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Amos Walker #24
You Know Who Killed Me
In You Know Who Killed Me, by multiple award-winning author Loren D. Estleman, Amos Walker is at low ebb. Just released from a rehab clinic, the Detroit private detective has to marshal his energies to help solve a murder in Iroquois Heights, his least favorite town.
The area is flooded with billboards rented by the widow of Donald Gates, an ordinary suburbanite found shot to death in his basement on New Year’s Eve: “YOU KNOW WHO KILLED ME!” they read, above the number of the sheriff’s tip line. Complicating matters is a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the murderer, offered by an anonymous donor through the dead man’s place of worship.
Initially hired by the sheriff’s department to run down anonymous tips, Walker investigates further. The trail leads to former fellow employee Yuri Yako, a Ukrainian mobster, relocated to the area through the U.S. Marshals’ Witness Protection Program.
Shadowed by government operatives, at odds with the sheriff, and struggling with his addiction, Walker soldiers on, in spite of bodies piling up and the fact that almost everyone involved with the case is lying to him.
The area is flooded with billboards rented by the widow of Donald Gates, an ordinary suburbanite found shot to death in his basement on New Year’s Eve: “YOU KNOW WHO KILLED ME!” they read, above the number of the sheriff’s tip line. Complicating matters is a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the murderer, offered by an anonymous donor through the dead man’s place of worship.
Initially hired by the sheriff’s department to run down anonymous tips, Walker investigates further. The trail leads to former fellow employee Yuri Yako, a Ukrainian mobster, relocated to the area through the U.S. Marshals’ Witness Protection Program.
Shadowed by government operatives, at odds with the sheriff, and struggling with his addiction, Walker soldiers on, in spite of bodies piling up and the fact that almost everyone involved with the case is lying to him.
At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 9, 2014
21 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Loren D. Estleman
314 books279 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 - 30 of 38 reviews
September 11, 2018
Published in 2014, this is the twenty-fourth entry in Loren D. Estleman's venerable series featuring Detroit P.I. Amos Walker. The first, Motor City Blue, appeared in 1980, and even back then, Amos was the last of the true hardboiled detectives of the Old School--wise cracking, world weary, constantly running afoul of the cops, but dedicated to his mission and to his clients.
Thirty-four years later, the guy has seen it all. Even worse, he's experienced it all. He's been beat up, shot, and thrown to the side of the road so many times that a lesser man would have never survived. But he keeps plugging along, nonetheless.
Walker has not aged in real time, but he has aged, and if anything, the Mean Streets of Detroit have gotten even meaner. As this book opens, he's just out of rehab, recovering from addiction to booze and pain pills. He's contacted by Ray Henty, a lieutenant in the County Sheriff's Department, who's been temporarily placed in charge of the corruption-riddled police department in the suburb of Iroquois Heights.
A man named Donald Gates has been murdered in the basement of his home, and the department has made no progress in solving the crime. Someone unhappy with the pace of the investigation has put up billboards around the city shouting "You Know Who Killed Me," prodding the police to act. To make matters worse, someone, acting through a local church, has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer. (This plot will, of course, sound familiar to those people who have seen the movie, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," but it's worth noting that this book was published three years before the release of the movie.)
The billboards and the reward have put a lot of pressure on the police. They've also brought a ton of calls to the tip line and someone has to sort through them. Henty hires Walker to listen to the calls and try to discover if there's anything useful there. Henty emphasizes that Walker is not supposed to be investigating the murder himself; he's only to listen to calls. But you don't have to be a regular reader of this series to guess how well those instructions are going to work.
Before long, Walker is up to his neck in the case, which turns out to be hugely complex, involving Ukrainian mobsters and a lot of other unsavory types. Other murders will follow, and Walker himself will be in serious jeopardy from a variety of sources before this all plays out.
One might argue that this plot ultimately winds up being way too convoluted for its own good, but after all this time, Amos Walker has become a very old friend and it's always fun to check in and watch him chase down a case as only he can. Readers who have somehow missed this series might be better off checking out some of the earlier books, but fans of the series will not want to miss this one.
Thirty-four years later, the guy has seen it all. Even worse, he's experienced it all. He's been beat up, shot, and thrown to the side of the road so many times that a lesser man would have never survived. But he keeps plugging along, nonetheless.
Walker has not aged in real time, but he has aged, and if anything, the Mean Streets of Detroit have gotten even meaner. As this book opens, he's just out of rehab, recovering from addiction to booze and pain pills. He's contacted by Ray Henty, a lieutenant in the County Sheriff's Department, who's been temporarily placed in charge of the corruption-riddled police department in the suburb of Iroquois Heights.
A man named Donald Gates has been murdered in the basement of his home, and the department has made no progress in solving the crime. Someone unhappy with the pace of the investigation has put up billboards around the city shouting "You Know Who Killed Me," prodding the police to act. To make matters worse, someone, acting through a local church, has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer. (This plot will, of course, sound familiar to those people who have seen the movie, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," but it's worth noting that this book was published three years before the release of the movie.)
The billboards and the reward have put a lot of pressure on the police. They've also brought a ton of calls to the tip line and someone has to sort through them. Henty hires Walker to listen to the calls and try to discover if there's anything useful there. Henty emphasizes that Walker is not supposed to be investigating the murder himself; he's only to listen to calls. But you don't have to be a regular reader of this series to guess how well those instructions are going to work.
Before long, Walker is up to his neck in the case, which turns out to be hugely complex, involving Ukrainian mobsters and a lot of other unsavory types. Other murders will follow, and Walker himself will be in serious jeopardy from a variety of sources before this all plays out.
One might argue that this plot ultimately winds up being way too convoluted for its own good, but after all this time, Amos Walker has become a very old friend and it's always fun to check in and watch him chase down a case as only he can. Readers who have somehow missed this series might be better off checking out some of the earlier books, but fans of the series will not want to miss this one.
December 21, 2014
This novel is the 24th mystery in the Amos Walker series by an amazingly prolific writer, and I’ve read them all. I even own all of them, and I don’t do that often. Estleman must be a clone of Raymond Chandler, or at least as close to being one as a writer can be. The only difference is that Amos Walker walks the blighted streets of Detroit and invests them with “a romantic presence” (Ross Macdonald). MacDonald is the acknowledged heir of Chandler, but I would like to nominate Estleman as the next successor. Maybe a problem with Estleman is that he also writes western novels, Sherlock updates, and other types of books. I just think Amos Walker should be better known.
This book begins with Walker getting out of rehab for alcohol and Vicodin. I’m all for getting clean, but will this take the edge off Walker? We don’t visit any blind pigs in this book, and his drinking is a bit off. And there are no dangerous blondes this time around.
Walker doesn’t get beaten up. Thank heaven, because, my math tells me Walker is about my age. I need my rest. Were I a private detective, I’m afraid I would do most of my investigation behind a computer. The problem is that Walker seems less computer-adept than I am. He still relies on his pal, Barry Stackpole, for research.
Donald Gates was found shot to death in his basement on New Year’s Eve. Billboards announcing “YOU KNOW WHO KILLED ME!” have appeared around town and there is a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the murderer, offered by an anonymous donor. Walker is hire to run down anonymous tips, but, of course, Walker investigates further.
We meet some other old buddies as the bodies pile up and federal agents start trailing Walker. He manages to figure it all out at the end, although justice doesn’t come to all involved.
I laughed more than once – Estleman has such a way with phrasing. It wasn’t the best in the series; I would hope that Estleman hasn’t become weary with Walker. Walker may be as old as I am, but neither of us are ready to retire. If Detroit can come back from bankruptcy, surely there is more life in Amos Walker, too. I wait eagerly for the 25th book. In the meantime, this is a pleasing, if lesser entry in the series.
This book begins with Walker getting out of rehab for alcohol and Vicodin. I’m all for getting clean, but will this take the edge off Walker? We don’t visit any blind pigs in this book, and his drinking is a bit off. And there are no dangerous blondes this time around.
Walker doesn’t get beaten up. Thank heaven, because, my math tells me Walker is about my age. I need my rest. Were I a private detective, I’m afraid I would do most of my investigation behind a computer. The problem is that Walker seems less computer-adept than I am. He still relies on his pal, Barry Stackpole, for research.
Donald Gates was found shot to death in his basement on New Year’s Eve. Billboards announcing “YOU KNOW WHO KILLED ME!” have appeared around town and there is a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the murderer, offered by an anonymous donor. Walker is hire to run down anonymous tips, but, of course, Walker investigates further.
We meet some other old buddies as the bodies pile up and federal agents start trailing Walker. He manages to figure it all out at the end, although justice doesn’t come to all involved.
I laughed more than once – Estleman has such a way with phrasing. It wasn’t the best in the series; I would hope that Estleman hasn’t become weary with Walker. Walker may be as old as I am, but neither of us are ready to retire. If Detroit can come back from bankruptcy, surely there is more life in Amos Walker, too. I wait eagerly for the 25th book. In the meantime, this is a pleasing, if lesser entry in the series.
December 31, 2014
Estleman is at his best with a recovering Amos Walker. Detroit is never so gritty, the crooks never so crafty, the hard boiled flatfoot never so hard boiled as when Estleman goes to work. I can see Jeff Daniels playing Amos Walker on the mean streets of Motown. Until then, give us more Amos Walker.
May 4, 2019
This is one of those detective books with a "clever" detective. Unfortunately the glib conversation was so glib as to be just confusing a fair percent of the time. Sometimes I wasn't sure which of two characters was talking and had to back track four or five pages to try and figure it out. Deciphering this writing was too much work for what should have been a light mystery.
July 19, 2015
An Amos Walker novel is more about atmosphere, smart-alecky dialogue, the deterioration of Detroit, and the hard-boiled persona. In this chapter, the plot is complicated by his addiction to painkillers, and the doctor’s condition for his release from rehab: get counseling. He does, with extremely unlikely results. Meanwhile, what’s an Amos Walker novel without a mystery? And he is presented with one in his somewhat desperate shape by his friend in the Sheriff’s department, albeit as a charity case and limited in scope.
The real mystery is who killed Donald Gates just before or after the start of New Year’s Day. Detroit is flooded with billboards with his picture and the message: “You Know Who Killed Me.” The idea was his 10-year-old son’s, and it was paid for by his widow. Amos’ assignment is limited to chasing down phone tips resulting from an anonymous $10,000 reward which brings out all the crazies, which the limited Sheriff’s staff has no time to investigate. Amos is warned not to contact the widow or look into the case itself. But that never stopped him from going against orders.
All the attributes of previous novels in the series, e.g., the dialogue and attitudes, are present in this one. The prose is equally cynical, a trademark. While the conclusion may not be up to one’s expectations, it works for Amos. And that’s all that counts.
Recommended.
The real mystery is who killed Donald Gates just before or after the start of New Year’s Day. Detroit is flooded with billboards with his picture and the message: “You Know Who Killed Me.” The idea was his 10-year-old son’s, and it was paid for by his widow. Amos’ assignment is limited to chasing down phone tips resulting from an anonymous $10,000 reward which brings out all the crazies, which the limited Sheriff’s staff has no time to investigate. Amos is warned not to contact the widow or look into the case itself. But that never stopped him from going against orders.
All the attributes of previous novels in the series, e.g., the dialogue and attitudes, are present in this one. The prose is equally cynical, a trademark. While the conclusion may not be up to one’s expectations, it works for Amos. And that’s all that counts.
Recommended.
August 2, 2016
Loren Estleman is my favorite author. He lives in a town just north of me, and if I ever see him wandering about the streets, I will pee my pants and probably forget who I am.
That said, I am probably more disappointed in this book than I would be with any other author. The plot was way too convoluted. I feel like Estleman had a good idea and then realized that he would have to fill XX number of pages and so he just threw shit in. But I was in it, because I love the Amos Walker character, and I liked his interactions with the female priest and the psychologist (even though that scene was pretty unnecessary in the long run). Then that ending...seriously? Did he just not feel like inventing a new bad guy character, so he threw Thaler under the bus? Her motives didn't even make any sense, except for a throwaway line about how if she was a man she would have had the operation approved from the get-go and not have had these problems.
Much as I love him, I have to say that Estleman (like many male writers) does not excel at writing female characters. He describes them in way too much detail, but doesn't actually *write* them. So, the whole thing being Thaler all along just...it left me feeling like he had to come up with an ending before his editor had a brain aneurysm and that's what he came up with.
If this is your first Estleman book, I beg you to go back and read something else before you decide to stick with him or not.
That said, I am probably more disappointed in this book than I would be with any other author. The plot was way too convoluted. I feel like Estleman had a good idea and then realized that he would have to fill XX number of pages and so he just threw shit in. But I was in it, because I love the Amos Walker character, and I liked his interactions with the female priest and the psychologist (even though that scene was pretty unnecessary in the long run). Then that ending...seriously? Did he just not feel like inventing a new bad guy character, so he threw Thaler under the bus? Her motives didn't even make any sense, except for a throwaway line about how if she was a man she would have had the operation approved from the get-go and not have had these problems.
Much as I love him, I have to say that Estleman (like many male writers) does not excel at writing female characters. He describes them in way too much detail, but doesn't actually *write* them. So, the whole thing being Thaler all along just...it left me feeling like he had to come up with an ending before his editor had a brain aneurysm and that's what he came up with.
If this is your first Estleman book, I beg you to go back and read something else before you decide to stick with him or not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2015
What I enjoyed most about this latest offering in the Amos Walker saga was that Estleman has shown us that Walker isn't Superman. By my conservative estimate Amos probably should have been dead at least 15 books ago - so to have him coming out of rehab to kick a pill habit was a nice change of pace - even if his liver is still floating in a bucket of cheap scotch.
I also liked the ending quite a bit. It took a while to get there, and it's certainly one of Estleman's more convoluted plots (boy howdy!), but I thought the pay-off was worth it. A decent entry in the series.
I also liked the ending quite a bit. It took a while to get there, and it's certainly one of Estleman's more convoluted plots (boy howdy!), but I thought the pay-off was worth it. A decent entry in the series.
August 13, 2016
Amos Walker is a private detective just out of rehab. He is asked to check out tips to a hot line regarding a murder case. Following up on the tips proves interesting. This is a short novel, but it holds your interest.
August 27, 2025
Reading a series out of sequence usually gives an insight into the author's growth as a story-teller and as a writer. Having read the latest installment of Detroit private detective Amos Walker first followed by this novel, approximately three-quarters into the series, the style and tone comes through in both while the later novel has a more polished feel to it. Amos is known for his glib tongue, odd-ball humor, self-deprecating nature, and jaundiced view of Detroit, public and private.
The premise stems from the familiar idea of using billboards to canvas for tips to solve a crime, tracks what's involved in sifting through the results, and shows how that does or doesn't help. Amos and the plot wander through the narrative turning up odd characters, odd clues, and lots of false leads, and reaches a ho-hum conclusion (climax is too strong a word). While the novel has its moments, with several well-drawn characters, the dialog is at times confusing and smacks of filler rather than useful.
The premise stems from the familiar idea of using billboards to canvas for tips to solve a crime, tracks what's involved in sifting through the results, and shows how that does or doesn't help. Amos and the plot wander through the narrative turning up odd characters, odd clues, and lots of false leads, and reaches a ho-hum conclusion (climax is too strong a word). While the novel has its moments, with several well-drawn characters, the dialog is at times confusing and smacks of filler rather than useful.
April 9, 2020
I’ve been reading these books in order from about halfway through the list, and I’m growing weary of the sameness of the novels. Weary of the steady flow of smart ass quips from Amos. Weary of the stench of every building in Detroit. And weary of the fact that, despite such great writing, this guy has me re-reading passage after passage of dialogue trying to figure out who’s saying what, when. I’ve never read a series of books where the author does such an atrocious job of identifying speakers so consistently. But it’s April, the cruelest month, especially in Detroit according to the author. Pandemic now. A bigger mystery. And a need to find new books. Goodbye, Mr. Walker. Good luck with the booze, the cigs, the crap diet, your lousy choice in women, and Detroit winters. Hard to believe you actually live long enough to fill the pages of a few more books.
October 17, 2017
Amos Walker never disappoints.
But Mr. Estleman, you do disappoint. If Amos is going to teach someone how to play four-handed euchre at least have him use the correct cards - nothing below a 9 except for Aces. And please don't score cribbage on paper; use a cribbage board for goodness sake. In 40 years of playing cribbage I have never seen anyone use paper and pencil to score a game. Of course, I may be prejudiced since I collect cribbage boards.
But Mr. Estleman, you do disappoint. If Amos is going to teach someone how to play four-handed euchre at least have him use the correct cards - nothing below a 9 except for Aces. And please don't score cribbage on paper; use a cribbage board for goodness sake. In 40 years of playing cribbage I have never seen anyone use paper and pencil to score a game. Of course, I may be prejudiced since I collect cribbage boards.
February 10, 2018
Audiobook performed by Mel Foster. For me a 3.5 star story with a 4.5 star performance. The audiobook reader really sounded like I imagine the crusty investigator Amos Walker. Somewhat complex story that was a bit hard to follow while driving. A good crime novel, but the ending left me not feeling as good as I thought I should.
March 1, 2022
I’m gonna be honest, I picked up this book from the library‘s donation bin mainly because it was in large print. I thought the genre was likely not my cup of tea but as I progressed through it, I found myself intrigued by the main character. I’ll likely be looking for more Amos Walker books.
August 13, 2017
His books are always a fast, good read. I like the main character.
January 15, 2018
Fun book -- a simple suburban murder goes into a number of unpredictable directions, though the final solution seems just a tad out there. Walker is quite your stereotypical PI.
September 19, 2018
Good book! Will read the rest of this authors books. Would recommend.
June 18, 2020
Heavy smoker, alcoholic Hard Boiled Detroit P.I.
INTERESTING case with a nice twist to end it
INTERESTING case with a nice twist to end it
August 27, 2023
Finally time to finish :) Very nice in that I did not see the killer coming :)
July 15, 2015
You Know Who Killed Me
Mysterious Book Report No 201
by John Dwaine McKenna
I came late to the party for this week’s MBR author . . . he’d already written seventy-five novels by the time he made it to my radar screen . . . so shame on me. Now that he’s on my personal head-up display however, that oversight will get corrected in the coming weeks and months with more reviews of his work. The writer’s name is Loren D. Estleman, and he’s an absolute master of the craft. His latest work, You Know Who Killed Me, (Forge/Tom Doherty, $24.99, 233 pages, ISBN 978-0-7653-3735-1) is the twenty-fourth book in his Amos Walker series. Walker is irascible and world-weary, a Detroit area private-eye who’s tough, cynical, sanguine . . . and doing his utmost to stay clean and sober after a recent stay in rehab at a court-mandated facility for drug and alcohol addiction. Soon after he’s released from the clinic, he’s contacted by an old friend named Ray Henty, a lieutenant in the County Sheriff’s Department, who’s now running the Iroquois Heights substation, where the municipal police department’s been disbanded due to systemic corruption. Iroquois Heights is a place Walker hates, but it’s where the area’s been flooded with billboards featuring a photo of a local man named Donald Gates and bearing the caption, “YOU KNOW WHO KILLED ME!” the signs have been plastered all around town by Gate’s widow, in the hopes of fishing out a lead, after the cops came up empty-handed. When an anonymous $10,000 reward is posted however, hopes of winning some or all of the money’s bringing out every crackpot from Detroit to Dallas, and Lt. Henty hires Walker to follow up on some anonymous tips that the deputies simply don’t have time for. But Walker digs deeper, and the trail leads him to a man named Yuri Yako, a Ukrainian mobster relocated by the US Marshal’s service under the Witness Protection Program. Soon, Walker’s being braced and followed by Federal agents, suspected by his employers, threatened by the mob and all the while continuing to fight with his old wounds and drug addiction. That’s when he realizes he’s being manipulated and lied to by everyone in the case . . . just as it begins to break.
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Mysterious Book Report No 201
by John Dwaine McKenna
I came late to the party for this week’s MBR author . . . he’d already written seventy-five novels by the time he made it to my radar screen . . . so shame on me. Now that he’s on my personal head-up display however, that oversight will get corrected in the coming weeks and months with more reviews of his work. The writer’s name is Loren D. Estleman, and he’s an absolute master of the craft. His latest work, You Know Who Killed Me, (Forge/Tom Doherty, $24.99, 233 pages, ISBN 978-0-7653-3735-1) is the twenty-fourth book in his Amos Walker series. Walker is irascible and world-weary, a Detroit area private-eye who’s tough, cynical, sanguine . . . and doing his utmost to stay clean and sober after a recent stay in rehab at a court-mandated facility for drug and alcohol addiction. Soon after he’s released from the clinic, he’s contacted by an old friend named Ray Henty, a lieutenant in the County Sheriff’s Department, who’s now running the Iroquois Heights substation, where the municipal police department’s been disbanded due to systemic corruption. Iroquois Heights is a place Walker hates, but it’s where the area’s been flooded with billboards featuring a photo of a local man named Donald Gates and bearing the caption, “YOU KNOW WHO KILLED ME!” the signs have been plastered all around town by Gate’s widow, in the hopes of fishing out a lead, after the cops came up empty-handed. When an anonymous $10,000 reward is posted however, hopes of winning some or all of the money’s bringing out every crackpot from Detroit to Dallas, and Lt. Henty hires Walker to follow up on some anonymous tips that the deputies simply don’t have time for. But Walker digs deeper, and the trail leads him to a man named Yuri Yako, a Ukrainian mobster relocated by the US Marshal’s service under the Witness Protection Program. Soon, Walker’s being braced and followed by Federal agents, suspected by his employers, threatened by the mob and all the while continuing to fight with his old wounds and drug addiction. That’s when he realizes he’s being manipulated and lied to by everyone in the case . . . just as it begins to break.
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December 29, 2014
I loved the dialogue, gritty, witty, it hit on all cylinders. I have to admit I had trouble following the logic, particularly the leap Walker takes when he solves the case. In spite of that I really enjoyed reading it. I even had to look up a couple of words, thought they might of been made up! The plot takes many twists and turns of course, more than I thought could have been used considering the murder of one man. The title comes from the billboard ads that were put up by an unknown person who offers a reward. Amos is hired by the local police chief to help track down all the tips that come in after the reward is offered.
October 26, 2024
I love Loren Esteman's books, especially the ones set in Detroit.
This one is particularly poignant as Amos Walker with declining health is in a low spot. But he cannot fail to pull together all his resources to solve a case in the Iroquois Heights neighborhood of Detroit amid billboards announcing, "You Know Who Killed Me." Lots of intrigue, the usual Amos Walker dialogue, and a chance to experience the great city of Detroit, particularly now as it's under the political microscope. Personally, I am forever thankful to the author for providing me with a blurb for my Detroit-centric first novel, Shadow of Death. Thank you, Loren.
This one is particularly poignant as Amos Walker with declining health is in a low spot. But he cannot fail to pull together all his resources to solve a case in the Iroquois Heights neighborhood of Detroit amid billboards announcing, "You Know Who Killed Me." Lots of intrigue, the usual Amos Walker dialogue, and a chance to experience the great city of Detroit, particularly now as it's under the political microscope. Personally, I am forever thankful to the author for providing me with a blurb for my Detroit-centric first novel, Shadow of Death. Thank you, Loren.
January 17, 2015
You got a couple of cold winter nights with a fire going and you're looking for a good P.I. mystery to read; this is a really good solution. I think I saw this one in the Sunday Times book review. It is a great Detroit snapshot, lots of gritty city flavor with a twisting turning plot that features a terrific character, Amos Walker. Amos is slighted but enduring, beaten but not down, and smarter and full of more great wisecracks than you have read in a while. He knows all the right folks to get things done, in and out of law enforcement, and he makes this story a joy. Short and sweet, if you are looking for a fun, old time detective yarn, give this one a try.
August 10, 2016
Solid effort from the go-to guy for wisecracking PI noir mystery these days. Outstanding snappy and sarcastic dialogue with all the usual PI descriptions of food, architecture & clothing like the other greats (Rex Stout, Ross Thomas) but with a deliciously decaying Michigan background. The only things keeping this from 5 stars were the hard to guess link to the killer, it seemed a bit more tenuous and forced than usual. Occam's razor doesn't always work and maybe that is the point. The other item was use of a game of euchre in the story for local color that clearly didn't understand the game. Should be 4.5 stars but not possible.
October 11, 2016
I stumbled on this book while browsing mysteries at the public library. As #24 is a series there's a lot of back story missing, but I found this one to be pretty good. At least as far as the writing goes; the conclusion seemed forced.
There are no red herrings to follow, so you just need to out faith in our hero's wrap up at the end.
I may well look for an earlier episode. I've found that these long series tend to wear down over time.
There are no red herrings to follow, so you just need to out faith in our hero's wrap up at the end.
I may well look for an earlier episode. I've found that these long series tend to wear down over time.
Read
February 16, 2015Right out of rehab and into the line of fire. Detroit private eye Amos Walker is hired on the down low by local law enforcement to investigate in ways they cannot when a billboard campaign builds pressure to solve New Years Eve execution style shooting of boring local suburbanite.
April 2, 2015
Usual wonderful Estleman dialogue and plotting, though a couple things in the book seemed a little extraneous.
And that's two books in a row where he's done something with an interesting recurring character that I didn't really care for.
I hope he stops that next time.
And that's two books in a row where he's done something with an interesting recurring character that I didn't really care for.
I hope he stops that next time.
May 15, 2015
One of the better of the last Amos Walker novels.
I have to re-read the last few chapters to get a better understanding of what really happended.
After all the books with Mary Ann Thaler as a "heroine" I'm surprised that Estleman got rid of her as the "bad guy" in this book.
I have to re-read the last few chapters to get a better understanding of what really happended.
After all the books with Mary Ann Thaler as a "heroine" I'm surprised that Estleman got rid of her as the "bad guy" in this book.
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September 16, 2015Estleman has another Amos Walker page turner with some surprising plot twists. One of my all time favorite series from great writer. Dynamic Detroit area flavor makes city great character for distinctive sense of place.
December 27, 2014
just ok. have the feeling it's a cog in a long running series that's run out of steam
December 31, 2014
As always, the best part of the story is Amos Walker's love affair/hate affair with Detroit revealed through Loren Estleman's amazing descriptive language.
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