{"product_id":"9781250004574","title":"Hell or High Water : A Novel","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eHell or High Water\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Joy Castro\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFast-paced, atmospheric, and with a knockout twist, \u003ci\u003eHell or High Water\u003c\/i\u003e features an unforgettable heroine as fascinating and multilayered as New Orleans itself.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNola Céspedes, an ambitious young reporter at the \u003ci\u003eTimes-Picayune\u003c\/i\u003e, finally catches a break: an assignment to write her first full-length feature. While investigating her story about registered sex offenders, she also becomes fixated on the search for a missing tourist in the French Quarter. As Nola's work leads her into a violent criminal underworld, she's forced to face disturbing truths from her own past in the Upper Ninth Ward and is confronted with the question: In the aftermath of devastation, who is responsible for rebuilding what's been broken?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVividly rendered in razor-sharp prose, this haunting thriller is a riveting journey of trust betrayed—and the courageous struggle to rebuild.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Castro's first mystery is fierce and intense, with both harrowing depictions of New Orleans after Katrina and psychological mayhem for its troubled heroine, who crawls under your skin and lingers there long after you've finished reading.” —\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Exquisite New Orleans background, intriguing newsroom politics and atmosphere, a flawed but plucky heroine, and skillfully paced suspense makes this a ‘stay up way past your bedtime' read.” —\u003ci\u003eBooklist, (starred)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Readers who enjoy psychological thrillers will find this a fascinating look into an intriguing city. Nola is a feisty character...” —\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A terrific mystery, but \u003ci\u003eHell or High Water \u003c\/i\u003eis more than just a mystery; it's a heartfelt examination of a second America--poor but undaunted--that was swept under the rug but refuses to stay there . . . I can't wait to see what Joy Castro does next.” —\u003ci\u003eDennis Lehane, New York Times bestselling author of Mystic River\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eHell or High Water\u003c\/i\u003e is a tightly written thriller. Nola's first-person perspective and her witty, often cutting dialogue will make the reader believe in the character and really care for her and what happens to her. . . . Like the city for which she was named, Nola is damaged yet unbeaten. . . . an exciting, incisive novel.” —\u003ci\u003eEl Paso Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eHell or High Water\u003c\/i\u003e is so thick and rich with authentic New Orleans details that you'll be wiping sweat off your brow and smelling the crawfish étouffée. Joy Castro has crafted a complex, conflicted, and hauntingly real heroine with Nola Céspedes. Shackled to her past and to New Orleans, Castro's Nola reminded me of Pat Conroy's Tom Wingo and the Outer Banks in \u003ci\u003ePrince of Tides. \u003c\/i\u003e” —\u003ci\u003eAlex Kava, New York Times bestselling author of The Maggie O'Dell series, Whitewash and One False Move\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“In the tradition of P.D. James, Ruth Rendell and Lucha Corpi, Joy Castro shows how mystery can be much more than the unraveling of crimes concealed. An irresistible and compelling novel.” —\u003ci\u003eLorraine M. López, author of Homicide Survivors Picnic and Other Stories\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLong-listed Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year (2012)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9781250004574\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"Thomas Dunne Books","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":40593646747854,"sku":"9781250004574","price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/getimage_1b6e8882-1522-411c-8553-9f90f9684bb6.jpg?v=1637790729","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9781250004574","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}