"A man is thrown deep into a spiritual journey after a life of trial, error, bad luck, and brutal punishments. As his existential thoughts increase, he recalls events in the past and deeply reflects on them. Author Max V. Carp integrates spiritual concepts such as Buddhism, oracles, destiny, dream sequences, and bodily possession into a rough and ready story that readers will feel to their core." —Kyle Eaton, Los Angeles Book Review   Landon Briggs is a small-time crook, gambling addict, Iraq war vet, and a dabbler in Buddhism amongst other things. He finds a new mission in trying to stop his ex-wife from marrying Ray, the trucking company con man who is about to become his son's "new dad". And when Landon steals one of Ray's cigarette-filled trucks one sunny day, all hell breaks loose. Landon finds himself navigating an increasingly dangerous cat-and-mouse game while, along the way, friends and foes share their unexpected insights into what Buddhists call the "luminous path of innate wisdom". As the long Cali days tick by, the question arises: which final path will Landon ultimately travel? The US Review of Books [ book review by Kate Robinson ] "'The Buddhas, they sometimes speak from the mouths of ordinary men, women, or even children,' Mr. Zhang says." Allegory, Eastern wisdom, and a gritty fictive reality converge in this rollicking, humorous, yet thought-provoking novel set in the seedier side of Southern California. Landon Briggs is aware of Buddhist philosophy, living as he does amongst a large Asian population, but the Iraq War vet is thoroughly distracted by his propensity for partying, gambling, and the petty crime that often lands him in some exceedingly compromising situations. Divorced, Landon's wife has taken up with a con artist who also moves in Landon's world, and his eldest son has perished from a heart condition at just fifteen. Landon struggles to maintain a relationship with his innocent but aware youngest son. The wisdom in the tale ultimately is dispensed not by highborn Tibetan tulkus or Chinese or Japanese sages but from the mouths of ordinary folk like Landon's wife, his son, his father, his wacky, unreliable friends, and the notorious criminals he sometimes rubs elbows with. The author's lengthy sentences are a perfect complement to the inner workings of Landon's mind and the complexities of the plot, which rambles this way and that in what may seem like a philosophical jumble yet makes total sense to anyone who grasps Tibetan Buddhism or another Asian spiritual discipline. There are multiple dimensions to this story. It reads like the offspring of a classic LA noir crime tale transformed by some twenty-first-century sensibilities. However, it is acted out by characters who will resonate with contemporary readers. The novel is as much about Landon's vibrant though confused inner world and his personal aspirations to reunite his family as it is about the darker side of human nature, and so Carp delivers many tales within the tale that make the reading magnetically appealing. RECOMMENDED by the US Review "A man is thrown deep into a spiritual journey after a life of trial, error, bad luck, and brutal punishments. As his existential thoughts increase, he recalls events in the past and deeply reflects on them. Author Max V. Carp integrates spiritual concepts such as Buddhism, oracles, destiny, dream sequences, and bodily possession into a rough and ready story that readers will feel to their core." —Kyle Eaton, Los Angeles Book Review LOS ANGELES BOOK REVIEW The Cali Book of the Dead by Max V. Carp is a gritty, reflective journey through the chaos of Los Angeles as experienced by Landon Briggs, a man battered by life but never entirely defeated. Carp's novel deftly weaves Buddhist themes with the messiness of modern life, crafting a story that is as much about spiritual redemption as it is about survival in an indifferent world. Readers will find Landon's journey not only compelling but also unexpectedly profound in its portrayal of how real-life hardship can crack open the door to spiritual awakening. Landon is no saint; he's been through divorce, lost a son, and navigates the wreckage of a life filled with guilt, flawed relationships, and financial strain. Yet these hardships are what make his gradual transformation all the more moving. Carp's portrayal of a man who begins to see the spiritual dimension of his existence in unlikely places—like a Buddhist śarīra he once dismissed or a worn dashboard Buddha figurine—felt genuine and relatable. Landon's life is messy, tangled with old grievances and fresh pains, making his glimpses of insight feel hard-earned and refreshingly authentic. One particularly powerful moment comes when Landon recalls a story told by a Buddhist monk about śarīras—pearl-like relics believed to be left behind by enlightened masters. While he initially brushes it off, the memory of this relic grows in significance for him as he grapples wit