Synopses & Reviews
Joseph Michael Ballista—“Joey Ballistic” to his mob buddies—knows most of the ways to make an illegal buck, or “a lefthanded dollar.” Thats why hes in trouble again. But his crafty lawyer, Lucille Lettermore—“Lefty Lucy” to just about every prosecutor shes ever humiliated in court—is determined to free him by getting all his previous convictions set aside, beginning with one for attempted murder.
She hires Detroit private detective Amos Walker to investigate the old crime. Walkers first problem? The intended victim was investigative reporter Barry Stackpole, Walkers only true friend. Walkers not thrilled to help get his buddys would-be killer off the hook. But moneys money, so he takes the case, though it wont be easy. For starters, the creeps ex-wives grudgingly talk to Walker, but he knows theyre not leveling with him. And two new murders tied to the case arent likely to make them any chattier.
Walker, friendless and desperate for answers, follows a string of leads old and new straight into a war of nerves and bullets in Detroits seedy, crime-ridden underbelly.
Review
Praise for
American Detective, one of
Publishers Weeklys 100 best books of 2007 and the nineteenth Amos Walker mystery:
“Estleman turns Amos Walker loose in a plot and its pure private eye all the way. In a great tradition, the gumshoe with an attitude. No one does it better.”—Elmore Leonard, bestselling author of Get Shorty
“Loren D. Estleman is one of a handful of candidates for the title of true heir to Raymond Chandler and Ross Macdonald. He is a great ‘American Detective writer.” —Max Alan Collins, author of Road to Perdition
“Confirms that Estleman's long-running contemporary hard-boiled hero deserves a place in the genre pantheon with such better-known figures as Raymond Chandler's classic gumshoe, Philip Marlowe, and Robert Parker's Boston PI, Spenser. Estleman's prose is as gritty and compelling as ever as he lets fly razor-sharp dialogue, brings the Motor City to life, and combines a whodunit plot with traditional noir action.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
Synopsis
In his exciting twentieth mystery, hardboiled detective Amos Walker is hired to help free a mobster who once tried to kill Barry Stackpole, Walker's only true friend.
Synopsis
Hard-boiled Detroit P.I. Amos Walker has a case he hates, but can't refuse: revisit the case of the mobster who tried to murder Walker's best and only friend, to see if he can find evidence that will get the slug off the hook. It's a dirty job for Walker in Loren D. Estleman's twentieth Amos Walker mystery.
Synopsis
Joseph Michael Ballista—“Joey Ballistic” to his mob buddies—knows most of the ways to make an illegal buck, or “a lefthanded dollar.” Thats why hes in trouble again. But his crafty lawyer, Lucille Lettermore—“Lefty Lucy” to just about every prosecutor shes ever humiliated in court—is determined to free him by getting all his previous convictions set aside, beginning with one for attempted murder.
She hires Detroit private detective Amos Walker to investigate the old crime. Walkers first problem? The intended victim was investigative reporter Barry Stackpole, Walkers only true friend. Walkers not thrilled to help get his buddys would-be killer off the hook. But moneys money, so he takes the case, though it wont be easy. For starters, the creeps ex-wives grudgingly talk to Walker, but he knows theyre not leveling with him. And two new murders tied to the case arent likely to make them any chattier.
Walker, friendless and desperate for answers, follows a string of leads old and new straight into a war of nerves and bullets in Detroits seedy, crime-ridden underbelly.
About the Author
LOREN D. ESTLEMAN has written twenty-three Amos Walker hard-boiled detective mysteries, and nearly seventy books all told. Winner of four Shamus Awards, five Spur Awards, and three Western Heritage Awards, he lives in Central Michigan.