest case!
Regardless, private detective David Stalin is back in this gritty futuristic cyber-noire mystery (how's that for a bundle of catch words?) and you don't want to miss out on his latest case!
January 4, 2017
Great Noir work. I thought if Spenser had found himself in the future, this would be how it would sound. The challenge when you've experienced a lot of Sci-Fi is you see different themes and recognize them and have to understand that there isn't much new under the sun, as they say, and some ideas will be seen anew or recycled. Mr. Edwards blended a number of ideas, old and new, to create a good read and I will be looking for Dome City Blues soon.
October 2, 2014
Outstanding new book. I have read everything Jeff has published and Angel City Blues is of the same high quality. Detailed, fast moving, a gripping story and at time uniquely funny. I'm traditionally not a sci-fi reader (must be my military background) but this book is compleling and well researched. Highly recommended to be added to your "to be read list".
January 2, 2017
An excellent story that keeps you guessing.
A future that I can imagine, where we've screwed the atmosphere, but it's been dealt with via city domes. A determined PI, seeks to find what has happened to his wealthy and lovely customer's daughter. The search leads to sleezy, and dangerous people, and an off planet chase. Well done.
A future that I can imagine, where we've screwed the atmosphere, but it's been dealt with via city domes. A determined PI, seeks to find what has happened to his wealthy and lovely customer's daughter. The search leads to sleezy, and dangerous people, and an off planet chase. Well done.
March 31, 2015
Okay I'm a fan. But I have just finished Angel City Blues and had one of those rare moments when you just don't want it to end.
Jeff Edwards keeps getting better and better.
Can't wait for the next ones.
George
Jeff Edwards keeps getting better and better.
Can't wait for the next ones.
George
November 12, 2015
Although in the same series as Dome City Blues it has a different flavour. Much of the action takes place off-world, with a manga-esque ending that has a touch of Deus ex Machina about it. What a shame there don't appear to be any others in the sries
April 4, 2015
A private detective in the future (2065) sets out to investigate the disappearance of a rich Senator's daughter and becomes involved in nano-crime.
December 12, 2015
I loved Dome City Blues and this follow up does not leave you disappointed. Well written, very engaging and hard to put down.
Read
February 20, 2016Techno Investigator for hire
Detective story set in a believable techno future world with characters to match. Had me from the first book and eagerly waiting any continuation.
Detective story set in a believable techno future world with characters to match. Had me from the first book and eagerly waiting any continuation.
August 30, 2016
This book grabs you by the neck and does not let go!
December 25, 2016
A fascinating and terrifying peek into the world's near future.
April 5, 2017
Great story. This one gave me more of a James Bond in space vibe, which is perfectly OK as I love James Bond. Can't wait to read more books in this series. These are definitely turning into my favorite kind of brain candy.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews