A Safe Place for Dying

Dek Elstrom #1

by Jack Fredrickson

An extortion letter arrives at Crystal Waters, one of Chicago's wealthiest gated communities. It makes no specific threats, gives no instructions, demands only that $50,000 be gotten ready---chump change for an enclave where the cheapest house is worth three million. It's easy to see it as harmless---a note from a nut.
Then a mansion explodes. The homeowners panic, and want it hushed up. If word gets out that a bomber is targeting Crystal Waters, their multimillion-dollar homes will become worthless, a last catastrophe for people strung out from living the good life too well. They hire Dek Elstrom to investigate.


Dek Elstrom used to soar high, too, when he lived with his multimillionaire wife at Crystal Waters, but that was before the dominos of his life tipped over and his ex-wife threw him out. Now reduced to living in a crumbling stone turret, bankrupt of everything but attitude, he's not even his own ideal choice for the job. He's too broke, however, to question the motives of a gift-horse client. He needs the money---and the chance to reconnect with his ex-wife.


Another bomb goes off, and Dek realizes the culprit must be someone who is angry, needs money, and used to live at Crystal Waters. Then he realizes something else. He himself is the prime suspect.


A sly and clever caper among the richest of the rich, A Safe Place for Dying is for fans of Carl Hiaasen and Robert Crais.

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Contemporary

296 pages, Hardcover

First published November 14, 2006

About the author

Jack Fredrickson’s first Dek Elstrom mystery, A Safe Place for Dying, was nominated for the Shamus Award for Best First Novel. His short fiction has appeared in the acclaimed Chicago Blues and in Michael Connelly’s Burden of the Badge anthologies. He lives with his wife, Susan, west of Chicago, where he is crafting the next Dek Elstrom novel.

Series:
* Dek Ekstrom Mystery

Reviews

[Marielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this book up at goodwill 100% because the cover was purple. The main character kinda irritated me and the plot was rlly slow. Enjoyed the read and the writing was decent but the plot needed help & the ending was meh.

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A SAFE PLACE FOR DYING (Unlicensed Invest-Chicago-Cont) – G+
Frederickson, Jack – 1st book
Thomas Donne Books, 2006- Amer Hardcover

Chicago investigator Vlodek "Dek" Elstrom lost his marriage and his business even though his name was cleared. Now he is living in a dilapidated garret, with no castle, built by his grandfather and is in a constant battle to keep that. His wealthy ex-wife, Amanda, lives within a secured community having inherited the house and some incredibly valuable art. A blackmailer is threatening to blow up houses in the community unless he’s paid. Even though “Dek” has never investigated people, only paper, he is hired to find the blackmailer before the neighborhood goes up in smoke.

I will forgive holes in the plot as long as I am sold on the characters and Frederickson has created a delightful, realistically flawed character in “Dek.” I enjoyed the battle with his home and his determination to restore his reputation, both to others and to himself. “Dek” is the underdog you really want to see succeed. Then add Leo, The Bohemian, Elvis and Griselda Buffy and you’ve quite a cast.

I did spot the villain fairly soon into the story but was so caught up, I didn’t care. It’s not a perfect book but it is a very entertaining one and I shall certainly be looking for the next.

[Jj · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is set in Chicago, so that was a good start. The main character is a washed up kind-of-detective-but-not-really who lives in an abandoned tower on municipal property whose investigation keeps getting interrupted by this slimy bureaucrat who is trying to find a reason to evict him. I really liked the character because he was so real - he did not have a gun, he did not have mad martial arts skills, he didn't always have a smooth one-liner for the bad guys.

The mystery is unique - ransom notes that ask for piddling amounts of money, house explosions that aren't timed right for the ransom notes, all kinds of shady characters with twists and turns. I had the "bad guy" figured out pretty early on but I still enjoyed the read.

[Corinne]

Differing from my usual genre, this mystery wasn't a face paced read, but enjoyable and intelligent. Vlodek Elstrom is just short of homeless, and takes a P.I. job for the money. There are twists and turns, and a subtle, dry humor that makes a nice package.

[Debi Van Zandt · Rating 1 out of 5]

I set this one aside. Could be the timing is wrong for me on this one, but I simply lost interest and don't care how the plot turns out. I read almost 8 chapters, but it was just plain boring to me. But I've got a LOT going on right now, so perhaps I'm just distracted.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Snappy writing with some interesting turns of phrase. Took a little long to get to the point, I thought. But I enjoyed it enough to read the next in the series.

[Marssie Mencotti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack spoke at a conference I went to so I thought I'd read one of his books. Thoroughly enjoyed it and his detective Dek Elstrom is a lovable loser but a smart one, too.

[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

P.I. Vlodek Elstrom took to the bottle after his professional reputation went down the tubes – the drink cost him his business and his marriage.
By the time he sobers up and tries to get his life back in order it may be too late.
He's living in a rundown castle – actually the only part of the castle that was ever built, a turret – and using whatever funds he can scrape together to get essential repairs done (all the while while waging war with the Chicago building authorities).
And then he is hired to investigate several bombings at an exclusive gated community – coincidentally where he lived during his marriage and where his ex-wife stores her very valuable art collection in her home.
Vlodek gets to works and conducts a thorough and detailed investigation, one which turns up a decades old connection to the current events.
“A Safe Place for Dying” is a solid piece of work and introduces an interesting character. There's a good sense of humour and some interesting settings.
3.5 Stars

[JoeK · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was well written, and mildly humourous, tending more toward sarcasm than genuine humour. I found Dek Elstrom to be a bit whiny and not too bright. I had the culprit picked out from at least the mid-point of the book, and certainly by the ending chapters. I began to hope that there was something else happening in the final confrontation, but I was quickly disappointed.

I'm not sure why this book was so highly rated, but for me it felt long and didn't have enough twists and turns to make it much of a mystery or a thriller. Dek Elstrom also wasn't compelling enough to make me hang around with him, so I won't be doing it again.

[Jay Tate · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5-star detective lit. I like the characters, and they make up for the silly plot. It was good enough to get me to read the second installment, which was much better. I'm still not sure which direction Dek will go in - his moral compass is on a spin cycle.

If you're new to this series, make it through this one to understand the relationships between Dek, his girl, and his best friend. They get more depth in book 2.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first "Vladek Elstrom" mystery, which I read because the second in the series was highly recommended in the Wall Street Journal. This book was interesting but not really very good -- about blowing up houses.

[Lorraine Petkus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have made a great novella or short story. A gated community is being blown up one house at a time.

[Elizabeth]

Read 2011

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent first book in the series. Reminded me a little of the Spenser for hire books

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great characters...will definitely be reading more in this series. The story was very intriguing and different than anything else I've read.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

A library find.
November 2023.
A great fun, rainy day read.
Nothing serious.

[Ladiibbug · Rating 3 out of 5]

#1 Dek Elstrom mystery

From inside front cover:

"An extortion letter arrives at Crystal Waters, one of Chicago's wealthiest gated communities. It makes no specific threats, gives no instructions, demands only that $50,000 be gotten ready -- chump change for an enclave where the cheapest house is worth $3 million. It's easy to see it as harmless -- a note from a nut.

Then a mansion explodes."

The homeowners hire Dek Elstrom to investigate. He's the former husband of one of the residents ... down on his luck and struggling to get by. His life has fallen apart, both personally and professionally, and a successful investigation of Crystal Waters' mystery bomber could reestablish his credibility.

But the notes, threats and bombings fit no pattern and make no sense. Suddenly Dek realizes that he himself is the prime suspect.

A good mystery. Stumbled across this author's info in the www.stopyourekillingme.com mystery newsletter.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Down on his luck Dek Elstrom is being given a chance to redeem himself by doing a little PI work for the folks who run the exclusive Crystal Waters gated community, of which he was recently a resident. After an extortion letter and explosion, it doesn't seem that Crystal Waters is that safe after all. And even though his ex-wife, Amanda, is safely off in France, her (their former) home is sitting there unoccupied, with many works of fine art that she has alwyas said she would save before calling 911. This is the first in a series and I would certainly check in with Dek again.

There is a fun side-story about Dek's present home. After being thrown out of Crystal Waters, he decides to try to rehab his grandfather's (a former bootlegger) residence. The city is difficult, many old taxes are due and they want to label it historic. A stand-off ensues as Dek continues to rehab and live in the limestone turret.

[Viccy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vlodek Elstrom is divorced and living in a castle turret built by his grandfather in Rivertown, outside of Chicago. His ex-wife lives in Crystal Waters, the safest community in America, or at least that is how it was touted when the 30 or so houses were built in the 1970s. But, when the first house explodes and then a lamp post is imploded, the Board of Trustees hires Dek to investigate. He lost his business while getting divorced from Amanda, so $3000 sounds like a good deal to him. But, the explosion was done with D.X. 12, an explosive not used since Vietnam. Who could have held a grudge against Crystal Waters since the 1970s? I don't know how I missed this series when it first came out, but will be looking for the rest.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the writer's style and thought it was great that he didn't have to use any gruesome scenes or bad language to engage the reader. The main character has a funny sense of humor and feels real. I was able to figure out the "bad" guy about half way through, but that didn't ruin the experience for me. It was still enjoyable.

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best mysteries I have ever read. The writing is just fantastic- brilliantly concise. Fredrickson manages to show in just one sentence describing a character's action more than can ever be revealed in a multiple page whiny inner monologue. Complex characters, complex plot. Just plain loved it.

[Davney Stahley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting plot but I did figure out the bad guy mid-book...there was a twist at the end, but still I hate it when I figure out the murderer or whatever. Dek Elstrom is an interesting guy...perhaps Jack has another mystery in him with Dek. I think he can write better than he did...too predictable.

[Harry Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read Fredrickson's "Dead Caller from Chicago" a couple of weeks ago, and liked it well enough to get this one. It has the same major characters, the same blend of wry, offbeat humor. The plot is a little more straightforward, but the whodunit is artfully inexact until the very end. Fast-paced and thoroughly enjoyable.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was pleasantly surprised with this book!! Went to pick up a different mystery at the recommendation of a friend and it was not available. Since I was in the mood for a mystery, pulled this one from the shelf. Well written and definitely suspenseful right up until the end!! Great ending for a well written story--8 out of 10 for me!!

[Noor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really read mystery novels, but it was recommended so I went for it. Not bad, not great, just OK in my opinion. I couldn't bring myself to really like the main character - I thought he was kinda annoying.

[Annamaria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. It was very slow in some parts, very pleasant in others, funny at times, but I was not entirely captured by it. I think I'll read some more from Fredrickson to see if it is one of those writers that conquer you slowly...

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big Dek Elstrom fan and this did not disappoint. I find myself smiling throughout and enjoying every twist and turn. Wish there were more in the series as I find Dek to be a thoroughly likable, quirky fellow.

[Kirsikka]

Famous Librarian Nancy Pearl recommends this

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good mystery novel. An easy, summer read.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty good book if you like mysteries, but I didn't think it was as good as say a Mary Higgins Clark.