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Jack Dwyer #1
Rough Cut
When advertising executive Michael Ketchum falls in love with Cindy Traynor, the prime suspect in the murder of his business partner, he may be setting himself up as the murderer's next victim
228 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
2 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Ed Gorman
469 books121 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Edward Joseph Gorman Jr. was a prolific American author and anthologist, widely recognized for his contributions to crime, mystery, western, and horror fiction. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gorman spent much of his life in the Midwest, drawing on that experience to set many of his novels in small towns. After working over two decades in advertising, political speechwriting, and industrial filmmaking, he published his first novel, Rough Cut, in 1984 and soon transitioned to full-time writing. His fiction is often praised for its emotional depth, suspenseful storytelling, and nuanced characters. Gorman wrote under the pseudonyms Daniel Ransom and Robert David Chase, and contributed to publications such as Mystery Scene, Cemetery Dance, and Black Lizard. He co-founded Mystery Scene magazine and served as its editor and publisher until 2002, continuing his “Gormania” column thereafter. His works have been adapted for film and graphic novels, including The Poker Club and Cage of Night. In comics, he wrote for DC and Dark Horse. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2002, he continued writing despite his illness until his passing in 2016. Critics lauded him as one of the most original crime writers of his generation and a “poet of dark suspense.”
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Edward Joseph Gorman Jr. was a prolific American author and anthologist, widely recognized for his contributions to crime, mystery, western, and horror fiction. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gorman spent much of his life in the Midwest, drawing on that experience to set many of his novels in small towns. After working over two decades in advertising, political speechwriting, and industrial filmmaking, he published his first novel, Rough Cut, in 1984 and soon transitioned to full-time writing. His fiction is often praised for its emotional depth, suspenseful storytelling, and nuanced characters. Gorman wrote under the pseudonyms Daniel Ransom and Robert David Chase, and contributed to publications such as Mystery Scene, Cemetery Dance, and Black Lizard. He co-founded Mystery Scene magazine and served as its editor and publisher until 2002, continuing his “Gormania” column thereafter. His works have been adapted for film and graphic novels, including The Poker Club and Cage of Night. In comics, he wrote for DC and Dark Horse. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2002, he continued writing despite his illness until his passing in 2016. Critics lauded him as one of the most original crime writers of his generation and a “poet of dark suspense.”
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 26, 2020
Although this multiple murder mystery moves along fairly well, the expression of the plot does not generate tension or anticipation. Michael Ketchum is the co-owner of the Harris-Ketchum advertising agency in Chicago. It is a relatively small firm, yet there are enough people to generate a wide assortment of extra-marital affairs.
When partner Denny Harris is murdered, there are several options as to which jealous husband or angry female lover was the one that wielded the knife. Even though Ketchum was not in either group, he is still a suspect as the firm was struggling in the creative and financial senses.
The story plods along as participants in affairs are revealed, marking them as potential killers. However, some of them also get murdered along the way, keeping the number of suspects relatively constant. At times there are solid hints that there might be more than one murderer evening out an infidelity score.
The clues come together at the end and the murderer(s) are revealed, there is no dramatic climax, just a resolution that is solid and complete, but not tense.
When partner Denny Harris is murdered, there are several options as to which jealous husband or angry female lover was the one that wielded the knife. Even though Ketchum was not in either group, he is still a suspect as the firm was struggling in the creative and financial senses.
The story plods along as participants in affairs are revealed, marking them as potential killers. However, some of them also get murdered along the way, keeping the number of suspects relatively constant. At times there are solid hints that there might be more than one murderer evening out an infidelity score.
The clues come together at the end and the murderer(s) are revealed, there is no dramatic climax, just a resolution that is solid and complete, but not tense.
April 17, 2011
You can rarely go wrong with Gorman. This novel, his first, arrived in the mid 80s when you were still allowed to have 150 pg books. It's a quick read with short chapters and a pithy first person point of view. Oh, and it's been long out of print, which makes it all the more fun to discover in used book stores. What's not to love?
June 15, 2008
a thin book but a page turner. hero is michael kechum in a pr firm written 1985. stuart, if you need a quick read and a "throw back" to your pr days, it might have some nostalgia, good or bad. if b ad, forget i suggested it. caveat: super light-weight but i liked it. steve
August 12, 2010
1st offering from an Iowa mystery writer...basic pulp crime drama...a noire mystery involving embezzlement and murder at an ad agency..."Mad Men", but with more violence!!!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews