Tenderloin
A Sleeper Hayes Mystery
by Court Haslett
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date May 02 2014 | Archive Date Jul 30 2014
Description
In the summer of 1978, Reverend Jim Jones moved his Peoples Temple from the heart of San Francisco to the jungles of Guyana. Immediately following his departure, rumors spread throughout San Francisco that Jones was taking revenge on all Temple critics, with one former high-ranking member already having been found murdered on the day of his defection. The FBI would eventually take these rumors seriously enough to assign 25 agents to protect the most public critics of the Temple, almost all of whom were ex-members.
These real-life events are the jumping off point for Tenderloin, the first in a series of historical crime novels set in the iconic skid row of 1970’s San Francisco. When a Tenderloin hooker and former Temple member is strangled, the police suspect her steady john, a prominent union leader. On behalf of his accused friend, Sleeper Hayes — an irascible, Bukowski-like character — agrees to look into the woman’s murder. Sleeper soon finds himself in the center of a deadly and far-reaching conspiracy involving the Peoples Temple, the Tenderloin’s corrupt police captain, a mob hitman, a local boxing prodigy, and possibly even Mayor George Moscone.
Court Haslett’s original and meticulous research brings to life not only the gritty details and atmosphere of the Tenderloin neighborhood, but all of 1970’s San Francisco. From the Zodiac killings, to the Patty Hearst kidnapping, to the assassinations of George Moscone and Harvey Milk, this post-hippie era of San Francisco was an unruly, lawless time. Court Haslett captures this wayward period while weaving an original story about the way friendship and loyalty get tested by an unrelentingly corrupt world.
Advance Praise
"A book that sits perfectly alongside Pelecanos and Lehane. A real find." Raven Crime Reads
"Court Haslett has taken the true, disturbing events of 1978 San Francisco and woven them, together with threads of popular culture, music, sports, politics, and urban sociology, into a compelling crime fiction tapestry. Tenderloin is a stellar first novel that demands the attention of mystery fans everywhere." Chuck Greaves, award-winning author of Hush Money and Green-Eyed Lady
"With the skill of a man juggling chainsaws, Court Haslett has put together a wonder of a book with Tenderloin. And it's with this same sick wonder that I was drawn in, skipping through the pages like a maniac, reading and waiting to see which deadly saw would drop first," Urban Waite, best-selling author of The Terror of Living
"If you missed the seedy seventies or just want to relive them, take a ride with Sleeper Hayes through the labyrinth of San Francisco's underbelly. Court Haslett's writing reminds me of Raymond Chandler crossed with Charles Bukowski." Tim Rice, author of Broke in a Tangle
"Step into a time capsule that will propel you to that seedy San Francisco's neighborhood circa 1978. Haslett's minutely rendered setting, crisp prose, and great storyline grabbed me from the opening paragraph then never let go. Tenderloin's narrator Sleeper Hayes, with his gambler humor and philosophy of life, might be my new favorite protagonist. A fantastic debut novel. Can't wait to read more from Court Haslett." Ro Cuzon, author of Under the Dixie Moon
Average rating from 15 members
Featured Reviews
Suzanne R, Reviewer
I requested this book and received it from Netgalley in exchange for a review, which I am happy to provide. This noir/ murder mystery/ historical fiction takes place in the Tenderloin section of. San Francisco in 1979, replete with former hippies, alcoholics, skid row types, politicians, Jonestown former and current believers, crooked cops, FBI, and ambitious boxers. Now, what more could a reader ask for? The details for the period are incredibly perfect. The music, the food, the TV shows, the ephemera for the period are so dead-on perfect it is spooky. Because, here's what I have to admit. I had my first job, that year, in San Francisco, and part of it involved neighborhood outreach in areas very close to the Tenderloin. And I remember when Jonestown happened and when Moscone and Milk were shot. I've never read a book that wove a story around a time I have lived through, so I thought I would give it a try. Sometimes there are just too many characters and a tad too many offshoots. Otherwise it's really really good. Not to be missed; even for those readers with a dim view of 70s stuff. This is one good book.
Kasey C, Reviewer
Excellent writing with vivid scenes and feels very well researched. Well fleshed out characters. Good pace to the plot which is interesting and intriguing. Definite page turner.
From Emily: I found myself lost in this book from start to finish. I absolutely love the characters and the story. This is the best crime novel I’ve ever read, period. I didn’t want to put it down.
We received an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion and review with no further compensation.
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