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Deep and Dirty: A Novel
Robert Winchester abruptly parts life as an investigative journalist in New York City with no firm plans for the future. After inheriting his uncle’s home in the North Florida backwoods he uncovers the dirty secrets of a drug ring, three ritualistic murders and a sheriff’s department plagued by corruption and links to a powerful drug syndicate. Its far reaching tentacles suffocate a poor rural community that can ill-afford its presence. Winchester delves into the unfathomable depths of poverty, the cruelty of dependence and a vicious crime circle. The action is fast paced and shocking when the former city newshound comes head-to-head with the murderous and manipulative Captain Cocaine and his corrupt lieutenant.
280 pages, Paperback
Published April 3, 2019
94 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Dell
2 books7 followersDouglas Dell spent four years in the Deep South uncovering the dirty secrets of a drug ring and its far reaching tentacles in a small rural community that could little afford its presence.
Dell lives in Florida focusing on his writing of the Robert Winchester Series of books. Deep and Dirty is his first Novel. The second novel from the series Deep Within will be released on June 16, 2020.
Dell lives in Florida focusing on his writing of the Robert Winchester Series of books. Deep and Dirty is his first Novel. The second novel from the series Deep Within will be released on June 16, 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 8, 2019
I received my purchased copy of Douglas Dell’s debut novel Deep and Dirty on April 3rd. I love reading paperbacks and as a subscriber to Dell's newsletters I received a 20% discount for the ebook too (which I was pleased about so I can read it on the go on my reader when I can't cozy up in bed with the paperback).
NEVER have I been gripped by so much intrigue, laughter and tears all rolled into one book.
Dell does well to use his Journalist Robert Winchester to lead us through the conflicting and the totally weird culture that is The South. Dell captures the dialogue of the locals and the mentality of the poor so well you can smell the poverty a mile off.
Winchester's story unfolds as an unexpected inheritance provides a new home and what he thinks will be a nice change of pace to our burnt out New York journalist and hero who is disillusioned with the world of the media that no longer wants “serious news” and quality investigative journalism. Winchester is thrown from the “civilized world of New York” into the “uncivilized South” and into a town that is steeped in such a bloody and nasty history that no wonder it is a breeding ground for the poor whose children’s future is to work in the local mill or to be recruited into the vicious circle of meth addiction, manufacturing or distribution.
The drug culture is intrinsically mixed up in political corruption and a spate of ritualistic serial murders baffle the local Sheriff’s department who are too tired or too dumb and fed up with the sleaze in the ranks and in the local town, that only the bright sparks in law enforcement who care about its town and people have to team up with Winchester to crack the murder case, and save their small town from the brink of absolute death that the thriving drug business is creating, stop the corrupted local government and business leaders from making Brown Springs just another statistic to that has fallen to to thriving illegal drug business in America.
Full of colorful characters, the beautiful landscape of the beautiful romantic South that contradicts so well to the despair of the poverty and a perspective that has resonated with all of us readers who are fascinated with America’s Southern life and its culture.
I totally recommend this book and congratulate the author Douglas Dell on a tremendous debut novel that I believe will become a classic in its own right. Definitely an author worth watching and a story worth revisiting over again!
NEVER have I been gripped by so much intrigue, laughter and tears all rolled into one book.
Dell does well to use his Journalist Robert Winchester to lead us through the conflicting and the totally weird culture that is The South. Dell captures the dialogue of the locals and the mentality of the poor so well you can smell the poverty a mile off.
Winchester's story unfolds as an unexpected inheritance provides a new home and what he thinks will be a nice change of pace to our burnt out New York journalist and hero who is disillusioned with the world of the media that no longer wants “serious news” and quality investigative journalism. Winchester is thrown from the “civilized world of New York” into the “uncivilized South” and into a town that is steeped in such a bloody and nasty history that no wonder it is a breeding ground for the poor whose children’s future is to work in the local mill or to be recruited into the vicious circle of meth addiction, manufacturing or distribution.
The drug culture is intrinsically mixed up in political corruption and a spate of ritualistic serial murders baffle the local Sheriff’s department who are too tired or too dumb and fed up with the sleaze in the ranks and in the local town, that only the bright sparks in law enforcement who care about its town and people have to team up with Winchester to crack the murder case, and save their small town from the brink of absolute death that the thriving drug business is creating, stop the corrupted local government and business leaders from making Brown Springs just another statistic to that has fallen to to thriving illegal drug business in America.
Full of colorful characters, the beautiful landscape of the beautiful romantic South that contradicts so well to the despair of the poverty and a perspective that has resonated with all of us readers who are fascinated with America’s Southern life and its culture.
I totally recommend this book and congratulate the author Douglas Dell on a tremendous debut novel that I believe will become a classic in its own right. Definitely an author worth watching and a story worth revisiting over again!
April 12, 2019
Personal rating: 500/500🌟
.
.
Let me tell you, this novel definitely lives up to its name.
If you’re from the south (or have ever lived there) than this novel is going to really speak to you. So many times authors who write about the south never capture the spirit of it, the pride, the filth, the beauty, the language (and its dialect) and I think Douglas Dell really truly has.
If you have read any of my previous book reviews then you know I’m a very character and plot driven kind of reader, I love books that get under my skin by allowing me into the hearts and minds of the characters, and make me think and feel intensely and Deep and Dirty definitely delivered that for me.
When three ritualistic murders happen in the small southern town of Brown Springs it becomes the beginning of an epic, violent journey for former New York investigative journalist Robert Winchester, who turns up in the stick in the mud (in the middle of nowhere) town to claim the inheritance left to him by his uncle Joe. Along with the help of three police officers (Deputy Chip Preston, Sergeant Jim Carpenter and Deputy Jerry Shores) Robert uses his skills to help get to the bottom of the crimes and in doing so ends up uncovering a despicable web of lies caked with drugs, murder and cold hard cash that ends up connecting the towns corrupt officials to a powerful drug syndicate.
I loved how downright ugly some of these characters are (including the cocaine addicted Captain Don Smith). Some of the characters I really loved hating. I found I could really sink my teeth into them (even though they left a rather unpleasant taste in my mouth), and found it enjoyable at the same time. The villains are ugly not just in a physical sense but also metaphysically speaking, they possess no standards and no redeeming qualities and seemed quite content to wallow in their own filth. I’m glad Mr. Dell didn’t hold back on the brutality and ugliness, it’s all on display, warts and decaying teeth and all and I found that refreshing. And yes, I did fall in love with the four heroes in this novel (and yes, I was rooting for them the entire time) While reading this novel I found myself thinking about the state of the drug epidemic that seems to be plaguing our world as well as the corruption in politics that seems to keep it spinning and when I finally finished clutching this novel and finished reading it I came to conclusion that it not only offers you food for thought but a stark, unapologetic look at the consequences of both on a deeply real and human level.
.
.
Let me tell you, this novel definitely lives up to its name.
If you’re from the south (or have ever lived there) than this novel is going to really speak to you. So many times authors who write about the south never capture the spirit of it, the pride, the filth, the beauty, the language (and its dialect) and I think Douglas Dell really truly has.
If you have read any of my previous book reviews then you know I’m a very character and plot driven kind of reader, I love books that get under my skin by allowing me into the hearts and minds of the characters, and make me think and feel intensely and Deep and Dirty definitely delivered that for me.
When three ritualistic murders happen in the small southern town of Brown Springs it becomes the beginning of an epic, violent journey for former New York investigative journalist Robert Winchester, who turns up in the stick in the mud (in the middle of nowhere) town to claim the inheritance left to him by his uncle Joe. Along with the help of three police officers (Deputy Chip Preston, Sergeant Jim Carpenter and Deputy Jerry Shores) Robert uses his skills to help get to the bottom of the crimes and in doing so ends up uncovering a despicable web of lies caked with drugs, murder and cold hard cash that ends up connecting the towns corrupt officials to a powerful drug syndicate.
I loved how downright ugly some of these characters are (including the cocaine addicted Captain Don Smith). Some of the characters I really loved hating. I found I could really sink my teeth into them (even though they left a rather unpleasant taste in my mouth), and found it enjoyable at the same time. The villains are ugly not just in a physical sense but also metaphysically speaking, they possess no standards and no redeeming qualities and seemed quite content to wallow in their own filth. I’m glad Mr. Dell didn’t hold back on the brutality and ugliness, it’s all on display, warts and decaying teeth and all and I found that refreshing. And yes, I did fall in love with the four heroes in this novel (and yes, I was rooting for them the entire time) While reading this novel I found myself thinking about the state of the drug epidemic that seems to be plaguing our world as well as the corruption in politics that seems to keep it spinning and when I finally finished clutching this novel and finished reading it I came to conclusion that it not only offers you food for thought but a stark, unapologetic look at the consequences of both on a deeply real and human level.
April 4, 2019
A gritty story, a new voice, a fascinating read - one sitting, could not put down.
May 25, 2020
Makes you think - scary!
I bought the book a week ago and read it in one go, edge of the seat scary, some real frightening truths too, looking forward to the next one
July 13, 2020
Received an ARC - I am so sorry I haven't posted the review for this amazing book
I have been traveling and snowed under with books all year and even though I have hand-written review notes on every book I've read, I just haven't gotten around to posting them online. Well enough excuses, this one is well overdue!
Deep and Dirty: A Novel by Douglas Dell is the first novel in the Robert Winchester series. I have already book 2, Deep Within: A Robert Winchester Novel which I received the ARC and read too (review coming shortly, I promise).
This book was a surprise for me. I don't usually read books about drugs and the deep South but it was the character, journalist Robert Winchester who caught my eye as he's not local and from the big city of New York - I felt we connected straight away as we had much in common.
Winchester is wild, a journalist booted out of NYC like many good writers and journalist as the internet and blogging became the new norm for news. Disenchanted and disappointed, he inherits some real estate from an uncle down south. Curiosity and a desperation for a change of scenery is what drives our hero down to this nowhere town in rural Florida (because there is absolutely no other reason to go to this godforsaken place) where the roads are mud and dirt and everyone speaks funny.
I was gripped from page one.
Dell writes in a poetic way, mastering the words flawlessly through the story so that you can feel and smell the stench of poverty and corruption in the pages.
I couldn't stop reading as page after page led me to a big build up and my rooting loudly for the characters that had developed so well in my mind, to have now become my friends (with a funny way of speaking AKA as "southern"). My disdain of those who were corrupt and evil grew stronger as the plot thickened.
The build up and anticipation is NOT what you think it's going to be and surprises you in spectacular fashion. The cliffhanger is in the form of some unanswered questions and where they go next - it's frustrating as hell - but that's the point - to make you read book two - which I have and it does not disappoint either.
I'm not one for revealing too much in my reviews - I prefer you find out if it's to your taste or not.
But for me, it is an excellent start to what I do believe will be an amazing series and a very original writer with a unique voice and who can write brilliantly. Thank you Douglas Dell for being a great story teller. Keep it up as you are definitely onto a good thing here.
I have been traveling and snowed under with books all year and even though I have hand-written review notes on every book I've read, I just haven't gotten around to posting them online. Well enough excuses, this one is well overdue!
Deep and Dirty: A Novel by Douglas Dell is the first novel in the Robert Winchester series. I have already book 2, Deep Within: A Robert Winchester Novel which I received the ARC and read too (review coming shortly, I promise).
This book was a surprise for me. I don't usually read books about drugs and the deep South but it was the character, journalist Robert Winchester who caught my eye as he's not local and from the big city of New York - I felt we connected straight away as we had much in common.
Winchester is wild, a journalist booted out of NYC like many good writers and journalist as the internet and blogging became the new norm for news. Disenchanted and disappointed, he inherits some real estate from an uncle down south. Curiosity and a desperation for a change of scenery is what drives our hero down to this nowhere town in rural Florida (because there is absolutely no other reason to go to this godforsaken place) where the roads are mud and dirt and everyone speaks funny.
I was gripped from page one.
Dell writes in a poetic way, mastering the words flawlessly through the story so that you can feel and smell the stench of poverty and corruption in the pages.
I couldn't stop reading as page after page led me to a big build up and my rooting loudly for the characters that had developed so well in my mind, to have now become my friends (with a funny way of speaking AKA as "southern"). My disdain of those who were corrupt and evil grew stronger as the plot thickened.
The build up and anticipation is NOT what you think it's going to be and surprises you in spectacular fashion. The cliffhanger is in the form of some unanswered questions and where they go next - it's frustrating as hell - but that's the point - to make you read book two - which I have and it does not disappoint either.
I'm not one for revealing too much in my reviews - I prefer you find out if it's to your taste or not.
But for me, it is an excellent start to what I do believe will be an amazing series and a very original writer with a unique voice and who can write brilliantly. Thank you Douglas Dell for being a great story teller. Keep it up as you are definitely onto a good thing here.
August 12, 2020
Fascinating read, recommended! Dell's work is a breath of fresh air, his subject a terrifying truth.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews