John Shannon's literary private detective Jack Liffey has lived in Redondo Beach and (lovely) Mar Vista and I think even wandered up Highway 395 to the Eastern Sierra. But he's from and of hilly, maritime San Pedro. In The Dark Streets, landing next month from Pegasus Books, Liffey's work will take him into Koreatown to search for a young film student, Soon-Lin Kim. Adventure and suspense will no doubt ensue, with a homeland security thread running through the mystery. Shannon's website.