Awards
Winner of the 1985 Edgar Award for Best Novel
Synopses & Reviews
A long-distance call from a Texas city on his birthday gives Benjamin Dill the news that his sister—its her birthday, too, they were born exactly ten years apart—has died in a car bomb explosion. Its the chief of police calling—Felicity Dill worked for him; she was a homicide detective. Dill is there that night, the beginning of his dogged search for her killer. What he finds is no surprise to him, because Benjamin Dill is never surprised at what awful things people will do—but its a real surprise to the reader. As Newsday said when the novel was first published, “One sure thing about Ross Thomass novels: A reader wont get bored waiting for the action to start.”
Review
"What Elmore Leonard does for crime in the streets, Ross Thomas does for crime in the suites. Thomas puts his knowledge of corporate chicanery and government malfeasance to work in novels which sometimes seem like John le Carre adapted by Groucho Marx." The Village Voice
Review
"Mr. Thomas is one of the best storytellers around, and his skills have not deserted him in this taut [novel]....This superior piece of work, in Mr. Thomas's typical suave, sophisticated style, will please his admirers and should make a lot of new friends for him." The New York Times Book Review
Review
"Funny, cynical, and altogether delicious. Crisp, incisive, delightful stuff." Stephen King
Review
"Ross Thomas is consistently entertaining, articulate, and skillful. He can handle grotesques, mood, and action as well as anybody." John D. MacDonald
Review
"Ross Thomas is that rare phenomenon, a writer of suspense novels whose books can be read with pleasure more than once." Eric Ambler
Synopsis
When Ben Dill's detective sister is blown up outside her duplex, Dill, a consultant to a Senate subcommittee, returns to his hometown to find out who killed her, and why. And what he uncovers is an unsavory nest of petty thieves, hired guns, crooked cops, illegal arms dealers, and corrupt politicians. Fast, furious, and funny, Briarpatch, winner of the Edgar Award, shows why Ross Thomas is recognized as one of the finest of all suspense writers.
Synopsis
From Edgar Award-winning author Ross Thomas comes Briarpatch, a thrilling mystery of one man's personal mission to find justice for his family. Now, the basis for the USA Network television series executive produced by Sam Esmail, creator of Mr. Robot.
A long-distance call from a Texas city on his birthday gives Benjamin Dill the news that his sister Felicity--born on the same day exactly ten years apart--has died in a car bomb explosion. She was a homicide detective who had perhaps made one enemy too many over the course of her career.
Unwilling to let local law enforcement handle the investigation, Dill arrives in town that night to begin his dogged search for his sister's killer. What he finds is no surprise to him, because Benjamin Dill is never surprised at what awful things people will do...
Featuring an Introduction by New York Times bestselling author Lawrence Block
Edgar Award Winner for Best Novel
Synopsis
"America's best storyteller." --The New York Times Book Review
From Edgar Award-winning author Ross Thomas comes Briarpatch, a thrilling mystery of one man's personal mission to find justice for his family. Now, the basis for the USA Network television series executive produced by Sam Esmail, creator of Mr. Robot.
A long-distance call from his small Texas hometown on his birthday gives Benjamin Dill the news that his sister Felicity--born on the same day exactly ten years apart--has died in a car bomb explosion. She was a homicide detective who had perhaps made one enemy too many over the course of her career.
Unwilling to let local law enforcement handle the investigation, Dill arrives in town that night to begin his dogged search for his sister's killer. What he finds is no surprise to him as he begins to unravel town secrets, because Benjamin Dill is never surprised at what awful things people will do.
Featuring an Introduction by New York Times bestselling author Lawrence Block
Edgar Award Winner for Best Novel
About the Author
Ross Thomas (1926-1995) was born in Oklahoma City. He served in the US Army in World War II and saw action in the Philippines. He worked as a reporter, editor, and public relations director for numerous publications, radio stations, national organizations, and political candidates in the United States, Europe, and Africa. He published his first novel, The Cold War Swap, in 1966 and it won an Edgar. In all, he wrote twenty-five novels, including five under the pseudonym Oliver Bleeck.