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The Four of Clubs

Part 10 of the Red Dog Conspiracy

by Patricia Loofbourrow

Enjoy the next chapter in this dark, psychological, steam-powered future mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Patricia Loofbourrow.

Recovering from the tremendous losses she's suffered in our last chapter, private eye and mafia wife Jacqueline Spadros gets a new case from an unlikely source: her mobster husband.

But when a mutual friend goes missing, Jacqui and her husband must join forces on a case which quickly turns deadly.

Published:
Publisher: Red Dog Press
Cover Artists:
Patricia Loofbourrow

Genres:
Sci Fi, Sci Fi - Detective, Sci Fi - Dystopian & Post-Apocalyptic, Sci Fi - LGBTQ+, Sci Fi - People of Color, Sci Fi - Pulp, Sci Fi - Social, Sci Fi - Steampunk

Tags:
author - american, format - book, format - hardcover, format - kindle, format - novel, format - novel <100K, format - novel 40-100K, format - paperback, format - self published, format - series, identity - bisexual, identity - gay, identity - lesbian, identity - polyamorous, potential trigger - abduction-captivity, potential trigger - addiction, potential trigger - death, potential trigger - murder, potential trigger - suicidal ideation, potential trigger - torture, potential trigger - traumatic past, potential trigger - violence, what - condition - disability, what - condition - mental illness, what - condition - ptsd, what - topic - crime, what - topic - multicultural, what - topic - secret organization, who - occupation - assassin, who - occupation - coroner, who - occupation - detective, who - occupation - doctor, who - occupation - federal agent, who - occupation - inventor, who - occupation - journalist, who - occupation - law enforcement, who - occupation - military, who - occupation - politician, who - occupation - serial killer, who - occupation - servant, who - occupation - undercover agent, who - type - badass heroine

Tropes: Abandoned Place, Ancient Weapon, Antihero, Band of Misfits, Becoming a Monster, Born Hero, Chosen One, Conspiracy, Dystopian Governments, Enemy to Ally, Fellowship, Fish Out of Water, Found Family, Mad Scientist, Museum/Store of the Unusual, Post-Apocalyptic, Reluctant Hero, Secret Heir, Secret Society
Word Count: 75000
Setting: Bridges: a domed city/state in the Merca Federal Union (Earth)
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
Tropes: Abandoned Place, Ancient Weapon, Antihero, Band of Misfits, Becoming a Monster, Born Hero, Chosen One, Conspiracy, Dystopian Governments, Enemy to Ally, Fellowship, Fish Out of Water, Found Family, Mad Scientist, Museum/Store of the Unusual, Post-Apocalyptic, Reluctant Hero, Secret Heir, Secret Society
Word Count: 75000
Setting: Bridges: a domed city/state in the Merca Federal Union (Earth)
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
Excerpt:
Reviews:Julian White wrote:

More plots against the Families - and not only from within Bridges. It becomes clear that if the Families (and even Bridges itself) is to survive the four ruling Families must work together. A year after the calamitous events at the climax of Chapter 9 the new King and Queen of Spades bring about a conference to achieve that end. Further deaths occur - some natural and some definitely not - and a figure from the past emerges...

Those cryptic comments will make sense to the already converted - new readers are advised to seek out and read the earlier Chapters and perhaps the complementary books as well. This is a splendidly conceived and executed series about a future world that has developed from the ruins of a planet devastated by catastrophic events.


Warning: major character deaths, blackmail, spies, infidelity, betrayal, sudden illness, on-screen violence, bad language, smoking, alcoholism. This series centers a crime family and is intended for adults.

This is chapter 10 of a 13-part serial novel. Please read these books in order:

  1. The Jacq of Spades
  2. The Queen of Diamonds
  3. The Ace of Clubs
  4. The King of Hearts
  5. The Ten of Spades
  6. The Five of Diamonds
  7. The Two of Hearts
  8. The Three of Spades
  9. The Knave of Hearts
  10. The Four of Clubs <-- you are here

About the Author

Patricia Loofbourrow, MD is a NY Times and USA Today best-selling SFF and non-fiction writer, PC gamer, ornamental food gardener, fiber artist, and wildcrafter who loves power tools, dancing, genetics and anything to do with outer space. She was born in southern California and has lived in Chicago and Tokyo. She currently lives in Oklahoma with her husband and three grown children.