{"product_id":"vipers-dream-isbn-9781639105694","title":"Viper's Dream","description":"\u003cb\u003eWINNER OF THE CWA HISTORICAL DAGGER AWARD 2024!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor fans of Colson Whitehead and \u003ci\u003eWild Women and the Blues\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eViper's Dream\u003c\/i\u003e is a gritty, daring look at the vibrant jazz scene of midcentury Harlem, and one man’s dreams of making it big and finding love in a world that wants to keep him down.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eHarlem, 1936.\u003c\/b\u003e Clyde “The Viper” Morton boards a train from Alabama to Harlem to chase his dreams of being a jazz musician. When his talent fails him, he becomes caught up in the dangerous underbelly of Harlem’s drug trade. In this heartbreaking novel, one man must decide what he is willing to give up and what he wants to fight for.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eViper's Dream\u003c\/i\u003e is a fast-paced story that is charged with suspense. A snappy, provocative voice and a stark look at Viper’s Black American experience weave with endless plot twists to offer readers a stunningly original, achingly beautiful read.\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eViper’s Dream\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWINNER OF THE CWA HISTORICAL DAGGER AWARD 2024!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[A] moody noir . . . Lamar’s primary strength is his sense of place.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[A] taut saga . . . Hard not to wolf down in a single sitting.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[A] gorgeous portrayal of that “sweet b---h Harlem” over three dark, vibrant decades.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Telegraph\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[A] hard-boiled plot . . . lovingly recreated.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Times of London\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Superb period thriller that's up there with the great US crime writer Chester Himes.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Sun\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“With its African-American gangster anti-hero, \u003ci\u003eViper's Dream\u003c\/i\u003e is reminiscent of Ray Celestin's jazz-oriented thrillers and similarly introduces real jazz greats into a fascinating mélange.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eFinancial Times\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“Jake Lamar’s wordsmanship and the vitality of his choices are beyond reproach . . . A gritty and ultra-realistic view of our history.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eBolo Books Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The well-developed, colorful characters come to life through lyrical, gritty dialogue capturing the beautiful and brutal world of one of NYC’s most iconic neighborhoods . . . A gripping, unforgettable, and fascinating thriller.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eHistorical Novels Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Fun, fast-moving and full of unforgettable characters . . . a fiercely captivating novel that you’ll never want to wake up from . . . With love, ambition, and fate as the novel's main chords, Lamar conjures a controlled chaos only achievable by a master of his craft, just like the jazz greats. What a trip!”\u003cbr\u003e—Mateo Askaripour, N\u003ci\u003eew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eBlack Buck\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Dark poetics, magical prose and meticulous storytelling—\u003ci\u003eViper’s Dream\u003c\/i\u003e is way more than a crime novel. It is an intriguing seduction. A revelation.”\u003cbr\u003e—Stephen Mack Jones, author of the August Snow thriller series\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Laced with a stiff shot of politics, romance and jazz, Viper’s Dream is moody, poetic and immersing.”\u003cbr\u003e—Deborah Levy, author of \u003ci\u003eSwimming Home\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for Jake Lamar:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A fearless young talent to keep your eye on.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eEntertainment Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[Lamar's] unique storytelling makes for a lively read.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePeople Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e, on \u003ci\u003eGhosts of Saint-Michel\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Resonates with the time-honored search for truth.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Lamar is a skilled tactician...The situations and relationships are believable and sharp.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Washington Post\u003c\/i\u003e on \u003ci\u003eClose to the Bone\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Lamar is, indisputably, one of the master writers of his generation.”\u003cbr\u003e—Kevin Powell, Editor, \u003ci\u003eStep Into A World: A Global Anthology of the New Black Literature\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “A page-turner of a murder mystery with a clear, breezy style . . . both caustically funny and a shrewd take on racial politics.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times,\u003c\/i\u003e on \u003ci\u003eIf 6 Were 9\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eJake Lamar\u003c\/b\u003e was born in 1961 and grew up in the Bronx, New York. After graduating from Harvard University, he spent six years writing for \u003ci\u003eTime\u003c\/i\u003e magazine. He has lived in Paris since 1993 and teaches creative writing at one of France's top universities, Sciences Po.","brand":"Crooked Lane Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46300180512997,"sku":"NP9781639105694","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781639105694.jpg?v=1767743474","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/vipers-dream-isbn-9781639105694","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}