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The Comeback: A Duffy Mystery
Duffy is back!
After almost a decade our social working, pro boxing, Schlitz drinking, basset hound loving, bleeding heart tough guy has no idea what he’s in for.
His world literally blows up with a new gig, a career shift, another hound and, though he’s still spending most of the time in AJ’s, now it is from the other side of the bar.
Duffy’s buddy and owner of his drinking haunt dies suddenly and before he knows it, Duffy is in the tavern business. AJ’s cryptic note left to Duffy asks him to look into his demise and when a thick necked goon comes around to scare Duff off, well, we know our man decides to go all in.
Now, Duffy is up against the Chicago mob, a dirty drug business preying on the addicted, and his hometown’s worst street gang.
It’s a good thing Al, the basset hound is on his side.
Critical acclaim for THE
“In The Comeback , Tom Schreck’s good-guy Duffy Dombrowski continues his journey of helping those who can’t help themselves. He even helps them after they’re dead. Readers who are addicted to Lee Child’s Jack Reacher protag will appreciate Duffy, who is tougher than the violent bad guys he faces down. A fun, muscular read.” —G. Miki Hayden, author of Writing the Mystery and Dry Bones , out in spring 2024
“Duffy Dombrowski, the hero of Tom Schreck’s The Comeback , is the kind of guy you can count on if your car breaks down at 3am, you need a last-minute sparring partner at the gym, or you’re a few dollars short for your next whiskey. I’m glad I got to hang out with him.” —Tim O'Mara, author of the Raymond Donne series and creator of “Murder in Halifax”
After almost a decade our social working, pro boxing, Schlitz drinking, basset hound loving, bleeding heart tough guy has no idea what he’s in for.
His world literally blows up with a new gig, a career shift, another hound and, though he’s still spending most of the time in AJ’s, now it is from the other side of the bar.
Duffy’s buddy and owner of his drinking haunt dies suddenly and before he knows it, Duffy is in the tavern business. AJ’s cryptic note left to Duffy asks him to look into his demise and when a thick necked goon comes around to scare Duff off, well, we know our man decides to go all in.
Now, Duffy is up against the Chicago mob, a dirty drug business preying on the addicted, and his hometown’s worst street gang.
It’s a good thing Al, the basset hound is on his side.
Critical acclaim for THE
“In The Comeback , Tom Schreck’s good-guy Duffy Dombrowski continues his journey of helping those who can’t help themselves. He even helps them after they’re dead. Readers who are addicted to Lee Child’s Jack Reacher protag will appreciate Duffy, who is tougher than the violent bad guys he faces down. A fun, muscular read.” —G. Miki Hayden, author of Writing the Mystery and Dry Bones , out in spring 2024
“Duffy Dombrowski, the hero of Tom Schreck’s The Comeback , is the kind of guy you can count on if your car breaks down at 3am, you need a last-minute sparring partner at the gym, or you’re a few dollars short for your next whiskey. I’m glad I got to hang out with him.” —Tim O'Mara, author of the Raymond Donne series and creator of “Murder in Halifax”
218 pages, Paperback
Published September 4, 2023
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About the author
Tom Schreck
47 books94 followersTom is the author of "On the Ropes," "TKO,""Out Cold" and "The Vegas Knockout,"all "Duffy Dombrowski Mysteries". His stand alone thriller, "Getting Dunn" was released in 2012.
The Duffy mysteries chronicle the life of a not-so-social social worker, always on the brink of getting fired, who is a bad professional boxer at night and whose best friends are a collection of lovable drunks.
Duffy is part philosopher, part Robin Hood and all heart as he throws himself into helping those who can't help themselves.
Then there's Al--his obstinate basset hound who prefers cheeseburgers, barking at Duffy and naps. But Al seems to show up exactly when it matters.
Often described as a modern day, hipper and less perfect Spenser, Duffy Dombrowski knows the ghetto street and just how unforgiving they can be.
The Duffy mysteries chronicle the life of a not-so-social social worker, always on the brink of getting fired, who is a bad professional boxer at night and whose best friends are a collection of lovable drunks.
Duffy is part philosopher, part Robin Hood and all heart as he throws himself into helping those who can't help themselves.
Then there's Al--his obstinate basset hound who prefers cheeseburgers, barking at Duffy and naps. But Al seems to show up exactly when it matters.
Often described as a modern day, hipper and less perfect Spenser, Duffy Dombrowski knows the ghetto street and just how unforgiving they can be.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 21, 2024
First of all, SO HAPPY THAT DUFFY IS BACK! *happy reader dance*
Several events in Duffy’s life early in this book were real gut punches. And I really felt for him having big life changes thrust on him: the shakeups at his “sanctuaries” that were AJ’s and the boxing gym, his frustrations/anger at work reaching critical mass on top of 3 personal losses of relationship, persons and home.
TJ! 🤦🏼♀️🤯😡Gurrrl, get your shit straight!! But, to give her the benefit of doubt, whatever her duties with military are dangerous and life threatening and this was her way of “protecting” Duffy from hurt. Hurt like she experienced with events of her father and ex.🤷🏼♀️ I still have hope that she and Duffy (and Al & Agnes) have a future.
AJ’s story was heartbreaking. RIP, AJ
I loved that some of group clients sought him out.
His “come to Jesus” takedown of Lorenzo was …*chef’s kiss*
The passage that I highlighted and read over several times really struck a chord with me was Billy looking to Duffy to take the reins when Lorenzo was bullying a lesser boxer in the ring on top of just making the gym a miserable atmosphere with Smitty gone. Especially this line, “Sometimes we don’t choose when we have to be a leader.” Such mixed emotions as I read that. On one hand, I was thinking Duffy was perfect to step into Smitty’s shoes and bring order back to their beloved boxing gym. On the other, I felt so bad for him, like “Duffy’s got too much on his plate, dammit! Someone else step up!”
Several events in Duffy’s life early in this book were real gut punches. And I really felt for him having big life changes thrust on him: the shakeups at his “sanctuaries” that were AJ’s and the boxing gym, his frustrations/anger at work reaching critical mass on top of 3 personal losses of relationship, persons and home.
TJ! 🤦🏼♀️🤯😡Gurrrl, get your shit straight!! But, to give her the benefit of doubt, whatever her duties with military are dangerous and life threatening and this was her way of “protecting” Duffy from hurt. Hurt like she experienced with events of her father and ex.🤷🏼♀️ I still have hope that she and Duffy (and Al & Agnes) have a future.
AJ’s story was heartbreaking. RIP, AJ
I loved that some of group clients sought him out.
His “come to Jesus” takedown of Lorenzo was …*chef’s kiss*
The passage that I highlighted and read over several times really struck a chord with me was Billy looking to Duffy to take the reins when Lorenzo was bullying a lesser boxer in the ring on top of just making the gym a miserable atmosphere with Smitty gone. Especially this line, “Sometimes we don’t choose when we have to be a leader.” Such mixed emotions as I read that. On one hand, I was thinking Duffy was perfect to step into Smitty’s shoes and bring order back to their beloved boxing gym. On the other, I felt so bad for him, like “Duffy’s got too much on his plate, dammit! Someone else step up!”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 of 1 review