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Shining City

Shining City, July 2008
by Seth Greenland

Bloomsbury USA
Featuring: Marcus Ripp
320 pages
ISBN: 1596915048
EAN: 9781596915046
Hardcover
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"An uproarious satire of California lifestyle as it conflicts with the ideals of an ordinary family."

Fresh Fiction Review

Shining City
Seth Greenland

Reviewed by Tanzey Cutter
Posted July 19, 2008

Suspense | Fiction

When his sleazy and long-estranged brother dies in a hot tub, regular-guy Marcus Ripp unexpectedly inherits his brother's dry cleaning business. Since he's recently lost his job when the company he worked for relocated to China, and his wife's boutique isn't making a dime, and his son wants a respectable bar mitzvah, and his mother-in-law (who lives with them) is having health issues, and he's deep in debt, Marcus views this inheritance as a god-send. How hard can it be to run a dry-cleaning business?

Well, it's more than Marcus could have ever imagined when it turns out the business is actually a front for a very lucrative "escort" service. As the cash starts rolling in, Marcus vows he will only keep the business for two years. That should be enough time to get out of debt and establish a nice nest egg for the future. But much to his surprise, Marcus has a talent for the business. He soon becomes known by the moniker "Breeze" and starts running the service like a real business with health coverage and retirement plans for the girls. When his wife finally figures out what's going on, she becomes involved in the business, as well.

But Marcus' success doesn't sit well with a rival. Soon he's up to his armpits in mean bodyguards, adversarial pimps, big guns and a dead body. Whoa! This isn't what he bargained for going into this venture. Why can't everybody just get along?

This is a witty and bitingly satirical look at the sordid California lifestyle and what happens when it comes in conflict with the ideals of an ordinary, working-class family. The first part of the book is a trifle slow to get started, but once it takes off, the action and adventure is nonstop and hilarious. And the ending is a pure delight.

Learn more about Shining City

SUMMARY

A witty and sexy satire about how contemporary American culture defines right and wrong, good and bad, from the acclaimed author of THE BONES.

When good guy Marcus Ripps takes over his black sheep brother's lucrative dry cleaning business, he has no idea what he's in for. Before long, he is running one of the most popular escort services in West Hollywood. As the money starts pouring in, he revitalizes his marriage, buys a new Mercedes, and gives his son a bar mitzvah he'll never forget. But, when his conscience — and the law — starts to catch up with him, Marcus must decide if his sudden financial windfall is worth all the risk.

A wild, clever, consistently hysterical romp, SHINING CITY is an L.A. adventure that will keep you guessing to the very end.


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