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August Snow #1
Der gekaufte Tod
»Stephen Mack Jones haucht Detroit neues Leben ein.« The Boston Globe Mexicantown, Detroit. August Snow kehrt mit zwölf Millionen Dollar Schadenersatz zurück in das Viertel seiner Kindheit. Genug Geld für den Ex-Polizisten, um seinen alten Humor wiederzufinden und ein neues Leben zu beginnen. Doch er hat die Rechnung ohne seine Feinde gemacht: Kurz nach seiner Rückkehr wird eine der mächtigsten Unternehmerinnen der Stadt tot aufgefunden. Snow setzt sich auf die Fährte des Mörders – und gerät in einen gefährlichen Strudel, der ihn in Detroits dunkelste Winkel hinabzieht. Die zwölf Millionen stammen aus einem Prozess gegen den korrupten Polizeiapparat der Stadt. Mit dem Geld will Snow, Sohn eines afroamerikanischen Polizisten und einer mexikanisch-amerikanischen Malerin, den Stadtteil seiner Kindheit wieder aufbauen. Da bittet ihn die Großunternehmerin Eleanore Padget, verdächtige Vorkommnisse in ihrer Bank aufzuklären. Snow lehnt ab. Kurz darauf wird die Frau tot aufgefunden. Selbstmord, lautet die Diagnose der Polizei. Snow hat Zweifel und begibt sich auf die Suche nach dem Mörder. Ein packender Thriller inmitten der rauen, multikulturellen Realität Detroits.
368 pages, Paperback
First published February 14, 2017
571 people are currently reading
5183 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Mack Jones
6 books280 followersStephen Mack Jones is a published poet, award-winning playwright, and recipient of the prestigious Kresge Arts in Detroit Literary Fellowship. He survived a number of years in advertising and marketing communications. Mr. Jones was born in Lansing, Michigan, and currently lives in Farmington Hills, outside of Detroit. August Snow is his first novel.
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May 9, 2019“There is a superhero in all of us, we just need the courage to put on the cape.”
– Superman
My first impression of August Snow, the man, is a larger than life, over the top, like the quote above, superhero but one without the cape. A former Detroit Cop, he's wealthy, cleanly wealthy, having won a $12 million wrongful termination suit. Recently returned to his hometown city of Detroit he is summoned to the ritzy digs of Grosse Pointe by the despicable, Eleanor Paget who needs his help. He's not convinced but before he can decide Paget is found dead, a suspected suicide but not in August's book. If investigating Paget's death is not enough to keep him busy he is also trying to bring his neighborhood back to life by encouraging those living there to help in its revival through the renovation of housing, pride, and a feeling of ownership.
Jones sketches his character in the use of language, culture, food, beer and other premium alcohol. He vividly portrays his run-down town and the urge to revive The Motor City to its prior ranking in industry and commerce.
If I could only use one word to describe August Snow it would be kind.
August Snow has racked up many awards including these:
Winner of the 2018 Nero Award
Winner of the Hammett Prize for Crime Fiction
Finalist for the 2018 Shamus Award
Strand Magazine Critics Awards Best First Novel Nominee
The second in this series, U>Lives Laid Away is out and is living up to its anticipation.
On meeting the author at an event at Northshire Bookstore, VT, he said he had written this book to entertain himself. Well, Stephen Mack Jones, you took me and many others along for the ride.
– Superman
My first impression of August Snow, the man, is a larger than life, over the top, like the quote above, superhero but one without the cape. A former Detroit Cop, he's wealthy, cleanly wealthy, having won a $12 million wrongful termination suit. Recently returned to his hometown city of Detroit he is summoned to the ritzy digs of Grosse Pointe by the despicable, Eleanor Paget who needs his help. He's not convinced but before he can decide Paget is found dead, a suspected suicide but not in August's book. If investigating Paget's death is not enough to keep him busy he is also trying to bring his neighborhood back to life by encouraging those living there to help in its revival through the renovation of housing, pride, and a feeling of ownership.
Jones sketches his character in the use of language, culture, food, beer and other premium alcohol. He vividly portrays his run-down town and the urge to revive The Motor City to its prior ranking in industry and commerce.
If I could only use one word to describe August Snow it would be kind.
August Snow has racked up many awards including these:
Winner of the 2018 Nero Award
Winner of the Hammett Prize for Crime Fiction
Finalist for the 2018 Shamus Award
Strand Magazine Critics Awards Best First Novel Nominee
The second in this series, U>Lives Laid Away is out and is living up to its anticipation.
On meeting the author at an event at Northshire Bookstore, VT, he said he had written this book to entertain himself. Well, Stephen Mack Jones, you took me and many others along for the ride.
June 15, 2021
A debut novel, an over-the-top lead character with a conflicted past, a sinister international criminal organization, an eccentric wealthy family, sex, violence, good food, yadda-yadda-yadda, still, it's worth a read.
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July 31, 2020
After the cover and dust jacket blurb of this novel caught my eye, I knew that I would give Stephen Mack Jones a try. Mixing some police procedural with gritty racial struggles, this series debut will surely interest many who enjoy the genre, but are not afraid to tackle some of the more taboo issues that arise in a city where equality is not even faked. August Snow is half-Black, half-Hispanic, using this unique cultural mix to his advantage. Returning to Detroit after a year away, much has changed for Snow, though many still vilify him for the actions he took. Once a detective with DPD, Snow blew the horn on a corrupt mayor and the police who helped protect him. He received a major payout, but is still the centre of many whispers and a platter for his head remains at the ready. When Snow is approached by Eleanor Paget, he is not sure what to expect. Paget is a wealthy woman and well-known around town. Her husband’s death was one of the high-profile cases Snow worked before everything blew up in his face. After Paget mentions that she feels her bank accounts are being tampered with, she seeks Snow to help keep an eye on things and dig a little deeper. Not a registered PI and with little interest in doing so, Snow declines Paget’s offer, but promises to keep in touch. A few days later, Paget is found dead, apparently having shot herself, but Snow is not buying it. He decides to poke around to see what really lurked under the surface for Eleanor Paget. With a handful of former colleagues still speaking with him, they share the sentiment that Paget was likely unhappy and chose to end things herself. Equally baffling is why the FBI approaches Snow and has many questions for him about his interactions with Paget. The deeper Snow digs, the more he uncovers, including what might be a money laundering scheme, which could be the angle the Feds are taking. As Snow tries to piece it all together, he’s sure that there is something going on, though cannot put his finger on how Paget fits into the larger narrative. On the mean streets of Detroit, anything’s possible and August Snow knows that all too well, which includes decades of racial suppression, a motive all its own. A decent debut that pulls the reader into the middle of the socio-economic and political struggles of the city. Recommended to those who want a break from the glitzy procedurals that fill the genre, as well as the reader looking for a gritty piece to balance out some of their other reading experiences.
I entered this book with an open mind and sit here now, unsure if it met my expectations. Stephen Mack Jones has a way with words and paints quite the tale, which seeks to reveal racial and sociology-economic disparity and put it directly in front of the reader. The August Snow backstory is quite thorough and left me wanting more, which is balanced nicely with some character development and decent choices to lay the groundwork for a successful series. Snow is a no holds barred kind of guy, not afraid of standing his ground, willing to rock the boat if it furthers his cause. Snow’s attention is trying to reinvent himself and the Mexicantown area in which he lives, breathing new life into something that many have left to perish. With his intuitiveness, Snow is eager to make a difference and thrives to help those in need, even if they do not appear to require much of anything on the surface. Other characters complement the work that Snow does, sometimes in subtle ways that are not entirely apparent at first glance. The vast array of characters offer the reader a flavoursome choice of perspectives, spicing up the narrative effectively throughout. The novel is well-paced and reveals much about the central characters from beginning until the very end, while also proving to be a raw depiction of the filthy underbelly that is Detroit. Snow interacts well with most folks, though their varied backgrounds make the protagonist’s colours differ at various points of the novel. Jones has a way of making his point effectively, keeping the reader attuned to the struggles of all in some of the less than desirable parts of Detroit. While I am still on the fence about how I feel about the book, I will likely give the second book a try to see how it sits with me. It’s the least I can do, since the awkwardness of the gritty presentation parallels how most people feel about snow in August.
Kudos, Mr. Jones, for an interesting debut. I’ll keep an open mind and tackle another before locking in a personal decision.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
I entered this book with an open mind and sit here now, unsure if it met my expectations. Stephen Mack Jones has a way with words and paints quite the tale, which seeks to reveal racial and sociology-economic disparity and put it directly in front of the reader. The August Snow backstory is quite thorough and left me wanting more, which is balanced nicely with some character development and decent choices to lay the groundwork for a successful series. Snow is a no holds barred kind of guy, not afraid of standing his ground, willing to rock the boat if it furthers his cause. Snow’s attention is trying to reinvent himself and the Mexicantown area in which he lives, breathing new life into something that many have left to perish. With his intuitiveness, Snow is eager to make a difference and thrives to help those in need, even if they do not appear to require much of anything on the surface. Other characters complement the work that Snow does, sometimes in subtle ways that are not entirely apparent at first glance. The vast array of characters offer the reader a flavoursome choice of perspectives, spicing up the narrative effectively throughout. The novel is well-paced and reveals much about the central characters from beginning until the very end, while also proving to be a raw depiction of the filthy underbelly that is Detroit. Snow interacts well with most folks, though their varied backgrounds make the protagonist’s colours differ at various points of the novel. Jones has a way of making his point effectively, keeping the reader attuned to the struggles of all in some of the less than desirable parts of Detroit. While I am still on the fence about how I feel about the book, I will likely give the second book a try to see how it sits with me. It’s the least I can do, since the awkwardness of the gritty presentation parallels how most people feel about snow in August.
Kudos, Mr. Jones, for an interesting debut. I’ll keep an open mind and tackle another before locking in a personal decision.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
December 4, 2017
This is a well-written tour of Detroit dressed up as a murder mystery. The murder mystery was not my favorite part of the book, ending up being a pretty standard plot with an unrealistic amount of carnage for the main character and his friends to survive. But the author is obviously familiar with the city he is writing about, and it is a pleasure to read his descriptions and views of it, both good and bad.
August 9, 2016
What really makes Soho's crime novels stand out is their settings. You truly feel transported, whether the book is set in Bath, England, Paris, France, or, as in this book, Detroit, Michigan. Now, you might not think you want to spend time in Detroit, but I've been there a couple of times in the last 5 years and it's really not bad. Unlike what the news reports, there is still stunning architecture, nice people, and interesting culture (I highly recommend the DIA, the Detroit Institute of Art.) That said, I'm not going to stroll around the more deserted areas alone at night. It is still very much a struggling city. And that's why it's easy to admire a man like August Snow, who won a large lawsuit against the city, and after travelling, decided to not only move back to his old neighborhood, Mexicantown, but to buy up most of the empty houses on his block and fix them up and rent them out.
August was a cop, like his father, but he got involved as a whistleblower in a corruption scandal (details are murky) and so on his return, he's pretty much friendless in the city. None of his old officer friends are willing to still be his friends, thinking he was disloyal. But he's not sure what else to do with his life but go home. Then a woman he'd known back then gets in touch, Eleanore Paget, the head of a local bank. She thinks something fishy is going on and wants August to investigate. He tells her he's no longer a cop and he's certainly not a PI, but she won't give in, losing her temper and screaming to try to get him to help. August stands firm. Next thing you know, she's dead. Supposedly a suicide but it sounds suspicious to August. He feels guilty about not helping her when she asked, so he decides to do some asking around now, and soon finds himself involved in a big mess up to his neck.
I loved the local color in this book, the descriptions of the people and the food of Mexicantown was very visceral and made me hungry. It all felt very authentic, and it obviously came from a place of love for the city. The plot was appropriately twisty and there were a few scenes of violence that not only weren't gratuitous, but explained the fight or the shoot-out in such a clear way that I've rarely experienced in those scenes. I could have done without a lot of the old-school behavior with the police—a fair amount of yelling, threats of retribution, some misogyny. Maybe I'm fooling myself, but those parts had a very 1970s feel to them. But that was a minor flaw in an otherwise rip-roaring crime novel that flies along at breakneck speed. If you like your mysteries gritty, this one's for you.
August was a cop, like his father, but he got involved as a whistleblower in a corruption scandal (details are murky) and so on his return, he's pretty much friendless in the city. None of his old officer friends are willing to still be his friends, thinking he was disloyal. But he's not sure what else to do with his life but go home. Then a woman he'd known back then gets in touch, Eleanore Paget, the head of a local bank. She thinks something fishy is going on and wants August to investigate. He tells her he's no longer a cop and he's certainly not a PI, but she won't give in, losing her temper and screaming to try to get him to help. August stands firm. Next thing you know, she's dead. Supposedly a suicide but it sounds suspicious to August. He feels guilty about not helping her when she asked, so he decides to do some asking around now, and soon finds himself involved in a big mess up to his neck.
I loved the local color in this book, the descriptions of the people and the food of Mexicantown was very visceral and made me hungry. It all felt very authentic, and it obviously came from a place of love for the city. The plot was appropriately twisty and there were a few scenes of violence that not only weren't gratuitous, but explained the fight or the shoot-out in such a clear way that I've rarely experienced in those scenes. I could have done without a lot of the old-school behavior with the police—a fair amount of yelling, threats of retribution, some misogyny. Maybe I'm fooling myself, but those parts had a very 1970s feel to them. But that was a minor flaw in an otherwise rip-roaring crime novel that flies along at breakneck speed. If you like your mysteries gritty, this one's for you.
March 22, 2020
I’ve been doing some research trying to finish writing my first novel. As an aspiring noir author, I come across a ton of noir fiction that is set in NY and Los Angeles. It’s refreshing to see authors popping up writing noir fiction from cities that aren’t along the coasts. While reading August Snow, I couldn’t help thinking about the parallels between the Motor City and my hometown, Milwaukee. They’re both midwestern cities run down by poor city management and both dealing with gentrification, segregation, and poverty. Jones does a fantastic job of combining his love for Detroit with commentary on race, class, and gentrification. Sprinkle in a great plot and readers are left with a fresh take on a classic genre. The love that Jones has for Detroit bleeds through the pages. This book is a great noir detective story, but it’s also a 300-page love letter to Detroit.
August 3, 2017
I was feeling at home with this novel because it resembled Sara Paretsky's V.I. series in that our protagonist is steeped in the political, cultural, and historical context of Detroit and the intersections of those forces. While I applaud the attempt to be more than just another action oriented mystery, the misogynistic language and circumstances aimed at some of the female characters had me questioning whether I should keep reading. I did, unfortunately, because the end of the novel devolves into a male-fantasy action hero battle royale that was ridiculous.
June 20, 2018
The idea of a cop in Detroit dealing with the corruption there is good, but this veers off into a bizarre international financial conspiracy thriller and the characters are all a bit two-dimensional. It seemed like maybe it was trying for comedy, but if so that didn't work.
July 21, 2017
Like over-engineered exposition? Detailed food menus imbedded in prose? Trite archetypal characters who eat a lot of (fully detailed) food? Then August Snow is for you!
I am at a loss for how this book was ever published. It is in dire need of an editor. I'd argue that 60% (maybe more!) of the book was unnecessary exposition. August snow ate a burrito. He ate an enchillada. The waitress who served him his spicy enchilada was wearing glasses. The glasses were red. She got them at the nearby glasses shop. And on and on. It was unnecessary, and, annoying. Even more, the characters were so trite and archetypal. Also, August Snow, as a protagonist, was unbelievable. No one is that saintly. And, if the author were trying to play with standard tropes and make August Snow into a modern day superhero, he should have been more sophisticated in his attempt. The end result is an arduous, completely ludicrous read that went on far too long (and I've read The GoldFinch!) and displayed no changes in characters (no growth gains or relevatory awakenings). We simply got a bad D grade action film translated into shitty prose.
If I can say something king, it's that the book boasted minority characters. This was encouraging and refreshing. However, treatment of said characters was SO BASIC AND STEREOTYPICAL. Oh! A butch lesbian hunter! C'mon, try harder man. This could have been great, and it was amateur at best.
I'm never again trusting Nancy Pearl with a recommendation. I want these days of my life back.
I am at a loss for how this book was ever published. It is in dire need of an editor. I'd argue that 60% (maybe more!) of the book was unnecessary exposition. August snow ate a burrito. He ate an enchillada. The waitress who served him his spicy enchilada was wearing glasses. The glasses were red. She got them at the nearby glasses shop. And on and on. It was unnecessary, and, annoying. Even more, the characters were so trite and archetypal. Also, August Snow, as a protagonist, was unbelievable. No one is that saintly. And, if the author were trying to play with standard tropes and make August Snow into a modern day superhero, he should have been more sophisticated in his attempt. The end result is an arduous, completely ludicrous read that went on far too long (and I've read The GoldFinch!) and displayed no changes in characters (no growth gains or relevatory awakenings). We simply got a bad D grade action film translated into shitty prose.
If I can say something king, it's that the book boasted minority characters. This was encouraging and refreshing. However, treatment of said characters was SO BASIC AND STEREOTYPICAL. Oh! A butch lesbian hunter! C'mon, try harder man. This could have been great, and it was amateur at best.
I'm never again trusting Nancy Pearl with a recommendation. I want these days of my life back.
June 7, 2021
Detroit noir thriller introducing August Snow, ex-Detroit PD detective. He feels guilty when Eleanor Paget, the head of a private wealth-management and investment bank, is found murdered the day after she asked Snow for help. August and his friends take on the over-the-top villains determined to safe-guard their extortion, racketeering, and money laundering schemes that use the bank. They also receive help from the FBI who were already investigating the bank.
The charm of the story is Snow’s multicultural heritage. He was raised in Detroit’s Mexicantown to a LatinX mother and Black Detroit Police Officer father. Jones includes numerous local Detroit landmarks in the storyline and descriptions of popular ethnic food entrees. Snow is an engaging character determined to rebuild his childhood neighborhood community.
Hopefully, future offerings in the Snow series improves upon the muddled storytelling found here.
The charm of the story is Snow’s multicultural heritage. He was raised in Detroit’s Mexicantown to a LatinX mother and Black Detroit Police Officer father. Jones includes numerous local Detroit landmarks in the storyline and descriptions of popular ethnic food entrees. Snow is an engaging character determined to rebuild his childhood neighborhood community.
Hopefully, future offerings in the Snow series improves upon the muddled storytelling found here.
February 2, 2019
3.5 stars
Watch me discuss this book in my January wrap up https://youtu.be/KzWZqocgqwY
Watch me discuss this book in my January wrap up https://youtu.be/KzWZqocgqwY
June 24, 2021
Jones writing is unique and subtle when it comes to both character and plot development which just makes me that much more interested in continuing this series. By halfway through August Snow I had already ordered a copy of the next book in the series. I am thrilled to keep picking up books written by Black men, featuring Black male characters that feel authentic, engaging, and I admit addictive. If you enjoy Walter Mosely and S.A. Cosby I recommend picking up August Snow, I'm sorry that it took me so long to give it a try!
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monica Is Reading*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monica Is Reading*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
March 12, 2017
August Snow is to Detroit what Spenser is to Boston, only more so in terms of what you learn about his city. Both are ex-cops with serious time in the service who hang on to cases like bulldogs, even if Snow is unlicensed. Both are resented by the cops, except for a couple of them, and that grudgingly. Both have friends with dangerous skills. Snow's back story turns on how he left the police force, and what easily might have been formulaic or contrived in a book created by a lesser talent commands respect here. It also turns on his mixed ethnicity (black father and Mexican mother), whereas Spenser was a white thug, as Hawk always reminded him. The next book might tell the tale on the battle between formulaic and authentic aspects of Snow's world, but I'd bet on the authentic aspect.
July 19, 2017
If only I could give a negative rating.
This book was awful. The author has a predictable plot, with sterotypical characters (who are foul), who are citing one cliche after another. The main character's thoughts of others are degrading. I thought I was reading a book from the 70's...I just checked again, and it was published earlier this year!?! I just cannot believe that he has just over a 4 star rating....really? What am I missing? How many different ways one can say penis? Or how to degrade women with another fish comment. I am offended. I am far from PC, but this guy, well, I am mortified that I actually paid for this book.
This book was awful. The author has a predictable plot, with sterotypical characters (who are foul), who are citing one cliche after another. The main character's thoughts of others are degrading. I thought I was reading a book from the 70's...I just checked again, and it was published earlier this year!?! I just cannot believe that he has just over a 4 star rating....really? What am I missing? How many different ways one can say penis? Or how to degrade women with another fish comment. I am offended. I am far from PC, but this guy, well, I am mortified that I actually paid for this book.
August 27, 2016
August Snow is this Generations Easy Rollin's. Stephen Mack Jones is a pitch perfect Bard to communicate for & to the Modern Everyman who is a Veteran of War, Gentrification, Globalization & Abuse. This Critique of the Corrosive & Corruptive Influence of the Love of Money!
July 10, 2024
This is an awesome comic book if you would like James Bond to be Black and posturing in Detroit. But if you want a mystery with suspense, tension, characters, and depth, keep looking. Everything about Jones' work is shallow and half-assed. His character has James Bond's sophistication: fine wine, gourmet food, finely tailored suits, state-of-the-art cars. But he approaches any encounter with a man as a pissing contest worthy of 14-year-old boys and any encounter with a woman as a chance to rate five or six body parts, her hair and makeup, and overall sexiness.
A rich abrasive woman who once helped Snow kills herself. Snow wonders if it could be murder, possibly the only intelligent thought he has in the entire story. His plan to investigate: push around the security people at her corporation, bait the CEO, and try to start fights. Of course the bad guys, who are making untold millions, are no smarter than Snow, so instead of ignoring him or having him arrested for trespassing, they respond by following him, threatening him, attempting to bribe him, and then killing his friends. But they're rich so they buy the police off and it's still up to August. Wait! The FBI is also investigating the corporation, and after briefly telling Snow to stay away, the AIC tells Snow she doesn't trust him, but here's everything the FBI knows. It would all be funny if it wasn't supposed to serious. Jones is such a lazy writer that when Snow goes to a dangerous confrontation with multiple gun men, he doesn't bring a bullet-proof vest. But on his way to a later confrontation he goes to the storage locker where his vest is kept and puts it on. This because Jones has decided not to wound him in the first event, but to let the bad guys get a shot in in the second. In his spare time Snow captures a budding drug dealer and converts him to home repair; saves an immigrant family by making the husband a house-flipping partner, of course saves the day. Story, characters, details, weapons, motivations; none of it rings true.
A rich abrasive woman who once helped Snow kills herself. Snow wonders if it could be murder, possibly the only intelligent thought he has in the entire story. His plan to investigate: push around the security people at her corporation, bait the CEO, and try to start fights. Of course the bad guys, who are making untold millions, are no smarter than Snow, so instead of ignoring him or having him arrested for trespassing, they respond by following him, threatening him, attempting to bribe him, and then killing his friends. But they're rich so they buy the police off and it's still up to August. Wait! The FBI is also investigating the corporation, and after briefly telling Snow to stay away, the AIC tells Snow she doesn't trust him, but here's everything the FBI knows. It would all be funny if it wasn't supposed to serious. Jones is such a lazy writer that when Snow goes to a dangerous confrontation with multiple gun men, he doesn't bring a bullet-proof vest. But on his way to a later confrontation he goes to the storage locker where his vest is kept and puts it on. This because Jones has decided not to wound him in the first event, but to let the bad guys get a shot in in the second. In his spare time Snow captures a budding drug dealer and converts him to home repair; saves an immigrant family by making the husband a house-flipping partner, of course saves the day. Story, characters, details, weapons, motivations; none of it rings true.
August 25, 2024
4.5 stars. Really enjoyed this one.
March 14, 2021
A lot of carnage, gritty, rough murder mystery that takes place in Detroit and Traverse City - my neck of the woods. I love reading and knowing exactly where the action is taking place.
I think I liked it better the second time, possibly because I could keep track of who all the characters were/are.
I think I liked it better the second time, possibly because I could keep track of who all the characters were/are.
December 30, 2017
Kudos to the author. This isn't the typical genre I read so my opinion is only as a work of fiction. The author has a definite voice and style. Each character had a distinct voice (it's shocking how many authors and screenwriters don't pull this one off). The story was well told and tightly woven. I liked the times he didn't give some things away to the reader but let you know there was something. He didn't overdo it though. There were just the right amount of twists and turns and revelations. And nothing seemed forced.
I'm not a huge action fan, but damn he was stellar at depicting that in the story. Much better than in some action screenplays I've read. Anyone interested in writing action novels or screenplays would do well to read this novel to see how it's done right.
Some of the dialog had a 1940s film noir vibe. A few lines would have seemed unbelievable and campy if the inner life of the character hadn't been established so well.
How the author set the scene was stellar. I not only saw his neighborhood, I could feel it. He did well with other settings too.
This was a very easy read. Great characters and it kept my attention fully. Worth your time.
I'm not a huge action fan, but damn he was stellar at depicting that in the story. Much better than in some action screenplays I've read. Anyone interested in writing action novels or screenplays would do well to read this novel to see how it's done right.
Some of the dialog had a 1940s film noir vibe. A few lines would have seemed unbelievable and campy if the inner life of the character hadn't been established so well.
How the author set the scene was stellar. I not only saw his neighborhood, I could feel it. He did well with other settings too.
This was a very easy read. Great characters and it kept my attention fully. Worth your time.
April 5, 2019
I fell in love with August Snow. His grit and humor sucked me right in. A great mystery with a lot of twists and turns.Now on to the next adventure with August Snow!
March 20, 2021
August Octavio Snow hatte vor Gericht gegen korrupte Polizisten und Staatsdiener ausgesagt, damit den damaligen Bürgermeister Detroits zu Fall gebracht und gilt deshalb unter seinen Ex-Kollegen als Verräter. Die 12 Millionen Dollar, die er als Entschädigung für den Verlust seines Jobs und seines Rufs erhalten hat, sind offenbar zu viel, um sie auszugeben. Nachdem August sein Elternhaus renoviert und in einem Abwasch weitere Häuser in seinem Kiez gekauft und aufgemöbelt hat, bleibt ihm immer noch ein obszön hoher Geldbetrag. Die Umbrüche in Augusts Viertel zeigen beispielhaft den wirtschaftlichen Niedergang einer Stadt, in der nun Immobilienspekulation lohnt und die arbeitende Bevölkerung sich bald die Mieten nicht mehr leisten kann. Der Niedergang eines dekadenten Systems lässt seine Profiteure offenbar umso schneller aufsteigen.
Als Sohn eines schwarzen Cops und einer Mexikanerin pflegt August Kontakte zu beiden Kulturen. In seinem Stadtteil und seiner Kirchengemeinde verwurzelt und bestens vernetzt, scheint er ein Mann zu sein, mit dem die Polizeibürokratie es sich besser nicht verscherzt hätte. Als erfahrener Polizist und Ex-Marine, der Jahre in den Kriegen ferner Wüstenstaaten verbrachte, sind Augusts Cop-Instinkte noch immer intakt. Ein Termin mit Eleanor Paget, der alternden Erbin eines kleinen Banken-Imperiums, bringt alte Bündnisse wieder auf den Tisch. Pagets Butler war mit Augusts Eltern befreundet , er hatte in Augusts Abwesenheit dessen Haus im Blick behalten, und weitere Menschen fühlen sich August zu einem Gefallen verpflichtet. Als Eleanor kurz darauf tot aufgefunden wird, sticht August mit seinen Ermittlungen in ein Wespennest. Mit einer FBI-Agentin direkt auf seinen Fersen aktiviert August einen seiner wichtigsten Kontakte, den begnadeten Hacker Skittles, der seinen Spitznamen seiner Lieblings-Süßigkeit verdankt. Pagets ehemals angesehene Bank ist laut Skittles zur Potemkinschen Fassade für Schwarzgeld verkommen und diejenigen, die diese Goldgrube in Gefahr sehen, werden ihre Pfründe nur über Leichen herausrücken. August kämpft nun heldenhaft gegen Auftragskiller und für Viv Paget, die Tochter und Erbin der Bank, ganz nebenbei gibt er den Mentor für einen jungen Arbeitslosen und seinen direkten Nachbarn, der weder Papiere noch Geld hat.
August gibt den impulsiven, einsamen Wolf, den Frauen aller Altersgruppen lieben. Einerseits trauert er noch immer einer zarten Liebe in Norwegen nach und besucht regelmäßig das Grab seiner Eltern, nietet fiese Killertypen jedoch in einem Tempo um, dass man als Leser auf dem Notizblock kaum mit dem Abstreichen der Toten nachkommt. Der vom Schicksal gebeutelte, märchenhaft wohltätige Ex-Cop und rührende Nachbar, die herzensgute schwarze Hausangestellte, die die Kinder ihrer Arbeitgeber wie ihre eigenen liebt, sind natürlich Klischees, wie sie nicht fetter sein können. Doch wenn der Pulverdampf um August Snow herum sich verzogen hat, bleibt ein kluger Mann zurück, den ich als schnoddrigen Icherzähler von der ersten Seite an mochte.
Als Sohn eines schwarzen Cops und einer Mexikanerin pflegt August Kontakte zu beiden Kulturen. In seinem Stadtteil und seiner Kirchengemeinde verwurzelt und bestens vernetzt, scheint er ein Mann zu sein, mit dem die Polizeibürokratie es sich besser nicht verscherzt hätte. Als erfahrener Polizist und Ex-Marine, der Jahre in den Kriegen ferner Wüstenstaaten verbrachte, sind Augusts Cop-Instinkte noch immer intakt. Ein Termin mit Eleanor Paget, der alternden Erbin eines kleinen Banken-Imperiums, bringt alte Bündnisse wieder auf den Tisch. Pagets Butler war mit Augusts Eltern befreundet , er hatte in Augusts Abwesenheit dessen Haus im Blick behalten, und weitere Menschen fühlen sich August zu einem Gefallen verpflichtet. Als Eleanor kurz darauf tot aufgefunden wird, sticht August mit seinen Ermittlungen in ein Wespennest. Mit einer FBI-Agentin direkt auf seinen Fersen aktiviert August einen seiner wichtigsten Kontakte, den begnadeten Hacker Skittles, der seinen Spitznamen seiner Lieblings-Süßigkeit verdankt. Pagets ehemals angesehene Bank ist laut Skittles zur Potemkinschen Fassade für Schwarzgeld verkommen und diejenigen, die diese Goldgrube in Gefahr sehen, werden ihre Pfründe nur über Leichen herausrücken. August kämpft nun heldenhaft gegen Auftragskiller und für Viv Paget, die Tochter und Erbin der Bank, ganz nebenbei gibt er den Mentor für einen jungen Arbeitslosen und seinen direkten Nachbarn, der weder Papiere noch Geld hat.
August gibt den impulsiven, einsamen Wolf, den Frauen aller Altersgruppen lieben. Einerseits trauert er noch immer einer zarten Liebe in Norwegen nach und besucht regelmäßig das Grab seiner Eltern, nietet fiese Killertypen jedoch in einem Tempo um, dass man als Leser auf dem Notizblock kaum mit dem Abstreichen der Toten nachkommt. Der vom Schicksal gebeutelte, märchenhaft wohltätige Ex-Cop und rührende Nachbar, die herzensgute schwarze Hausangestellte, die die Kinder ihrer Arbeitgeber wie ihre eigenen liebt, sind natürlich Klischees, wie sie nicht fetter sein können. Doch wenn der Pulverdampf um August Snow herum sich verzogen hat, bleibt ein kluger Mann zurück, den ich als schnoddrigen Icherzähler von der ersten Seite an mochte.
September 18, 2019
Recipe for a successful new book/author:
Ingredients
A. Protagonist & secondary characters
1 c. Elvis Cole
1 c. Jack Reacher
1/4 c. Joe Pike
1 tbs Attractive but immune to flirty protagonist FBI (or suitable substitute federal agency) agent
2 tbs Tough, likable allies for back-up
a dash of computer genius-geek type who can help but also serve as good hostage if needed
B. Evil-doers:
1 c. Ex-military, well trained and super tough guy with grudge against protagonist
1/2 c. Cops who find protagonist reprehensible and would like nothing more than to "cap" him
1 c. Rich, calculating, narcissistic bosses, executive types, and/or corporate cabals
Optional:
a pinch of mysterious, behind the scenes figure who seems to be able to take out anyone at anytime
C. Plot
Construct a story-line involving multiple characters and goals. Sprinkle liberally with twists and late reveals to taste. Set this mixture in depressed "Mexicantown," Detroit for a change, rather than L.A., NY, or other predictable location.
Mix protagonist ingredients well in blender until brown (August Snow, after all , is half Mexican, half African American) and significantly toughened. Gradually sprinkle in the remainder of ingredients from part A.
Slowly mix in all ingredients from part B, stirring thoroughly and steadily at a rapid pace.
Now add part C, along with A & B, to a large, well oiled story-board and bake until done. Which will be sooner than you expect, since this thing cooks quickly, especially towards the ending, when it tails off slightly.
Serve hot and enjoy this new (to me, at least) author & character, and hope for more.
NOTE: All authors writing in this genre (menaing they include frequent or even occasional gun-play) need to educate themselves about handguns (aka, sidearms). Please authors, now that Glock has become synonymous with handgun for some reason, note that this ubiquitous weapon of fictional choice has no safety catch. No external hammer to "let down or draw back." It is a semi-automatic firearm, but for practical purposes, operates more like a revolver than anything else. Once the chamber is loaded and the internal firing pin is "cocked," you just pull the trigger. The "safety" is incorporated into the trigger. It is annoying in an otherwise well rendered book when the author continually writes things that says "I just didn't bother to research this detail... who'll know the difference, and besides, everyone expects people to "cock" and "ease the hammer back down" if they change their mind. Funny thing is, Mr. Jones seems to get it right with the other weapons he mentions (except for exaggerating the effects of a shotgun), so why not go the extra mile and learn the facts? I know, a small nit, but I had to get this off my chest. There, I feel better-- and so might you after reading this very enjoyable novel.
Ingredients
A. Protagonist & secondary characters
1 c. Elvis Cole
1 c. Jack Reacher
1/4 c. Joe Pike
1 tbs Attractive but immune to flirty protagonist FBI (or suitable substitute federal agency) agent
2 tbs Tough, likable allies for back-up
a dash of computer genius-geek type who can help but also serve as good hostage if needed
B. Evil-doers:
1 c. Ex-military, well trained and super tough guy with grudge against protagonist
1/2 c. Cops who find protagonist reprehensible and would like nothing more than to "cap" him
1 c. Rich, calculating, narcissistic bosses, executive types, and/or corporate cabals
Optional:
a pinch of mysterious, behind the scenes figure who seems to be able to take out anyone at anytime
C. Plot
Construct a story-line involving multiple characters and goals. Sprinkle liberally with twists and late reveals to taste. Set this mixture in depressed "Mexicantown," Detroit for a change, rather than L.A., NY, or other predictable location.
Mix protagonist ingredients well in blender until brown (August Snow, after all , is half Mexican, half African American) and significantly toughened. Gradually sprinkle in the remainder of ingredients from part A.
Slowly mix in all ingredients from part B, stirring thoroughly and steadily at a rapid pace.
Now add part C, along with A & B, to a large, well oiled story-board and bake until done. Which will be sooner than you expect, since this thing cooks quickly, especially towards the ending, when it tails off slightly.
Serve hot and enjoy this new (to me, at least) author & character, and hope for more.
NOTE: All authors writing in this genre (menaing they include frequent or even occasional gun-play) need to educate themselves about handguns (aka, sidearms). Please authors, now that Glock has become synonymous with handgun for some reason, note that this ubiquitous weapon of fictional choice has no safety catch. No external hammer to "let down or draw back." It is a semi-automatic firearm, but for practical purposes, operates more like a revolver than anything else. Once the chamber is loaded and the internal firing pin is "cocked," you just pull the trigger. The "safety" is incorporated into the trigger. It is annoying in an otherwise well rendered book when the author continually writes things that says "I just didn't bother to research this detail... who'll know the difference, and besides, everyone expects people to "cock" and "ease the hammer back down" if they change their mind. Funny thing is, Mr. Jones seems to get it right with the other weapons he mentions (except for exaggerating the effects of a shotgun), so why not go the extra mile and learn the facts? I know, a small nit, but I had to get this off my chest. There, I feel better-- and so might you after reading this very enjoyable novel.
August 11, 2025
Ta da. Picked this book up yesterday, started it last night and found my bookmark on the floor this morning, unused. All right then. August Octavio Snow, recently returned to his childhood home from a self-destruct world tour, is summoned to the Grosse Pointe mansion of Eleanore Paget. (Got a kick out of the "e" tailing her name; even Lake St. Claire gets an etail once. When we were kids, we snarked Grosseee Pointeee. Made me laugh.) Ex-cop, former Marine, erstwhile lover. All those used-to-be[s] shadow as the pages turn. We get to sit in while Snow lights up who he'll be now. Snow's parents are present; his reflections on how he was loved and raised guiding him still. We get a toothy taste of the brutal world of international cybercrime, and a cinnamon scented respite in the resurrected homes on Markham Street. Carmella and Sylvia are delightful neighbors, Tomas and Elena dear friends. I loved Bobby the Wayne County Coroner and his macabre music. The D. My hometown. The feeling of. Jones brings his readers into the map of Detroit "if you've driven here, you know this place; if you haven't let me show you..." The food, the oozy backlit villains, the shiny folks who hold the world safe, the privileged world of money without humanity. Creeps and crud, compassion and citizens, churros and Cole Haan shoes. All here, all delicious. I'm mad there isn't a second book to grab right now. Bravo! Addendum July 2018: there is a new book - Lives Laid Away https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo...
January 15, 2021
I needed a sorbet, and based on the word of someone whose opinion I trust, chose this. Thank you, you know who you are...
Set in today's Detroit, a city in the process of revitalizing itself, trying to change its reputation as a total loss as a bankrupt city into working at turning itself around, this involving drama features as its protagonist, August Octavio Snow, product of a loving union between his African American father and Mexican mother. As the story opens, he has returned home after a year away, with a blackened reputation but a fine portfolio both thanks to a successful suit he'd bought against the City. That history is revealed only in snippets and not completely. Jones respects his readers in that regard. There's more to learn about August, but here we learn mostly about his character and his love for his benighted city, even about where to go to get the best Mexican food including Mexico or Texas. And these places do exist (I googled). The other main thing we learn about him is that he is a true mensch.
Always on the lookout for a series without too much of a back catalogue, I was glad to see there are two more August Snow novels, one not appearing until May 2021. Guess I'll have to wait.
Set in today's Detroit, a city in the process of revitalizing itself, trying to change its reputation as a total loss as a bankrupt city into working at turning itself around, this involving drama features as its protagonist, August Octavio Snow, product of a loving union between his African American father and Mexican mother. As the story opens, he has returned home after a year away, with a blackened reputation but a fine portfolio both thanks to a successful suit he'd bought against the City. That history is revealed only in snippets and not completely. Jones respects his readers in that regard. There's more to learn about August, but here we learn mostly about his character and his love for his benighted city, even about where to go to get the best Mexican food including Mexico or Texas. And these places do exist (I googled). The other main thing we learn about him is that he is a true mensch.
Always on the lookout for a series without too much of a back catalogue, I was glad to see there are two more August Snow novels, one not appearing until May 2021. Guess I'll have to wait.
May 20, 2017
An ex-marine, ex-cop–who won a gigantic wrongfully-dismissed lawsuit against the police department–returns to his childhood home in Mexicantown, Detroit and quickly finds himself wrapped up in a mystery. Snow may have turned down Eleanore Paget’s request to hire him to investigate her investment bank but when she dies he finds himself on the case, and in constant danger. Jones does a fantastic job of bringing Detroit to life like a character, including the racial harmony, tension, and racism. While much of the FBI, cybercrime, and shoot-’em-up scenes aren’t plausible they reminded me of my love for action movies, and I could see August Snow easily being a great television/film character.
--from Book Riot's Unusual Suspects newsletter: The Argentinian Agatha Christie, & More Mystery/Thrillers
--from Book Riot's Unusual Suspects newsletter: The Argentinian Agatha Christie, & More Mystery/Thrillers
August 30, 2017
I liked the hip writing style that the author used to describe Detroit and the breakdown of that city and its potential rebirth. That was the part I did enjoy, the part that I didn't enjoy was the unbelievable scenarios that were set up for August Snow to do his thing. It would never of been allowed by the FBI and the plot at the end was totally unbelievable. That said, I always knew there was something going on with those LED lights. Not a bad entrée into the thriller genre for a new author however…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2017
I saw this book in webinar for books being published in 2017, and wrote to the publisher for an advance copy, mostly because it took place in Detroit. I'm so happy I did--this is an excellent mystery in the tradition of Robert B. Parker. I really like August Snow, and I'm looking forward to his next adventure!
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
December 27, 2016
Absolutely LOVED this book.
July 11, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this very true and smart book set in Detroit. The main character, August Snow, is half-Mexican and half-black. This lends itself to a whole bag full of references to both of these groups in the heart of Detroit - from the food and restaurants referenced to the scenic and not so scenic areas of Detroit. Even though I was not raised in Michigan I enjoyed all the references to the area as much as I enjoyed the plot. And there was a lot to like in this realm as well. There is a murder ( or two) to solve, a broken neighborhood in Mexican town to rebuild, a few souls to save and retribution to hand out. All of this peppered with some snappy lingo and sarcasm, really makes this book a big hit for me. Can’t wait to read the next installment in this series.
May 13, 2018
With twelve million dollars in the bank and after a year sabbatical overseas, August Snow has returned home to the house he grew up in the “Mexicantown” area of Detroit Michigan. The old neighborhood, much like the rest of Detroit, has taken a beating and is struggling to survive. August Snow has do ne his part by putting some of the money he won from the city after his wrongful termination from the police force into his house as well as some of the neighboring houses. The son of an African-American father and a Mexican- American mother, August Snow is trying to rebuild his life and finally come to terms with his past.
While August Snow is back and very quietly minding his own business, some welcome his presence and many others do not. One of those that welcomes August Snow back is Captain Ray Danbury of the Detroit Police Department. One of a very few friends on the force, Danbury is acting as a messenger for a wealthy widow by the name of Eleanore Paget.
Eleanore Paget wants August Snow and reached out to her numerous contacts to spread the word. She has been difficult in the way only the rich can. It isn’t long before August Snow is out at her expansive estate at Grose Point. It isn’t the first time he has been at her home and that ties into the reason she wants him now.
Owner of a private wealth management and investment bank, Titan Investment Securities Group which dates back to the late 1800s where her great great grandfather started it, she is sure something is wrong. She can’t provide actual details other than a sense she is being frozen out by the CEO, the board, and other parties. Even though August Snow is not licensed as a private investigator, she wants his help and is not pleased when she does not instantly get it. While he can look at a few things for her, there is not much he can do.
Within hours she is dead and her name is added to the long list of regrets in the life of August Snow. He also knows that her death certainly was not a suicide. He begins to investigate and soon enters into a modern day war zone hotter than anything he saw in combat overseas.
August Snow by Stephen Mack Jones is an incredible read. Much like Down The River Unto The Sea by Walter Mosley, inherent racism is a dominating character at work throughout the book as is the consequences of serving on a police force and the loss of a career and that legacy. At the same time in August Snow the power of wealth and what it can do for good and evil is also a major point of the book.
At it is heart, the book is part thriller, part mystery, and part crime fiction. The ratios of those parts change a bit from page to page and chapter to chapter as author Stephen Mack Jones crafts a read that is very hard to put down. The result is an often intense read that blends in relevant social commentary while not slowing down a bit.
Simply put, August Snow, by Stephen Mack Jones, is one amazing read and highly recommended.
I had never heard of this book until I recently read an excellent review of it by David Nemeth. You should read his review and check out his other offerings at his Unlawful Acts website.
August Snow
Stephen Mack Jones
Soho Press
http://www.sohocrime.com
ISBN# 978-1-61695-718-6
February 2017
Hardback (also available in eBook, paperback, and audio formats)
320 Pages
$25.95
Copy provided by the good folks of the Lochwood Branch of the Dallas Public Library.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2018
While August Snow is back and very quietly minding his own business, some welcome his presence and many others do not. One of those that welcomes August Snow back is Captain Ray Danbury of the Detroit Police Department. One of a very few friends on the force, Danbury is acting as a messenger for a wealthy widow by the name of Eleanore Paget.
Eleanore Paget wants August Snow and reached out to her numerous contacts to spread the word. She has been difficult in the way only the rich can. It isn’t long before August Snow is out at her expansive estate at Grose Point. It isn’t the first time he has been at her home and that ties into the reason she wants him now.
Owner of a private wealth management and investment bank, Titan Investment Securities Group which dates back to the late 1800s where her great great grandfather started it, she is sure something is wrong. She can’t provide actual details other than a sense she is being frozen out by the CEO, the board, and other parties. Even though August Snow is not licensed as a private investigator, she wants his help and is not pleased when she does not instantly get it. While he can look at a few things for her, there is not much he can do.
Within hours she is dead and her name is added to the long list of regrets in the life of August Snow. He also knows that her death certainly was not a suicide. He begins to investigate and soon enters into a modern day war zone hotter than anything he saw in combat overseas.
August Snow by Stephen Mack Jones is an incredible read. Much like Down The River Unto The Sea by Walter Mosley, inherent racism is a dominating character at work throughout the book as is the consequences of serving on a police force and the loss of a career and that legacy. At the same time in August Snow the power of wealth and what it can do for good and evil is also a major point of the book.
At it is heart, the book is part thriller, part mystery, and part crime fiction. The ratios of those parts change a bit from page to page and chapter to chapter as author Stephen Mack Jones crafts a read that is very hard to put down. The result is an often intense read that blends in relevant social commentary while not slowing down a bit.
Simply put, August Snow, by Stephen Mack Jones, is one amazing read and highly recommended.
I had never heard of this book until I recently read an excellent review of it by David Nemeth. You should read his review and check out his other offerings at his Unlawful Acts website.
August Snow
Stephen Mack Jones
Soho Press
http://www.sohocrime.com
ISBN# 978-1-61695-718-6
February 2017
Hardback (also available in eBook, paperback, and audio formats)
320 Pages
$25.95
Copy provided by the good folks of the Lochwood Branch of the Dallas Public Library.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2018
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