38 Caliber: An Emerson Dunn Mystery

Emerson Dunn Mysteries #1

by Roy Maynard

I sat looking at a blank newsroom computer screen and a dying journalism career. Here I was, Emerson Dunn, reporter, not even thirty years old and already litter on the Highway of Life.
Little did I know that I would soon find myself drawn into a mysterious web of gun robberies, neo-Nazi skinheads, a senseless murder, a police cover-up, and friendly rivalry with A.C. Rennington, a pushy (but cute) reporter from "the other paper in town."
Somehow through it all God was working on me, reminding me of who I am and bringing me back into the light. What would it all come to? Believe me, I had no idea.

Genres: Mystery

Paperback

First published July 1, 1992

Reviews

[Jeff Tankersley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Investigative Reporter Emerson Dunn and his pal David Zadok suspect that a local gas station's garage is being used to hold a cache of stolen weapons by neo-Nazis. Dunn's tip to the police doesn't pan out, but he continues to investigate because he thinks there are some weird political and law enforcement connections to the Nazis.

Verdict: ".38 Caliber" (1992) is a wholesome but rather ho-hum Texas conspiracy tale. It is rare to find a detective / mystery read that would be rated-PG if made into a movie, but this is one. Might be worth hunting down if you find the modern crime thriller genre too intense at times.

Jeff's Rating: 2 / 5 (Okay)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG

[Joshua J. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was great. It could have been more mysterious...even the front cover gave away some of the twists by stating that the cops were crooked. I gave it a low rating because of the the writing style. I don't like when the author speaks to me as a reader assuming either I need help following the characters or plot or assuming my reaction to events. The events were very fast-paced. It could have been filled in a lot to allow us to know the characters more. I didn't have feelings for any character cause I really didn't know them.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not bad for a 1st book from this author. This is a Christian mystery novel that was shorter than some of those 300 pgers I've been reading. The main character is a newspaper editor, which switches things up from reading law mysteries or mysteries where the main character is a police officer or a news anchor. I will probably read another book from this author when I get done with the Dekker ones.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

An alright debut mystery, with a reporter as the amateur sleuth in a small Texas town. Should have read the synopsis a little closer on the back jacket, too much spiritual for me.

[Anita · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only reason I am rating it as a 2-star read is because it's a little on the tame side for me, as far as action goes. Nothing against the story, just a personal preference.