Lines of Descent

by Jonathan Edward Young

The streets toughened Nicki Early long before she aged out of foster care. Now she is back on those streets, looking for the father she never knew. But the man she is after is a powerful crime boss with a bloody secret he'll kill even his own daughter to keep hidden. Smart, fragile, volatile and deeply moving, Nicki will touch many lives before she must ultimately put her own on the line for the love she seeks. Armed only with scraps of her dead mother's memories and an unbreakable spirit, Nicki's journey takes her from the meth labs of Oakland, America's Murder Capital, to the lavish resorts of Carmel's Gold Coast. By turns heart-pounding and heartfelt, Nicki's story is a rollercoaster ride filled with twists, plunges and thrills that sails off the last page in a startling finale."Lines of Descent" is also an exploration of family ties and the bonds of love and friendship. Author Young, winner of the coveted Cannes Lion for advertising, populates his story with tender people finding their way through hard times, and hard people cutting brutal swathes through the world. In so doing, he pioneers a genre called "warm noir." Praise from Alan Jacobson, National Bestselling Author of 'Hard Target': "Debut author Jonathan Young is a talented writer... Fans of 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' will find in Nicki Early a similar soul to Lisbeth Salander—a down and out sort to root for on her journey to better her life.”

363 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 29, 2012