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Jimmy Flannery #1
The Junkyard Dog
***Edgar Award Winner*** - The Junkyard Dog -- Chicago is Jimmy Flannery's kind of town. A tough Irishman with street smarts, he's part of a political machine that runs on favors and friendships. Flannery's particular piece of the patronage is the 27th Ward, and anything that happens there is his business. Even murder.
So when an antiabortion demonstration ends with a bomb blast that kills a pretty young girl and an old woman, Flannery takes it personally. But someone's stonewalling the investigation, and Flannery's starting to wonder if the bombing was political, or as a cover-up for murder. Something smells rotten -- from the Gold Coast to the South Side. And when the killer goes after Flannery's lady love, Flannery doesn't just get mad -- he gets as mean as a junkyard dog -- on the scent of the dirty politics mixed with passion and revenge, a very deadly combination . . .
So when an antiabortion demonstration ends with a bomb blast that kills a pretty young girl and an old woman, Flannery takes it personally. But someone's stonewalling the investigation, and Flannery's starting to wonder if the bombing was political, or as a cover-up for murder. Something smells rotten -- from the Gold Coast to the South Side. And when the killer goes after Flannery's lady love, Flannery doesn't just get mad -- he gets as mean as a junkyard dog -- on the scent of the dirty politics mixed with passion and revenge, a very deadly combination . . .
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1986
333 people are currently reading
347 people want to read
About the author
Robert Wright Campbell
34 books15 followersA screenwriter who turned to writing novels. Many of his earlier books were published as by R. Wright Campbell but later works were credited to Robert W. Campbell or simply Robert Campbell. He also published one book as F.G. Clinton. For more, see his obituary in the Los Angeles Times.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
September 8, 2022
This is an absolutely terrific book that should have wide appeal to many mystery readers. Campbell has taken many classic Hardboiled detective themes and managed to wrap them in an entirely new package and, in doing so, he has created a detective novel entirely unlike anything else out there. Here he has the dogged investigator working on his own with all of the bureaucrats and the mobsters warning him off. He has a story about corruption and girls who come to the big city expecting to make a new life only to end up in the morgue because that ended up being the most convenient way to shut them up. This essence of this tale can be found in dozens of fifties paperbacks.
What makes the Jimmy Flannery stories unique are that Flannery is narrated in perfect cadence capturing his Irish Chicagoan persona. Flannery is a precinct captain in the old patronage system of Chicago where votes were bought by doing favors like greasing the wheels so a fireman who drove his car into the lake after having a few too many thirty days short of earning a full pension at thirty years can rest in peace knowing his widow is taken care of. Favor for favor, markers being offered, this is Flannery's world, a world starting to change with the old neighborhoods changing.
But what happens when a bomb goes off at a clinic and a young girl and an old woman dies in his precinct and everywhere Flannery turns someone is trying to squealch the investigation and Flannery may be like a junkyard dog once he gets his teeth into something, but at a certain point can he fight the entire power structure of Chicago.
But it's not just the Davey and Goliath one man against corruption and evil story that makes this book. It's all the neighborhoods and the bars and the hangouts and all the people in this neighborhoods from all these different backgrounds that Campbell brings to life. Campbell took a large risk having part of the plot revolve around the bombing of an abortion clinic, but he managed to humanize people involved on all sides of the issue. At bottom, this book is simply a top notch mystery and stands with the best of them for its well crafted plot and for a writing style that just pulls you right in.
What makes the Jimmy Flannery stories unique are that Flannery is narrated in perfect cadence capturing his Irish Chicagoan persona. Flannery is a precinct captain in the old patronage system of Chicago where votes were bought by doing favors like greasing the wheels so a fireman who drove his car into the lake after having a few too many thirty days short of earning a full pension at thirty years can rest in peace knowing his widow is taken care of. Favor for favor, markers being offered, this is Flannery's world, a world starting to change with the old neighborhoods changing.
But what happens when a bomb goes off at a clinic and a young girl and an old woman dies in his precinct and everywhere Flannery turns someone is trying to squealch the investigation and Flannery may be like a junkyard dog once he gets his teeth into something, but at a certain point can he fight the entire power structure of Chicago.
But it's not just the Davey and Goliath one man against corruption and evil story that makes this book. It's all the neighborhoods and the bars and the hangouts and all the people in this neighborhoods from all these different backgrounds that Campbell brings to life. Campbell took a large risk having part of the plot revolve around the bombing of an abortion clinic, but he managed to humanize people involved on all sides of the issue. At bottom, this book is simply a top notch mystery and stands with the best of them for its well crafted plot and for a writing style that just pulls you right in.
October 4, 2017
The Junkyard Dog (Chicago, IL.) Jimmy Flannery (narrator, Irish Catholic, Jim, James, Jimbo, 27th. Ward) is really upset with Joe Asbach (Right-to-Lifers protest leaader).
Mrs. Rose Sonia Klutzman (employee) is in the Passavant hospital because Joe detonated a bomb at the Free Abortion Clinic Sperry Ave.
Helen Caplet (prostitute, PG, nee Brickhouse) had been killed instantly.
Francis O'Shea, Murray Rourke (partner) & Spidone (bomb squad) were at the crime scene.
Dr. Chapman, & Mary Ellen Dunne (Nurse) did the best they could but Rose (Hebrew Orthodox) did not survive.
Jimmy & Mary Ellen were getting quite fond of each other.
Joe was released & the murder(s) were still at large.
Helen Bernadette Catherine Brickhouse’s body lay in McCardle's Funeral Home.
Will the murders or deaths be solved & someone brought to justice?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written murder mystery book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great murder mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Ayeshire Publishing; EBookDaily; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Mrs. Rose Sonia Klutzman (employee) is in the Passavant hospital because Joe detonated a bomb at the Free Abortion Clinic Sperry Ave.
Helen Caplet (prostitute, PG, nee Brickhouse) had been killed instantly.
Francis O'Shea, Murray Rourke (partner) & Spidone (bomb squad) were at the crime scene.
Dr. Chapman, & Mary Ellen Dunne (Nurse) did the best they could but Rose (Hebrew Orthodox) did not survive.
Jimmy & Mary Ellen were getting quite fond of each other.
Joe was released & the murder(s) were still at large.
Helen Bernadette Catherine Brickhouse’s body lay in McCardle's Funeral Home.
Will the murders or deaths be solved & someone brought to justice?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written murder mystery book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great murder mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Ayeshire Publishing; EBookDaily; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
March 16, 2020
This book was written in the 80's so it's a bit dated, but it is well written with int interesting characters. Just not really my typical read.
The MC, Jimmy Flannery, is an Irishman working as a Chicago Sewer inspector...who trades favors trying to help out his neighborhood. Everything about the book takes you back to a time reimniscent of the 50's.
The MC, Jimmy Flannery, is an Irishman working as a Chicago Sewer inspector...who trades favors trying to help out his neighborhood. Everything about the book takes you back to a time reimniscent of the 50's.
October 28, 2008
I love the whole Jimmy Flannery series, and It's too bad Robert Campbell has passed on because I miss the days when the Flannery books came out like clockwork. In some ways Flannery seems a little anachronistic. I'm not from Chicago, so I don't know if they still have wardheelers like Flannery, but it's a great gimmick and a great character, and the stories are well written.
June 6, 2016
This was published in the '80s and could have been topical in the '50s, but it was very well written. In reading it I felt like I was listening to Jimmy Flannery telling me the story of the abortion clinic bombing and the other murders. Not many writers have the ability to make the reader part of the story. Good reading, but remember it is dated.
September 22, 2008
I just love his style of writing. His characters are fun, intersting and real. I found "Nibbled to Death By Ducks" and liked it so much I bought all his books!
September 25, 2018
Good pulpy read as Jimmy Flannery, sewer inspector and lower level cog in the Chicago political machine, tries to make a few things right for his voters in the Twenty-seventh District by trading favors for favors. When the investigation into an abortion clinic bombing is stonewalled, Jimmy will have to call in a lot of markers to make some justice for the people who were killed. You can't have someone come into your District, kill your people, and get away clean.
I first saw these books a few years ago at the Last Bookstore in Los Angeles. From the titles and blurbs, they seemed to be more on the comic side of the pulp novels. I'm glad to see what is actually in these pages...especially when it shows a bit of the ugly and complicated side of the political machine. Looking forward to reading more of these.
"He let's his eye's go soft, like he's suffering a secret pain, and I know this Streeter as good as I'll ever know anybody. He's an actor and a liar. He'd tell a lie to an elephant in Africa on the long shot that the elephant is shipped to a zoo in Chicago and tells the story to a talking giraffe which tells it to somebody who might come to Streeter with a deal."
I first saw these books a few years ago at the Last Bookstore in Los Angeles. From the titles and blurbs, they seemed to be more on the comic side of the pulp novels. I'm glad to see what is actually in these pages...especially when it shows a bit of the ugly and complicated side of the political machine. Looking forward to reading more of these.
"He let's his eye's go soft, like he's suffering a secret pain, and I know this Streeter as good as I'll ever know anybody. He's an actor and a liar. He'd tell a lie to an elephant in Africa on the long shot that the elephant is shipped to a zoo in Chicago and tells the story to a talking giraffe which tells it to somebody who might come to Streeter with a deal."
April 3, 2020
Chicago is Jimmy Flannery's kind of town. A tough Irishman with street smarts, he's part of a political machine that runs on favors and friendships. Flannery's particular piece of the patronage is the 27th Ward, and anything that happens there is his business. Even murder.
So when an antiabortion demonstration ends with a bomb blast that kills a pretty young girl and an old woman, Flannery takes it personally. But someone's stonewalling the investigation, and Flannery's starting to wonder if the bombing was political, or as a cover-up for murder. Something smells rotten -- from the Gold Coast to the South Side. And when the killer goes after Flannery's lady love, Flannery doesn't just get mad -- he gets as mean as a junkyard dog -- on the scent of the dirty politics mixed with passion and revenge, a very deadly combination .
Heather's Notes
This book was confusing to me. I still am not sure exactly what it is Jimmy does. I also felt like the story spent too long on him gathering all this information but then almost nothing on how the guy was actually punished. I doubt I will continue the series, but I didn't hate the book, so I won't rule it out.
So when an antiabortion demonstration ends with a bomb blast that kills a pretty young girl and an old woman, Flannery takes it personally. But someone's stonewalling the investigation, and Flannery's starting to wonder if the bombing was political, or as a cover-up for murder. Something smells rotten -- from the Gold Coast to the South Side. And when the killer goes after Flannery's lady love, Flannery doesn't just get mad -- he gets as mean as a junkyard dog -- on the scent of the dirty politics mixed with passion and revenge, a very deadly combination .
Heather's Notes
This book was confusing to me. I still am not sure exactly what it is Jimmy does. I also felt like the story spent too long on him gathering all this information but then almost nothing on how the guy was actually punished. I doubt I will continue the series, but I didn't hate the book, so I won't rule it out.
October 19, 2021
AUTHOR Campbell, Robert
TITLE The Junkyard Dog
DATE READ 10/11
RATING 4/B
FIRST SENTENCE My name is Flannery. My mother, who died eight years ago of a cancer – may she rest in God’s arms – called me James My father calls me Jim. Friends call me Jimmy. Assholes call me Jimbo.
GENRE/PUB DATE/FORMAT/LENGTH Crime Fiction/1986/pb/188 pgs
SERIES/STAND ALONE #1 Jimmy Flannery
CHALLENGE Good Reads 2021 Reading Goal 87/120, Edgar winner
GROUP READ
TIME/PLACE 1980’s/ Chicago, IL
CHARACTERS Jimmy Flannery/ politician
COMMENTS An Edgar winner Best Paperback Original 1987 – a good read and the subject matter of the antiabortion bombing is still, sadly, a relevant topic almost 30 years later. Will read on in the series.
TITLE The Junkyard Dog
DATE READ 10/11
RATING 4/B
FIRST SENTENCE My name is Flannery. My mother, who died eight years ago of a cancer – may she rest in God’s arms – called me James My father calls me Jim. Friends call me Jimmy. Assholes call me Jimbo.
GENRE/PUB DATE/FORMAT/LENGTH Crime Fiction/1986/pb/188 pgs
SERIES/STAND ALONE #1 Jimmy Flannery
CHALLENGE Good Reads 2021 Reading Goal 87/120, Edgar winner
GROUP READ
TIME/PLACE 1980’s/ Chicago, IL
CHARACTERS Jimmy Flannery/ politician
COMMENTS An Edgar winner Best Paperback Original 1987 – a good read and the subject matter of the antiabortion bombing is still, sadly, a relevant topic almost 30 years later. Will read on in the series.
September 19, 2017
First Class Read.
I first read this over 20 years ago and had forgotten how good it was. Jimmy Flannery takes you on a journey through the underside of Chicago politics, a world of corruption and favour.
At heart it's almost like Don Quixote tilting at windmills, as like the Man from La Mancha, Flannery tries to seek justice and right the wrongs of the powerful
Written in the Chicago vernacular, the writing can at times appear odd but after awhile it just flows along.
Thoroughly enjoyable tale that has stood the test of time.
I first read this over 20 years ago and had forgotten how good it was. Jimmy Flannery takes you on a journey through the underside of Chicago politics, a world of corruption and favour.
At heart it's almost like Don Quixote tilting at windmills, as like the Man from La Mancha, Flannery tries to seek justice and right the wrongs of the powerful
Written in the Chicago vernacular, the writing can at times appear odd but after awhile it just flows along.
Thoroughly enjoyable tale that has stood the test of time.
April 6, 2019
I'm sorry, but....
Street Talk is one thing, but reading material composed the way people talk on the street is quite another thing altogether. Brian (GBR) is one narrative style (text to speech). As mechanical as TtS is this work has Brian stumbling over himself, so to speak. It was hard to read, bottom line.
Street Talk is one thing, but reading material composed the way people talk on the street is quite another thing altogether. Brian (GBR) is one narrative style (text to speech). As mechanical as TtS is this work has Brian stumbling over himself, so to speak. It was hard to read, bottom line.
August 12, 2019
Give this book time. It strolls out of the gate instead of leaving like a shot. But with each scene and each dialogue, it adds one intriguing layer of character, mood and scene after the other. In the end, it's a compelling portrait of a hero who is committed to justice and who knows all too well how hard it can be to achieve it.
July 2, 2018
If you like hard boiled detecting you'll love this series
I love Jimmy Flannery. A typical Irishman working favors in Chicago of yesterday Even the way he speaks takes you back in time.
I love Jimmy Flannery. A typical Irishman working favors in Chicago of yesterday Even the way he speaks takes you back in time.
June 17, 2020
Jimmy is a precinct captain who takes care of his precinct. It was an interesting read to see how the whole political machine in Chicago used to work. He definitely knows how to get things done, sometimes it just takes a little longer.
August 19, 2020
Whitty and intriguing
Follow Jimmy Flannery on his escapade to find those responsible for the death of his neighbor and a young working girl. Along the way he falls in love , goes face to face with a mob boss and considers running for the senate. Enjoyable mystery.
Follow Jimmy Flannery on his escapade to find those responsible for the death of his neighbor and a young working girl. Along the way he falls in love , goes face to face with a mob boss and considers running for the senate. Enjoyable mystery.
August 29, 2020
Jimmy Flannery runs the 27th Ward in Chicago. A Catholic Democrat, he handles everything for patronage, from getting kids summer jobs to getting a full pension for a fireman who died in a car wreck 30 days shy of full vesting to murder.
December 26, 2021
Excellent little story. Good, interesting characters, well developed, not pure but not too tainted to be appreciated.
This is the first of a series with Jimmy Flannery and a good start to the series. Well crafted, tight, no lose strings dangling.
Highly recommended.
This is the first of a series with Jimmy Flannery and a good start to the series. Well crafted, tight, no lose strings dangling.
Highly recommended.
October 24, 2017
Not a very good start to a series.
March 17, 2018
RATING: 3.5
January 7, 2020
I'm not sure what to make of this book. It's written in a unique way that I just can't seem to get used to so I'm putting it on the DNF shelf for now.
January 13, 2021
I actually quite enjoyed this book despite it not being as I thought it would be!! Will likely read the next in the series as well as others by this author, perhaps just not yet though.
June 30, 2021
A good mystery a bit dated but it was written in 1986.
Read
November 3, 2023From.menaul book. Fine
July 24, 2020
Good Chicago Mystery!
Racism vs Abortion Clinic vs Murder in a Chicago-style setting makes a complete story to the very end! Plus tints of Politics makes the story more exciting to read!
Racism vs Abortion Clinic vs Murder in a Chicago-style setting makes a complete story to the very end! Plus tints of Politics makes the story more exciting to read!
Read
September 14, 2022Well-done.
September 8, 2008
JUNKYARD DOG - Okay
Campbell, Robert - 1st in Jimmy Flannery series
Chicago is Jimmy Flannery's kind of town. A tough Irishman with street smarts, he's part of a political machine that runs on favors and friendships. Flannery's particular piece of the patronage pie is the 27th Ward, and anything that happens there is his business. Even murder.
So when an antiabortion demonstration ends with a bomb blast that kills a pretty young girl and an old woman, Flannery takes it personally. But someone's stonewalling the investigation, and Flannery's starting to wonder if the bombing was political, or a cover-up for murder. Something smells rotten—from the Gold Coast to the South Side. And when the killer goes after Flannery's lady love, Flannery doesn't just get mad— he gets as mean as a junkyard dog —on the scent of dirty politics mixed with passion and revenge, a very deadly combination....
This book won both the 1987 Edgar and Anthony awards but I just couldn't get excited about it.
Campbell, Robert - 1st in Jimmy Flannery series
Chicago is Jimmy Flannery's kind of town. A tough Irishman with street smarts, he's part of a political machine that runs on favors and friendships. Flannery's particular piece of the patronage pie is the 27th Ward, and anything that happens there is his business. Even murder.
So when an antiabortion demonstration ends with a bomb blast that kills a pretty young girl and an old woman, Flannery takes it personally. But someone's stonewalling the investigation, and Flannery's starting to wonder if the bombing was political, or a cover-up for murder. Something smells rotten—from the Gold Coast to the South Side. And when the killer goes after Flannery's lady love, Flannery doesn't just get mad— he gets as mean as a junkyard dog —on the scent of dirty politics mixed with passion and revenge, a very deadly combination....
This book won both the 1987 Edgar and Anthony awards but I just couldn't get excited about it.
November 28, 2010
There's a great pace to this story, quick with very little fat. A straightforward detective novel, although its biggest strength is that the hero is not a detective. That's nothing new in itself, but choosing a Chicago political figure to do the snooping creates some interesting moral gray areas.
In a fictional world where "favors" and "markers" are the most common form of currency, Campbell is able to hurdle one of the hindrances of private eye novels and police procedurals, the fact that in those professions the people are getting paid to investigate. So rather than leap through the necessary hoops to make it personal to the hero, the mere fact that the murder (in this case an explosion) happens in his district is reason enough.
There are definitely flaws: the relationship story feels rushed and underdeveloped and the characters prefer to talk than act, but it meets all the requirements of a straight genre book. And at around 188 pages, it doesn't waste any time doing it.
In a fictional world where "favors" and "markers" are the most common form of currency, Campbell is able to hurdle one of the hindrances of private eye novels and police procedurals, the fact that in those professions the people are getting paid to investigate. So rather than leap through the necessary hoops to make it personal to the hero, the mere fact that the murder (in this case an explosion) happens in his district is reason enough.
There are definitely flaws: the relationship story feels rushed and underdeveloped and the characters prefer to talk than act, but it meets all the requirements of a straight genre book. And at around 188 pages, it doesn't waste any time doing it.
December 4, 2015
I loved this book! the author has a unique and very readable writing style. A great story built around the "Machine" that is Chicago politics and society, with committeemen, precinct captains, and aldermen. It works on a system of patronage and "favor for a favor". Main character, Jimmy Flannery is a likable, engaging captain of the "Twenty-seventh" precinct. His father, the captain of "the Fourteenth". The "Machine" is well oiled with money, power, and favors in order to take care of those in their precincts. Somebody, however, decided to blow up an abortion clinic in Jimmy's precinct. Bad idea. Follow Jimmy as he tries to put the puzzle together.
January 13, 2016
When I worked in the bookstore, I sold a boatload of Robert Campbell's books, but never read any. I am glad I finally did. I loved this book and I want to read more. I fell in love with Jimmy Flannery, who isn't a cop, but rather in charge of a ward in Chicago. He becomes embroiled in the investigation of the bombing of an abortion clinic in his ward and the story goes from there. I can't wait to read more of Flannery's adventures.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews