This is Chip Jacobs' first novel, he's a journalist and his previous books have been all nonfiction This is a love letter to Pasadena in all it's beautiful, dark, old California glory The city of Pasadena is a very proud and well-read city, they love reading books about Pasadena Helen of Pasadena (2010, Prospect Park Books, 9780984410224) sold 11k+ copies Pasadena (2004, Random House, 9780812968484) sold 9k+ copies