72 Hours

by Dietrich Stogner

'The genre is mystery/neo-noir. It draws a lot from Dennis Lehane and F. Paul Wilson. The story follows two veterans who are dragged into the search for a missing teenage girl. As they are drawn into a dark and violent world they know little about, they're forced to confront their own morality and make some unpleasantly dark decisions.' - Dietrich Stogne

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2011

Reviews

[Donald Bullard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little something for everyone.

So this constitutes a modern reading experience. The author is on Tictoc and motivating. The story worked for me on a primary level. I wanted to be immersed in world I understood, but was challenged by following. I matched what I was reading with my experience, and long hours of watching 70's detective shows. They are compelling, as is this story. Equally engaging was the heroes acceptance of actions. Human and humane, but equally dangerous and prone to violence. The story is measured and hit the right beats for me. I hope it serves the author well in starting a productive body of work.

[Coldforged Dupuis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This right here is a strong argument for the efficacy of self publishing. If the publishing houses of the world don't pick up on this the author at least has the option of getting it in readers' hands, which is precisely where it should be. This is a powerful debut from an author whose voice deserves to be heard.

Mike and Lopez are Navy buddies who find themselves adrift after leaving the service, live on a shoestring budget and have few prospects for cash. They decide to help a neighbor search for her normally straight-laced daughter whom she hasn't heard from in a week. They find their own not inconsiderable but previously undiscovered talents at self preservation become vital as their investigations lead them into situations they could never have imagined. As violence and the possibly callous disregard for their own hides shown by the police mounts up, underestimated by everyone, they find in themselves a purposeful drive they hadn't previously known and, perhaps, something even darker.

A witty, smart crime mystery that grows increasingly gritty and savage, this is the kind of story that pulls you along almost unwillingly and, yes, leaves you wanting more.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this quite a bit. Essentially it's a buddy movie in book form. The writing is quite good and the narrative takes some interesting turns. What keeps this from being a 5-star book for me is that some of the characterizations are a little clunky, especially the narrator and his friend, which, since you are around them all the time, can get on your nerves a little. Also, like a lot of first-time authors, there are a few too many coincidences that happen to seem plausible, like the right person showing up at just the right time. Again, nothing too off-putting, but it does kind of hit you (usually well after the fact) and pulls you out of the narrative. Finally, the pop culture references fell a little too self-aware.
However, that being said, overall the writing is quite good and the buddy movie feel negates some of the shortcomings that stood out for me. The plotting is fantastic and always keeps you guessing what is going to happen next. The twists and turns keep things interesting and the pace is kept lively throughout. I am really looking forward to the author's next book.

[Eleni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll preface this by saying this was a fun read for me, simply for 2 reasons: 1. I was friends with the author in college and in high school, so it was fun to see his take on the next point; 2. it was set in my hometown/area, Middle Tennessee.

The dialogue between Lopez and Whiting was believable and funny. I think that was my favorite part (asides from Mr. Attig being mentioned). The violence and language is not something I'd recommend for the kiddies, but the truth is, this is how the world is, and Stogner didn't water it down.

This is a great example of how sometimes, good manuscripts slip through traditional publishing cracks and have to find their way to the public through self-publishing.

[Sharon Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This powerful debut noir thriller is a winner.Stogner's characters, Mike and Lopez, two buddies who are ex-Navy grab you from the beginning with their credible dialog and interaction. It's no surprise that one sucks the other into helping him search for a missing girl. The search leads the two down dark passages in their quest, passages that reveal their character and resolve. The book is well plotted, with crackling, often humorous dialog as it races like a freight train without brakes to a surprising conclusion. I look forward to Mr. Stogner's next book, and hope that Mike and Lopez return.

[Micka · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the book confusing but not horrible.
I gave it a 2.5

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished this book last night. Great read. Interesting characters. The end was a surprise which I like.