Deadline

by John Dunning

When a circus tent fire results in the death of a young girl, reporter Dalton Walker searches for leads while juggling a second story about a young Amish woman who left her home to become a dancer in the Big Apple

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Thriller, Ebooks, Journalism

253 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 12, 1981

About the author

John Dunning was an American writer of non-fiction and detective fiction. He was known for his reference books on old-time radio and his series of mysteries featuring Denver bookseller and ex-policeman Cliff Janeway.

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is an unworthy story that muddles along. 2 of 10 stars

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great early novel for John Dunning before he became successful with his marvelous series about book dealer sleuth Cliff Janeway. This one draws on his past experience as a reporter in Denver in the same way the later books derive from his long career as a bookstore owner. It captures well a sense of how a story can become an obsession for a reporter and how digging up the past can lead to unexpected consequences that can invade and threaten one’s personal life.

Dalton Walker is a veteran reporter who takes a job with a small newspaper in New Jersey after a failed attempt to become a novelist. They want him to do a human-interest story on a woman who grew up in an Amish community became a dancer with the Rockettes, Diane Yoder, but he becomes more interested in her personally. The story that intrigues him is the case of an unclaimed body of a little girl who dies in a circus fire. When he finally identifies the mother of the girl through his brilliant methods, the case gets out of control and dangerous. He ends up on the run while he tries to figure out a solution that can bring about some form of justice. The thriller parts take place in Amish country in Pennsylvania, breaking into some of the same themes about the challenges of such people finding a simple life in this corrupt world as the later famous Harrison Ford movie “Witness”.

Dunning notes in the prologue for the 1995 release of this 1981 book that after spending 18 months with the book “Denver”, he got a sweet flash for the plot of this one and was able to whip it out in six weeks. At less than 200 pages, the few elements of the story unfold like clockwork with a nice balance between action and reflection. A reporter’s quest to find a story that resonates with people makes a nice metaphor for a person trying to make a meaningful story out of their own life, one where your past mistakes are dealt with in a way that values the things that really count.

This book was provided as an ebook loan by the publisher through Netgalley.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love John Dunning. I love Cliff Janeway's rambling discourses about books and bookstores, I love the labyrinthine plots revolving around long-lost first editions and people who love books to an insane degree. This is an earlier book, and it has the same delicious aura of printer's ink and page dust, although the protagonist is a reporter rather than a used bookstore-owner. I love the rapturous musing on old-style journalism and the ferocious need to get to the bottom of the story. The whole book had a kind of quaint, old-fashioned patina to it - the romance was sweet and courtly, and the subplot about the Amish people lent a nice counterpoint.

I was given a copy by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The book was published in November 2013.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered John Dunning's books some years ago. I love the Cliff Janeway series and, I think there were others that were stand alone. So I was surprised when I found this, one of his earlier books, I think. It is just as good as I remembered his books to be. I sort-of envy anyone you who have not read Dunning. I don't usually re-read books, but I am tempted to do so with Dunning.

[Cheryl Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can see where it was said that this is the same as "Witness", but other than the placing of some of the action in Amish country that is the only similarity. This is a terrific fast paced story that I will be reading again.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I started reading this, I told my husband I'd be up all night to finish. I did fall asleep but finished the next day.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, I guess. Not as good as the Cliff Janeway books.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dunning writes some pretty good thrillers and this one is pretty decent. Walker is a Pulitzer prize winning reporter who begins working on a story about a circus tent fire in which a young girl died and nobody came forward to claim the body. Who was this little girl and how could her parents not be looking for her? He becomes obsesses knowing that there is more to the story. Meanwhile, his editor keeps pointing up at a fluff piece about a New York Radio Hall Rockette who came from Amish roots to become one of the world famous dancers. Trying to juggle between the two stories, Walker soon finds himself in the midst of one of the strangest plots ever. If he can stay alive long enough, he might get to publish the story.

Dunning's writing is crisp and the details he offers in regards to Amish living, and the life of a Rockette are interesting enough to keep the reader turning pages while he sneakily develops a plot and sets up an intriguing climax. In other words, he gets it right. There aren't a lot of twists and turns along the way, but the mystery is more like the image of photo, slowly developing in the vat in the darkroom until all is clear.

A good book and the author's introduction about writing and the things he would do differently if he wrote it today was worth reading. (He would not name the Amish girl Diana, becoming aware that Diana is the name of a pagan goddess and clearly not the sort of name an Amish family would choose).

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published back in 1981 and nominated for the Best Paperback Edgar this was a totally engrossing tale of a former prize winning journalist who gets caught up in the biggest story of his life.

[Michael Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first discovered Dunning with his private eye series featuring Denver bookseller Cliff Janeway, the first of which was Booked to Die in 1992. He’d produced a number of reasonably successful novels over the previous two decades, but I had been only peripherally aware of them. In his backgrounder Introduction to this reissue, Dunning says people still ask him how long it takes to write a novel, and he gives them the classic answer: “It takes as long as it takes.” He then details how his early books him took him anywhere from eighteen months to three years to write and how each involved a good deal of bloodletting, back-filling, blind alleys, and the discarding of whole chapters and numerous stillborn characters. Deadline, on the other hand, was written in 139 consecutive workdays, from first idea to mailing it off to his agent, without a single false step. He has always felt he should apologize for the lack of struggle in its creation.

Dunning had been a journalist for the Denver Post and other publications for a number of years before hos writing began to be good enough to support him, so the central character of Walker, who has worked for big-city newspapers and small papers o one has ever heard of, and he’s won both a Pulitzer and a National Book Award., but he never stays anywhere long. That’s just him, but hose two awards make him near-royalty n the newspaper world and every publisher he meets wants to hire him. So he’s walking to an interview one day in New Jersey, right across the river from Manhattan, when he come across a circus tent on fire, surrounded by pumper trucks and hoses and with a row of burned bodies nearby. One of those is a small girl, maybe seven years old, and (being a newspaper man to his very core) the first thought in his head isn’t “tragedy” but “story.”

He takes the job and keeps thinking about that young victim while he waits for the identification. But it never comes and the coroner investigates in every way he can think of, but finally has to bury the child as a Jane Doe. Walker doesn’t know what to think. What parent, or family friend, takes a little girl to the circus but doesn’t claim her body? Walker can’t let it go, and so he begins to bring his formidable skills to bear.

Meanwhile, he has another assignment that was handed him by his new publishers. There's a girl who has been dancing with the Rockettes at Radio City for the past ten years, whose name is Diana Yode. And she’s Amish. Many journalists have tried to get her story, which everyone figures must be unusual, but she’s not talking. Walker’s kind of on the girl’s side on this case -- she shouldn’t have to discuss her private life if she doesn’t want to -- but he’s as curious as anyone else, so he figures out a way to meet her and begins working his way into her confidence. Maybe he'll write the story, maybe he won’t, but he wants to know about her to assuage his curiosity. Then Walker seeks the assistance of an old buddy in the New York office of the FBI with his investigation into the circus victim’s story, and that links into a longstanding hunt for a “Most Wanted” from the ’60s, and suddenly it’s a whole new ball game.

It’s a pretty good story and Walker is a interesting character with assorted faults. The author notes also that the major events -- the circus fire, the Amish Rockettes dancer -- came from his own fat files of news clippings. They really happened. Any fiction writer of experience has files like that which provide ideas for plots and characters, and this time they all just came together perfectly. A good way tol spend a rainy weekend.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story got my attention very early on and kept it the whole way through. It was a good story. I really like the way it sounded like an old detective novel only it is about a journalist. Walker is just starting work at the Tribune in New York but before he gets there he just happens to see a fire and hears people screaming at a small carnival. A circus tent was on fire. He went to help and a fireman asked for his help carrying a small body out on a stretcher. It was the body of a young girl and seeing her young form affected him deeply. Later, as the number of deaths increased, he kept tabs on the story and was surprised to learn that no one ever came to claim the young girl's body. He had been given another story to work on but he wasn't interested. He began trying to figure out the identity of that little girl who was eventually buried in a pauper's grave by the coroner. He knew there must be a big story there and there was. It was so big in fact, that finding out might cost his life.

[Elizabeth du Fresne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost 5 Stars!!

I've read 3 other Dunning books and enjoyed them all. This tale has a reporter rather than a bookseller as the protagonist. Dunning tells a good tale on bad dealings in the federal law enforcement ranks. Things are sweetened up.s bit by the reporter acquiring an ex-Amish girlfriend . The plot is fun but a smidgen predictable. That was the reason for the 4 rather than 5 stars. A fast one or two day read with characters you enjoy spending time with.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had an interesting premise, but John Dunning has a tendency to go off on long-winded tangents. Presumably, these are supposed to give us insights into the character, but they more often read as insights into John Dunning. I'm not sure all of the action was necessarily believable, and it had an abrupt ending, but this was still an okay read.

[Susan Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a re-issue of one of Dunning's earliest novels and I think it's even better than his Janeway stuff (and I LOVE his Janeway stuff). It's a great story that weaves an Amish bred Radio City Music Hall Rockette in with the tale of a circus fire that left an 8 year old girl dead and never claimed by anyone. Dunning does a fabulous and credible job of telling this really interesting story.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had lots of elements that I enjoy: a journalist protagonist (they have less encumbered access to details a story needs), some insight into the Amish culture, the FBI - good guys and not, and an old conspiracy. There were a few implausible leaps, maybe because the connections were edited out?, but if you go with it anyway, it was a satisfying read.

[Stephen Schmelz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book is almost 40 years since it was originally published, the story was fascinating and rather interesting as to how newspapers gathered and disseminated information back in the day before cellphones and personal computers. The fugitives running were fun to follow.

[Ernie Crofoot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning thriller

Well written, exciting page-turner. Could have used a little more thinking/procedural and less action at the end. It is difficult to create sympathy for an outlaw on the run, but he did it.

[Carol G. Nye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

I did not think I was going to like this book, but I was surprised!
It seemed off to a slow start, but then, it just takes hold of the reader speeds along.
I can't wait to read more by Mr. Dunning!

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Elly Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4* Gripping. Exciting. And I liked the insights into the Amish community.
Good one!

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read several John Dunning books. Although interesting subject I struggled finishing this book. Events happened without explanations as to why.

[Tambra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. slowly reading all of his book. They are so great so far and love the stories.

[Neil McGee · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good, read twice, and all the pieces fell into place on the second read, very good read👍 (one of the better books I've read)

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started off promising but bogged down after half way. Too wordy and a bit far fetched for a reporter.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deadline was originally published in 1995, and this recent edition contains an interesting preface detailing how and why Dunning came to write the novel. I won't go into it, but it really is a glimpse into the background of the novel and why Dunning was able to write it so quickly.

Deadline is a stand alone novel and not part of the Cliff Janeway series, which I have enjoyed for years, but it a fascinating mystery nonetheless.

Dalton Walker is an investigative reporter whose work won a Pulitzer, and even years later, his presence on a newspaper staff is considered a coup. He has just begun a new job at a local paper.

Assigned what appears to be a fluff piece about an Amish girl who left her home and religious strictures behind to become a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall, Walker is not particularly pleased. Walker is only one of several reporters who has tried to get an interview with Dianne Yoder, and when he, too, is turned down, he plans to abandon the piece. His interest in Dianne Yoder, however, he pursues on a personal level.

The story that he is chasing on his own time involves an eight-year-old child who died in a fire at a circus. Walker happened to be on hand at the time, and when no one claims the child's body his interest becomes overpowering. Who would take a child to a circus and then not claim her body?

His interest in the case continues to compel him, and eventually, he does discover a clue to the child's mother. His investigation leads to the FBI becoming involved, and then to a journey that may cost him more than his career.

Dunning is whetting his talent in this novel, and many don't feel that it compares to the Janeway novels, but I have to admit that I enjoyed it very much and that the preface about the unique way he created the outline for the novel is fascinating.

NetGalley/Open Road Media

Mystery. 1995 & 2013. Print version: 224 pages.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Deadline by John Dunning. I've read other Dunning mysteries before, with bookseller Cliff Janeway as the protagonist and amateur detective. In this novel, the protagonist is a newspaper reporter in Baltimore, Dalton Walker. Walker is a Pulitzer-winning reporter and quite a rebel. He has several stories going at the same time. One he's been asked to look into by his editor is a young Amish girl who is working as a Rockette. The other story Walker takes on himself, exploring the mystery of a young girl who died in a circus tent fire. Along the way he falls in love and becomes a fugitive and works with the CIA. Through the other characters, the two stories (of course) come together.

I liked the action but the expository sections were much too long. I found myself skipping over long parts (long paragraphs) to get to the action. It's worth the read, if you can make it through these sections.

I see Dunning has more stories that I haven't read. I'll try some for a quick read. My favorite Dunning novel to date is Two O'Clock Eastern Wartime about the radio industry during World War II. It's not a Janeway, but is very good.

Disclosure: I was given this e-book by the publisher through NetGalley.

[John Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

In his introduction, author John Dunning said that some of his friends thought “Deadline” might have been his best book. (This was his fourth work of fiction.) Like his earlier “Looking for Ginger North”, “Deadline” also received an Edgar Award nomination for Best Paperback Original. It’s been a long time since I read, and thoroughly enjoyed, his well regarded Cliff Janeway “Bookman...” series which didn’t come out until ten years later and had recommended to me. I liked the Janeway series so much that I went back and filled in a couple of his earlier works, including “Deadline”, but just got around to reading it now.

I wish I’d read it sooner instead of some of the other painful stuff I’ve plowed through. It was a great story, well told, pretty good character development for a relatively short book, and well paced. The only thing that disappointed me (but only a little) was the ending although it certainly fit the story well enough.

It’s been a while since Dunning wrote anything and if he’s all done that’s too bad. Fortunately for us there are terrific new writers coming along every day (and plenty of old ones I still haven’t gotten to.) -JS

[Lisa H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting setting - this story of a Pulitzer-winning newspaper reporter, set in the post-Watergate era, taps Dunning's own experience in the field. Dalton Walker, having just accepted a position with a New York City-area paper, encounters a story before ever setting foot in his new employer's offices: he comes upon a fire at a small circus that has taken the lives of several patrons, and Walker is enlisted by emergency personnel to help remove the body of a small girl. Following up on the tragedy and intending to write a feature on it, Walker discovers that the girl's body has not been claimed. Intrigued by the idea that someone would bring a child to the circus and then abandon her body, he sets about trying to identify her and in the process uncovers a deeper mystery, entangling him in an FBI investigation that threatens his career, and ultimately his life.

This reissue includes a fascinating introduction by Dunning about his writing process and the impetus behind Deadline.

[LJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

DEADLINES - Ex
Dunning, John - standalone

Although Dalton Walker is an award-winning journalist, his attempt to write fiction has gone nowhere. So he hires on at a small New Jersey newspaper, the Tribune, hungry again for the excitement of headlines and hard-hitting features. His job begins with covering a child's death in a fire and a showgirls Amish background. But these routine assignments soon lead the reporter in unexpected directions deep into disturbing new emotions, and back into his own turbulent past. As Walker tries to obey his reporters instinct, the risks mount with each piece of information he gathers. These deadlines could be a death sentence.

1997 Top Read - Dunning writes a GREAT book. It's smart, intersting and so well done.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A circus fire where a little girl is killed with no one to claim her body;
a reporter who wonders what parents wouldn’t want to bury their child, who turns up the mother, a woman wanted by the FBI; a woman who left her Amish community years before, now a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall – mix these all together and you have the makings of
an extraordinary mystery.

You’ll want to grab this and find a comfy place – but be ready to have a late night – or a lot of time by yourself at work – you’ll want to finish this as soon as you read the first few pages!