Runoff

by Mark Coggins

Book Overview

How much does it cost to fix an election?

August Riordan-private investigator, jazz bass player, smart ass with a foolish heart-is going to find out. He's been hired by Leonora Lee, the all-powerful "Dragon Lady" of San Francisco's Chinatown, to investigate the results of the city's recent mayoral election. It seems the Dragon Lady's candidate failed to even carry the Chinese precincts, and she's convinced that someone must have rigged the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1461058899
• ISBN13: 9781461058892
• Release Date: April 2011
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 314 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Entertaining, insightful, and smart (mouthed!)

In the guise of a fast-paced, entertaining and fun murder mystery, author Mark Coggins offers insight into the pitfalls of electronic voting. Rigging an election might be easier today than it was in the days of paper ballots. Also, August Riordan is one smart-mouthed private detective. His sarcastic remarks had me chortling and laughing from beginning to end.

Another Coggins Homerun

Coggins has hit yet another one out of the ballpark. August Riordan is back, in all his raw, macho and endearing glory, and this time we get to enter the exciting, glamorous and mysterious world of Chinatown-in that beautiful city by the Bay. Runoff has it all---plot, unforgettable characters, suspense, San Fran locales, and romance. August is hired by the "Dragon Lady" (one amazing and complex character, who just happens to have a beautiful daughter) to investigate a possible fixed election...which opens up new worlds of danger and intrigue for Riordan and for us. I did not want this book to end, but alas it did ...so now I must wait once again for Coggins' next thriller. Don't miss Runoff...it's a winner!

Runoff is as fun and entertaining as the first three novels in the August Riordan series.

Runoff is as fun and entertaining as the first three novels in the August Riordan series. The story is packed with action, intrigue, romance, countless twists and features a hero who is straight forward and flawed, but always engaging. The author also gives the reader a feeling for the color and ambiance of San Francisco neighborhoods that are off the beaten track. The plot revolves around the important topic of election integrity and details many of the concerns about electronic voting machines and how the election process might be manipulated by special interests. Highly recommended.

another great read

I just finished Runoff and was really sorry to reach the last page. I love the SF locales and photos, but mainly somehow Coggins is able to keep the suspense going right to the end, and yet also manage to have me laughing out loud. Looking forward to Riordan's next case.

Another Coggins Classic

Those of us who were anxiously awaiting the latest August Riordan Mystery will be thrilled with the recent publication of Runoff. All the characteristic Coggins trademarks are present again: well-crafted writing, sparkling and witty dialog, compelling characters and off-the-beaten-path San Francisco locales. August Riordan and his colorful colleague Chris Duckworth become enmeshed in perhaps their most intricate, and deadly, case of all. The gripping plot unfurls, swirls, and resolves brilliantly. The term "page-turner" barely does justice to this gem of a story.