BITTERLY FUNNY . . . [A] SLEEK FIRST NOVEL . . . NOIR CRIME . . . HAS FOUND A STERLING NEW CHAMPION IN PHILLIPS.The New York Times Book ReviewA FUTURE HARD-BOILED CLASSICTIGHT, COLD, AND CACKLING WITH IRONY. On Christmas Eve [in Wichita], a mob lawyer is skipping town with the cash. But in this boozy, neo-noir worldJames M. Cain meets George V. Higginsthe best-laid plans of bagmen turn brutal.The Dallas Morning NewsOMINOUS, ACTION-PACKED. . . This is a confident, wry debut . . . [that] may remind readers of Fargo or Pulp Fiction. Detroit Free PressI SIMPLY CANT WAIT TO SEE WHAT SCOTT PHILLIPS WILL DO NEXT. [This] funny, tough first novel felt like it was written by an old pro, an Elmore Leonard weve never heard about whos discovered a place where the criminals are really dumb, the low-lifes are oh-so-fun to watch and, if somebody just happens to get what he deserves, theres no one to blame.RICHARD RUSSO Author of Straight ManA DARKLY COMIC, SOMETIMES BRUTAL PIECE OF NOIR FICTION.The Denver PostFinalist for the Hammett PrizeFrom the Trade Paperback edition.