The Delta Star: A Novel

by Joseph Wambaugh

L.A. Wambaugh-style. A world of cops on the rocks with a twist of murder. A cheap hooker named Missy Moonbeam takes a fatal dive from the roof of a sleazy hotel. But what’s a Caltech phone number doing in her trick book? And how does that connect to a dead private eye and a useless credit card? And what does all that have to do with a Whisky-class Russian sub and the Nobel Prize?   Join Joseph Wambaugh’s ravaged cops of Rampart Station as they follow a trail of corruption from the world of pimps and crazies to the think-tank labs of the country’s top chemistry wizards—where genius and greed mix to create an award-winning case of murder.   “A page-turner . . . This is a must-read for Wambaugh fans.”—USA Today

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Novels, Humor, Thriller, Mystery Thriller

292 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 1983

About the author

Joseph Aloysius Wambaugh Jr. was an American writer known for his fictional and nonfictional accounts of police work in the United States. Many of his novels are set in Los Angeles and its surroundings and feature Los Angeles police officers as protagonists. He won three Edgar Awards and was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. Before his writing career Wambaugh received an associate of arts degree from Chaffey College and joined the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in 1960. He served for 14 years, rising from patrolman to detective sergeant.

Reviews

[Debra Pawlak · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Delta Star is one of Joseph Wambaugh's earlier books. Dead private eyes and murdered hookers are the center of this entertaining crime novel. His humor is raw and gritty, but the characters (who are all flawed in some way or another) are the best part. There is never a dull moment, or shall I say page, in a Wambaugh book. I have so enjoyed reading these books that I might just do something I rarely do--reread his first three novels. It's been a long time and I think I will enjoy them all over again.

[Darel Krieger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Wambaugh fiction book is like a fine wine, it just gets better with age. One time this was a relevant contemporary book but now it’s more like historical fiction. Either way it’s still an enjoyable read!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, another great Joseph Wambaugh book! Great characters. flaws...dogs...and all :) I like it when a book runs your gamut of emotions which this book surely did.

[Kate McDougall Sackler · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it weird that this was written by a former policeman because it felt like the police were portrayed as bumbling alcoholics. Did Hans’ problem ever get solved?
NATO phonetic alphabet reading challenge-D:delta

[Robert2481 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book when it came out thirty-something years ago. I had forgotten how much I appreciated Wambaugh's work. It is my intention to revisit all his books, because I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

[Peter Walt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid Wambaugh book. Sardonic and bare-knuckled.

Suicide and alcoholism and a finale that made me actually place the book aside so I could really laugh. Until my stomach hurt.

It's good Wambaugh.

[Terry Zamzow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oldie but goodie.

[Jiří Pavlovský · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tenhle autor už v Rudé žni byl, takže ho čtu už jen pro radost. A jo, pořád je fajn… byť autorův systém psaní je vlastně pořád stejný – sesbírané policejní historky navěšené na jednoduchém příběhu. To se nemění a zhruba třetina knihy se odehrává v policejní hospodě, kde se schází hrdinové, stěžují si, nadávají, balí ženský a hlavně chlastají. Nějaké pátrání provádí vlastně jen jeden z nich, ostatní spíš řeší běžné policejní problémy, umlácené děti, sebevraždy a vyhazovy z bytu. Celá knížka mi přišla z Wambaughovek zatím nejkomediálnější, takže tyhle policejní epizody jsou tu dost často na vyvážení, aby se to nezvrhlo ve frašku... a aby se ukázalo, že ti policajti jsou sice opilé trosky, ale že to má nějaký důvod.
Případ, který to drží pohromadě, začíná vraždou prostitutky, aby se začalo mluvit o ruských agentech a nakonec se do toho zapletla ještě Nobelova cena. A je to skoro až klasická detektivka, s pátráním i zvraty! Jo, je to ranější Wambaugh.

Musím ale přiznat, že si mě román získal hned prvním větami– jedna z hlavních postav má totiž přezdívku Bad Czech. Ano, vystupuje tu obrovský a zuřivý polda českého původu, který se občas snaží zabít zadržené (což se mu nakonec ještě povede, ale je to považováno za snahu zachránit pachateli život, tudíž je za to ještě pochválený), a navíc začíná pochybovat o tom, co je vůbec skutečné a co ne. Jeho černý kolega je z toho dost nervózní, a má obavy, že oba nakonec skončí v kriminále, kde budou znásilňování tak často, že se jim pak do řitního otvoru vejdou dva vánoční stromečky, telefonní budka a Debra Wingerová. Dál máme mezi policisty člověka, který odchází za pár dní do penze a je stoprocentně přesvědčený, že se toho nedožije, tudíž má panickou hrůzu absolutně ze všeho, od zločinců, přes viry až po špatné počasí, psovoda, který ze svého psa udělal alkoholika, dvojici mladých policistů, která milují mrtvoly a chlápka, co jen sedí, zírá do zrcadla a mluví sám se sebou.

Je to fakt především sled scének, černá groteska psaná se suchým humorem a hláškami. („Na poslední fotce při zatýkání vypadala jako něco, co potřebuje zásah exorcisty,“ či „I když člověk zemře na rozbitou hlavu, nemůže to zabránit patologům, aby si z jeho těla nevyrobili kajak.“) Když musí dva hrdinové jít na vysokou školu a vydávat se za normální lidi, co nejsou policajti, tak to už skoro připomíná Světáky. Ale celá tahle srandovnost je to vyvážená brutalitou okolního světa, ustavičnou přítomností smrti - na což je asi jediná obrana vysoká hladina alkoholu v krvi a spousta milenek.

[Josh Hitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is hard to rate because overall I did enjoy the story and the mystery of the case. Even the ending was satisfying in a way. I even liked somewhat the cast of misfit cops that litter the story, at least there was some entertainment there. But really most of that was filler, just too much absurd comedy from the misfits. Each comedic incident for the most part was amusing but there was just too much of it. Also a lot of it was pretty grade school type of stuff which again in small doses is fine but not this much. I think it was an easy 4 star if it just took out a few of the sophomoric high jink moments, therefore tightening up the narrative.

Recommended for the overall story but I will admit I was getting bored with all of the grade school humor.

[Kirk Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining read

I’ve read a lot of Joe Wambaugh. This one is an earlier effort that I must’ve missed. This isn’t his best but it’s entertaining. It takes place in the early 80s so some of the cultural references are dated unless you’re old like me. Some of the character development of the cops dragged on a little in the beginning. The plot was more complicated than Wambaugh’s usual fare which made it a brain teaser and a good ‘who dunit’ but not as compelling as some of his others.
However, near the end of the book, the party/reception at Cal Tech has good stuff mixing humor and police work rather adeptly.
Good beach/summer read.

[Don · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a book where very little of substance happens. It focuses on cops and detectives from Los Angeles' Rampart Division. While is does have some limited beat cop action and detective investigation, it mostly takes place in a bar nicknamed "The House of Misery" where they all go to get drunk and talk about cases, politics and life in general. The characters are not changed by the story. They are the same from beginning to end. The characters are also mostly unlikable. I found it to be a pointless waste of time.

[Steve Greenland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the writing style in his other books is somewhat trying (to read them is a bit painful). This one is really good and I actually enjoyed reading about a couple of the main characters (Cecil is my favourite). I found myself having to re-read a few lines over again as I was laughing so much. This is one novel that should be adapted into a movie.

[d thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ludwig jizzed on the new pool table.

Never run over a Mexican on a bicycle because its probably your bicycle. Learn more helpful hints on racial interaction and quantum physics with the master of cop stories.

[Deb White · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gritty novel about Los Angeles cops who like to hang out at a bar after hours.
A hooker is dead after being pushed off a building. A PI is dead, apparent heart attach. They were in on a scam to embezzle a scientist who like twosomes.
Cops, Caltech, Nobel Prize, YIKES!

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visceral, gritty, and some of the blackest comedy I've read so far. But between the very flawed characters and the mystery that opens up into a world outside of the LAPD, The Delta Star is noir done right.

[Clive Parkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an off/on affair with my putting it off while going to other books. While some “questionable”
terms and “isms” given the early 80s and a “dead” patch when it seemed to get bogged down near the end, there was a lot of laugh out loud humour.

[James Baynes · Rating 1 out of 5]

It seems like Wambaugh was drunk when he wrote this one. There’s not a whole lot going on and the section where the cops go to the college campus is absolutely boring. So boring that I stopped reading it with 20% left to go. Simply terrible.

[Dave Delsigne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book. Joseph Wambaugh creates unforgettable characters … the reader loves them from the start … flaws and all. The humor is raw and mean … but had me howling at times. I’ve read all of Wambaugh’s books … and just might reread them all.

[Robert Sterling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay but not great.

Most of the book was about several police officers on the lapd, somewhat of a story but nothing to get excited about, still, Wambaugh does write good novels.

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meandering, less than a compelling plot. Overall characters development is disappointing.

[Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wrong on every level but wickedly funny. Full of boozed up cops you'd expect from a Wambaugh book, all with delightful names. Kept me guessing right to the end.

[John R. Goyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cosmically over the top characters, lots of action and adventures, and a reasonably good storyline. Not an amazing book, but enjoyable and quite entertaining.

[Mehboob Ur Rehman · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good story, thats it.

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 1983. Solid police procedural.

[PicknPop · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first paperback book I read. Need to reread it again.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have yet to be disappointed by a Joseph Wambaugh book.

[Daryl Sparr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gritty detective novel that follows a group of burnt out LA cops struggling to find meaning. A good read.

[Lyle Boylen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fine novel by Wambaugh.

[Ethan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boomer brainrot

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read by Joseph Wambaugh

Another convoluted cop story featuring a lot of neurotic cops told only as Wambaugh can. A very enjoyable work, and the only thing I found wrong with it was whoever transcribed it for kindle made a few spelling errors. I ran into a few cops as he described in this book over my career. Loved everyone of them!