Polis Books

The second Ash McKenna novel.
Available now in trade paperback and ebook!

"CITY OF ROSE has my favorite kind of hero, a tough guy romantic with a smart mouth and a dark past. Terrifically written, and populated with rich characters, this book had me by the throat from page one."
—Chelsea Cain, New York Times bestselling author of ONE KICK and HEARTSICK

“Brilliant…CITY OF ROSE, Rob Hart's latest Ash McKenna novel, is as sharp as the devil himself. Hart is a master storyteller who can turn a city into just as vital as any flesh and blood character.”
—Brian Panowich, author of BULL MOUNTAIN

"Well executed and strikes an appealing balance, rough without being sadistic, gritty without being sordid. ...an engaging read...characterized by Hart's quick and witty turns of phrase."
Kirkus Reviews

"Appealing...readers will enjoy (Hart's) playful, jaded hero and twisty plot."
Publishers Weekly

"CITY OF ROSE is briskly told, and Ash’s arch, loopy narration is often very funny. It’s been a good season for thrillers with a touch of comedy."
Booklist

As an amateur private investigator with a bent moral compass, Ash McKenna is good at finding people—but not so great at staying out of trouble. Between his own violent tendencies, the long shadow cast by his father's death, and a self-destructive revenge quest, he made a mess of his life in New York City. Figuring it was time for a change of scenery Ash relocated to Portland, where he took a job as a bouncer in a vegan strip club. And he hasn't had to hit anyone in six months.

So when one of the dancers at the club asks Ash for help finding her daughter, he declines, content to keep the darkness in his past. But shortly afterward, Ash is held at gunpoint by a man in a chicken mask, and told to keep away from the girls. Unfortunately for Chicken Man, Ash isn't good at following directions either.

As Ash navigates an unfamiliar city, he finds himself embroiled in a labyrinthine plot involving a ruthless drug cartel and a scandal that could reach one of the most powerful men in the city. Ash is dead set on finding the missing girl, but soon realizes that in order to deliver her safely he may have to cross the one line he promised himself he never would.