Dorst Alive in Necropolis

Home > Genres > Mysteries > D - G >

Dorst, Doug - Alive in Necropolis (Signed, 1st)

July 2008 NY: Riverhead Hardcover

First edition, first printing, mint, new/unread in a flawless dustjacket, signed by the author

VJ Books Price $31.99

Availability: Usually Ships in 24 to 48 Hours

Book Description

A fresh, imaginative debut novel about a young police officer in northern California struggling to keep the peace�and maintain a grip on reality�in a town where the dead outnumber the living.

Colma, California, is the only incorporated city in America where the dead outnumber the living. The longtime cemetery for San Francisco, it is the resting place of the likes of Joe DiMaggio, Wyatt Earp, and aviation pioneer Lincoln Beachey. It is also the home of Michael Mercer, a rookie cop trying to go by the book as he struggles to navigate a new realm of grownup relationships�including a shaky romance with an older woman; a growing alliance with his cocky, charismatic partner, Nick Toronto; fading college friendships; and an aching sense of responsibility for a local rich kid who Mercer rescues from a dangerous prank in the cemetery.

But instead of settling comfortably into adult life, Mercer becomes obsessed with the mysterious fate of his predecessor in the police unit, Sergeant Featherstone, who seems to have become confused about whether he was policing the living or the dead. And as Mercer delves deeper into Featherstone's story, it appears that Mercer's own sanity is beginning to slip�either that, or Colma's more famous residents are not resting in peace as they should be.

With all the playful sensitivity of Haruki Murakami and the haunted atmosphere of Paul Auster, but with a voice all his own, Doug Dorst has crafted an irresistible, compelling debut.

Assurance of Quality
VJ Books provides the finest in collectible fiction. In so doing, we consistently inspect and grade each book using professional standards. Every dust jacket is placed in acid-free archival quality acetate. Prior to leaving our warehouse, each item is prepared to ensure safe delivery.