Brutal. Just brutal.

I had never heard of this author before and picked it solely based on S.A. Cosby’s praises. It’s no secret I Stan hard for Cosby and while reading his introduction I found it difficult to believe someone could impress him to the point of thinking his own work is inferior. But his praises rang true for me. I still think Cosby was a bit humble regarding his own talent, but Jordan Harper is one to watch. We’re late in the year but I’m fairly confident The Last King of California will be my top read of 2024.

This book ripped my heart out in so many ways. It’s incredibly rare I can find a book that truly makes me emotional. There were some deaths in here that destroyed me. I’m normally not overly sensitive with fictional character death, but here I felt it. Hard. I won’t go further to avoid spoilers but it was an offscreen death and still killed me. The cast of characters are all flawed and nuanced in the most appropriate of ways. Some of the smaller Combine members blended together but I feel Harper really excels with world building and characterization. I’ve only been to CA once, twenty years ago, but through Harper’s writing I definitely could feel the heat of those wildfires and breathe the smoky air.

This isn’t a super twisty thriller by any means, but there are a few twists at the end which felt plausible. I couldn’t put this book down and it’s carved a place in my feeble, overloaded brain. Similarly to how I feel about Cosby, if you’re looking for a fast paced twisty thriller then this isn’t your stop. If you want to feel the griminess and pain that a book can exude then give this one a go. I didn’t only read it, I felt it. I’m shocked I haven’t heard of Harper before as this was a fantastic read. I need to read the rest of his catalogue in short order. Great book.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for the ARC to this book in exchange for an honest review.

One of my favorite authors, SA Cosby has recommended Mr. Harpers books. By far this is my favorite. The story of Luke trying to find his way and torn between a "regular"life and the life that is open to him by way of birth is not uncommon, but I really liked the setting. What I liked the most though are the characters in the book which are all relatable and enabled me to become engrossed in the story. I highly recommend this book and rate this 4-stars.

When the book has a forward from S.A. Crosby, the bar is set pretty high. I was worried that I was expecting too much from this book and would be disappointed. Thankfully that was not the case! Also thankfully, this is a re-release of a book originally published in 2022. I am not sure I would have seen it if it weren't being republished.

As expected in a book lauded by Crosby and about gangs in the Inland Empire, there was a lot of violence. What I didn't expect was to grow to love many of the characters who otherwise would have scared me to meet in real life. Gang members are not my normal heroes! But, Harper develops them slowly and so well that the reader comes to see how there is so much more in play for these people. The ending........well, the ending didn't go the way I wanted it to. Part of it I knew at the very beginning, because, well, can't tell you because it would be a spoiler. And I wonder if it is a nod from one author to another, but again, can't tell you. But back to the ending. I didn't go the way I wanted it to. It didn't go the way it would have gone in one of my more mainstream mystery/detective/whatever books where the good guys always win. I had ideas, but the ending Harper gave us works and felt true for the characters and the setting. I will be thinking about these characters (and wondering what happens to them after the book ended) for a long time.

Compelling, engrossing, heart pounding, suspenseful…
This action-packed crime thriller was incredible with such powerful writing.
Has a Sons of Anarchy (best show ever!) vibe - several of the names are the same and based in California. A few graphics scenes that may be triggers for some readers.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

***A big thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this upcoming book***
The arc of the main character in this book reminded me a lot of Michael Corleone…the college boy whose family leads a life of crime and rejects it until he stumbles into it and finds out that he’s good at it and enjoys it. Mix that up with the setting and tone of Breaking Bad and you’ve got yourself The Last King of California.

This is the second Jordan Harper book I’ve read, the first being the fantastically titled She Rides Shotgun. This book got its hooks in me pretty quickly and never let go until the final page was turned. The writing is top notch, the characters are all interesting and fleshed out and the pacing is perfect. I recommend this to any fans of hard boiled crime novels/movies like Breaking Bad and No Country for Old Men.

A terrific slice of California sleaze noir, with memorable characters and compelling prose. The plot twists aren't particularly surprising (one was telegraphed with a single unfortunate choice of words), but the narrative is propulsive and always entertaining. The book scratches a very specific itch, and scratches it well.

Thanks to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for this digital ARC of 'The Last King of California' by Jordan Harper.

This is a decent crime/neo noir thriller. A young scion of a minor criminal overlord who witnessed his father's brutal killing of a man and who was removed from the family compound flees back to it a decade later from his more conventional middle-class college life and dives almost right back into the fold and a turf war with a cartoon-like ultra baddie. He's still conflicted, almost needless to say.

In hindsight I was surprised by S.A. Crosby's fulsome endorsement of the novel in the foreword since it all felt a bit superficial. The characters are in the main cookie cutter bad guys with macho attitudes and barely believable mottos, the violence is predictable, and the whole thing felt a bit lightweight, even if it is brutal in places. Some of the writing did shine, especially when talking about Callie and Pretty Boy when it evokes Barry Gifford's Sailor and Lula writing.

I would describe it as soft- rather than hard-boiled.

I really enjoyed the idea of a Hamlet inspired noir book, the concept worked well and enjoyed how everything worked with the genre. The characters had that overall feel that I was looking for and enjoyed how everyone felt realistic. Jordan Harper has a great writing style and am excited to read more.

You know those small towns in the middle of almost nowhere that pop up during road trips? The type of small towns where it looks gritty but you know there's people who lived and died there with stories you'll never know about. That's the vibe this book gave me and I enjoyed it.
Simple but raw in it's story telling. I liked the pacing and started understanding the characters that were trying to run from their situation for something better, like Callie and Pretty Baby. Luke felt like he wanted to fit in somewhere but was just lost. I was able to lose myself reading this story. I would recommend this book to others.

This was a very good book! It covered lots of themes like family issues, drug abuse, violence, relationships, and more. I think the passing of the book was good, and the writing was good. The characters were well developed, and the book was interesting


Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the advanced reader copy.

This book was a gut punch. I don't know how Harper does it but the book is both a truly gruesome look at a subculture of violence and drugs, but also somehow feels like a mundane (not in a negative way) slice of life tale. I'm eagerly awaiting the next book.

Wow! This was an intriguing story. A look into the dark side of family ties and the desires to belong and the desire to run away. This book has quite a bit of violence, but it is showing what comes with a way of life that people can get stuck in and is not and never will be anything other than violent. I am not exactly sure how I feel about this book, but I didn't want to put it down until I had finished with it. There were definitely some twists I was not expecting. I will have to check out the author's other works.

Thank you NetGalley and Mulholland books for the ARC.

Dark, gritty and filled with relentless tension, The Last King of California is the rare book that violently assaults all five senses. You don’t just hold the book and read it. You hear, smell and taste it. A complete sensory experience you won’t soon forget. Providing another proof point that Jordan Harper is at the top of his game and one of the best authors in the business.

Luke Crosswhite comes to the realization that he’s not cut out for college and returns home, a place he has complicated feelings about. It’s the location of The Combine, a gang his father founded and manages from prison through Luke’s uncle on the outside. Luke tried to run away from The Combine, but as he reengages with the crew, he realizes this is his family and exactly where he needs to be. When another brutal gang demands they join up or be destroyed, Luke embraces his destiny and leads the fight to save The Combine and the people he cares about. Resulting in a violent encounter where everything and everyone could be destroyed. But there’s no stopping the inevitable. And Luke will fight to the end for his family. Blood is love.

This is a book you feel with your entire being. A barrage of body shots that leave you weak in the knees. No gimmicks, no major twists, just a straight descent into hell where hope and dreams go to die, and pain is all that’s left. It’s also a brilliant study in human behavior – how people evolve (or don’t) over time, how their sense of loyalty will drive their decision making even if it might be self-destructive, and how the environment you’re living in can significantly impact and drive your conduct. It also explores group versus self, asking great questions about the power of the collective versus the will of the individual.

And yes, there’s tons of violence. Guns, drugs, explosions, knives, fire, torture and death. Nothing and no one will be left unscathed. Leaving you sweaty and completely spent like you’ve just gone 12 rounds with a heavyweight boxer. Feeling the effects of this literary tour de force for days and weeks afterwards. Intriguing, contemplative and haunting. That’s the powerful gift The Last King of California will leave you with.