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Capital City Characters #1
Friends in Low Places
Joe Maynard runs a legit place, good food, good service, and at night, good music. It's true, if you want to place a friendly side wager, Joe will take your bet. He's a community leader, a player in the local politics of Capital City on Beta Prime.
But nobody really knows Joe Maynard, where he came from and what his past is.
Don't ask Joe about it either, he won't tell you.
If you're like most people, your curious. You want to know what mysterious past Joe Maynard, the owner of Joe's Place, is hiding.
Why don't you scratch that itch? Read Friends in Low Places to find out what it is Joe doesn't want to talk about.
In fact, if you want to get the dirt on other friends of Inspector Thomas Sullivan, Sully to those few he calls friends, check out the other stories in Capital City Characters.
But nobody really knows Joe Maynard, where he came from and what his past is.
Don't ask Joe about it either, he won't tell you.
If you're like most people, your curious. You want to know what mysterious past Joe Maynard, the owner of Joe's Place, is hiding.
Why don't you scratch that itch? Read Friends in Low Places to find out what it is Joe doesn't want to talk about.
In fact, if you want to get the dirt on other friends of Inspector Thomas Sullivan, Sully to those few he calls friends, check out the other stories in Capital City Characters.
123 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 27, 2020
20 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
K.C. Sivils
41 books216 followersScience fiction and classic crime novels have long been favorites of author K.C. Sivils. A fan of past noir masters such as Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, Sivils also enjoys the current generation of storytellers like Matt Abraham, Renee Pawlish and Alex P. Berg.
The combination of film noir and science fiction in director Ridley Scott’s adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s sci-fi classic Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep into the masterful Harrison Ford vehicle Blade Runner encouraged him to consume as much of both genre’s as possible.
When not working at his real job, Sivils enjoys his family, his dogs, writing and rocking out to classic rock bands like the Rolling Stones, New Wave rockers The Cars, and the Godfathers of Punk, the Ramones.
Follow Author K.C. Sivils on BookBub at https://www.bookbub.com/profile/k-c-s...
The combination of film noir and science fiction in director Ridley Scott’s adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s sci-fi classic Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep into the masterful Harrison Ford vehicle Blade Runner encouraged him to consume as much of both genre’s as possible.
When not working at his real job, Sivils enjoys his family, his dogs, writing and rocking out to classic rock bands like the Rolling Stones, New Wave rockers The Cars, and the Godfathers of Punk, the Ramones.
Follow Author K.C. Sivils on BookBub at https://www.bookbub.com/profile/k-c-s...
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 13, 2020
Friends In Low Places - a review by Rosemary Kenny
*slight spoilers*
Hey Joe, whaddaya know? K.C.Sivils is bringing us your back story and it's a doozy! Starting from his earlier life of crime, as odds-maker in one of the Organisation's casino/nightclubs, we follow Joe's story, until his new start in Capital City.
Friends In Low Places is Episode 1 in Capital City Characters and from the first minute of this brief (79 pages), yet brilliant story, you'll feel drawn into the drama and excitement of Joe Maynard's rise, to be the owner/manager of Inspector Thomas Sullivan (Sully), Sarah and Father Nathan's favourite eaterie, Joe's Place, in Capital City on the planet Beta Prime. There, they're guaranteed a reserved table and the best food and drink in town, protected from pestering by any lowlifes,(not that they need protection) by the aptly-nicknamed (by Sully), Baldie and Giganto, Joe's huge bouncers.
What happens after Joe takes the rap in place of one of the Boss' men following a police raid?
Where does Joe meet his friend Zack? When does he earn promotion to Luna II - and what does he do there? Who is Staci? Why does she cause trouble for Joe and Zack?
Friends In Low Places: Capital City Characters: Episode 1 by K.C.Sivils may be small, but it is definitely beautifully formed and proves the old adage that,'the best things come in small packages', (or covers in this case).
Either way, you're guaranteed that this 'spin-off,(to the main Inspector Sullivan series) is a 5-star winner - don't miss it!
*slight spoilers*
Hey Joe, whaddaya know? K.C.Sivils is bringing us your back story and it's a doozy! Starting from his earlier life of crime, as odds-maker in one of the Organisation's casino/nightclubs, we follow Joe's story, until his new start in Capital City.
Friends In Low Places is Episode 1 in Capital City Characters and from the first minute of this brief (79 pages), yet brilliant story, you'll feel drawn into the drama and excitement of Joe Maynard's rise, to be the owner/manager of Inspector Thomas Sullivan (Sully), Sarah and Father Nathan's favourite eaterie, Joe's Place, in Capital City on the planet Beta Prime. There, they're guaranteed a reserved table and the best food and drink in town, protected from pestering by any lowlifes,(not that they need protection) by the aptly-nicknamed (by Sully), Baldie and Giganto, Joe's huge bouncers.
What happens after Joe takes the rap in place of one of the Boss' men following a police raid?
Where does Joe meet his friend Zack? When does he earn promotion to Luna II - and what does he do there? Who is Staci? Why does she cause trouble for Joe and Zack?
Friends In Low Places: Capital City Characters: Episode 1 by K.C.Sivils may be small, but it is definitely beautifully formed and proves the old adage that,'the best things come in small packages', (or covers in this case).
Either way, you're guaranteed that this 'spin-off,(to the main Inspector Sullivan series) is a 5-star winner - don't miss it!
February 27, 2020
WOW!!!!!!!! FANASTIC START TO THE 'SIDE STORIES' OF CAPITAL CITY. I AM BLOWN AWAY!!!.
I will definitely be looking at Joe with new eyes now!!!
This is the first of what I hope will be indefinitely more character stories from the Thomas Sullivan series.
Don't worry if you have not read the Thomas Sullivan Series. Actually I envy you if you haven't and are starting here. You get to learn about a character and how they become part of the other series. You will want to go read the other one just to learn more about the character.
This is a really fast read, in a day, and eye opener. You will love it!!!
This is my honest and freely given review. I did receive an ARC book.
I will definitely be looking at Joe with new eyes now!!!
This is the first of what I hope will be indefinitely more character stories from the Thomas Sullivan series.
Don't worry if you have not read the Thomas Sullivan Series. Actually I envy you if you haven't and are starting here. You get to learn about a character and how they become part of the other series. You will want to go read the other one just to learn more about the character.
This is a really fast read, in a day, and eye opener. You will love it!!!
This is my honest and freely given review. I did receive an ARC book.
April 1, 2020
Joe Maynard runs the restaurant/bar that Inspector Thomas Sullivan takes his meals. But who is he really? What’s his story? Joe won’t tell you.
Sivils’ first novella in the Capital City Characters series, Friends In Low Places provides you with a look into how Joe came to Beta Prime and subsequently established Joe’s Place. He’s got a past that he’d rather keep there.
After reading the Inspector Thomas Sullivan series it was nice to get the backstory on one of the supporting characters. While Joe’s Place plays an important role in the series, Joe himself is mostly quiet and unassuming until he isn’t.
5 out of 5 stars.
Sivils’ first novella in the Capital City Characters series, Friends In Low Places provides you with a look into how Joe came to Beta Prime and subsequently established Joe’s Place. He’s got a past that he’d rather keep there.
After reading the Inspector Thomas Sullivan series it was nice to get the backstory on one of the supporting characters. While Joe’s Place plays an important role in the series, Joe himself is mostly quiet and unassuming until he isn’t.
5 out of 5 stars.
March 1, 2020
Shed some light on the enigmatic Joe of Joe’s Place, Sully’s favorite hangout. Grab Friends in Low Places and read about how Joe came to be on Beta Prime running a café and a few numbers.
Joe is always in the background of the Inspector Sullivan series. He owns a restaurant in a middle class neighborhood serving the best Old Earth fare in Capital City. In the evening, after the family dinner crowd, Joe’s Place is the home to the best live music around.
But where did Joe come from? What is his story? Find out here!
Joe is always in the background of the Inspector Sullivan series. He owns a restaurant in a middle class neighborhood serving the best Old Earth fare in Capital City. In the evening, after the family dinner crowd, Joe’s Place is the home to the best live music around.
But where did Joe come from? What is his story? Find out here!
March 7, 2020
The mark of a great story/author is an attention to detail,and great world-building, which author SIVILS has done with this latest entry into the "THOMAS SULLIVAN" series of novels,detailing the back story of one of the characters featured in said novels...how low a man can sink,and redemption,which raises and ultimately scars him...A happy ending,maybe? A good read,surely!
June 24, 2025
I really enjoy Joe’s place. It’s warm, on the friendly side of things. I’ve read it a couple of times and each time makes me feel like one of the people that hang around there.
Would love it if it was real. I could see me talking and playing a few games of cards. Yeah, a nice place.
Thanks Kevin it’s a keeper!
Michael Nethery
Would love it if it was real. I could see me talking and playing a few games of cards. Yeah, a nice place.
Thanks Kevin it’s a keeper!
Michael Nethery
March 5, 2020
The first of the Capital City stories about Joe, owner of Joe's Place where Sully, Sarah and Father Nathan like to hang out. An interesting one that is and you'll look at Joe and his staff in a new way.
April 7, 2020
Joe’s Place the bar where the Inspector goes, good food, good music. A man no one knows about.till now, what a dizzy, organized crime that’s about as big of a past one could have. Will be interesting to see the other characters come to life for us as readers.Good beginning.
July 8, 2021
Dark, edgy, dystopian noir- not my usual fare. BUT very well-written in a style I hadn't seen from Mr. Sivils before AND I didn't put it down until I'd finished reading it! So, definitely worth trying!
October 7, 2022
4.25 / 5
January 11, 2023
The right choice
This was a very good book. Loved the twists and turns. Somewhat sad though. How he really wanted to be legitimate
This was a very good book. Loved the twists and turns. Somewhat sad though. How he really wanted to be legitimate
May 5, 2023
Good Read
This book was a good fast read. I really had no idea how it would end. Spoiler alert: the dog lived
This book was a good fast read. I really had no idea how it would end. Spoiler alert: the dog lived
May 9, 2023
This is the origin story of Joe Maynard's Old Earth bar and restaurant and betting place on Beta Prime
November 27, 2022
I was able to get a preorder discount from the author on this collection of Capital City Characters which was published on December 1, 2020. I was not familiar with K.C. Sivils prior to reading this collection but he has moved to the top of my list. No better way to get through a cold, snowy winter's day than wrapped up on the couch, with hot cocoa and my dog as I meet another of these awesome characters. This truly is Hardboiled Noir from the Future. I loved it. This is one of those series that begins at the ending - so we begin with the end in Friends in Low Places.
In Friends in Low Places, we meet Joe Maynard. Joe is a numerical wizard and has for most of his life been employed by the Organization, working up the betting odds on various endeavors. Before retiring from that job, he did a Nickle after being betrayed by his girl Janice. Then there were other problems, but he and his friend Zake got through those, moved to Beta Prime, bought a restaurant/bar he calls Joe's Place, and settle in for the long haul. Beta Prime, a tough planet with nothing but winter, is literally swimming in minerals, etc. wanted by other, less blessed planets and the miners are good customers. Many are family men. The Restaurant is kid-friendly and serves mostly comfort food from Old Earth, as well as old music from there, blues and R&B, Hard and Southern Rock. When the restaurant closes, the fun begins, with booze and songs and a little book on the side. An interesting life, after all, is said and done. Loved it...
November 27, 2022
Reading again the series as a whole - I had forgotten how 'at home' I felt in Capital City. If you are into futuristic noir, you will want to take this series home.
Reviewed on November 27, 2022, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
In Friends in Low Places, we meet Joe Maynard. Joe is a numerical wizard and has for most of his life been employed by the Organization, working up the betting odds on various endeavors. Before retiring from that job, he did a Nickle after being betrayed by his girl Janice. Then there were other problems, but he and his friend Zake got through those, moved to Beta Prime, bought a restaurant/bar he calls Joe's Place, and settle in for the long haul. Beta Prime, a tough planet with nothing but winter, is literally swimming in minerals, etc. wanted by other, less blessed planets and the miners are good customers. Many are family men. The Restaurant is kid-friendly and serves mostly comfort food from Old Earth, as well as old music from there, blues and R&B, Hard and Southern Rock. When the restaurant closes, the fun begins, with booze and songs and a little book on the side. An interesting life, after all, is said and done. Loved it...
November 27, 2022
Reading again the series as a whole - I had forgotten how 'at home' I felt in Capital City. If you are into futuristic noir, you will want to take this series home.
Reviewed on November 27, 2022, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
February 24, 2025
This is the definitive story behind Joe's place. If you have read any of the Inspector Sullivan stories you really need to read this one. Joe has a lot of background he doesn't share. This really makes it all fit. In itself it's also a good story.
This is a must read for all fans of the Sullyverse.
This is a must read for all fans of the Sullyverse.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews