The Dealer of Death

Dirty Harry #12

by Dane Hartman

Mad Dog Vigilante Cop! That's what the papers are calling Dirty Harry. Some dude who's no friend of Harry's has lifted his prize Magnum and is blasting some of his worst enemies out of this world. Harry wants to get his name clean, his gun back, and put an end to the "dead man" who's playing Harry's hand in a game of life and death.

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Following the release of the third Dirty Harry movie, The Enforcer, in 1976, Clint Eastwood made it clear that he did not intend to make any more Dirty Harry movies. In 1981, Warner Books (the publishing arm of Warner Bros., which made the films) began publishing a number of men's adventure series under its now-defunct "Men of Action" line. One such series features the further adventures of Inspector Harry Callahan. The books, written primarily by Ric Meyers and Leslie Alan Horvitz, appeared under the house name Dane Hartman. The series was brought to an end when Eastwood decided to direct, produce, and star in a fourth Dirty Harry movie, Sudden Impact, which was released in December 1983.

Reviews

[Mikepottz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Breaking out of prison and faking his own death, cop killerJames had no conscience or fear. All he wanted was to get revenge and kill Harry. He stole Harry's .44 beloved Magnum and started to blow away some of the people Harry despised. The powerful gun slammed into chests and ripped out head cheese from the back. Harry has his fun to and pumps bullets into a criminal. The man struggled against death but death wanted him. A cat and mouse game with suspended from duty Harry trying to protect loved ones and get his job back.

[Garrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its the last one of the series but dies not end as if it was going to be the last. It ends with Bressler calling him back to duty to battle a a hijacked BART train. Harry has a love interest that seems to have started prior to this book but not mentioned in prior ones. This villain seems just as tough and resilient as Dirty Harry. I was sad finishing this one knowing there was no follow up, unlike the people who read it back when originally published. How would they know it was the end? The characters are not developed as always, the gun fights bloody, but this time the bad guy is using a .44 too.

[Bradley Schlieper · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 stars. Not bad… ending could have been a little more drawn out with a better conclusion or perhaps a retired Dirty Harry!

[Tom Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dirty Harry #12: The Dealer of Death by Dane Hartman (unknown). James William Gallant was arrested and sent to prison by Inspector Callahan, where he spent six and a half years before escaping. Now, his ambition is to cause Dirty Harry problems before killing him. Setting up his own death to make everyone think his dead, he won’t be suspected in crimes now. He steals Callahan’s famous gun and kills several people known to hate Dirty Harry, which eventually leads to Callahan’s suspension from the force. Gallant also ties up with an end-of-the-world survival group made up of paramilitary men with a hideout in the woods. This was actually a pretty good entry in the series, even though not by Ric Meyers. Well worth reading.

[Beauregard Shagnasty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of the more memorable books in the series. There is more time devoted to the villain than to Harry and the bad guy isn't complex enough to sustain that much interest.