Bulldog

Dev Haskell Mystery #9

by Mike Faricy

Bulldog is the NINTH mystery in the Dev Haskell Private Investigator mystery series. Mike Faricy once again proves himself to be Minnesota's Master of the Bizarre. When corner cutting, back slapping Dev Haskell loses his friend, Dermot Gallagher in what appears to be a random shooting he takes it personal. But the more he learns, the more questions seem to go unanswered. His old nemesis, local crimelord, Tubby Gustafson seems to be involved or is he? Then there's 'Fat Freddy' Zimmerman, a criminal of underachieving and dubious reputation if ever there was one. Swindle Lawless enters, stripping up a storm under her new stage name, 'Cougar.' Jackie Van Dorn, Tubby's attorney adds a special brand of polished sleaze to the entire affair. And, just when you think things couldn't possibly get any worse, Tubby's psychopathic enforcer, Bulldog shows up and seems to have more than a passing interest in Dermot's death. Dev ends up with only one option, the question is; Will he take it? "Faricy is America's hottest new mystery writer..." The Dirty Lowdown "Faricy is the next Carl Hiaasen..." Crime Scene "Laugh a minute story line in another of Faricy's deliciously engaging worlds..." The Irish Gazette

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Amazon, Collections, Crime, Ebooks

264 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

I was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, I still live there as well as in Dublin, Ireland. I've been a soldier, freelance journalist, tended bar, sold designer cakes, owned a painting and decorating company along with a number of other schemes and scams. If that doesn't offend you I also play bagpipes with the Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band. All my books stand alone, read them in whatever order you wish. They are filled with the sort of oddballs we are all curious about, but wisely, prefer to keep at a distance. None of my characters will be saving the world from terrorism, international banking conspiracies or coups to take over the government. Rather, they inhabit a world just below the surface of polite society, characters with one foot on either side of the law. The circumstances they find themselves in are usually due to bad decisions, but bad decisions lead to interesting stories. They serve not so much as an example but as a warning to us all. Thanks for taking the time, happy reading.

Reviews

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Dev ever since I got introduced to him. This was the first book I actually pre-ordered and I was so excited to get on my kindle.
If you have read anything about Dev before you know he is a P.I. and he always seems to find himself in the odd situations of trouble. He always has some type of female problems and then the cases he gets he is always caught right into the middle of it.

With Bulldog it was a good read, not much humor like the others on had in it. I guess maybe because Heidi wasn't as big a part in the story along with Detective Manning. Normally Dev and Manning are in each others faces and Dev somehow uses his charm to get under Manning's skin.

If you read book #8 in this series than you might remember Bulldog he is Tubby's enforcer, and now he has his own book. When Dev's close friend is murdered he decides that maybe he shouldn't get into the investigation. But then realizes that he should try to get some answers. As Dev digs deeper into the mystery he learns that Bulldog plays a major role in it all. Everything comes full circle for Bulldog but will Dev live after dealing with him?

Overall loved the story, anything with Dev is going to be good. Only reason I am not giving this book a solid five liked I hoped to is because lack of humor. I know super silly but I have come to know Dev as a humorous P.I. but not this time.

[Wanda Hartzenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read numerous books in this series and I still enjoy every new copy that comes along.
Dev, at the start of the series, not this book specifically is a, ahm, an, a playboy but one with a heart. Now as the series progresses he becomes less grating and far nicer. Now I am not sure if this is based on character growth or me getting used to Dev's scandalous ways or if the author is losing his own razor sharp edge when it comes to Dev or all or none of the above but I have come to assume that by bungling everything Dev nevertheless saves the day and is revealed to be a pretty descent human being.
Who knew?
This is not heave reading and still it is fast and action filled escapism. If your expecting a complicated plot line, don't. If you want to be entertained be sure you will be.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend of Dev is killed in a home envision, shot in front of his wife. Dev decides to let the cops handle his one but still manages to get in trouble. Casey the widow calls and says someone is casing her house tells she’s worried if they come back when no one is there, Dev says he will stay there while she’s at her brother’s place. Dev catches Fat Freddy trying to break in and learns Bulldog wants to get in the house and buy the house back. Dev investigates the house history instead to murder and still gets into trouble.

[Myra McCulloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

The murder of a friend has Devlin Haskell in the thick of it. Not sucked in with a sob story this time Dev is determined to find who murdered his friend. An unexpected twist in this one.
Thank you for the opportunity to read your book

[CA Portnellus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faricy does it again, entertainment in the form of his sleazy private detectjve, Dev Haskell out to save his community of bumbling crooks and uninterested local cops. Dev is always in The wrong place finding out the wicked manipulations of local crime bosses and then running to keep ahead of them. Despite his laziness and lackadaisical methods of fighting crime, he somehow wins the day. Usually with his pain and body suffering for sticking his curious nose where it doesn't belong. With wacky sidekicks, including an ogre of a wannabe Bad boy, Dev gets into more troubled times than he can count. In each of these amusing fast paced novels we keep wondering why a handsome and smart guy would be such a glutton for the perverse and dark side of town. Bulldog has great story telling, humor, and almost pratfall-like plots, keeping the reader engaged, turning pages and seeking more buffoonery from criminals and cops. Fun to read.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dev's friend, Dermot Gallahger, is murdered, and he decides to let the police handle this case, but investigates the house instead and what he discovers leads him to the murderer. The murderer being Bulldog, Tubby Gustafson's soldier. Dev has a fascinating way of getting revenge for Dermot's murder.

This is the first Dev Haskell mystery that I have read. Bulldog was intriguing enough to make me want to read more of the Dev Haskell mysteries.

[Helen Kaiser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bulldog

Just wondering where Dev gets his money? He never seems to have paying clients? But he spends a lot. Hopefully in an up coming book he might earn some money, have a paying client, stop being an idiot, maybe stop drinking, be a normal person?? He does have some good quality, but how old is this guy? Geez, grow up! He'll probably did from alcohol related disease!

[Crystal Toller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dev Haskell

When Dev's friend is killed he tries to find out who killed him. Turns out the murderer is Bulldog, Tubby Gustafon's enforcer. How Dev gets revenge for his friend, Dermot Gallagher and his wife Casey is an interesting story. Highly recommend this book and the series.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

This is a good quick read. Can read it in a day. When Dev loses his friend in death Dev has a lot of unanswered questions. While trying to figure out his friends death and trying to get the questions answered Dev gets more then he bargained for. I really enjoyed this author can't wait to read more by him.

[Mmgeric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read! Series is getting better with each new book. Kept it interesting and humorous all the way. Really appreciate your style and delivery Mike. Keep it up! Ready for the next one...
Mike G.

[Karen Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far the best book in this series that I have read so far. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and look forward to starting the next one. Dev settles a few scores without getting himself in too much trouble and for once Manning isn't after him for something!

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

You just can't beat any book by Mike Faricy!! I love and look forward to reading his work.
So all I can say is, if you haven't tried any of this series, or any of Mike Faricy's work, you are missing a great experience!!!!
Keep up the GREAT work Mike.....love it all!!!

[Lisa Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed it immensely, as I do all the books in this series. So much so, I read it again, which is rare for me.

[Don Paske · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another entertaining read from Mike Faricy about Dev Haskell. I sure would like Dev's "job". He does nothing for pay but has plenty of money to buy food and drink for just about everyone.

[Sandra Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable

First one of his, I read. Qwirky characters, interesting plot. Action to keep your interest. Looking forward to reading more.

[mzbeastle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoying all things Dev Haskell. Just my kind of easy going PI, adventures are exciting and the writing style really appeals to me. I'll keep finding more of these, I hope!

[David John Foxcroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent - enjoyable and highly recommended!!

[I Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a totally beautiful book.

[Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shiver! where did all the oxygen go?

[John Roach, · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good yarn

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love it when evil is punished. The guy from the previous book, Bulldog, is the evil one and he gets his punishment. LMAO

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every book has been a fun ride.

[Philip Northrup · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just gets better and better as it goes, on to the next one.

[Jackie Simons]

Read 12/24

[Murray Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Dev adventure

Another Dev adventure if you like Dev PI. He’s a horney PI who even solves cases. No one is as bad as Bulldog or Fat Freddy.

[Beth Helm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story

I loved this book. The twists start early and continued throughout this book. I can't wait for the next book.

[Madelon · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's nothing quite like a funeral, replete with bagpipes playing Amazing Grace, to set the mood and get the tears running down my cheeks. That's where BULLDOG starts. The deceased is a long-time pal of Dev Haskell, killed for now apparent reason. Of course, Dev gets drawn into investigating. BULLDOG left me feeling verklempt by the time I had finished just two pages. Sad just doesn't cover it.

Dev's pal, Dermot Gallagher, is murdered for no apparent reason… shot for opening his front door. Detective Norris Manning tells Dev to stay out of the investigation. Of course, Dev agrees to this verbally with no actual intention of following the Manning mandate. Quite a few of the underworld characters from the previous book make their appearance here. The relationships among the criminals becomes moderately less murky as the investigations continue. Although BULLDOG isn't technically a sequel to CRICKETT, I am happy to say it does flesh out some of what I thought was left hanging.

Everyone needs a little brain candy every once in a while; Dev Haskell is mine. Each book is what I consider to be novelette length and easily readable in one or two sittings. They are mysteries, yes, but they are also generally humorous and sometimes a little bizarre. BULLDOG broke that mold for me. It is emotionally fraught and, like Dev Haskell, I wanted revenge.

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting plot with lotsa twists. When I get tired of gore in newer mysteries, I go to my “re-readables.” This series is on the list. Like the characters and (so far) the plots. Recommended.

[Kat Lebo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bulldog, a Dev Haskell mystery
by Mike Faricy

This is the 9th book in the Dev Haskell series. Besides Dev, his friend and officemate, Louie, his detective friend, Aaron (and his frenemy, Manning), and his friend-with-benefits, Heidi are all back for this adventure, as are (obviously from the title, Bulldog, from the "Cricket" novel and Swindle Lawless from an even earlier novel.

In this outing, Dev's good friend from his time in the military, Dermot, has been murdered. Dev is trying to help out Dermot's widow, by staying at their house. Dermot was murdered at the house, so his widow, Casey, doesn't feel safe staying there. Now that she is a widow, she won't be able to afford to keep up on the mortgage for the fixer upper she and Dermot were remodeling themselves, so she is having work done to ready the house for sale. There doesn't seem to be a reason for the murder, yet it just doesn't seem random, either.

Of course, things escalate and Dev discovers that the probable killer was Tubby Gustafon's go-to guy, Bulldog, and he also discovers that Bulldog was the former owner of the house and in prison when Dev's friends purchased it. He suspects there is something somewhere in the house that has the now-released Bulldog interested. Things go from bad to worse to ridiculous in this outing that is full of adventure and pathos and shows the softer side of Dev Haskell.

It's an easily seen-through mystery (but still fun), with lots of action, characters that are likeable, characters that are unlikeable, characters that are likeable but still pretty despicable, lots of bruises and bumps -- a very Dev Haskell outing.

Faricy's writing is always enjoyable. His pacing and flow are good, and his proofing/editing very good. I did find two misused apostrophe's (at 106 and 1335) and one instance where, evidently when the novel went digital, where a word (padlocked) got separated at the end of a line without a hyphen between the pad and the locked. Characters are well drawn and developed and stay true and consistent. This is the most grown up Dev seen to date, yet he remains the same likeable horndog readers have loved through the other 8 books.

Fun and easy summer read.

[Carlton Phelps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dev Haskell mysteries are a great source of entertainment. Fun little twist and turns, back tracks and false starts as he continues down the trail of a mystery.
Mr. Faricy will not disappoint if you are looking for a fun read. Yes there is a serious crime to be solved and his character Dev Haskell is the man for the job.