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THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL
How did Nashville P.I. Harry James Denton wind up working as a handyman in a world-famous brothel in Reno? Because the Feds made him a proposition: help smoke out a major money laundering operation secretly being run in Reno's legendary legal cathouse, the Mustang Ranch.
After failing to reconcile with his ex, who is expecting their child, doing some simple snooping in a mansion full of gorgeous girls sounds like a good deal to Harry. But it's a raw deal when one of the Mustang girls turns up savagely murdered and Harry is pegged as the prime suspect. The only way to save his neck is to risk it--and that means making a Nevada-size gamble that he can corner a killer who is holding all the aces. . . .
How did Nashville P.I. Harry James Denton wind up working as a handyman in a world-famous brothel in Reno? Because the Feds made him a proposition: help smoke out a major money laundering operation secretly being run in Reno's legendary legal cathouse, the Mustang Ranch.
After failing to reconcile with his ex, who is expecting their child, doing some simple snooping in a mansion full of gorgeous girls sounds like a good deal to Harry. But it's a raw deal when one of the Mustang girls turns up savagely murdered and Harry is pegged as the prime suspect. The only way to save his neck is to risk it--and that means making a Nevada-size gamble that he can corner a killer who is holding all the aces. . . .
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
62 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Steven Womack
32 books43 followersWith the publication of his novel, FADE UP FROM BLACK: THE RETURN OF HARRY JAMES DENTON, Steven Womack brings back his award-winning MUSIC CITY MURDERS series, featuring P.I. Harry James Denton
Womack began his first novel when he was eighteen-years-old. A short eighteen years later, he finally sold one. His first published novel, MURPHY'S FAULT, was the only debut mystery on the 1990 New York Times Notable Book List. Since then, he has published ten more novels, winning both the Edgar and Shamus Awards, as well as receiving multiple nominations for major mystery awards.
His Edgar and Shamus Award-winning Harry James Denton MUSIC CITY MURDERS series--DEAD FOLKS' BLUES, TORCH TOWN BOOGIE, WAY PAST DEAD, NOBODY'S CHAIN LAYS STRAIGHT, A MANUAL OF MURDER and DIRTY MONEY--has been republished by Spearhead Press.
A scriptwriter as well, Womack co-wrote the screenplays for PROUDHEART, which was nominated for the CableAce Award, and VOLCANO: FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN, an ABC television movie that was one of the most-watched television movies of the year.
Womack lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where for twenty-five years he anchored the screenwriting program at the Watkins Film School of Watkins College of Art. He also served five years as Chair of The Film School. When the college closed in May, 2020, he was the longest serving faculty member at the college.
A licensed pilot, Womack loves to fly and scuba dive in his spare time. Unfortunately, there hasn't been any spare time since 2001.
Visit his website at www.stevenwomack.com
Womack began his first novel when he was eighteen-years-old. A short eighteen years later, he finally sold one. His first published novel, MURPHY'S FAULT, was the only debut mystery on the 1990 New York Times Notable Book List. Since then, he has published ten more novels, winning both the Edgar and Shamus Awards, as well as receiving multiple nominations for major mystery awards.
His Edgar and Shamus Award-winning Harry James Denton MUSIC CITY MURDERS series--DEAD FOLKS' BLUES, TORCH TOWN BOOGIE, WAY PAST DEAD, NOBODY'S CHAIN LAYS STRAIGHT, A MANUAL OF MURDER and DIRTY MONEY--has been republished by Spearhead Press.
A scriptwriter as well, Womack co-wrote the screenplays for PROUDHEART, which was nominated for the CableAce Award, and VOLCANO: FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN, an ABC television movie that was one of the most-watched television movies of the year.
Womack lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where for twenty-five years he anchored the screenwriting program at the Watkins Film School of Watkins College of Art. He also served five years as Chair of The Film School. When the college closed in May, 2020, he was the longest serving faculty member at the college.
A licensed pilot, Womack loves to fly and scuba dive in his spare time. Unfortunately, there hasn't been any spare time since 2001.
Visit his website at www.stevenwomack.com
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 10, 2022
Just the the rest in this series...GREAT READ
The books in this series are always fun and entertaining to read. Our Hero travels away from Nashville Tennessee and gets into an adventure along the way. He is on his way to witness the birth of his Daughter when he gets robbed, meets a girl and in general has lots of problems. Once he arrives, his Girl friend's, Aunt's Friends, have a job for him. He ends up being an unwilling inside man / Spy at a brothel in an attempt to discover how is laundering Money and how. While there , there is a Murder and he is the #1 suspect. No fun at all for him. Naturally our Hero gets out of trouble , proves how the Murderer is and who is the Money Launderer ... all the while awaiting the birth of his Daughter !
The books in this series are always fun and entertaining to read. Our Hero travels away from Nashville Tennessee and gets into an adventure along the way. He is on his way to witness the birth of his Daughter when he gets robbed, meets a girl and in general has lots of problems. Once he arrives, his Girl friend's, Aunt's Friends, have a job for him. He ends up being an unwilling inside man / Spy at a brothel in an attempt to discover how is laundering Money and how. While there , there is a Murder and he is the #1 suspect. No fun at all for him. Naturally our Hero gets out of trouble , proves how the Murderer is and who is the Money Launderer ... all the while awaiting the birth of his Daughter !
January 30, 2022
I love this series! The story pulls you in from the start and does not let you go until the finish. What a great adventure Harry had! I loved the action, the romance, the mystery, the characters and all of the craziness. I look forward to the next in this series
March 20, 2023
Harry James Denton leaves his native Tennessee to meet with former girlfriend and await the birth of their baby girl. Harry rarely goes anywhere without drama. He encounters muggers, lawyers, prostitutes from the Ranch all before the birth of his daughter. A quick, fun read
April 18, 2019
Dirty Money
I swear that Harry about worries me to death. Can't believe he headed across the desert so unprepared! Made for a good story tho. Enjoyed this adventure a lot
I swear that Harry about worries me to death. Can't believe he headed across the desert so unprepared! Made for a good story tho. Enjoyed this adventure a lot
November 30, 2021
Another excellent story in this series
September 12, 2022
An excellent addition to the series.
March 3, 2023
Throughly enjoyed this book. A man keeping his word regardless of the pain, cost or time required to do 6so.
October 8, 2023
Finished the Harry James Denton series! Enjoyed this Nashville, TN based author.
March 4, 2024
Another great book!
This book was amazing. I loved the story and the great ending! Highly recommended to anyone who loves a great mystery with an awesome ending.
This book was amazing. I loved the story and the great ending! Highly recommended to anyone who loves a great mystery with an awesome ending.
October 18, 2007
I learned how to expose characters cleanly and how to imbue them with realistic voices. The main character, Harry Denton continues to cruise and bumble through his life. This was my first run-in with this private dick, and I was charmed, due in no small part to his embrace of my home country.
In fact my writing mentor and good buddy, Mike Price, recommended Dirty Money for this exact reason. Steven Womack obeyed Mike's beck and call to travel from Nashville to Reno. Harry Denton followed. (I'm sure Mike also recommended this particular volume because Womack acknowledges that "Dirty Money would never have been written if Mike Price hadn't encouraged me to go to Reno and try it on for size. He was a wealth of information and ideas and, as always, incredible wisdom and insights." And these parenthesis are just for you, Mike.)
The novel begins with Harry's drive across Nevada on highway 50, the loneliest road in the world, running from Ely to Carson City. I knew I would love Harry when he comments on the fourth page, "It's high country here, stark and beautiful, with the clearest blue sky I've ever seen. This time of year back home in Nashville, we get a lot of gray. Gray clouds, gray skies, gray psyches. I've never seen anything this color: a piercing, intense blue that's almost unreal painted above the scrub brush and the bare brown earth. I'm already in love with this country despite my trouble getting across it, so I figure what the hell, it takes as long as it takes." (See what I mean about exposition and voice?)
I thrilled at the references to Reno and the world-famous Mustang Ranch. The Peppermill was correctly recognized as the best casino in town, and the one most likely to induce seizures. Harry hangs out in my 'hood in the south of town, so if you ever wanna look me up, follow the directions therein.
The plot was also carefully designed. The Mustang Ranch is suspected as being the core of a money laundering scheme, so Harry acts as general handy-man and janitor to uncover the truth. All of the typical conceits of mystery are included in unique ways: the death of a shameless woman, gads of money, and evil mobsters. What makes this quick read truly delicious is the inclusion of brilliant characters and believable locales.
In fact my writing mentor and good buddy, Mike Price, recommended Dirty Money for this exact reason. Steven Womack obeyed Mike's beck and call to travel from Nashville to Reno. Harry Denton followed. (I'm sure Mike also recommended this particular volume because Womack acknowledges that "Dirty Money would never have been written if Mike Price hadn't encouraged me to go to Reno and try it on for size. He was a wealth of information and ideas and, as always, incredible wisdom and insights." And these parenthesis are just for you, Mike.)
The novel begins with Harry's drive across Nevada on highway 50, the loneliest road in the world, running from Ely to Carson City. I knew I would love Harry when he comments on the fourth page, "It's high country here, stark and beautiful, with the clearest blue sky I've ever seen. This time of year back home in Nashville, we get a lot of gray. Gray clouds, gray skies, gray psyches. I've never seen anything this color: a piercing, intense blue that's almost unreal painted above the scrub brush and the bare brown earth. I'm already in love with this country despite my trouble getting across it, so I figure what the hell, it takes as long as it takes." (See what I mean about exposition and voice?)
I thrilled at the references to Reno and the world-famous Mustang Ranch. The Peppermill was correctly recognized as the best casino in town, and the one most likely to induce seizures. Harry hangs out in my 'hood in the south of town, so if you ever wanna look me up, follow the directions therein.
The plot was also carefully designed. The Mustang Ranch is suspected as being the core of a money laundering scheme, so Harry acts as general handy-man and janitor to uncover the truth. All of the typical conceits of mystery are included in unique ways: the death of a shameless woman, gads of money, and evil mobsters. What makes this quick read truly delicious is the inclusion of brilliant characters and believable locales.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews