Stand Up For Bastards - Paperback

by Caleb Mason (Author)

"Stand Up For Bastards starts with fists flying and never lets up. Mason has created a modern Marlowe." -Nick Wootton, writer, NYPD Blue; showrunner, Scorpion, Golden Boy

Marcus Heaton is an ex-cop working as an investigator for a high-end law firm. When a simple family-history case goes sideways and the bodies start to pile up, he learns that neither his employer nor his client are who they seem, that some wounds never heal, and that the law is no match for a cocktail of ambition, greed, and revenge, on the rocks.

"A brisk page-turner... Mason, a lawyer and former federal prosecutor, writes with authority and a distinctive voice; he clearly knows where all the bodies are buried in this fictional world, and his hard-boiled patois lands as solidly as Marcus' punches.... [A] solid tale.... Truly old-school detective fiction..." -Kirkus Reviews

"Mason intricately weaves together a compelling story with complex characters that ring true to life, from strong women you want to root for to the street-savvy investigator you want to date." -Esther MyaPe, Detective-II, LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division

"Readers will find the tense action and cat-and-mouse games to be thoroughly engrossing and unpredictable to the end, as the intersection of crime and politics pushes the investigator to his limits. A detective novel that embraces the atmosphere and streets of West and East coasts alike and tells a powerful story about the 'informal side of law enforcement' with a compelling swagger. Highly recommended." -Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review

"Not only did this book remind me of some of the wild and exciting cases I've worked, it made me recall why crime fiction has always been my favorite genre. A captivating read from start to finish." -Tom Cowley, Los Angeles private investigator and former FBI agent

"A gripping tale for fans of sleuth and mystery fiction....told in a captivating first-person voice. The author writes with a strong point of view, allowing the protagonist's unusual way of seeing life and people to come out brilliantly through the story, and his way of looking at the world is complemented by a rare sense of humor.... As well as the ingenuity in the plot and the memorable characters, readers will enjoy the streams of consciousness and the internal dialogues that give depth to the story." -Divine Zape, Readers' Favorite