Deathryde: Rebel Without a Corpse

by Michael P. Naughton

James DeRossa is a natural born rebel. Just released from Jackson County Jail, he turns his back on the family funeral business in Detroit and heads out to Tinseltown to set up a heist and settle an old score. Who better to hire than a group of unscrupulous undertakers. Only this time they aren't burying anyone, they're out to disinter $25 million in missing cash and ice. But Detective Hank Gladwin brought his shovel to the party and is onto DeRossa when his list of suspects starts pushing up more than daisies. These felons are all about to join a deadly procession and one hell of a ride.

183 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published May 25, 2008

About the author

Michael P. Naughton was born in Detroit. He is a mystery and satire writer, poet and screenwriter who writes in the style of Elmore Leonard and Donald E. Westlake. He is also a professional musician and songwriter for the rock group '92 in the Shade. He had previously worked for Borders for many years and in technology and went on to publish actor Michael Madsen's poetry and photography under 13 Hands Publications. He released his first mystery novel in May of 2008 entitled Deathryde: Rebel Without a Corpse which is a series is written in the hip, offbeat style of Richard Stark's Parker heist/crime caper books. His latest release is Pit: A Leo Van Cleef Novel released January 13th, 2023. His style is also similar to Gregory Mcdonald (Fletch) and Robert B. Parker. He has also been a judge for the IBPA's (Independent Book Publishers Association) Benjamin Franklin Awards which honor the best in independent publishing.
He lives in Los Angeles.

Reviews

[Michael Naughton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote it! Here are some unbiased reviews:


Deathryde is funny and fast-paced and hits some surprising twists - it has a similar feeling as the movie Be Cool --Curled Up With A Good Book

If you have a taste for slambang satire that plays games with the names of dead celebrities from James Dean to Barbara Stanwyck and a hearse driver with the marvelous name of Coffin Joe, Michael P. Naughton's Deathryde: Rebel without a Corpse (Gilded Hearse Press, $12.95, 183 pages), is your kind of book. It's the story of a gang of criminal undertakers engaged in a caper known as "Harold and Maude" involving a group of Hollywood funeral homes and an ancient but unforgotten mafia heist. Mr. Naughton is a professional screenwriter and you can tell. He is flip and quite often funny and understands the value of brevity as few current writers do. This is the kind of book that can even take your mind off flying as you try to decipher the short takes of the plot. --The Washington Times

[Threasa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book on goodreads and was really looking forward to reading it. But, I didn't really like the book. There was no character development, and I had a hard time figuring out who was who even with the list of characters in the front of the book. You don't know who these people are and why they are doing what they are doing. I am hoping there is a sequel, because it ended on a really strange note. I am sorry to say that I won't be reading the sequel if there is one.

[Kenn Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a free giveaway.

The story is fun and fast paced, but I found it hard to follow. Good thing there is a list of players at the front of the book.

James DeRossa is planning on digging up treasure with his mortician friends. The feds are on to him. He must be an expert at deceit in order to pull off his real caper.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminded me of Donald E. Westlake and Elmore Leonard. The chapters are short and it is written in the multiple POV style like a movie. The focus is more plot-driven and less character-driven. There are some hilarious moments in this book esp. with the Crenshaw undertakers. Hip dialogue and also enjoyed the payoff with the "Y".
I enjoyed it and want to see more work from this author.