LEFT ON RANCHO
There are only two reasons to take a left on Rancho: cannabis and immigration.
A contemporary noir, Left on Rancho follows a burned-out tech entrepreneur who travels to the Mojave Desert to help a friend save his (legal) weed startup. What could possibly go wrong?
Published by SparkPress. Pre-Order Now:
Advanced Praise for Left on Rancho
“Paola takes us on a fast-paced romp through the smoky battlegrounds of California's busted green rush, where the cowboy hustlers of legal and illegal weed fight for market share. It's like a Western set in the New West instead of the Old, and the first novel that confronts the blunt realities of 21st-century cannabis economics.”
—Dr. Robin Goldstein, PhD, author of Can Legal Weed Win?
“Murder and corruption plague California’s cannabis industry in Left on Rancho, a sharp, fast-paced thriller where loyalty is tested and nothing is what it seems.”
—Daniel Kalla, best-selling author of High Society
“With a gripping narrative, snappy dialogue, and obvious familiarity with the cannabis industry and immigration issues at the Southern border, Paola crafts a masterful tale. I couldn’t rest till I knew how all the pieces tied together. A blend of intrigue and relevance makes Left at Rancho a must-read.”
—Jude Berman, author of The Die and The Vow
“Left on Rancho is 'art imitating life' at a time when illegal immigration and the drug culture underbelly of America is in the spotlight. The book couldn’t be timelier, and it’s also eye-opening for readers who have no exposure to the world of cannabis production and the illegal drug trade. Paola’s lead character is relatable, making his journey through challenging scenarios set in California both compelling and believable.”
—Shelley Grandy, author of Devious Web
“As someone who has been on the ground floor of cannabis policy in California, Left on Rancho masterfully captures the good, the bad, the legal, and the not so legal perspectives of the California cannabis world and weaves them into an enthralling and satisfying thriller, with dead-on, well-developed characters that are only found in the Wild West of California cannabis.”
—Niccoló De Luca, Vice President Townsend Public Affairs
"Paola's all-too-realistic narrative dives head first into the dark underbelly of the cannabis industry. As we follow the protagonist deeper into the ethical quagmire, the bodies pile up in this page-turning debut."
—Mike Trigg, author of Burner and Bit Flip
“Left on Rancho is a mystery proximal to California’s legal recreational cannabis industry. Add immigration and the result is an intense, savvy, intelligent, and informative whodunnit. The reader is treated to vivid descriptions of southern California and the Mojave desert, with characters that are nuanced and realistic, enhancing the realism of the story.”
—Elizabeth R. Aden, PhD, author of The Goldilocks Genome