Dead Pawn

by Richard E. Peck

Bob Wince, an Albuquerque building contractor, is sentenced to the New Mexico State Penitentiary for a crime he didn't commit. He is mysteriously granted an early release and declares he is fed up with accidents, or fate, running his life. Associating himself with the minor crooks and major scammers who gather at his father's restaurant, --Dimmie's Half-Off,-- Wince vows to re-establish his life and exact revenge on those who set him up originally. This means working the system, and, according to Richard Peck's Dead Pawn, that's what New Mexico is all about. From Albuquerque to Gallup, to the Navajo reservation and beyond, Peck introduces sleazy operators and hustlers in every line of work. It's a rich cast of characters--Anglos, Hispanics, Native Americans--who populate New Mexico's tangled sub-cultures. The priciest antique turquoise jewelry could have been made last week in Mahmad Khalil's Gallup factory; Maria Morales may be named Hispanic Businesswoman of the Year, but she's still Maria Losinsky, "Hispanic" only through a brief marriage to Ernie Morales. From the moment you begin Dead Pawn, its mordant humor and crisp language will change the way you see New Mexico, "the Land of Enchantment."
"Richard Peck's Dead Pawn is a suspense-filled mystery that is hard to put down. The story is replete with Elmore Leonard--like characters whose quirky personalities make Peck's novel a real page-turner. Dead Pawn takes the reader deep into the New Mexico criminal and power broker sub-cultures, leaving the impression that the 'good guys' have no way out of a hopeless quagmire--until the very end. I can't wait for the sequel."--Joseph Badal, author of The Pythagorean Solution

Hardcover

First published April 1, 2004

Reviews

[Vanessa Dargain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mordant humor and a very long list of sociopathic characters , with pawn shop owner Victor Ortega being the worst of the lot . Frequent scene changes make it easy to lose track of the central theme while trying to figure out who's who in the story . But on the other hand, it's worth the read if you've spent any time hanging out on skid row in a southwest city or pawned anything for cash .
And to know a bit of construction contractor's lingo is helpful .