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The Deadbeat Club
A fast and powerful crime novel full of action, vengeance, twists, and dark humour
Grey Stevens took over the family business after his uncle passed away, and now he grows the best pot in Whistler. It’s called Eight Miles High and the word on the street is it rivals anything on the planet. Happy to fly under the radar in this mountain playground, Grey just wants to take life easy and snowboard the cold months and bike the hot ones. But demand for his pot among the locals and tourists keeps growing. Everybody wants to get their hands on it, including the two rival gangs coming to town, who want to take over the dope trade. When Grey steps in and rescues a girl from a beating at the hands of one of the gang members, he finds himself in the middle of a turf war and a new relationship at the same time. After one of his roommates gets attacked and another one goes missing, Grey has to decide whether he’s going to play it safe — take off with the girl and start over someplace new — or stay and fight for what is his.
Grey Stevens took over the family business after his uncle passed away, and now he grows the best pot in Whistler. It’s called Eight Miles High and the word on the street is it rivals anything on the planet. Happy to fly under the radar in this mountain playground, Grey just wants to take life easy and snowboard the cold months and bike the hot ones. But demand for his pot among the locals and tourists keeps growing. Everybody wants to get their hands on it, including the two rival gangs coming to town, who want to take over the dope trade. When Grey steps in and rescues a girl from a beating at the hands of one of the gang members, he finds himself in the middle of a turf war and a new relationship at the same time. After one of his roommates gets attacked and another one goes missing, Grey has to decide whether he’s going to play it safe — take off with the girl and start over someplace new — or stay and fight for what is his.
312 pages, Paperback
First published October 13, 2015
5 people are currently reading
450 people want to read
About the author
Dietrich Kalteis
25 books118 followersDietrich Kalteis is the critically acclaimed author of thirteen novels and winner of the 2022 Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence for Best Crime Novel for Under an Outlaw Moon. His first novel, Ride the Lightning, won the bronze medal for Best Regional Fiction in the Independent Publisher Book Awards in 2015. House of Blazes was his fourth novel and won the silver medal for Best Historical Fiction in the Independent Publisher Book Awards in 2017. His screenplay Between Jobs is a past finalist in the Los Angeles Screenplay Contest. He enjoys life with his family on Canada’s West Coast.
Visit his website: http://www.dietrichkalteis.com/
He regularly contributes at Off the Cuff: http://www.dietrichkalteis.blogspot.ca/
And at 7 Criminal Minds:
http://www.7criminalminds.blogspot.ca/
You can also find him on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dietrich.kalt...
and Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dietrichkalteis/
Visit his website: http://www.dietrichkalteis.com/
He regularly contributes at Off the Cuff: http://www.dietrichkalteis.blogspot.ca/
And at 7 Criminal Minds:
http://www.7criminalminds.blogspot.ca/
You can also find him on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dietrich.kalt...
and Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dietrichkalteis/
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 14, 2015
Full review here: http://nikkitheknack.blogspot.ca/2015...
3.5 stars. I read this as part of The Word on the Street's Book Club (and received an ARC from them), and so read it over the course of four weeks, answering questions about the story and talking to other people who were reading the book as well. I really liked being able to talk to people while I was reading the story, because the book and corresponding questions made for some thought-provoking discussions! I'm not sure how I would have felt if I'd been reading it all at once, but I enjoyed coming back to the story every week.
There are a lot of characters to keep track of - I was hoping that as I kept reading, I'd get a handle on who was who, and for the most part I did. There were some characters though, who didn't have big roles or were only present for a couple of scenes, but were mentioned later on in the book - so I found myself having to go back to remind myself who they were.
On the back of the book, we're told that Grey Stevens is the main character, but he never really comes across as such. Personally, I think there are too many characters to peg someone as the main focus. It didn't bother me at all that there wasn't a main character, it just threw me off a little because that's how Grey was pitched. Having said that, I loved his scenes because he almost always provided comic relief in what was a pretty dark, action-packed novel.
3.5 stars. I read this as part of The Word on the Street's Book Club (and received an ARC from them), and so read it over the course of four weeks, answering questions about the story and talking to other people who were reading the book as well. I really liked being able to talk to people while I was reading the story, because the book and corresponding questions made for some thought-provoking discussions! I'm not sure how I would have felt if I'd been reading it all at once, but I enjoyed coming back to the story every week.
There are a lot of characters to keep track of - I was hoping that as I kept reading, I'd get a handle on who was who, and for the most part I did. There were some characters though, who didn't have big roles or were only present for a couple of scenes, but were mentioned later on in the book - so I found myself having to go back to remind myself who they were.
On the back of the book, we're told that Grey Stevens is the main character, but he never really comes across as such. Personally, I think there are too many characters to peg someone as the main focus. It didn't bother me at all that there wasn't a main character, it just threw me off a little because that's how Grey was pitched. Having said that, I loved his scenes because he almost always provided comic relief in what was a pretty dark, action-packed novel.
June 20, 2015
One of the few crime novels I've ever read. It was hard to keep all of the characters straight until maybe three quarters of the way through the book, but it added to the chaos of the rival gangs who never knew whose side anyone was on. The writing is what made me enjoy this book. Each character had a lot of weight and personality and it was fun to watch them go down their paths -- even if those paths were sometimes predictable. I would have liked a little more focus on Grey Stevens as the synopsis does set him up as a main character. Point of view shifts constantly in this novel and maybe highlights too many characters for Grey to have a big enough part.
April 14, 2020
My favorite of Dietrich Kalteis's books, though they are all really great crime novels. The Canadian Elmore Leonard, one of the best writers in crime fiction today, and this book is Kalteis in his prime form. Engaging, wacky characters, a pounding pace, and a satisfying ending. I read this book in two sittings, could not put it down!
March 25, 2020
Hard to put down, non-stop action in this fun but edgy story pitting gangs and hipsters against each other in Whistler. Great setting and great fun!
May 6, 2020
Dietrich Kalteis is pure jazz on the page (I didn't make that up, but it's true). Never more so than in this tightly plotted work of noir. Kalteis is prolific, but he can't write fast enough for me!
February 14, 2016
In The Deadbeat Club by Dietrich Kalteis the reader is immediately sweep up in the street life and developing turf wars surrounding the business of drugs. The style is sharp and quick, it almost takes the reader's breath away. For avid readers this will likely be a one or two sitting read, both the prose style and the use of short focused chapters keeps the pages turning.
The main reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars is because one aspect of this delivery when there are quite a few characters is a tendency for the reader to have to pause and remember who is who. This doesn't last more than maybe a third of the book and is not a major issue. For those put off by this it could keep them from getting through the first third, which would be a shame. For those okay with it then the book is just fine. Either way, once you're hooked, you will finish.
Those who don't like the roughness of street language or the violence might want to stay away, though I think if you can bracket your discomfort you'll be rewarded with a story that is much more than just profanity and violence. For others who like crime stories this will be one you want to talk about with friends.
Reviewed from a copy made available through Goodreads First Reads.
The main reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars is because one aspect of this delivery when there are quite a few characters is a tendency for the reader to have to pause and remember who is who. This doesn't last more than maybe a third of the book and is not a major issue. For those put off by this it could keep them from getting through the first third, which would be a shame. For those okay with it then the book is just fine. Either way, once you're hooked, you will finish.
Those who don't like the roughness of street language or the violence might want to stay away, though I think if you can bracket your discomfort you'll be rewarded with a story that is much more than just profanity and violence. For others who like crime stories this will be one you want to talk about with friends.
Reviewed from a copy made available through Goodreads First Reads.
December 11, 2015
This book is just too hard for me. I do not have a lot of sympathy for real drug dealers, and when murders enter the scene, I feel bad. Gangs make me want to run away.
That was my problem with the book... I could not get myself to like any of the characters.
I know, the question of the MC being likable is not solved, but I miss it terribly if no one deserves to be liked.
Obviously, not a book for me. I can believe other people will like it, but it is not my cup of tea.
That was my problem with the book... I could not get myself to like any of the characters.
I know, the question of the MC being likable is not solved, but I miss it terribly if no one deserves to be liked.
Obviously, not a book for me. I can believe other people will like it, but it is not my cup of tea.
July 20, 2016
Wow, this book was amazing!! I started reading it just two nights ago and have finished it already. It's true, really good books are just too hard to put down. This is definitely one of them. This is my first time reading Mr. Kalteis, it definitely won't be my last!!
Loved the pacing of the story.
Loved the pacing of the story.
May 11, 2016
I received this book through the goodreads giveaways for an honest review.
The Deadbeat Club is full of interesting characters, fast paced, an full of action.
I really like the way the author gives differing views throughout the book and was glad the way it ended.
The Deadbeat Club is full of interesting characters, fast paced, an full of action.
I really like the way the author gives differing views throughout the book and was glad the way it ended.
May 30, 2016
I received this book as a First Read. The story is interesting enough. The writing though gets so bogged down in description that it slows the pace of the story. There are some well written elements but this book would've been better with more editing.
January 9, 2016
One of the best novels I have read recently. Dietrich Kalteis has an interesting writing style that keeps you involved in the story. Recommend reading.
Won on Goodreads.
Won on Goodreads.
June 27, 2016
Love his writing! So rich with a peppy beat to it. You can't miss a word or you'll lose some of this fast-paced plot with lots of fully developed, crazy characters.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews