Skin Deep, Blood Red

Wesley Farrell #1

by Robert Skinner

Chance Tartaglia, a cop with a nasty reputation for embezzling, pimping and drug-dealing, has been found shot to death. To nightclub owner Wesley Farrell--who knows all about secrets--he was just another low-life who didn't pay his tab. Until Farrell is hired to find the killer, and forced to hitch a ride with his own private demons. Now, the lie Farrell's been living for so long is about to blow up in his face. Because there's more to Tartaglia's death than a bullet to the chest.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Historical

247 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Aka Robert E. Skinner.

Robert Skinner has degrees in history (Old Dominion University) and library science (Indiana University) and studied creative writing at the University of New Orleans. He’s widely known for his non-fiction writing on the career of African-American novelist Chester Himes and on the American hard-boiled crime story. He makes his home in New Orleans where he’s University Librarian at Xavier University of Louisiana.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good intro to series

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like noir well enough, but unfortunately Skin Deep, Blood Red (Wesley Farrell #1) by Robert Skinner didn't end up catching my attention nearly as much as I was hoping it would. I definitely won't be back to continue the series.

[Ralph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noir, New Orleans style. This stylish crime novel is set in the 1930's and never lets you forget it, from the lingo of the times, to the music, to the fashion. Sometimes it seems Skinner goes a bit overboard (do we really need every brand name all the time), but all in all he does a marvelous job in recreating the time and place. Protagonist is Wes Farrel, a gambler and treader on both sides of the law, but almost no one knows he is a "high yellow," a light-colored Negro who successfully passes for Caucasian, a fact kept deeply hidden, and which gives a gangster a hold over him when he wants a favor done. The favor is to find out who killed Chance Tartaglia, a crooked cop who had something which the gangster wants...badly. The reluctant quest not only takes Wes deeper into New Orleans' dark center, but into the dark center of his own life, revealing to him secretes he did not even know he had. New secrets, old secrets, lies, correuption, hatred and bigotry of all colors...and yet amidst it all, Wes also discovers hope, love and perhaps even forgiveness and redemption.

[Almeta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given Blood to Drink, the fourth book in this series to read. Being a stickler for series etiquette, I had to read, at least, the first in the series, Skin Deep, Blood Red, before tackling the one lent to me. Just so that I could get the introduction to the main character planted in my head.

A pleasant surprise. No flowery language, no amazingly clever metaphors - A straight-forward depression era, New Orleans 1930's color (from skin variations to fashion), gangster story.

I am confidently looking forward to the next ones. I should get to lent number four quite quickly.

[Todd Stockslager · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK first effort, somewhat awkward writing at times, but good development of relationship between hero/unwitting private sleuth--the passing-for-white son of a Creole lady--and an older white cop who turns out to be his father.

Worth a second look.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skinner has created a very interesting mystery character along the lines of those created by Hammett and Spillane and Sallis. An excellent opening to this series.

[Jason5807 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good bit of noir.