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Apparent Wind
“What John Irving or Kurt Vonnegut might produce if they wrote a novel about crime and real estate set in the Florida keys…hilarious and deeply satisfying,” Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel Dennis “Doom” Lewis is a small-time conman who paid a a five-year prison sentence for forging a novel by Eleanor Roosevelt that became an international bestseller. He gets an early release to attend his crooked father’s funeral…and discovers that he’s inherited a sailboat and a Florida town that’s sinking into the sea. But the town is on prime real estate that two warring developers want badly enough to have already killed his father for and will go to outrageous lengths to snatch away from him. Dodging bombs, corrupt cops, and crazed killers, Doom teams up with a Nyquil-chugging history professor, two documentary film-makers named Anne, and a drop-dead-sexy scuba instructor and her Seminole grandmother in an elaborate plot to swindle the swindlers and save himself from fatally living up to his nick-name. “A flamboyant, comic nightmare. The author's best inventions are his characters -- gaudy as comic-strip villains, unpredictable as ancient gods and given to mighty mock-heroic combat of epic consequence. There is fun here, but also real fury in Mr. Murphy’s raging imagination,” The New York Times “Dallas Murphy is right up there with Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiaasen. I loved it” Donald Westlake “Masterful. Apparent Wind is much more than an excellent crime novel,” Palm Beach Post “A loopy, cynical, romantic caper novel. Daring and funny and smart,” Miami Herald
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1991
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271 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 13, 2019
Dour Doom Loomis is released from prison just in time to scatter his father's ashes with the yacht he just inherited.
It turns out he also inherited a small town, sinking into the ocean. Of course, developers want a piece of that action, no matter what the consequences to other people.
Pretty decent.
It turns out he also inherited a small town, sinking into the ocean. Of course, developers want a piece of that action, no matter what the consequences to other people.
Pretty decent.
July 20, 2022
If author Dallas Murphy is afraid we might mistake him for Elmore Leonard because he's created a cast of quirky characters caught up in a criminal enterprise, he need not worry himself. His book Apparent Wind presents plenty of distractions to justify denying him a comparison to any great writers. First there is a plot so poorly paced it became tedious. By the time I hit the book's halfway mark I was bored and confused and stopped caring about who was doing what and why. Second, Mr. Murphy can't resist showing off his knowledge of boating and the sea by drowning us in sailing descriptions, details, and arcane terminology. Third, his extensive vocabulary, although impressive, was also a distraction. How many of his readers have even heard of the word rictus, much less have ever used it? Fourth, his running jokes, like locals who talk without moving their lips and a malodorous sheriff, eventually fall flat. Finally, Mr. Murphy seems to have an unhealthy obsession with Jews in his singular references to them as unscrupulous tools who work for crooks.
But in a text refreshingly free of egregious typographical errors, Apparent Wind tells the story of Doom Loomis, the son of a murdered con artist, and the band of misfits he assembles to avenge his father and eleven slaughtered alligators. We are told who are the bad guys; the attempt at fun is watching Doom and company take them down. The telling of the story, neither clever nor surprising nor suspenseful, was barely amusing and is recommended for Elmore Leonard fans who have nothing else to read and are looking for a poor imitation.
But in a text refreshingly free of egregious typographical errors, Apparent Wind tells the story of Doom Loomis, the son of a murdered con artist, and the band of misfits he assembles to avenge his father and eleven slaughtered alligators. We are told who are the bad guys; the attempt at fun is watching Doom and company take them down. The telling of the story, neither clever nor surprising nor suspenseful, was barely amusing and is recommended for Elmore Leonard fans who have nothing else to read and are looking for a poor imitation.
May 9, 2016
A funny/sad novel
It was certainly a different read, than what was expected. There was believable and beyond believable. There laugh out loud funny and sadness. Strange
It was certainly a different read, than what was expected. There was believable and beyond believable. There laugh out loud funny and sadness. Strange
January 25, 2023
After getting out of jail for an unusual crime, Doom travels to his hometown in Florida. He befriends a motley crew of misfits, which makes things interesting. But mostly he wants to settle down and live a quiet life. Not surprisingly, he becomes embroiled in a situation that skirts the law and could potentially get him into some trouble. I found Doom to be appealing because he's a highly intelligent guy, very likeable, but he is also the type of guy who allows himself to be talked into crazy schemes, despite his better judgment. I felt drawn to him and sympathetic to his situation, but I was also frustrated by his actions. Rosalind is a solid backup character, a good support to his intelligence and common sense. Although she has a bit of a reckless side, as well. The plot was somewhat confusing, all about Doom's father's nefarious scheme from years ago and the desire of some of the locals to bend the laws for their own benefit. "Apparent wind" is a sailing term that was mentioned several times in the story, although it still didn't sink into my head.
June 23, 2017
Action
The story had lots of characters but was easy to follow. The participants covered a lot of ground in a short time.
The story had lots of characters but was easy to follow. The participants covered a lot of ground in a short time.
November 18, 2017
Not my usual reads
This book is not the type I usually read but was looking for something different. Seemed slow start but picked up a few chapters into the book.
This book is not the type I usually read but was looking for something different. Seemed slow start but picked up a few chapters into the book.
January 23, 2021
Apparent Wind by Dallas Murphy
304 Pages
Publisher: Brash Books
Release Date: February 3, 2015
Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Suspense, Thriller, Florida Man
Dennis “Doom” Loomis served five years in prison for writing a book under the name of Eleanor Roosevelt. He found out his father died in a drowning accident. But was it really an accident? He goes to south Florida where the Staggerlee, his father’s sailboat is being kept. Doom finds out his father was part owner in a proposed development and now he has ownership. He falls for Rosalind, a scuba diver
The location of the book is south Florida. I love when I read a book and can recognize locations. My own city of Weeki Wachee is even mentioned. The characters are very developed and the story flows at a steady pace. It is written in the third person point of view and is very descriptive. There are murders and mayhem galore. There are a few mentions of the “N” word. If you like the Pono Hawkins series by Mike Bond, you will definitely enjoy this book.
304 Pages
Publisher: Brash Books
Release Date: February 3, 2015
Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Suspense, Thriller, Florida Man
Dennis “Doom” Loomis served five years in prison for writing a book under the name of Eleanor Roosevelt. He found out his father died in a drowning accident. But was it really an accident? He goes to south Florida where the Staggerlee, his father’s sailboat is being kept. Doom finds out his father was part owner in a proposed development and now he has ownership. He falls for Rosalind, a scuba diver
The location of the book is south Florida. I love when I read a book and can recognize locations. My own city of Weeki Wachee is even mentioned. The characters are very developed and the story flows at a steady pace. It is written in the third person point of view and is very descriptive. There are murders and mayhem galore. There are a few mentions of the “N” word. If you like the Pono Hawkins series by Mike Bond, you will definitely enjoy this book.
December 13, 2015
Based on what I’ve read, I have Dallas Murphy pictured as a bon vivant with predilection for the intricacies of sailing, a humorous outlook towards violence, and a fondness for whacky people. His “Apparent Wind, “encompasses all of the above with lucid writing that’s refreshing. Of course he could also be malevolent and darkly honed into an instrument of fury, byproducts also found in the book. I don’t know him that well.
“Apparent Wind” is another comical mystery based in Florida. What’s with this locale? Drugs, violence, and whackos make up a plethora of these sweltering novels.
Murphy has entered the tropical world of Hiaasen, Barry, Leonard and others, and doesn’t take a back seat to any of them.
In “Wind” we have an ex-prisoner trying to do his best to right numerous wrongs against him, his family, his friends, and some bosomy hotties of various mindsets. Doom Loomis, although beset with good intentions, has a conman’s intellect to go with a newly inherited sailboat that floats and a derelict Florida town that’s doomed. Caught between two corrupt developers who have already murdered his father, Doom deals with their bombs, corrupt cops (including one who smells like last week’s discarded fish), two lesbian filmmakers who constantly film his every waking moment, a sexy scuba diver, assorted tough guys who get beat up a lot -- all in an uncoordinated attempt to save what’s left of his inheritance. To wage this fight, remnants of his unsavory background come into the picture.
Dallas Murphy is an intriguing personality and an excellent writer. He apparently has a serious side and has written several nonfiction books about the ocean. He was an Edgar nominee for his first fiction crime story, “Lover Man,” that was also named Notable Book of the Year by the New York Times. So he has the skills to put together this intriguing book. I heartily recommend it.
February 6, 2015
Forging a best-selling book by Eleanor Roosevelt will get you a prison sentence as Dennis “Doom” Lewis soon found out. He spent five years in prison only receiving an early release to attend the funeral of his crook-father. Doom learned he had inherited his father’s sailboat and a town in Florida that was sinking.
Even though the land is sinking it is prime real estate and two unscrupulous developers want it badly enough to kill…AGAIN, as they have already killed Doom’s father and they are willing to go to any length to get what they wanted. After dealing with killers, corrupt cops and being bombed, Doom teams up with the most unlikely characters to find a way to save his property without ending up dead.
Doom is willing to go to any length to save what is his, so he hatches a plot that will use a broad range of unlikely characters to achieve his goal that fills the storyline with unpredictable twists and turns as it unfolds. Although it was an interesting read, at times the storyline was hard to follow as it waned and I found myself skim-reading. I also felt it was not necessary to have so much explicit language to get the point across they were dealing with unsavory characters. Although this may not have been my choice of book, if you like a little history lesson, mystery and intrigue this would be a book for you.
Disclosure: I was given a pre-release copy of this eBook by the publisher, Brash Books, through NetGalley blogger program for review. I was not required to write a favorable review nor was I compensated for my review. The opinions in this review are my own.
Even though the land is sinking it is prime real estate and two unscrupulous developers want it badly enough to kill…AGAIN, as they have already killed Doom’s father and they are willing to go to any length to get what they wanted. After dealing with killers, corrupt cops and being bombed, Doom teams up with the most unlikely characters to find a way to save his property without ending up dead.
Doom is willing to go to any length to save what is his, so he hatches a plot that will use a broad range of unlikely characters to achieve his goal that fills the storyline with unpredictable twists and turns as it unfolds. Although it was an interesting read, at times the storyline was hard to follow as it waned and I found myself skim-reading. I also felt it was not necessary to have so much explicit language to get the point across they were dealing with unsavory characters. Although this may not have been my choice of book, if you like a little history lesson, mystery and intrigue this would be a book for you.
Disclosure: I was given a pre-release copy of this eBook by the publisher, Brash Books, through NetGalley blogger program for review. I was not required to write a favorable review nor was I compensated for my review. The opinions in this review are my own.
May 27, 2015
Apparent Wind is an outlandish romp through southern Florida. Dennis "Doom" Lewis is a con man easily talked into doing crazy projects (i.e. writing a novel promoted as being by Eleanor Roosevelt, and spending 5 years in prison when his cohorts took off and left him holding the bag.) His father has died and he has inherited a sailboat and piece of land in Florida that is sinking into the sea. When he arrives in Florida, it quickly becomes clear that others have their eyes on his land and are working hard to con him out of it.
The characters are beyond believable and offer overflowing silliness. Doom falls in love with a beautiful woman who teaches scuba diving, and, whose grandmother is is a Seminole native. An addicted history professor who had been involved in the fake novel shows up. Two women named Anne are filming a documentory and become interested in Doom's fight for his land. They all conspire together to out con the cons trying to take Doom's land. Unbelievable craziness ensues.
If you want clever, silly fun, this book is for you. A perfect beach book!
The characters are beyond believable and offer overflowing silliness. Doom falls in love with a beautiful woman who teaches scuba diving, and, whose grandmother is is a Seminole native. An addicted history professor who had been involved in the fake novel shows up. Two women named Anne are filming a documentory and become interested in Doom's fight for his land. They all conspire together to out con the cons trying to take Doom's land. Unbelievable craziness ensues.
If you want clever, silly fun, this book is for you. A perfect beach book!
May 11, 2016
This book is more caper novel than pure mystery. It’s also very Carl Hiaasen-esque in Murphy’s voice, oddball characters, and screwy events.
It wasn’t laugh out loud funny the way some Hiaasen books (Stormy Weather for one) are but it did have its funny moments.
Several names starting with D (Denny, Donny, Duncan), made keeping the characters straight a little difficult over the course of the story. When I encountered one, I had to stop for a second to recall which one I was reading about.
The ending seemed more like Murphy just stopped writing instead of wrapping things up.
I wouldn’t want a steady diet of books like this but they make a refreshing change from the more ‘serious’ mysteries I read.
It wasn’t laugh out loud funny the way some Hiaasen books (Stormy Weather for one) are but it did have its funny moments.
Several names starting with D (Denny, Donny, Duncan), made keeping the characters straight a little difficult over the course of the story. When I encountered one, I had to stop for a second to recall which one I was reading about.
The ending seemed more like Murphy just stopped writing instead of wrapping things up.
I wouldn’t want a steady diet of books like this but they make a refreshing change from the more ‘serious’ mysteries I read.
September 18, 2015
Pure entertainment, descriptive creative writing though some departure from facts which has no impact on the story. Characters from convicts to con men with a full complement of thugs to implement the devious deeds, a corrupt sheriff and of course the requisite female love interest who will become the damsel in distress. Knowing full well this is fiction yet it never cease to amaze me of the scheming of those who seek to gain by deception. Even if it is fiction the writer had the creativity to come up with the plot and kudos to the author for giving we readers an experience sure to deprive us of our much needed sleep.
February 9, 2015
This is a classic Florida mystery. We have folks fighting over worthless land, family fueds, a never ending cast of extreme weirdos and storylines that just won't quit. To hold it all together we have a wonderful, low key protagonist in Doom Landis, a truly engaging character who is the glue in this whole sticky situation. If you are a fan of Hiaasen, Dorsey or any of the other classic Florida mystery guys you should give this one a try.
March 10, 2015
A fun book to read - It is entertaining and exciting with outrageous characters and vivid descriptions. I enjoyed every word, and got very caught up in the action. It is easy to read, but very difficult to put down. There are many twists and surprises on the way to a satisfying ending. Don't miss this one.
March 3, 2015
Very strange book with lots of characters. There was so much going on that it was difficult to remember who was who and who were the bad guys and who the good guys. Interesting conclusion but still very confusing
May 4, 2016
This book had a large cast of colorful characters, a convoluted plot, and a lot of wit going for it. It reminds you of Carl Hiassen in story and setting. The ending was not very satisfying for this sailor, though, and I had a hard time connecting with it.
June 15, 2016
Very well written
Not the most uplifting read, but exceptionally well penned. An unlikely cast of characters and improbable circumstances creates an an emotional saga of love, betrayal and the dark side of human nature.
Not the most uplifting read, but exceptionally well penned. An unlikely cast of characters and improbable circumstances creates an an emotional saga of love, betrayal and the dark side of human nature.
May 10, 2016
Not up to comparison to Carl Hiassen
Although populated with curious characters, the plot was forced and the ending fizzled out. I feel 3stars are very generous but will not move on to further escapades of Doom.
Although populated with curious characters, the plot was forced and the ending fizzled out. I feel 3stars are very generous but will not move on to further escapades of Doom.
July 21, 2016
Too much
Numerous but too complex for me. I gave up about half way through when I had completely lost track of the story and many of the characters. Great descriptions of surroundings and atmosphere.
Numerous but too complex for me. I gave up about half way through when I had completely lost track of the story and many of the characters. Great descriptions of surroundings and atmosphere.
January 31, 2015
One of the funniest books that I've read in awhile!!
May 26, 2015
Wacky Florida in the style of Carl Haissen
May 1, 2016
Fun read!
May 3, 2016
What a read.
A lot of action in this story line. Couldn't help loving all these characters and how they interacted in each other's lives.
A lot of action in this story line. Couldn't help loving all these characters and how they interacted in each other's lives.
June 17, 2016
Real Florida Keys Mystery
The type of story that FL Key folklore is made of.
Not your tourist adventure in vacation land, but Good Ole Boy politics.
The type of story that FL Key folklore is made of.
Not your tourist adventure in vacation land, but Good Ole Boy politics.
August 2, 2016
A long slog!
A long, unrealistic, sometimes humorous, to do about mostly nothing. In short, Apparent Wind was a lot of hot air.
A long, unrealistic, sometimes humorous, to do about mostly nothing. In short, Apparent Wind was a lot of hot air.
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August 3, 2018Good Book!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews