What do you think?
Rate this book
Smokey Dalton #4
Stone Cribs
It's Christmastime, 1969, in Chicago. After a night out, Smokey Dalton, Kris Nelscott's enigmatic African-American P.I., and his girlfriend find a young woman bleeding to death in his neighbor's apartment. Upon arriving with her at the hospital, they discover that her injuries are due to a botched illegal abortion.
This act of charity blooms into a more complicated situation when Smokey learns that the woman became pregnant after being raped. The woman survives, but the fallout is deadly: Her ex-husband vows revenge at any cost. And in a city torn apart by racial strife, gang wars, and a burgeoning drug problem, Smokey believes that cost could be too high.
Kris Nelscott, one of the most nuanced, intelligent writers of crime fiction working today, has authored another heart-stopping, complicated novel of a country ripped apart at the seams and a lone man doing all he can to put things right.
This act of charity blooms into a more complicated situation when Smokey learns that the woman became pregnant after being raped. The woman survives, but the fallout is deadly: Her ex-husband vows revenge at any cost. And in a city torn apart by racial strife, gang wars, and a burgeoning drug problem, Smokey believes that cost could be too high.
Kris Nelscott, one of the most nuanced, intelligent writers of crime fiction working today, has authored another heart-stopping, complicated novel of a country ripped apart at the seams and a lone man doing all he can to put things right.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
27 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Kris Nelscott
33 books38 followersKristine Kathryn Rusch is an award-winning mystery, romance, science fiction, and fantasy writer. She has written many novels under various names, including Kristine Grayson for romance, and Kris Nelscott for mystery. Her novels have made the bestseller lists--even in London--and have been published in 14 countries and 13 different languages.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 4, 2016
I'm continuing to enjoy the Smokey Dalton series centering on Smokey, an African-American man who solves problems for his friends. In this one, Smokey is returning home with his girlfriend Laura when they hear an ominous noise in his neighbor Marcella's apartment. When they check it out, they discover a woman badly bleeding. They rush her to the hospital where Laura has to fight with hospital staff to get the woman seen, as it appears that she's had an illegal abortion. It turns out Smokey's met the woman once before, and she's also connected to his small circle of Chicago friends. Marcella begs Smokey to find out who the butcher who performed the abortion is, so she can make sure no one from the underground network uses him. Smokey reluctantly agrees, half-heartedly contacting names on Marcella's provider list. At the same time, he works for Laura's company paying site visits to various buildings her company owns. When a murder follows, Smokey finds he is unable to remain disengaged.
The story is a chilling and timely reminder of a time not so long ago when abortions were illegal. Although Nelscott took the ethically easy road in this story, the ramifications remain no less important as multiple states attempt to restrict or ban access to abortions and to make providing abortions as complicated and dangerous as possible for health care practitioners. It is also a frightening reminder--or education--of the liberties the medical establishment would take in sterilizing women they deemed 'unfit'--usually women who were poor and/or of color.
Unlike prior books, this is relatively fast-paced, taking place over a short time period. As usual, there's a side mystery, but this time Nelscott doesn't allow Smokey to get too far bogged down in the details. Atmosphere is nicely developed, from the tension-filled hospital waiting room to the dangerous tightrope Smokey walks with the gangs. Laura and Smokey have better settled into their relationship, but Smokey remains troubled and challenged by Jimmy. The ending is satisfying but somewhat ethically ambiguous.
Overall a satisfying mystery read that also provides the reader with insight into challenges faced by a black man and his friends in a time of tremendous cultural upheaval.
Three and a half stars, rounding up for the unique setting.
The story is a chilling and timely reminder of a time not so long ago when abortions were illegal. Although Nelscott took the ethically easy road in this story, the ramifications remain no less important as multiple states attempt to restrict or ban access to abortions and to make providing abortions as complicated and dangerous as possible for health care practitioners. It is also a frightening reminder--or education--of the liberties the medical establishment would take in sterilizing women they deemed 'unfit'--usually women who were poor and/or of color.
Unlike prior books, this is relatively fast-paced, taking place over a short time period. As usual, there's a side mystery, but this time Nelscott doesn't allow Smokey to get too far bogged down in the details. Atmosphere is nicely developed, from the tension-filled hospital waiting room to the dangerous tightrope Smokey walks with the gangs. Laura and Smokey have better settled into their relationship, but Smokey remains troubled and challenged by Jimmy. The ending is satisfying but somewhat ethically ambiguous.
Overall a satisfying mystery read that also provides the reader with insight into challenges faced by a black man and his friends in a time of tremendous cultural upheaval.
Three and a half stars, rounding up for the unique setting.
Read
July 10, 2018While the books can be read alone, this is definitely a series that is best read from the start, as Smokey's surroundings and past actions constantly weave through his current circumstances.
This particular volume is about children - either abandoned, unwanted, loved and protected, or warped by poverty and the people around them. It's a grim story on many levels.
Jimmy continues to be the weak point of the series for me. I can't decide if it's uneven characterisation, or just that I'm not giving him enough credit for his difficult past, but he just comes across as a sulky brat.
This particular volume is about children - either abandoned, unwanted, loved and protected, or warped by poverty and the people around them. It's a grim story on many levels.
Jimmy continues to be the weak point of the series for me. I can't decide if it's uneven characterisation, or just that I'm not giving him enough credit for his difficult past, but he just comes across as a sulky brat.
August 29, 2020
Another great story! I had my doubts at first because it seemed to meander around and I didn't see how it all fit together. It's a bit of a longer story because of that. This story had more of the gang element to it than previous stories, and found that intriguing. I felt there was some unfinished business to the story, especially with the adoption of black children at the beginning and then left out of the rest of the story. Who was the baby in the window well? I'm sure it really doesn't matter to the whole story, but it was one of the threads left hanging. This is not my favourite Smokey story so far, but it still was very good.
September 21, 2022
The Smokey Dalton series just keeps getting better. The fourth installment in this character driven, historically accurate, suspense series advances the relationships between the main characters while dealing with the social strife in Chicago in the late 1960's. This time Kris Nelscott tackles women's health issues in a pre Roe vs Wade world where abortion is illegal even for rape victims. A socially charged, murder mystery that is relevant in today's world as well. Highly recommended
August 6, 2022
1969. What is different? No cell phones. No right to abortion. No women's clinics. Cops on the hunt for women who have abortions: hospitals need to pry information out of bleeding, sick, damaged women who seek help after abortions gone bad. Chicago, where this novel is set, is as barbaric and hateful as any place in the country. Especially if you are black.
Smokey Dalton, here going as Bill Grimshaw, together with his lady friend Laura, kick things off by taking a dying woman to the hospital. What follows is a well-painted picture of a disgraceful chapter in our history. This is not to say legal abortion is delightful, only to say that putting health care in the hands of haters, the sanctimonious, or self-righteous is as described here: horrid.
We encounter other social wrongs: prejudice, murder, blackmail, and corrupt police. In the end, only Laura is unaccounted for, as Smokey does what the hero is supposed to.
Kris Nelscott wrote 8 Dalton books as of 2012. This one was published in Feb. 2004. She is prolific in many genres. Perhaps we will see Smokey again. Certainly, we can use as many well-thought-out and compassionate books as we can get.
Smokey Dalton, here going as Bill Grimshaw, together with his lady friend Laura, kick things off by taking a dying woman to the hospital. What follows is a well-painted picture of a disgraceful chapter in our history. This is not to say legal abortion is delightful, only to say that putting health care in the hands of haters, the sanctimonious, or self-righteous is as described here: horrid.
We encounter other social wrongs: prejudice, murder, blackmail, and corrupt police. In the end, only Laura is unaccounted for, as Smokey does what the hero is supposed to.
Kris Nelscott wrote 8 Dalton books as of 2012. This one was published in Feb. 2004. She is prolific in many genres. Perhaps we will see Smokey again. Certainly, we can use as many well-thought-out and compassionate books as we can get.
April 27, 2020
I got this book as part of a bundle and I didn‘t know what to expect. I was blown away by the athmospheric writing, by the good and believable plot and by the author‘s ability to bring a world to my attention which is foreign to me, adressing important social issues and still delivering great entertainment. This will certainly not be the last book by this author and not the last in the series I am going to read.
April 6, 2019
Another excellent story about Smokey Dalton, a black detective living in Chicago under an assumed name to hide from the FBI. A rape and a bungled abortion bring Smokey into a very dangerous case.
I highly recommend this book.
I highly recommend this book.
April 16, 2023
As o stated before I am addicted to the Smokey Dalton book series!
August 27, 2008
This book was selected by a mystery reading group I attend. This book is proof of what I love about reading groups. I am able to read books I would never pick up on my own. I had never even heard of Kris Nelscott, the author. This is the fourth in a series of "Smokey Dalton" novels. This series is set in the 1960s with each book centered around an event/issue of that time period. This book takes place in 1969 and takes on illegal abortion, housing developments, and gangs. Smokey is a private investigator who becomes involved with helping Val, the friend of a friendm, Marvella, after Val has an abortion, which almost kills her. He and his girlfriend, Laura, who is white (another interesting issue to deal with in this time period)save her life by taking her to the hospital. Smokey is then "hired" by Marvella to find the illegal abortionist. Val's ex-husband, Truman, a police officer, becomes involved as well. As the story unfolds, we find out Val had the abortion after being raped.
I liked Smokey and Laura and other characters introduced. Smokey is also involved with a young boy, Jimmy, who, in a different book in the series, witnesses who actually killed Martin Luther King, Jr. Smokey somehow "rescues" Jimmy and takes him away from Memphis in order to save his life. There were frequent mentions of this in "Stone Cribs" which makes me want to read the first in the series, "A Dangerous Road" even more to find out what exactly happened with Smokey and Jimmy. Chances are good that I will likely read all six Smokey Dalton books. Good writing, good story, great characters.
I liked Smokey and Laura and other characters introduced. Smokey is also involved with a young boy, Jimmy, who, in a different book in the series, witnesses who actually killed Martin Luther King, Jr. Smokey somehow "rescues" Jimmy and takes him away from Memphis in order to save his life. There were frequent mentions of this in "Stone Cribs" which makes me want to read the first in the series, "A Dangerous Road" even more to find out what exactly happened with Smokey and Jimmy. Chances are good that I will likely read all six Smokey Dalton books. Good writing, good story, great characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
March 2, 2014Stone Cribs, No. 4 Smokey Dalton, by Kris Nelscott, a-minus, Narrated by Mirron Willis, Produced by Audible Inc., downloaded from audible.com.
Smokey and Jimmy have remained in Chicago during the third and fourth books. And Smokey and Laura Hathaway have resumed their relationship more openly. In fact he goes to a charity ball with her. When they come back to his apartment, they hears cries for help in his neighbor’s apartment next door. They find, not his neighbor, but another woman apparently bleeding to death on the floor, and his neighbor isn’t there. Smokey and Laura get her to the hospital and then find, this is still 1969, that the law doesn’t allow a hospital to treat someone who has undergone an abortion until she confesses to the abortion and names the doctor. This woman is in no shape to do either one, even if she would. Laura uses her corporate power voice and gets things going to get the woman treatment. Smokey calls his Black friend on the police force who comes to the hospital. This turns out to be a mistake because the cop is this woman’s ex-husband and is still in love with her. Smokey decides privately to on his own figure out who raped the woman and is still stalking her, and who botched the abortion. His friend, the cop, goes off on his own pursuing the same goals, but he is in more danger than he thought. Smokey finds a way to clean up the whole mess as usual. And he must deal with the fact that Jimmy is now getting older and he can’t really keep secrets from him. Another theme of this book are the slum lords who let buildings fall to ruin around them, and Laura’s determination to clean up the ones owned by her corporation. Very good.
Smokey and Jimmy have remained in Chicago during the third and fourth books. And Smokey and Laura Hathaway have resumed their relationship more openly. In fact he goes to a charity ball with her. When they come back to his apartment, they hears cries for help in his neighbor’s apartment next door. They find, not his neighbor, but another woman apparently bleeding to death on the floor, and his neighbor isn’t there. Smokey and Laura get her to the hospital and then find, this is still 1969, that the law doesn’t allow a hospital to treat someone who has undergone an abortion until she confesses to the abortion and names the doctor. This woman is in no shape to do either one, even if she would. Laura uses her corporate power voice and gets things going to get the woman treatment. Smokey calls his Black friend on the police force who comes to the hospital. This turns out to be a mistake because the cop is this woman’s ex-husband and is still in love with her. Smokey decides privately to on his own figure out who raped the woman and is still stalking her, and who botched the abortion. His friend, the cop, goes off on his own pursuing the same goals, but he is in more danger than he thought. Smokey finds a way to clean up the whole mess as usual. And he must deal with the fact that Jimmy is now getting older and he can’t really keep secrets from him. Another theme of this book are the slum lords who let buildings fall to ruin around them, and Laura’s determination to clean up the ones owned by her corporation. Very good.
March 9, 2015
It's winter 1969 when Smokey Dalton, unlicensed PI, is returning home from an Ella Fitzgerald concert with his wealthy white girlfriend. They hear a noise, which turns out to be a cry for help from an unknown woman at his neighbor's apartment. She is bleeding severely and Smokey and Laura take her to the hospital.
It turns out there was a botched abortion, and in the good old days when abortion was illegal, women could be prosecuted for having one, no matter what the circumstances. There could be further charges if the woman did not identify who did the procedure. Doctors could refuse to treat the victims if they did not give the information, and the treatment often involved sterilization without consent, or even without informing the patient. Laura uses her money and position to guarantee that the woman is treated well.
It turns out that the woman is the ex-wife of the cousin of Smokey's neighbor Marvella, the cousin/husband is Truman Johnson, a cop with whom Smokey has cooperated on several cases. And it turns out that she was raped. So Truman and Smokey have two men to identify and hold accountable - the rapist and the man who did the procedure.
The South side gangs - Black Stone Rangers and Panthers - and the shadowy gang task force of the Chicago PD are all players in the final act of the story. Nelscott has once again created a vivid picture of a time and place that are not so distant.
It turns out there was a botched abortion, and in the good old days when abortion was illegal, women could be prosecuted for having one, no matter what the circumstances. There could be further charges if the woman did not identify who did the procedure. Doctors could refuse to treat the victims if they did not give the information, and the treatment often involved sterilization without consent, or even without informing the patient. Laura uses her money and position to guarantee that the woman is treated well.
It turns out that the woman is the ex-wife of the cousin of Smokey's neighbor Marvella, the cousin/husband is Truman Johnson, a cop with whom Smokey has cooperated on several cases. And it turns out that she was raped. So Truman and Smokey have two men to identify and hold accountable - the rapist and the man who did the procedure.
The South side gangs - Black Stone Rangers and Panthers - and the shadowy gang task force of the Chicago PD are all players in the final act of the story. Nelscott has once again created a vivid picture of a time and place that are not so distant.
September 12, 2023
Stone Cribs or Smokey 4, a great story even if it contains minutiae overkill.
This is the 3rd of the Smokey Dalton series. Once again it has captivated me enough that I will be downloading number 4 momentarily. It is a saga that grabs you and does not let you leave without knowing what comes next. I did have some trouble getting through overly descriptive uninteresting information of mundane actions of the main characters. It added little to the story other than to prolong it. Nelscott does a marvelous job drawing me and I am sure all her readers into her stories. She does it with a rare ability to make you interested in and care about her main cast of characters. Do not hesitate to start with "A Dangerous Road" the first of this series, you will not regret it.
This is the 3rd of the Smokey Dalton series. Once again it has captivated me enough that I will be downloading number 4 momentarily. It is a saga that grabs you and does not let you leave without knowing what comes next. I did have some trouble getting through overly descriptive uninteresting information of mundane actions of the main characters. It added little to the story other than to prolong it. Nelscott does a marvelous job drawing me and I am sure all her readers into her stories. She does it with a rare ability to make you interested in and care about her main cast of characters. Do not hesitate to start with "A Dangerous Road" the first of this series, you will not regret it.
November 17, 2013
Kris Nelscott's Smokey Dalton books are very good. I am working through them a second time now, this time in audiobook format.
In Stone Cribs, the combination of a botched abortion and a friend's death forces Smokey into a moral crisis. He finds that sometimes there are no choices without negative consequences. Smokey has to protect family and friends even if it takes him outside the law. Great story with a powerful finish.
In Stone Cribs, the combination of a botched abortion and a friend's death forces Smokey into a moral crisis. He finds that sometimes there are no choices without negative consequences. Smokey has to protect family and friends even if it takes him outside the law. Great story with a powerful finish.
February 5, 2013
Kris Nelscott's Smokey Dalton books just keep getting better. I am powering through them now.
In Stone Cribs, a friend's death forces Smokey into a moral crisis. He finds that sometimes there are no choices without negative consequences. Smokey has to protect family and friends even if it takes him outside the law.
Very good book.
In Stone Cribs, a friend's death forces Smokey into a moral crisis. He finds that sometimes there are no choices without negative consequences. Smokey has to protect family and friends even if it takes him outside the law.
Very good book.
January 31, 2016
Another good read in the Smokey Dalton series.
Smokey and his girl friend return home after a night out and discover a woman bleeding to death from an illegal abortion.
Going to look for the person responsible for this, brings Smokey into nasty situations and at the same time, he is finding his relationship with young Jimmy is becoming strained, for no reason that he can understand.
Smokey and his girl friend return home after a night out and discover a woman bleeding to death from an illegal abortion.
Going to look for the person responsible for this, brings Smokey into nasty situations and at the same time, he is finding his relationship with young Jimmy is becoming strained, for no reason that he can understand.
August 6, 2008
concerning a botched illegal abortion in 1969
November 20, 2013
Couldn't even finish it
September 12, 2016
Loved it. Great series.
August 15, 2015
once again, I am enjoying this series of books
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews