The Concrete River

Jack Liffey #1

by John Shannon

"John Shannon's literary mysteries deserve a much wider audience. They are tough, wry, graceful, humane, deeply engaged with the world. The Jack Liffey series is a major re-imagining of Los Angeles."—Los Angeles Times Book Review

Jack Liffey's lost everything: his job, his lovely wife, his daughter. His first case as a Los Angeles child-finder becomes a fight for redemption and for life itself, as he's swept into a world gone mad around him.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Noir

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

John Shannon is a contemporary American author, lately of detective fiction. He began his career with four well-reviewed novels in the 1970s and 1980s, then in 1996 launched the Jack Liffey mystery series. He cites as his literary influences Raymond Chandler, Graham Greene, Robert Stone and Jim Harrison.

Reviews

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first John Shannon book, but it won't be the last. I really, really like his voice as rugged, unintended "sort of PI", Jack Liffey.

I enjoyed seeing—sometimes totally absurd and horrifying—Los Angeles through Liffey's eyes. And I adored the rough beauty of the author's voice, the unapologetic, unpolished feel of it—the way he managed to tell so much, to awaken so many feelings and thoughts with only few words. I also enjoyed the mood the book left me with.

In fact, I thought that there was something similar to Joseph Hansen’s writing here—at least in the way both authors make me feel. A certain melancholic, quiet down-to-earth wisdom in there. Although Shannon's voice is much rougher around the edges, darker, truly noir. Reviews seem to compare Shannon's voice to Raymond Chandler and Ross MacDonald.

I'm off to read the second one in the series!

[Lukasz Pruski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Advertising blurbs mention Raymond Chandler and his Philip Marlow. I don't think so. It is Ross Macdonald's work that Mr. Shannon's "The Concrete River" reminds me the most, in a good way. Bleak yet acute sociological observations are not what Chandler is known for. Shannon shares with Macdonald a vision of society in decay. They both are disturbed by this vision.

The main character, Jack Liffey is well drawn as is Eleanor Ong, an ex-nun and a community activist. However, some of their dialogues sound contrived, over-philosophized, and just irritating (like the pop-psychology in the same author's "City of Strangers"). On the other hand, the descriptions of a barrio in L.A. are wonderful, and there are some lyrical moments like the vision of plastic cups in the L.A. River. The whole book elegantly meanders around this concrete river. There is even some humor, like the scene featuring a guy with a hacksaw cutting his misbehaving station wagon in two on the freeway. And there is no bloat in the book; it is wonderfully short, at less than 230 pages.

The sad-and-sweet ending fits well this good book that could have been better. Mr. Shannon is no Ross Macdonald, but at least he is trying.

Three and a half stars.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you like gritty realism and believe the world is dissolving into anarchy and want that belief reinforced, this is the book for you. It's not the book for me and I won't be reading more by this author.

[Corny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in a series of novels featuring Jack Liffey, whose main source of income had been finding lost kids until the mother of one of the kids he found suddenly disappears. Liffey feels it necessary to investigate her disappearance which eventually leads him into much more than he bargained for. This noir novel which takes place in the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles, is shrouded in darkness. Liffey, at times is so forlorn that I almost put the book aside. Although there was a note of hope at the finish, I am not excited about continuing this series, now numbering 14! We’ll see. The ability of the author to create the dark setting as well as some interesting characters might overcome my resistance.

[Elizabeth du Fresne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Liffey is my new Hero

It's always a delight to try the first book in a series and find you are.compatible with the series protagonist. You want to learn more about him. You want to hang out with him. You can see his flaws but you simply like him.
The plot and characters of this starterbook were all fine by me. It's like a good first date. Not sure you are in love but certainly.interested enough for a second and third date. Everything else you just have to find out as you go along.

[Carla]

This atmospheric neo-noir has lively L.A. descriptions— and its central character evokes the Travis McGee of John Macdonald, a laid back guy who hunts down missing people. The usual bad guys (developers, politicians)— but sadly, no femme fatale.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frequently funny, and surprisingly tender for a detective novel about a down and out bachelor navigating a crime-ridden 90s apocalyptic LA. It’s not cynical, which is a surprise. Instead it’s often hopeful or at least at ease with the strained surroundings. Great ending leaves me wanting more.

[Chris Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow great start to a series, original, thoughtful and full of little LA tidbits that ring so true if you have ever been there.

[Hugh Goldie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Hearted

Intriguing story line but over shadowed by the gloomy vision of L.A.
Good characters but a little hard to follow in a couple places.

[bobg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of bloodshed for not much of anything (these days - probably meant more back when the book was written). It lost its credibility with incredible escapes and Jack's personality takes a 180.

[Kathi Donegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling!

Compelling, evocative and nearly poetic in his writing. Shannon rolls up an excellent mystery while unveiling the mysteries of human emotions. Total page turner.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Concrete River by John Shannon is the first of a series set in modern-day Los Angeles CA. Jack Liffey is a former aerospace engineer, now a 'child finder' (not a licensed PI). He's divorced, not allowed to see his daughter because he is months behind in child support, and has a problem with alcohol.

Consuela Beltran, the mother of a child he found, is missing. Eleanor Ong, a representative of neighborhood/community group, asks Jack to find Consuela. Jack is immediately attracted to Eleanor, although he is already in a casual affair with his office landlord.

Jack investigates a redevelopment scheme Consuela was involved in protesting as part of her community group. He taps into his contacts who can access confidential information. He receives a packet of documents which reveal the true nature of the redevelopment scheme, and hint at powerful crime boss masterminds.

His home and office are trashed, and he is attacked and threatened by thugs driving a distinctive vehicle. He is angered by his fear and resolves to continue. He strikes back at the thugs to restore his pride, but that only ups the ante of violence.

He eventually discovers exactly what happened to Consuela. He and Eleanor narrowly escape their own deaths. He carries out a bold violent counterattack. The book ends with only partial resolution of the main conflicts, clearly indicating more adventures to follow. I might continue reading the series due to the setting, but it will not be a high priority. The nitty-gritty of racism, poverty, violence and hopelessness is depressing.

[Dewayne Stark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my second Shannon Liffey read. Not clear why it was Cahuenga and not Maywood for a city. Actually the Samson Rubber Company is in the City of Commerce which is next to Maywood. Page 74 and the remark about "why Houston " (well it has an Opera company too). I remember driving past the tire company many a time and the Firestone plant too. On page 186 Jack looks back to 1992 and the Rodney King riots. The Citadel shopping mall opened in Commerce in 1990 so somehow the story line doesn't fit for me. In 1983 the City of Commerce purchased the old tire plant and also that year the first casino was opened there. I like reading about Los Angeles and San Pedro as that is where I was born and now live but not sure why writers create these fictitious places. The B2 bomber had a factory in Pico Rivera and Northrup also had a large building in San Pedro. There is a Fish Harbor here on San Pedro too but Jack didn't really need to go up to a bar on Pacific (no shortage of bars there) to find a pay phone and since Fish Harbor doesn't have a street going directly to Pacific without either going north or south before heading west it seems the little added details some how conflict here.

[Johnny · Rating 3 out of 5]

At times this book is a really straightforward private eye story, at other times an idiosyncratic commentary on Los Angeles.

The world the detective lives in seems fairly normal, but every time he looks out the window of his car, he literally sees some surreal or nightmarish scene (dead horses, homeless fighting with prosthetic arms, a man sawing his car in half, etc.) For me, it didn't work, going too broad and pulling me out of the story.

While rough around the edges with a rushed ending and more telling than showing, for all its flaws it's a quick read with an interesting main character.

[Satinder Hawkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was so much to like in this book, including the fine writing and the main character. I also enjoyed the tight community of secondary characters, and of course the wonderful lens on L.A. But at the end of the day, it was a little too much of the hard boiled cliches that permeate this genre, that for me, made this a series I won't continue.

[Colin David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Difficult book to read, story is not beleievable

[Regine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gritty, eloquent.