"A Punishing Breed takes place on the Los Angeles campus of Hesperia College, where the death of a philandering administrator raises questions of class, race, and gender. The murder brings together DJ Arias, an old-school Mexican American detective; Danny Mendoza, an ex-convict campus gardener; and The Watcher, a mysterious neighborhood recluse. As the investigation progresses, DJ becomes enmeshed in the insular world of a private elite liberal arts institution that in many ways replicates the class system of a medieval fiefdom. DJ, still grappling with memories of his beloved gang member cousin and failed marriage, feels out of place and finds himself stumped as The Watcher wends his way through the periphery of the murder investigation just out of DJ's grasp. Meanwhile, a dangerous murderer stalks the campus and may kill again. In its portrayal of culture clashes, human folly, and power inequities, A Punishing Breed embraces the rich culture of Los Angeles. The novel blends dark humor with loss and the vagaries of love, all amid the tense aftermath of a murder"--