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Detroit #3
King of the Corner
Miller, a former major-league pitcher and ex-con, takes a job as driver for a bail bondsman, he finds himself embroiled with a cop-killing fugitive, Detroit's scandal-ridden mayor, and a volatile group of civil rights activists.
294 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1992
About the author
Loren D. Estleman
318 books282 followersLoren D. Estleman is an American writer of detective and Western fiction. He writes with a manual typewriter.
Estleman is most famous for his novels about P.I. Amos Walker. Other series characters include Old West marshal Page Murdock and hitman Peter Macklin. He has also written a series of novels about the history of crime in Detroit (also the setting of his Walker books.) His non-series works include Bloody Season, a fictional recreation of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and several novels and stories featuring Sherlock Holmes.
Series:
* Amos Walker Mystery
* Valentino Mystery
* Detroit Crime Mystery
* Peter Macklin Mystery
* Page Murdock Mystery
Estleman is most famous for his novels about P.I. Amos Walker. Other series characters include Old West marshal Page Murdock and hitman Peter Macklin. He has also written a series of novels about the history of crime in Detroit (also the setting of his Walker books.) His non-series works include Bloody Season, a fictional recreation of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and several novels and stories featuring Sherlock Holmes.
Series:
* Amos Walker Mystery
* Valentino Mystery
* Detroit Crime Mystery
* Peter Macklin Mystery
* Page Murdock Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 21, 2013
Loren Estleman lets us know that major league baseball players are not immune from getting in trouble with the law and being sent to prison. He mentions Gates Brown, Ron LeFlore and Denny McLain, all of them Detroit Tigers to make his point. If you Google each of their names, you will find some interesting stories. The Tigers and Jackson Prison play a role in King of the Corner which is set in southeastern Michigan along with the six other books in the Detroit Crime Series.
This is historical fiction. The protagonist is a fictional baseball player name Kevin “Doc” Miller who is being released after seven years in prison as the book begins. He had been a well known pitcher for the local major league team but now he is fresh out of jail and thirty-three years old. It is the late 1980s.
Doc is paroled in part because he has a job at a John Deere Sales and Service thanks to his older brother who works there and convinced the owner to hire an ex-con. He initially stays at the home of his brother. He finds the job and the housing not to his liking and starts moonlighting as a cab driver to earn enough money to get out into his own place. While driving cab he meets a somewhat disreputable bail bondsman and winds up at a seedy motel where a has-been gangster bail jumper is found dead of suicide. He takes a job with the bondsman Maynard Ance after clearing it with his parole officer who has little good to say about Ance, a disbarred lawyer who works close to the edge of the law. But he offers Doc $500 a week to be his driver, twice what he was making at the farm implement dealer. Doc hesitates only momentarily.
Turns out that what he finds himself driving is a huge Coachmen motorhome that Ance uses to get around town. He calls it his bus. I had to take weeks of lessons to learn to drive a public transit bus but I guess Doc just had the knack as the first time he got into it he inched it out of a small parking lot with other cars without bending a fender or anything. I find that slightly unbelievable but this is fiction so I don’t complain. The shower in the motor home has been converted into a small jail cell, bars and all, to hold captured bail jumpers. Ance is a character and closes his deals quite often in cash. For example, he paid cash for the installation of bulletproof glass in the motor home.
But the story is really about Doc, the ex-con ex-baseball star. His job gets him in the midst of a black power movement, drugs, Detroit politics and suddenly regained celebrity status. He is afraid that the celebrity may change to notoriety. I found myself rooting for him to regain his good life as he works to convert a couple of vacant lots into a neighborhood ball field and to be a good uncle to his brother’s son.
As often happens in these “location” books, the location becomes a character. Detroit is a character in King of the Corner and is not always hospitable. If you are from there it plays a bigger role than if you are not. It played an important role for me as a boyhood Tiger fan from Royal Oak, one of the Detroit suburbs that had a bit part.
To get the maximum enjoyment out of this book, it is more important that you like baseball than that you know Detroit. This is easily a four star book. But I am giving it an extra star because I know Detroit and was (maybe still am when they are winning) a Tiger fan.
This is historical fiction. The protagonist is a fictional baseball player name Kevin “Doc” Miller who is being released after seven years in prison as the book begins. He had been a well known pitcher for the local major league team but now he is fresh out of jail and thirty-three years old. It is the late 1980s.
Doc is paroled in part because he has a job at a John Deere Sales and Service thanks to his older brother who works there and convinced the owner to hire an ex-con. He initially stays at the home of his brother. He finds the job and the housing not to his liking and starts moonlighting as a cab driver to earn enough money to get out into his own place. While driving cab he meets a somewhat disreputable bail bondsman and winds up at a seedy motel where a has-been gangster bail jumper is found dead of suicide. He takes a job with the bondsman Maynard Ance after clearing it with his parole officer who has little good to say about Ance, a disbarred lawyer who works close to the edge of the law. But he offers Doc $500 a week to be his driver, twice what he was making at the farm implement dealer. Doc hesitates only momentarily.
Turns out that what he finds himself driving is a huge Coachmen motorhome that Ance uses to get around town. He calls it his bus. I had to take weeks of lessons to learn to drive a public transit bus but I guess Doc just had the knack as the first time he got into it he inched it out of a small parking lot with other cars without bending a fender or anything. I find that slightly unbelievable but this is fiction so I don’t complain. The shower in the motor home has been converted into a small jail cell, bars and all, to hold captured bail jumpers. Ance is a character and closes his deals quite often in cash. For example, he paid cash for the installation of bulletproof glass in the motor home.
But the story is really about Doc, the ex-con ex-baseball star. His job gets him in the midst of a black power movement, drugs, Detroit politics and suddenly regained celebrity status. He is afraid that the celebrity may change to notoriety. I found myself rooting for him to regain his good life as he works to convert a couple of vacant lots into a neighborhood ball field and to be a good uncle to his brother’s son.
As often happens in these “location” books, the location becomes a character. Detroit is a character in King of the Corner and is not always hospitable. If you are from there it plays a bigger role than if you are not. It played an important role for me as a boyhood Tiger fan from Royal Oak, one of the Detroit suburbs that had a bit part.
Lake St. Clair, filling a cavity hollowed out by glaciers and transformed by the Detroit River bordering the United States and Canada at the only point where the foreign nation lay to the south of its neighbor, performed as a color-coded barometer of the city’s criminal temperament throughout the seasons: blood red in autumn (arson), shroud gray in winter (suicide), heartless blue in spring (rape), blazing white in summer (riot, gang violence, domestic murder). Today was one of its ambivalent days, its surface soft violet under polished blue sky with corpulent white clouds waddling across. Bright sails doodled around on the water like dragonflies dipping and swooping at a pond, oblivious of the hungry fish watching from beneath.
To get the maximum enjoyment out of this book, it is more important that you like baseball than that you know Detroit. This is easily a four star book. But I am giving it an extra star because I know Detroit and was (maybe still am when they are winning) a Tiger fan.
March 5, 2019
This is the third novel in Estleman's Detroit Crime Series. I have also read the earlier two, Whiskey River and Motown. All are excellent crime fiction and stand out for me because I lived near Detroit from 1967 to 1991.
This one is set during the last year I lived in Ann Arbor. Though I was completely immersed in my job that year, I was vaguely aware that Detroit was in big trouble as a city. Ford Motor Co was basically gone from the Motor City, rampant unemployment was leading to the explosion of Big Crime, and a corrupt mayor leading a rapidly declining population that was more than 50% black completed the disaster.
Doc Miller, a former Detroit Tigers baseball star, has just been released from prison after serving seven years for manslaughter. He is a white guy, now a minority in the city, and broke, with no future in baseball, living with his brother's family, working in his brother's business. Not in the best shape for making decisions.
He is however, a pretty savvy fellow and knows his way around the city despite how much has changed while he was locked up. He takes a job as a driver for a slick and successful bail bondsman, hoping for better income and more interesting work. Instantly he is in the thick of crime, police relations and racial tension. King of the Corner is the story of how he beats the odds and figures out what he wants.
I loved it. Reading the book filled in a lot of gaps left by my former oblivious state. Perhaps readers not familiar with Detroit would be less enthusiastic about the book, but knowing the city like I did for over 20 years, I could picture it all. I could appreciate what Colman Young, the city's first Black Mayor, was up against during those years.
Estleman is just as good as Detroit's more famous Elmore Leonard. I think he violated some of Leonard's Rules For Good Writing by being more literary, more historical and more philosophical, but the literary snob in me leans toward the less famous Estleman.
This one is set during the last year I lived in Ann Arbor. Though I was completely immersed in my job that year, I was vaguely aware that Detroit was in big trouble as a city. Ford Motor Co was basically gone from the Motor City, rampant unemployment was leading to the explosion of Big Crime, and a corrupt mayor leading a rapidly declining population that was more than 50% black completed the disaster.
Doc Miller, a former Detroit Tigers baseball star, has just been released from prison after serving seven years for manslaughter. He is a white guy, now a minority in the city, and broke, with no future in baseball, living with his brother's family, working in his brother's business. Not in the best shape for making decisions.
He is however, a pretty savvy fellow and knows his way around the city despite how much has changed while he was locked up. He takes a job as a driver for a slick and successful bail bondsman, hoping for better income and more interesting work. Instantly he is in the thick of crime, police relations and racial tension. King of the Corner is the story of how he beats the odds and figures out what he wants.
I loved it. Reading the book filled in a lot of gaps left by my former oblivious state. Perhaps readers not familiar with Detroit would be less enthusiastic about the book, but knowing the city like I did for over 20 years, I could picture it all. I could appreciate what Colman Young, the city's first Black Mayor, was up against during those years.
Estleman is just as good as Detroit's more famous Elmore Leonard. I think he violated some of Leonard's Rules For Good Writing by being more literary, more historical and more philosophical, but the literary snob in me leans toward the less famous Estleman.
January 26, 2018
A good entertaining book about a clever baseball player making a comeback into the real world after being convicted and serving time for a crime he didn't commit but was framed for by the circumstances...
As usual and as expected from this author, the writing style is more than good, is well above average with amazing subtle humor well placed here and there...
As usual and as expected from this author, the writing style is more than good, is well above average with amazing subtle humor well placed here and there...
June 18, 2013
Once again, the City of Detroit takes center stage in a novel replete with themes of crime, violence, power plays among the powers-that-be, drug lords, and the police, and the everyday struggles of ordinary people (young and old) to survive and thrive.
The year is 1990 and a onetime star pitcher for the Detroit Tigers is released from prison, where he had served 7 years for having a party at a high class downtown hotel, where a young lady was given cocaine and later died from an overdose. "Doc" (Kevin) Rivers, the erstwhile pitcher, goes to stay with his older brother and his family in Dearborn, a city closely adjacent to Detroit. He's a big, imposing man trying to make a new start for himself. Through his brother, Doc has a job working in a John Deere dealership, where he fulfils a utility role, taking on any job given to him. Yet, Doc is a bit restless. So, when a colleague at John Deere who has a side job operating his own cab service offers him the opportunity to earn a little money while he's away on holiday, Doc seizes upon it.
Well, Doc soon finds himself with an interesting character for a client while driving one night around Downtown Detroit. His name: Maynard Ance, a disbarred lawyer in his 60s with a rather dodgy reputation now working as a bail bondsman. The 2 strike up a conversation and Ance offers him a job as his driver and assistant. In other words, his "muscle." Doc is intrigued and before he knows it, he takes Ance to a hotel where Ance sought to apprehend an ex-fugitive (and former '60s revolutionary) and collect on some money due him for his efforts. Unfortunately, Ance won't collect because he and Doc find his quarry dead in bed from a gunshot wound to the head. A suicide.
More thrills and chills follow. Estleman knows how to make a story that is fast-paced, exciting and with a variety of characters whose imprint stays with the reader long after they've had their hour upon the stage.
Here's an example of the banter between Doc and Ance that'll leave the reader wondering: What next?
"You got a bad habit of accusing people of things, then backing off," Doc said. "I told Battle [an officer with the Detroit Police Dept.] I'd keep my eyes and ears open. If I didn't he could screw my parole down so tight I'd be happy to go back to prison. I think I just quit."
"A speech like that is usually made standing up."
Doc stood up.
"Sit down. Everybody knows how tall you are. I believe you."
Doc sat down.
"Better. Trouble with ballplayers is they all think they got to live up to the numbers on the back of their card."
"I never had a card." [Doc]
"Who gives a s--t? Some kid winds up tradng eighteen Doc Millers for one Boog Powell and there you are with a price sticker on your ass."
"Boog Powell? Give me a break."
"I don't see you doing beer commercials. Anyway, f--k that. What counts is what you're worth to me. You're there when I call. I'd dump Taber, but he knows too much about the way I do business. Who was at the party?"
There is never a dull moment in this book. Read it, be entertained, and learn something about the heart and soul of Detroit in the late 20th century.
The year is 1990 and a onetime star pitcher for the Detroit Tigers is released from prison, where he had served 7 years for having a party at a high class downtown hotel, where a young lady was given cocaine and later died from an overdose. "Doc" (Kevin) Rivers, the erstwhile pitcher, goes to stay with his older brother and his family in Dearborn, a city closely adjacent to Detroit. He's a big, imposing man trying to make a new start for himself. Through his brother, Doc has a job working in a John Deere dealership, where he fulfils a utility role, taking on any job given to him. Yet, Doc is a bit restless. So, when a colleague at John Deere who has a side job operating his own cab service offers him the opportunity to earn a little money while he's away on holiday, Doc seizes upon it.
Well, Doc soon finds himself with an interesting character for a client while driving one night around Downtown Detroit. His name: Maynard Ance, a disbarred lawyer in his 60s with a rather dodgy reputation now working as a bail bondsman. The 2 strike up a conversation and Ance offers him a job as his driver and assistant. In other words, his "muscle." Doc is intrigued and before he knows it, he takes Ance to a hotel where Ance sought to apprehend an ex-fugitive (and former '60s revolutionary) and collect on some money due him for his efforts. Unfortunately, Ance won't collect because he and Doc find his quarry dead in bed from a gunshot wound to the head. A suicide.
More thrills and chills follow. Estleman knows how to make a story that is fast-paced, exciting and with a variety of characters whose imprint stays with the reader long after they've had their hour upon the stage.
Here's an example of the banter between Doc and Ance that'll leave the reader wondering: What next?
"You got a bad habit of accusing people of things, then backing off," Doc said. "I told Battle [an officer with the Detroit Police Dept.] I'd keep my eyes and ears open. If I didn't he could screw my parole down so tight I'd be happy to go back to prison. I think I just quit."
"A speech like that is usually made standing up."
Doc stood up.
"Sit down. Everybody knows how tall you are. I believe you."
Doc sat down.
"Better. Trouble with ballplayers is they all think they got to live up to the numbers on the back of their card."
"I never had a card." [Doc]
"Who gives a s--t? Some kid winds up tradng eighteen Doc Millers for one Boog Powell and there you are with a price sticker on your ass."
"Boog Powell? Give me a break."
"I don't see you doing beer commercials. Anyway, f--k that. What counts is what you're worth to me. You're there when I call. I'd dump Taber, but he knows too much about the way I do business. Who was at the party?"
There is never a dull moment in this book. Read it, be entertained, and learn something about the heart and soul of Detroit in the late 20th century.
December 11, 2009
This is really number 7. He did not write them in the order of their chronology but they should be read in that order. Really terrific picture of Detroit in the twentieth century.
December 21, 2021
If you like good writing - particularly wonderful imagery; OR, if you like baseball; OR if you just like a good story with good, rich characters, this is a must read. Doc Miller was a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers before he got caught in a drug bust. Seven years later he's out on parole and trying to start a new life from scratch. He has more than good intentions but soon finds himself deep into murder, corruption and scandal and with his parole in jeopardy. This is a really well written, great story.
December 19, 2024
I'm really enjoying this Detroit series.
January 11, 2013
Estleman brings to life the city of Detroit in all of his historical novels. This - his seventh in the series - brings the history up to nearly modern times. I especially appreciated it as I lived through much of this time and was familiar with many of the people he writes about. He drops in references to local TV personalities and other Detroiters that you'd have to be familiar with to really appreciate. For example, there's an off-handed reference to Tom Monaghan (founder of Domino's pizza) not liking pepperoni that might go over other's heads.
While this story is a stand-alone novel, he's also a wonderful writer of westers and has an Amos Walker series of PI novels set in Detroit that are well worth reading...whether you know the city or not.
While this story is a stand-alone novel, he's also a wonderful writer of westers and has an Amos Walker series of PI novels set in Detroit that are well worth reading...whether you know the city or not.
June 9, 2015
A novel of Detroit. Set in 1990, this is one of Estleman's better efforts, probably my favorite Detroit novel. The hero is Doc Miller, an ex-con ex-Detroit Tiger pitcher who is perfectly underwritten in that hard-boiled style, but simmering with a low-boiling tension and modern sensitivity that is rare in this style.
Estleman keeps the action moving and the description to a minimum, and the use of continuing characters or relatives of said characters from the earlier Detroit novels keeps the book flowing and friendly like an old pair shorts.
Not all of his books are classics, but Estleman has the ability to rise to it any time out. He did on this one.
Estleman keeps the action moving and the description to a minimum, and the use of continuing characters or relatives of said characters from the earlier Detroit novels keeps the book flowing and friendly like an old pair shorts.
Not all of his books are classics, but Estleman has the ability to rise to it any time out. He did on this one.
September 16, 2012
Good conclusion to Estleman's Detroit series.
February 26, 2013
Baseball player turned bail bondsman
December 24, 2014
Recommended
January 8, 2014
I listened to this one on my Ipod. It was a very good listen.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews