It's been three years since Mustafa Bahdoon, one-time leader of the Southside Killaz, saved his fugitive son Adem from the clutches of pirates in Somalia. But when Mustafa is asked to rescue a young girl from the gang's sex trafficking empire, he returns from retirement to seize control once again. But his coup ignites a vicious gang war on the streets of Minneapolis. Meanwhile, still haunted by guilt over the girl he left behind in Somalia, Adem reprises the role of Mr Mohammed, legendary pirate negotiator. But the CIA is on his tail and he soon finds himself unwillingly enmeshed in a deadly campaign against organised crime. Half a world apart, survival for both father and son depends upon telling friend from enemy, truth from lie, and their own true selves from the roles they must play. ONCE A WARRIOR is the highly anticipated follow-up to the award-winning ALL THE YOUNG WARRIORS. It's been three years since Mustafa Bahdoon, one-time leader of the Southside Killaz, saved his fugitive son Adem from the clutches of pirates in Somalia. But when Mustafa is asked to rescue a young girl from the gang's sex trafficking empire, he returns from retirement to seize control once again. But his coup ignites a vicious gang war on the streets of Minneapolis.Meanwhile, still haunted by guilt over the girl he left behind in Somalia, Adem reprises the role of Mr Mohammed, legendary pirate negotiator. But the CIA is on his tail and he soon finds himself unwillingly enmeshed in a deadly campaign against organised crime.Half a world apart, survival for both father and son depends upon telling friend from enemy, truth from lie, and their own true selves from the roles they must play.Once A Warrior is the highly anticipated follow-up to the award-winning All The Young Warriors. Praise for All The Young Warriors'a brilliant book, possibly the best novel of the year.'- Les Edgerton'written with a sureness of hand and a depth of character that are impressive. A highly accomplished crime novel exposing an often unseen world.'- The Big Issue'All The Young Warriors will grip readers who enjoy the chance to slip into a foreign culture and also those who want a page-turning thriller'- Spinetingler Magazine'a powerful story that is both riveting and meaningful'- Crime Fiction Lover'this book is a classic in the making'- I Meant To Read That'All The Young Warriors is a pretty rare beast, a clever page-turner. It deserves to be a bestseller and has film adaptation stamped all over it.'- Loitering With Intent'a courageous novel that raises a lot of pertinent questions'- Dead End Follies'Smith writes with force and clarity'- The Chicago Tribune'Smith's version of Minnesota is no Lake Wobegon; the inhabitants are refreshingly made up entirely of the deranged, the damaged, and the doomed. If you can picture the intellectual and physical mayhem that might have resulted from a Jim Thompson and Harry Crews collaboration, you'd be on the right track. But Anthony Neil Smith is his own writer — and a very fine one, indeed.'- Booklist
