General Murders

Amos Walker

by Loren D. Estleman

This collection of ten highly original stories involving brash private investigator Amos Walker is a superb, entertaining read. With colourful characters, twisting plots and cracking dialogue ithas everything readers have come to expect from a leading crime writer.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Short Stories, Mystery

432 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1988

About the author

Loren 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

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked these. They were a bit hackneyed, but that was part of the charm of the wise-cracking, tough detective. The situations were well done, the stories the correct length for the subject, & the other characters were interesting. A few cardboard cutouts were supposed to be & better for it. I liked these better than either of the novels of his that I've read, although I'm only 1/3 of the way through the second one right now.

[Wayne Zurl · Rating 4 out of 5]

GENERAL MURDERS by Loren D. Estleman…..

Ten long, short stories and novelettes from the case book of Amos Walker. All good stuff that any Walker fan will want to read. A couple had endings a little more abrupt than I would have liked, but there isn’t much bad to say about these mini mysteries. Highly recommended.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did this one in audio format, with Robert Forster narrating -- it was startling at first, but I soon settled into his style, and his gruff rumble is a good support to the fairly lightweight stories.

[Dave Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know how Amos Walker, our favorite loner detective of the type often clobbered on the head and also often broke does in short story format a la Holmes,. Turns out pretty well. Estleman book-ends each of five short 30-40 minute stories with a pithy one-liner of detective wisdom and sarcasm, the best type. Also present are the descriptive similes we expect from 1940 genre "The waitress looked like a garage door in uniform" although set in more modern Detroit. I thought all except story #2 were very solid and I even solved a couple, but Estleman is all about the writing and a lot like Chandler and Marlowe, it's just so much fun. The narration by Robert Forster (audio-book) was absolutely perfect and is now my gold standard for detective fiction; the only problem being the pronounciation of Gratiot Avenue as Gratt-ee-ott but who would know outside the area.

[Josh Hitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoy my first look at Amos Walker, definitely going to start the series now. All ten short stories are well done and establishes the character of PI Walker well. The last story of the collection, Bloody July is my favorite, basically a perfect short story. Walker is a smart ass small time PI that is always short on funds but is one of the best in the business. He seems to be a step ahead of the cops a lot which burns up his friend on the Homicide Squad Lt Alderdyce.

Highly recommended, can't go wrong with these. They are the perfect length for a quick PI mystery fix.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

audio narrated by Robert Forster
I came to this by wanting to listen to Forster's performance
Very interesting with PI Amos Walker operating in Detroit
I think I will try the series

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like his full-length novels but shorter; instead of following lots of clues around town and interviewing many people, Amos Walker solves these crimes Sherlock Holmes-style, with one crime scene visit and talking with one or two people. Not quite as good on the metaphors, but still an excellent read.

[Marsha Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read Loren Estleman's work in a while. Here I'm going with my three-star rating, because that's where most of the books I read fall: pleasant and usually, quick reads. In my estimation, this group of short stories falls into that slot. They are well written, but not anything to rave about. Hence, three stars.

[Karen Siddall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this audiobook! I am probably ruined now for any other reader besides Robert Forster. His voice will forever be that of Amos Walker PI for me. Perfect. Truly.

This is the first in the Walker series for me, and based on this experience it won't be my last. Great dialogue, wonderfully descriptive passages throughout that just bring these stories home in living color.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of short stories featuring Amos Walker a 1950's style hard drinking, hard boiled, wise cracking Detroit private investigator.

[Laurie (Kwiltreader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the short stories more than the novels. I feel as if I know more about Amos Walker than I did before and would like to have him covering my back.