AblutionsIn a famous but declining Hollywood bar works A Barman. Morbidly amused by the decadent decay of his surroundings, he watches the patrons fall into their nightly oblivion, making notes for his novel. In the hope of uncovering their secrets and motives, he establishes tentative friendships with the cast of variously pathological regulars. But as his tenure at the bar continues, he begins to serve himself more often than his customers, and the moments

she’s persuaded to visit her family in Chesapeake Shores

or leading it to ruin

Based on hundreds of interviews with the survivors

especially his tales of Middle-earth

When turmoil erupts in their kingdom and their marriage

and her life

those skills find new purpose as they solve mysteries and murders that white authorities would otherwise ignore

Curiosities

He’s the best

with no way out

Lost in the sky

widowed at eighteen