Catalina Eddy: A Novel in Three Decades

by Daniel Pyne

"Daniel Pyne flips all the standards upside-down with Catalina Eddy and in the process delivers a classic California noir -- times three. This is Pyne's masterpiece. I guarantee no reader will go wanting." - Michael Connelly

Times may change, but crimes never do, and neither do the people who investigate them. A collection of three loosely connected crime novellas, each set in a distinct era, Catalina Eddy is a gritty, hard-boiled exploration into the immutable police underworld of Southern California.

In The Big Empty, an obstinate Los Angeles detective investigates the murder of his estranged wife while fears of nuclear war and Communism grip the nation; in Losertown, a mid-career attorney in San Diego chases down a legendary drug kingpin but chafes against the Reagan Revolution policies of his new boss; and in Portuguese Bend, set in the present day, an undercover cop is paralyzed in a gunfight but determined to solve what may be her last case as a police officer in Long Beach. They are all, in one way or another, stuck in dreary endless loops of love, murder, and the quest for clarity, release, and redemption.

Reminiscent of James Ellroy's grittiness and Raymond Chandler's dark wit, Catalina Eddy is Daniel Pyne's clever homage to--and skillful deconstruction of--traditional noir storytelling. Moody, enthralling, and keenly imagined, Catalina Eddy evokes the characters and ambiance of a singular, peculiar landscape with cinematic flair.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Noir, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Suspense

480 pages, Hardcover

First published March 7, 2017

About the author

Daniel Pyne wanders restlessly between prose fiction and screenwriting. He is the author of Twentynine Palms A Hole in the Ground Owned by a Liar, Fifty Mice, Catalina Eddy, and his latest work, Water Memory, debuting February 1, 2021. Among Pyne's film credits are Backstabbing For Beginners, the remake of The Manchurian Candidate, Pacific Heights, Any Given Sunday and Fracture. Pyne's television work spans from the seminal hipster cop show Miami Vice to Amazon TV's longest running drama, Bosch. Pyne has a BA from Stanford University, where he toiled in economics but studied writing under Stegner fellows Chuck Kinder and John L‟heureux; he has an MFA from UCLA's Graduate School of Film, where he taught a seminar in screenwriting for a couple of decades. Born in Chicago, raised in Colorado, Pyne lives in Los Angeles and Santa Fe with his wife, rescue dog Luna, and an extremely sullen box turtle his grown children left in their wake.

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catalina Eddy comprises three noir crime novellas illustrating that whilst times may change, crime and investigators do not, instead the same murky waters swirl darkly whilst running up against the wretched same old, same old in Southern California. I loved all three stories, although if I had to pick a personal favourite, it would probably be The Big Empty, although I loved the human and political complexity of Losertown, and the grit of Portuguese Bend with the sheer determined willpower of Riley, a police detective having to come terms with being paralysed whilst on the job. Daniel Pyne is a talented writer with a real gift for language and the ability to create a dark atmosphere whilst capturing three distinct eras.

The Big Empty takes place amidst the horror and backdrop of the US dropping the H bomb on Bikini atoll and a pumped anti-communist fervour in the country. We are introduced to ex-soldier and ex-spook Rylan Lovely turning up to see his estranged wife, Isla, only to find the police at the scene of her murder. Lovely turns PI to find out what exactly happened. There is the drama of his relationship with Lily Himes, a black jazz singer, an improbable event in the era but as far as Lovely is concerned, in a H bomb world all bets are off. Much of the language is staccato in homage to the hard boiled detective tradition with plentiful smart quips. In a compelling narrative, Lovely digs into Isla's life uncovering links to the Church of the Cosmic Evolution and an ex-Nazi scientist described as a monster, but he's our monster and untouchable, irrespective of what he does. He becomes reacquainted with his old friend, the blind Buddy and the nature of his relationship with Isla.

Losertown is a smart examination of the Reagan era and its War on Drugs and how dirty it actually played out on the ground. Gil Kirby is an assistant US attorney who finds himself have to grapple with the dark politics when he acquires a new boss, a political appointee, the odious Sabrina Colter. She is more concerned with bringing down political rivals by underhand and duplicitous means than overseeing a department tackling the scourge of drug kings and drug crime. Innocent lives are lost as a blood bath ensues thanks to Ms Colter's amoral and ruthless agenda, but this troubles her not one whit. Indeed, she is determined that Kirby continues to follow her agenda by putting the screws on him.

Portuguese Bend is set in the present day and has crime scene photographer, Finn Miller, at the scene of the murder of Charlie Ko. Willa Ko, the wife of the victim is believed by the police to be the killer. Finn is an artist when it comes to photography and assiduously does his job in a way that goes over and above the call of duty. Finn finds himself becoming involved with the mysterious Riley, the girlfriend of a police detective, who he meets in a bar. Riley, he discovers later, is a undercover cop who unfortunately is shot and paralysed whilst on the job. Despite being in a wheelchair, Riley is convinced that Willa is innocent and absolutely nothing is going to stop her proving this, even though it is not her case. Riley and Finn find connections between the murder of Charlie Ko and the shooting of Riley in a investigation fraught with danger.

These are wonderful impeccably plotted tales that grip the reader with their brooding and compelling narratives. The characters are skilfully drawn, interesting, complex and colourful. I just cannot praise this book enough. Just superb and highly recommended. Many thanks to Penguin Blue Rider Press and Plume for an ARC.

[Fran · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Catalina eddy, a swirling cloud pattern off the coast of San Diego, sets the stage for three loosely connected noir crime novellas.

"The Big Empty" takes place in 1954. An atomic test on Bikini Atoll creates surreal mushroom clouds. Isla Lovely, ex-wife of shrewd detective Rylan Lovely, is dead. Was she killed because of something she knew or something she did? Why did Isla have three thick bundles of money and own an Army service revolver? Why did FBI agents have Isla under surveillance? Rylan tries to solve the puzzle.

"Losertown" pits Assistant U.S. Attorney General Gil Kirby against new Attorney General Sabrina Colter. Sabrina will stop at nothing to crack a case. Nick Mahrez, a former drug dealer, is forced to wear body wire surveillance and visit his friend Mayor Poole. Sabrina wants to investigate Poole's campaign finances and association with foreign nationals. It seems that Mahrez is expendable.

"The Portuguese Bend" uses the talents of forensic photographer Finn Miller. Finn is called to document the death of Korean American Charlie Ko. Charlie is found by his wife Willa. She has just returned from her second tour of duty as a US Marine. Charlie has been killed with Willa's service sidearm. Finn's chance meeting with redhead Riley McCluggage leads to the new duo's dogged determination using photography and forensic evidence to create the scenario proving Willa's innocence. Of the three novellas, I found "The Portuguese Bend" the most enjoyable.

"Catalina Eddy: A Novel in Three Decades" by Daniel Pyne was well written. Fans of noir crime will be pleased.

Thank you First to Read for the ARC to read and review.

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The noir feel of the first story lured me in, the twists and turns of the second one got me hooked, and the heart of the last story made this a book that I was loathe to put down.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three Tales

Like Ariel Winter’s Twenty Year Death, Daniel Payne’s Catalina Eddy offers in one volume a history of crime noir. Each story evokes a different decade, a different style, a different feel. There are three separate stories, all set in Southern California. The first evokes late fifties crime fiction, complete with hoods, an embittered private eye, spy games, the Cold War, religious cults, and various bits and pieces of Hollywood. The second story evokes the drug war of the 80’s as the US Attorney’s Office in San Diego attempts to trade one drug dealer for the next all the way up to the kingpin. There’s a sense of irreverence, cynicism, and corruption here not present in the first story. The third and final selection is a more modern tale of a crime scene photographer in San Pedro. The tales are connected only in the loosest of fashions, at times can be jarring in pace and feel rather than smooth, and really give different senses of time and space.

[H R Koelling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't know why I slogged through this book except out of a stubbornness to finish just about every book I start; and the hope that when I finished it, there would be some great 'a ha!' moment that made it all worthwhile. It wasn't worthwhile.

I just didn't find the characters that well developed or likeable. I also didn't think the three novellas were very coherent. Maybe it was just me, but I had a hard time following what was going on a lot of the time.

I think the author was trying to tie the three stories together, but the thread that tied them together was very thin and not well developed or obvious.

The book was well written, and there are some exciting parts here and there. I just thought the novel, taken as a whole, fell flat.

A few typo/grammatical errors, even in the short, Acknowledgements, section at the end of the book, is inexcusable from a Penguin imprint. I also don't understand how Honda Elements appear in the second section of the book, which takes place in 1987, when Honda Elements weren't even in production until 2001. But I guess this is a work of fiction, so the author can make up whatever he wants.

[Liesl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid opening and closing with a messy middle. "The Big Empty" fully embraces its rich 1954 setting with a pulpy noir aura and is centered on the strong, well-rounded character of Rylan Lovely, who I would gladly follow through a series of novels. I was fully engrossed in both the mystery and complicated developing relationship between Finn and Riley in "Portuguese Blend," which features a lot of heart. It's a shame that "Losertown" doesn't measure up and drags the book down, presenting too many perspectives and a tale that is difficult to follow. I like how Pyne connects all of the stories through secondary and tertiary characters to make the world that he spotlights feel large and more meaningful.

Thanks to the First to Read program for providing me with an ARC of this title.

[Kristi | Hidden Staircase | · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catalina Eddy is comprised of three independent novellas set in Southern California, across three different time periods (The Big Empty, Losertown, and Portuguese Bend). While each story has loose ties to the previous one, they are all set in different cities and told from different points of view. In terms of setting, The Big Empty was my favorite of the three stories, I enjoyed it's 1950's noir feel.

I enjoyed the three stories, and Mr. Pyne did a good job transporting me to the 1950s and 1980s for the first two mysteries. The three tales were independent, each with their own characters, but the later mysteries did have nods to characters from the previous stories.

I must say that in all three novellas, I found that I didn’t care as much for the mystery piece, but more about the character’s journey. Each story arc finds the main character facing a personal crisis or dilemma. Their struggle is what makes the story compelling and the pages turn. I also enjoyed the little connections to characters in the previous tales – sometimes learning their fate, other times just a random connection. Just an occasional Easter Egg subtly sprinkled in; blink, and you’ll miss the connection.

If you are a fan of crime novels, you will enjoy this collection. I think across the three stories there is a little something for everyone, each tale is unique in voice and style.

For my full review, please visit Hidden Staircase.

Many thanks to First to Read for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 noir novellas that are very loosely connected with all set in southern California. First takes place in the late 1950's with a little bit of everything including spies, religious type cults, murder of young women & more. The second in 1987 during President Reagan's war on drugs that follows a US District attorney following the rat snitches trail of turn overs all the way to The supplier. 3rd novella set in 2016 involving a forensic photographer getting too involved with his material. I enjoyed all 3 with the first two being favored over the last. Would recommend to those that enjoy crime noir readings. Not a true police procedural read.

[Tom Donaghey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catalina Eddy (2017) by Daniel Pyne. This is a brilliant crime novel told in three novellas. They are set in three different settings about 20 years apart with different casts of characters. All are set in Southern California.
Part 1: The Big Empty, June 1954. The big news of the day is the H-Bomb test on Bikini Island. Rylan Lovely, an L.A. private eye gets a message from a woman to meet with her about a possible case. But when he gets to her apartment he finds a dead woman and a couple of cops waiting for him. The cops know he didn’t do the crime, but then they didn’t know the dead woman was Lovely’s estranged wife. He and her had been apart for seven years.
The following story involves a preacher for a new-age Cosmic Church and a rocket scientist who likes to get rough with his dates. Lovely’s wife worked for the first and was mixed up with the second, but Lovely’s investigation is hindered by the appearance of federal agents trying to protect the scientist and willing to give up the wife as a scapegoat for several other crimes along the way.
This is a salute to the hard-boiled genre popular in the 40’s and 50’s and plays true to it throughout. It turns out Lovely has a lot more in his history than just being a WWII vet, including involvement in OSS operations and other clandestine work.
And keep an eye out for his lighter.
Part 2: Losertown, June 1987. The Feds and San Diego���s prosecutor’s office are reacting to the Reagan White House’s demands for the “War on Drugs”. Rolling busts are the tool being used. A series of small crimes leading rapidly up the supply chain to net the bigger fish, all in a night’s work. Sounds easy on paper, but the reality is moer of a long slog with unseen complications along the way. When an Egyptian, a “possible” drug dealer, is pulled in, he gives up his supplier. He is all too happy to tell the cops whatever they want to hear, be it the truth or not. He names Nick “Stix” Mahrez, a one time drug dealer, gone straight years before.
The new U.S. Prosecutor wants him and is pushing hard on the lead prosecutor, Gil Kirby. He is forced by her to do deals which he, and any sane D.A., would never do, but the White House demands results, no matter what. And the good intentions of the people of the U.S. are cast aside, bargains are broken, the laws are stretched, all in the name of results.
Part 3: Portuguese Bend, June 2016. Finn is an introverted crime scene photographer with something of a photographic memory when it comes to his work. One night in a cop bar, Finn witnesses sees Riley, an attractive woman who is having a bad break-up with her boy friend, a police detective. Finn, despite all odds, somehow manages to go and talk with her. For whatever her own reasons, she goes home with him. There in his apartment/photographic studio and photo display area, she becomes wrapped up in the latest crime scene photos. They show a young woman who has just killed her husband.
Riley, in reality an undercover cop, sees the photos as evidence that the woman, Willa Ko, did not shoot the husband.
As the story develops we see how Riley’s on-going investigation gets tied to the murder, how her ex-boyfriend and his detective partner play a big roll in the situation, and finally how Finn manages to make some sense of the crime and his life.
These three tales have subtle connections, strings which thread them together but are mere background detail, never overpowering the plots. The book is well crafted with three different styles of telling. These strongly defined characters some to life in the best possible manner.
And the title refers to a swirling frontal weather patter that sets into SoCal almost every June. It brings in depression, mood swings, and mayhem. It is not some slick dude who rides in a pimped caddy and has a gold display tooth, despite what I was thinking when I picked up the book.
Catalina Eddy is far better than it has any right to be, and I can’t recommend it enough.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I didn't really care for Pyne's previous book ("Fifty Mice"), I went ahead and picked this up because the premise of three interconnected crime stories across the decades intrigued me. It's important to understand before starting that these are really three separate novellas that are connected only by the slenderest of threads, with a character here and there reappearing. The true connection is the Southern California settings (LA, San Diego, and Long Beach), and the long history of SoCal crime stories, most especially "Chinatown."

"The Big Empty" takes place in 1954, as former OSS agent Rylan Lovely navigates Los Angeles in his beat up Morris Minor, working as a private eye who refuses to take cases from the slimy movie studios. He's the kind of guy who starts his day at the coffee stand at the Farmer's Market, picking up his messages from the Chinese-American grocer, shaking his head at the madness of the world along the way. The madness that looms over this particular story are the H-Bomb tests on Bikini Atoll and the Red Scare that's in full swing. When his ex-wife turns up dead, Lovely's determined to pursue justice, even if that takes him deep into the heart of America's postwar devil's bargain with Nazi scientists, not to mention a wacko religious cult, and his own past. As if that's not enough, there's also a subplot with more potential than payout involving his jazz singer girlfriend, whose nephew is caught up in the drug trade.

"Losertown" takes place in 1987 San Diego, with Assistant US Attorney Gil Kirby (the adopted son of Rylan Lovely) at the center. He was a former hotshot at a white-shoe law firm who, for reasons we don't immediately learn, had to leave that all behind and go trawl for justice as a Fed. The story opens with his new boss tagging along to see how a typical anti-drug operation works, as law enforcement tries to roll up a network quickly. What's disconcerting is that his new boss is a fresh-faced ruthless young woman, filled with the righteous conviction of Reaganism and God, and somewhat less concerned with justice and ethics. Gil's work is soon diverted to focus on San Diego's mayor, and his potential past and current ties to Mexican cartels, and his long-ago friendship with a surfboard king. There's a lot going on in the story, including Gil's relationship with a curvy (but married) FBI agent, an Egyptian car dealer/informant who wants to package a terrorist case for them, a blind ex-model, and on and on. The 1980s "War on Drugs" era vibe comes through strongly, but it's all a bit overstuffed.

"Portuguese Bend" takes place in 2016, mostly in Long Beach, where Finn works as an on-call crime scene photographer for Long Beach PD. The story opens with him shooting a murder scene at the home of an Army Sergeant just back from her third deployment in the "War on Terror" (she's also the presumed daughter of Gil Kirby and the FBI agent from the previous story). He is quickly caught up with the mysterious and gorgeous undercover cop Riley Mac and her quest to solve the murder he just photographed. Without the period details and vibe, the story doesn't pop nearly as much as the first two -- although there is a nice SoCal art sidetrack with Riley's father, who is a crabby old large-scale sculptor who never got his due. In addition to the initial murder, Riley is involved in trying to untangle another drug network at the same time, and everything gets a little too convoluted at times, with Finn kind of tagging along as the idiot civilian.

Fans of Southern California crime fiction and film are probably the best audiences for this, as the stories pursue themes of justice that rarely come out well. There is a modicum of hope and resolution in each, but the sense that larger societal forces and corruption will always end up winning out pervades. When I closed the final page, I felt in many ways like I had just read a fleshed-out treatment for a three-season prestige drama series on HBO, something along the lines of True Detective, with each story being its own season.

[epstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked Pyne's writing but the 3rd story Portuguese Bend was awfully weak. *SPOILER ALERT*
The dialogue was so forced, the characters completely flat with no chemistry (can 2D characters have chemistry?! well anyway Riley and Finn definitely did NOT), as opposed to the first 2 stories where I really got a feel for the era and the character's places in it. I also have to just get off my chest that Riley being able to just roll out of the hospital and zoom around LA days after a violent shooting that left her paralyzed from the waist down is utterly f'ing ridiculous. You don't have to know someone in that condition to understand how catastrophic it is but I actually do have a good friend who was paralyzed from an accident and 15 years later she STILL has mobility issues. So pretty much from that point on I couldn't take anything seriously.

There were some big gaps in the drug dealing/murder plot as well; it felt tacked on to the romantic story of Riley and Finn which was super boring anyway. Would have preferred focus on the actual crime and police corruption surrounding it.
I am still going to seek out Pyne's other books!

[Samantha Myers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given an ARC of this a tad late but didn't mind because I had been wanting to read this for a while. Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Blue Rider Press & Plume for the chance to read.

Daniel Pyne wrote a great crime novel/ 3 short series of noir tales that tie together over the course of several different decades but the effect from each of the stories reverberate over time. The Big Empty, The Portuguese Bend, & Losertown all take place at different time frames but handle different points of view in relation to crime which is a different take on what I usually see in crime novels. The Big Empty takes place in the 50's and a PI tries to figure out the death of his ex wife. The Portuguese Bend is told through the view point of a forensic photographer being the main protagonist. Finally Losertown gives the reader a look at the US Attorney Justice System. These stories that Pyne wrote are excellent editions to any crime/noir aficionado's reading library.

[June Ahern · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of loosely connected stories. First story, a look at more or less corrupt cops in SoCal (Southern California); next story: La detective's ex-wife shows up dead (most ex-husband's dream) and he's determined to set things right for her even it if costs him. Third story: Attorney after a drug kingpin with no backup from his new boss to satisfy Lady Justice and the fourth story: An undercover cop is shot and because of it becomes paralyzed. She's determined to solve what could be her last case.

All in all, I didn't feel connected to any character and the murder became less than important as descriptions became overly wordy - seemed to take me from the plots. The stories are noir with a helpless feeling, even if some kind of justice is found, the losses hang over the stories heavily.

Please know this review is based on my reading pleasure and not on the talent of the writer. I think crime detective cop fans will most likely find it of interest.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** I RECEIVED THIS BOOK FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY ***

Before I even read this book, I thought it had it all. Noir, a good review from Michael Connelly, and an author who has written several films I really enjoy. And I'm glad to report my instincts were right! This book is spectacular! The first story is set in the '50s and has a true noir feel to it. It sucked me in right away and held my attention to the end. The second story is the only one I have complaints about, just because I felt lost several times, especially as the story wrapped up. And the third story is my favorite. I really loved the characters of the third story and would gladly read whole books devoted to Finn and Riley! Overall, I'm really glad I gave this a read and I intend on reading Mr. Pyne's other books.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a strange book, and I love it. It is billed as a novel in 3 decades, and it is really 3 novellas, one set in 1954, one in the 80's, and one in the present day. There is really no connection between the stories, but there are subtle connections. Not really even enough to tell you much about the "rest of the story" in the earlier story, but enough so you can think "I know where that came from"

I've never read a book like this. It has me wanting to read his other novels.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for fans of noir set in SoCal sunshine who are open to some genre-bending. All I'll add to the well-written reviews already on Goodreads is that I was intrigued by the social and familial connections of the characters (which were mostly unknown to them) and struck by how Pyne subtly presents the changing roles of women over time, with women being peripheral to the action in the '50's (yet passively pivotal) and the central and essential in current day.

[Yasmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not expecting to love this book. I listened to it and I'm probably going to buy a hard copy or eBook version.

Even though it's 3 novellas, there is definitely a beginning, middle and end to the theme. I was left wanting more details of the lives of all the characters. I didn't NEED them, just wanted more.

[Jeremy Hunter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Catalina Eddy is a novel that features 3 interlocking crime stories from different decades. While the concept sounded great the execution was not. Most of this novel was retread of material covered better by Don Winslow and James Ellroy. The characters and situations seemed cliche. When I was finished I was completely indifferent.

[Buck Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of the story is very good and keeps the reader guessing where the story will go. The only issue I had was the last story, that could have been better and ended better. But overall a good read.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't quite get all the connections (they weren't really spelled out) but did enjoy the California crime scene part of all of these, with art/literary references. Kept my attention throughout.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only listened to part 1, taking place in the 1940's, but impressively written, and with highly inventive noir plot twists and turns. A worthy read!

[Amoxy Mox · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 novelettes, tied together very loosely over 60 years in Southern California. All very enjoyable

[Cj Adler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so impressed. Three different novellas with always at least one link tothe previous one and all so excelllently done. Loved all three!!!!!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was only able to make it through the first of the 3 novellas in this book before my galley expired, but I enjoyed the one I did read. It was a solid noir story. I do wish it had been a little more compelling, such that I would've wanted to read the other two novellas more, but all in all it was enjoyable.

[Bent Hansen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the book was well written, I really struggled to get through it. It is divided into three equally sized but separate parts - set in the 1950s, the 1980s and 2016, respectively - and only marginally interconnected (or maybe I don't didn't realize all the connections!), they each had their charm, but Daniel Pyne never managed to really suck me into either of the stories, although the one set in 2016 was closest to succeed.

[An ARC of the book was generously provided by the publisher through the First to Read program in exchange for an honest review]

[Kellie Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

For lovers of crime fiction, you get a three-for-one with this book. Daniel Pyne combines three loosely connected novellas to bring the reader on a thrilling ride through three distinct time periods. Spanning sixty years, each story delivers mystery, murder, romance, and betrayal.

[Monte Dutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m sure this review won’t be a big hit on the site analytics, but I’ve spent a lot of time reading lately and resolved to write about each one after I completed it.
As I have stockpiled many books over the years that I haven’t gotten around to reading, this means most of them aren’t right off the current bestseller lists.
Last night I completed Catalina Eddy, by Daniel Pyne, which was released in 2017 (that’s brand-new for me). I found it wildly entertaining because I love crime novels, not to mention films noir. Pyne’s novel is a “three-fer,” because it’s three novellas sharing a rough area but different times and characters.
“The Big Empty” is set in 1954 Los Angeles, “Losertown” in 1987 San Diego, and “Portuguese Bend” in 2016 Long Beach. In general, I enjoyed each one more than the one before it. They’re all good.
The title of the collection is based on the weather patterns of southern California. The Catalina Eddy is part of the reason the region is so often shrouded in “a marine layer” of haze, which is often simplified as being merely smog.
I love crime novels and was happy to discover this triumvirate as I am getting older and have outlived my favorite practitioners of the genre, Elmore Leonard and Dick Francis. I can’t find anything by either I haven’t already digested.
Pyne can turn a phrase, though not as well as Raymond Chandler, who was clever but not as outlandish as the sportswriter Dan Jenkins and the singer-novelist Kinky Friedman. Besides, they’re all wherever writers go in the hereafter now.
The author of Catalina Eddy is known primarily as a screenwriter. Among his credits are the 2004 remake of “The Manchurian Candidate“ and “Pacific Heights” (1990).
“The Big Empty” is set in a time of nuclear tests in the desert, when the government the only way to avoid mass destruction was to build as many such instruments as possible. A prominent scientist happens to be a murderous fiend on the side.
Reagan-era politics sets the tone of ”Losertown,” where a scheming young federal prosecutor is at odds with a veteran investigator. Her goal is to ruin the San Diego mayor.
“Portuguese Bend” is a story of the cooperation between a crime-scene photographer and a policewoman who is convinced that the authorities have arrested the wrong perpetrator of what seems a domestic murder.
The outcome of all three yarns was slightly more obvious than I would have preferred. The author tipped off a few too many of his pitches.

[Marci · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of Catalina Eddy from the Penguin First to Read program. This book is set up in 3 parts each one in a different decade which was a very cool concept to me. I really did like the way the stories were intertwined but was surprised by how the previous stories evolved after we were done looking at them. I liked the stories better as they progressed. I may have preferred the stories to be a little less dark, but then they may not have been as interesting. Overall I would recommend this book as a very interesting read.

[John Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't get enough Daniel Pyne. He never fails to deliver. I enjoyed this book immensely! Easily my top summer read. The Big Empty was my favorite —classic noir. Keep em coming! I can’t wait for his next!

[Ben Ostrander]

Just not as good as expected . #1 was contrived feeling, #2 hard to follow and #3 was the best, of course (it was saved for last I'm guessing by the editor).