City of Redemption

Flower Power explodes into fire power for this lonely young woman during the Sumer of Love. In this suspenseful story Liz Mackay becomes embroiled in drug running and a plot to bring down the Black Panthers. The story opens in 1984 with with Liz in prison for murder of a roommate. Contemplating a possible parole she recounts her fall from a good life: In Scotland Liz's young son is kidnapped and murdered. Soon afterward her husband abandons her, blaming her for their son's death when her lies reveal she knew more about the crime. In disgrace, Liz leaves her hometown in hopes of a fresh beginning, where no one will know of her shame. She arrives in San Francisco during the Summer of Love and is pulled into the scene of groovy young people and free love in the Haight/Ashbury. Soon after she joins a commune, a most curious mix of Black Panthers trying to change the world, a Vietnam vet seeking inner peace, a flamboyant hairdresser ready for fame and love, a flower child and her drug dealer boyfriend who changes girlfriends often, the dark underbelly of the Summer of Love is soon exposed. Liz finds herself having to make life or death choices.

At first Liz is happy to have found a welcoming home but as her new roommates pry into her mysterious past Liz's search for a "jolly good time" brings more grief and a worsening drug addiction. Embroiled in a plot to bring down the Panthers, she looks for a way to redeem herself for her part in her son's death. Sharing her fears,, she is told, "Keep your mouth shut." Can she save her friends or will she just watch her commune family break apart? No one expects anything heroic from Liz.

This vividly recounted story of lies, betrayal, sex, drugs and murder takes place during an unforgettable time and place in history.