by Alex Segura
Like any novel, the version you hold in your hands is vastly different from the author’s first draft, and I’m thankful for that. I owe a great deal to my crack team of beta readers— Elizabeth Keenan-Penagos, Austin Trunick, Meg Wilhoite, Angel Colon, Justin Aclin, Paul Steinfeld, and Andrea Vigil—who managed to be both supportive friends and effective critics during the process. Not an easy feat. My mother-in-law, Isabel Stein, was once again an invaluable source of editorial (and moral) support, which I can never truly repay. There are also many authors and publishing industry friends who shed a little light on this winding path for me, either through a friendly bit of advice or a kind word. I’d list them all here if I could, but I’m only allotted so much space. As always, you know who you are.
I’d also like to thank Erin Mitchell for her all-purpose help that always goes above and beyond what’s required or expected, Meredith Jones for her sage legal advice and a big thumbs-up to my bosses, Jon Goldwater and Mike Pellerito, and my colleagues at Archie Comics for letting a noir writer into the Riverdale city limits. I am also keenly aware of how lucky I am to have an agent as sharp and thoughtful as Dara Hyde of the Hill Nadel Literary Agency—thank you for your advocacy, steady hand, and guidance. I’m also extremely grateful to my stalwart editor Jason Pinter and the entire team at Polis Books for giving Pete and his band of misfits a home. I’m honored to be part of the Polis team.
This book would surely not exist without the loyalty, care and kindness that my friends and family regularly show me. It keeps me humble and thankful. My heart is full.
And, finally, I’d like to thank my wife, Eva Stein Segura, for her unflinching support, love, and honesty. Thank you for being my ideal reader, fearless editor, co-conspirator, and an amazing mother to our little boy, Guillermo (who will hopefully read this one day and smile). I’m an extremely lucky man.
Alex Segura
Queens, New York
November 27, 2016
Alex Segura is a novelist and comic book writer. He is the author of the Pete Fernandez novels Silent City, Down the Darkest Street, and Dangerous Ends, all available from Polis Books. He has also written a number of comic books, including the best-selling and critically acclaimed Archie Meets Kiss storyline, the “Occupy Riverdale” story and Archie Meets Ramones. He lives in New York with his wife. He is a Miami native.
Visit him online at www.AlexSegura.com and follow him on Twitter at @Alex_Segura.
The following is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in an entirely fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2017 by Alex Segura
Cover and jacket design by 2Faced Design
Interior designed and formatted by E.M. Tippetts Book Designs
www.emtippettsbookdesigns.com
ISBN 978-1-943818-51-8
Library of Congress Control Number: tk
First hardcover edition April 2017 by Polis Books, LLC
1201 Hudson Street, #211S
Hoboken, NJ 07030
www.PolisBooks.com