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Sweet Thing: A Novel
In this DC-set standalone from "one of the best dialogue hounds in the business" ( New York Times Book Review ), Homicide Detective Alex Blum must answer a terrible 'how far would you go to love the wrong woman?'
In a red brick house on a tree-lined street, DC homicide detective Alex Blum stares at the bullet-pocked body of Chris Doyle. As he roots around for evidence, he finds an old the decedent, arm in arm with Arthur Holland, Blum's informant from years ago when he worked at the Narcotics branch.
But Arthur has been missing for days. Blum’s only Arthur’s girl, Celeste—beautiful, seductive, and tragic—whom he can’t get out of his head. Blum is drawn to her and feels compelled to save her from Arthur’s underworld. As the investigation ticks on and dead bodies domino, Blum, unearths clues with damning implications for Celeste. Swallowed by desire, Blum’s single misstep sends him tunnelling down a rabbit hole of transgression. He may soon find the only way out is down below.
Set in 1999, Swinson, a former DC cop, offers a look back at a rougher, grittier, bygone DC replete with seedy strip clubs, pagers beeping, and Y2K anxiety. It’s here we’re taken inside sting operations, fluorescent-tinged interrogation chambers, and rooms that have seen irreversible mistakes. At once authentic, gritty, tragic, and profound, SWEET THING asks how far can you fall when the world teeters on the edge?
In a red brick house on a tree-lined street, DC homicide detective Alex Blum stares at the bullet-pocked body of Chris Doyle. As he roots around for evidence, he finds an old the decedent, arm in arm with Arthur Holland, Blum's informant from years ago when he worked at the Narcotics branch.
But Arthur has been missing for days. Blum’s only Arthur’s girl, Celeste—beautiful, seductive, and tragic—whom he can’t get out of his head. Blum is drawn to her and feels compelled to save her from Arthur’s underworld. As the investigation ticks on and dead bodies domino, Blum, unearths clues with damning implications for Celeste. Swallowed by desire, Blum’s single misstep sends him tunnelling down a rabbit hole of transgression. He may soon find the only way out is down below.
Set in 1999, Swinson, a former DC cop, offers a look back at a rougher, grittier, bygone DC replete with seedy strip clubs, pagers beeping, and Y2K anxiety. It’s here we’re taken inside sting operations, fluorescent-tinged interrogation chambers, and rooms that have seen irreversible mistakes. At once authentic, gritty, tragic, and profound, SWEET THING asks how far can you fall when the world teeters on the edge?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published November 7, 2023
14 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
David Swinson
17 books334 followersDavid Swinson is the author of THE SECOND GIRL, CRIME SONG, TRIGGER and City on the Edge, by Mulholland Books/Little, Brown& Co. He is a retired DC police detective, and a former alternative and punk rock promoter in Long Beach, CA in the eighties.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
November 22, 2023
Not only a very good police procedural, but a dark and gritty urban noir story. Lots of tension in this one and i raced to see how it would end, knowing only that it would not be good - for the characters that is. 4 + stars and if you are a fan of the Frank Marr trilogy you will enjoy.
September 27, 2023
Set in DC in 1999, just before Y2K, Alexander Blum, a homicide detective and his partner, Kelly Ryan, catch the murder of a male in an affluent part of the city. Blum, during his search of the deceased’s home finds evidence linking him to Artie, an old confidential informant of his, who helped him make some good arrests. Artie however has gone missing but his beautiful drug addicted girlfriend Celeste, reaches out to Blum, fearing for her future. Blum and Ryan, with assistance from Detective Frank Marr, delve into the murder investigation which lead them into a seedy, complicated world of drug dealers, strip joints and corrupt cops. All the while Blum is being drawn into an illicit relationship with Celeste which he must keep hidden but which threatens not only his career but also his life.
Initially I was drawn to Blum and empathised with his situation, as he tried to balance his career while also dealing with his mother, who was in care and in the early stages of dementia. However as the story progressed it was clear that Blum was maybe not the character that I initially assumed. Swinson also manages to drop a couple of bombshells casually into the plot that turns the story on its head. He does this so deftly and unexpectedly that I found I had to re-read the passages to make sure I had understood them correctly. I find it difficult to go too deeply into the plot for fear of giving too much away and spoiling things for future readers but primarily this is an excellent police procedural novel with excellent fleshed out characters. Swinson’s writing is taught and gritty and in Blum he has produced a flawed protagonist who shows the lengths that people will go to and the lines they are willing to cross in order to save their own skin.
As an aside, fans of Frank Marr will be pleased to learn that although this is not a ‘Frank Marr novel’ as such, he does feature predominantly throughout the novel.
Initially I was drawn to Blum and empathised with his situation, as he tried to balance his career while also dealing with his mother, who was in care and in the early stages of dementia. However as the story progressed it was clear that Blum was maybe not the character that I initially assumed. Swinson also manages to drop a couple of bombshells casually into the plot that turns the story on its head. He does this so deftly and unexpectedly that I found I had to re-read the passages to make sure I had understood them correctly. I find it difficult to go too deeply into the plot for fear of giving too much away and spoiling things for future readers but primarily this is an excellent police procedural novel with excellent fleshed out characters. Swinson’s writing is taught and gritty and in Blum he has produced a flawed protagonist who shows the lengths that people will go to and the lines they are willing to cross in order to save their own skin.
As an aside, fans of Frank Marr will be pleased to learn that although this is not a ‘Frank Marr novel’ as such, he does feature predominantly throughout the novel.
December 11, 2023
The main character got on my last nerve with his stupidity. I just couldn’t buy his “love” of Celeste. It didn’t make sense. I guess people in real life make horrible decisions too, but I just couldn’t feel any sympathy for him. It’s hard to connect with the rest of the plot when you dislike the MC
It was interesting to see Frank Marr in this. I was ready to dnf this one until he showed up. If you’ve never read this series before I recommend you start w the Marr series.
It was interesting to see Frank Marr in this. I was ready to dnf this one until he showed up. If you’ve never read this series before I recommend you start w the Marr series.
November 15, 2023
A tremendous evocation of late 1990s DC seen through the distorted view of a bent lawman who falls for the wrong woman. Gritty, empathetic, and raw, Swinson brings a bygone era to life with spare, cutting prose and fully-formed characters. A great neo-noir ride.
December 10, 2023
This thriller was the story of a decline into the abyss. It should have started there and not wasted my time.
August 9, 2025
Solid crime noir from Swanson about a detective whose life becomes complicated when he reunites with an old CI and his girlfriend, whom our detective has a thing for, during a murder investigation. Things begin to spiral out of control as our detective becomes more involved in the situation than he should. Set in 1999 so it has a pre-Y2K millennium feel to it, and it's plenty gritty and hard-edged the way good noir should be. Never read Swinson before but will definitely check out other works.
November 30, 2023
Sweet Thing is a police procedural that is gritty and dark by default set in the late 1990s in D.C. Homicide Detective Alex Blum has fallen hard for the woman living with his C.I., Artie. When a known party man is found dead and soon after Artie is also found dead, the tale of drugs and money begins to unfold.
Sweet Thing refers to the woman entangled with the dead men and she becomes the obsession of Alex. Like a drug, the woman will get into Alex's veins and take him places he would otherwise not go. Alex is aware his moral compass is derailed by is unwilling and unable to stop. Eventually, his drug of choice will catch up with him as well.
There is a small portion of the book dedicated to Alex's relationship with his mother who is on the decline via dementia which isn't really fleshed out enough and I found it a distraction to the flow of the plot. On the other hand, the authors stint as a police detective brings a reality to the scenes and characters. I've enjoyed several of his books featuring the Frank Marr character who had a cameo in Sweet Thing.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Thank you to Mulholland Books for providing an early e-arc via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Sweet Thing refers to the woman entangled with the dead men and she becomes the obsession of Alex. Like a drug, the woman will get into Alex's veins and take him places he would otherwise not go. Alex is aware his moral compass is derailed by is unwilling and unable to stop. Eventually, his drug of choice will catch up with him as well.
There is a small portion of the book dedicated to Alex's relationship with his mother who is on the decline via dementia which isn't really fleshed out enough and I found it a distraction to the flow of the plot. On the other hand, the authors stint as a police detective brings a reality to the scenes and characters. I've enjoyed several of his books featuring the Frank Marr character who had a cameo in Sweet Thing.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Thank you to Mulholland Books for providing an early e-arc via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
November 18, 2023
"Don't misunderstand; I didn't think so highly of myself that I believed this life movie was any sort of hit. Far from it. It may have been masterly done because, after all, God did make it, but it was not a masterpiece and that was only because it starred a bunch of fallen humans, especially me." This is a study of the seedy street-reality of DC, through the eyes and psyche of homicide detective Alex Blum. Murder, drugs, and a slow spiral down the black abyss of questionable decisions, provide the backdrop to this unputdownable novel by retired DC police detective, David Swinson. No spoilers here, but in a word...gut-wrenching. An unforgettable story from a modern master of crime fiction, David Swinson. Highly recommended?? Duh!! YES!!!
June 4, 2024
Interesting story line but terribly anticlimactic ending!
July 10, 2023
Sweet Thing, by David Swinson, is an intense, honest and challenging look at the decisions we make and the lengths to which someone can fall--a thoroughly noir tale. The writing is crisp and well hewn, the dialogue spare and punchy. The characters feel real, and their inner lives vivid. Transgression is the theme of Swinson's tale. The seedy, pre-Y2K world of the book feels tailor-made for this story and a cop who needs to think on his feet. But (maybe) misjudges the cost.
At multiple points, his protagonist, DC homicide detective Alex Blum, might have redeemed himself as a cop, if not as a man. But the road to hell is paved with good intentions and well-meaning transgressions. That tension, and Blum's need to protect those around him, lead him downward. More on what happens would be spoiling the journey, but it's testament to Swinson's talent that throughout there is no distinct declaiming or "author's message." Swinson trusts that readers can make up their minds for themselves about what happens in these pages. Highly recommended!
David Swinson is the author of the critically acclaimed Frank Marr Trilogy - The Second Girl, Crime Song, and Trigger; as well as the stand-alone City on Edge. Set in 1999, Swinson offers a look back at a grittier, bygone DC, with its seedy strip clubs, pagers (!), and Y2K anxiety.
Sweet Thing, by David Swinson
Pub. Date Nov 3, 2023
ISBN - (hardcover) 978-0-316-52861-0, (ebook) 978-0-316-52862-7
I received an ARC of the novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
At multiple points, his protagonist, DC homicide detective Alex Blum, might have redeemed himself as a cop, if not as a man. But the road to hell is paved with good intentions and well-meaning transgressions. That tension, and Blum's need to protect those around him, lead him downward. More on what happens would be spoiling the journey, but it's testament to Swinson's talent that throughout there is no distinct declaiming or "author's message." Swinson trusts that readers can make up their minds for themselves about what happens in these pages. Highly recommended!
David Swinson is the author of the critically acclaimed Frank Marr Trilogy - The Second Girl, Crime Song, and Trigger; as well as the stand-alone City on Edge. Set in 1999, Swinson offers a look back at a grittier, bygone DC, with its seedy strip clubs, pagers (!), and Y2K anxiety.
Sweet Thing, by David Swinson
Pub. Date Nov 3, 2023
ISBN - (hardcover) 978-0-316-52861-0, (ebook) 978-0-316-52862-7
I received an ARC of the novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2025
Sweet Thing isn’t just a crime novel, it’s a time machine straight back to a grittier DC, the kind of place where danger lingers in the air like smoke and every choice can pull you deeper into the dark.
David Swinson writes like a man who’s walked these streets, and it shows. The authenticity in the police work, the sharp dialogue, the small human moments between the gunshots… all of it rings true. Alex Blum is flawed, complex, and painfully human, the kind of detective you can’t stop following, even when you’re screaming at him to turn back.
What really makes this book stand out is the way Swinson makes every scene feel alive. You’re not just reading about late-night stakeouts and seedy clubs, you’re there, heart pounding, pager buzzing, wondering how far Blum will fall.
If you like your crime fiction with teeth, heart, and the unmistakable weight of truth, Sweet Thing will grip you to the last page, and maybe keep you up long after.
David Swinson writes like a man who’s walked these streets, and it shows. The authenticity in the police work, the sharp dialogue, the small human moments between the gunshots… all of it rings true. Alex Blum is flawed, complex, and painfully human, the kind of detective you can’t stop following, even when you’re screaming at him to turn back.
What really makes this book stand out is the way Swinson makes every scene feel alive. You’re not just reading about late-night stakeouts and seedy clubs, you’re there, heart pounding, pager buzzing, wondering how far Blum will fall.
If you like your crime fiction with teeth, heart, and the unmistakable weight of truth, Sweet Thing will grip you to the last page, and maybe keep you up long after.
April 19, 2024
Homicide detective Alex Blum is investigating death of a dealer. As he searches the house he finds a photo of the dead man with Artie, who is an ex snitch for Alex when he worked narco side of the house. Artie was apparently a very good snitch for Alex and he protected him often. He hides the photo until he can find Artie to see if he was involved. When he visits Artie's house, he finds celeste there, who is Artie's girlfriend and she is of course absolutely beautiful. Right away, Alex decides he's going to do all he can to protect Celeste as well. And this eventually involves withholding key evidence, planting other evidence to get someone else charged with the murder and beginning a relationship with Celeste.
I didn't like any of the characters, especially Alex. And maybe we are not to like anyone, that may be the point of the story. This just isn't my kind of mystery.
I didn't like any of the characters, especially Alex. And maybe we are not to like anyone, that may be the point of the story. This just isn't my kind of mystery.
December 9, 2023
This is the first book I've read by David Swinson, but it won't be the last.
Alex Blum gets pulled in too deep and personal in his case as a homicide detective. As a reader, you are pulled in to live in Alex’s head, and in Alex’s world during the late 1990s in Washington D.C.
I listened to this audiobook, which caused me to spend too much time sitting in my car at my final destination so I could keep listening for what came next. I was hooked.
If you like a twisty crime story, with evil characters that are untouchable, and victims that are damaged by the world they inhabit; where you find relief in those brief moments of joy that Alex clings to, this book will grab you by the throat and not let you go.
Alex Blum gets pulled in too deep and personal in his case as a homicide detective. As a reader, you are pulled in to live in Alex’s head, and in Alex’s world during the late 1990s in Washington D.C.
I listened to this audiobook, which caused me to spend too much time sitting in my car at my final destination so I could keep listening for what came next. I was hooked.
If you like a twisty crime story, with evil characters that are untouchable, and victims that are damaged by the world they inhabit; where you find relief in those brief moments of joy that Alex clings to, this book will grab you by the throat and not let you go.
September 17, 2024
Very much grit level, IMHO. I sped read most of it because I did not think it was worth a longer good use of time. Old workmate wanted some input to which group she would put it with for display purposes Many swears and the premise, for me, was INTENSELY OFF. Knowing many homicide detectives in my life with helping them getting their degrees- I just cannot swallow the infatuation he had. Foul language and mean disrespect for no reason?
But I didn't like the voice at all of Blum. Wordy tell and tell for all kinds of reasons which are not worth characterization depth in my view. Just closer to the low life action multiples' usual dithering. The plot wasn't a good one either. Kelly I liked in the beginning and then the more she opened her mouth- I did not.
But I didn't like the voice at all of Blum. Wordy tell and tell for all kinds of reasons which are not worth characterization depth in my view. Just closer to the low life action multiples' usual dithering. The plot wasn't a good one either. Kelly I liked in the beginning and then the more she opened her mouth- I did not.
December 29, 2023
There are three things I can tell you about David Swinson’s writing.
It is so good you will turn the pages swiftly. (I finished Sweet Thing faster than any book I have read this year)
He keeps it real. I’ve never stopped on a page and questioned whether what I just read could really have happened. (His encounter with Anthony on the street toward the end of the book was truly frightening and kept me glued to the pages)
He knows the streets. The mean streets of DC. His descriptions of the city and the low life’s who hang there is as real as it gets. I know. My job takes me there every day.
Pick up Sweet Thing. You will be up all night.
It is so good you will turn the pages swiftly. (I finished Sweet Thing faster than any book I have read this year)
He keeps it real. I’ve never stopped on a page and questioned whether what I just read could really have happened. (His encounter with Anthony on the street toward the end of the book was truly frightening and kept me glued to the pages)
He knows the streets. The mean streets of DC. His descriptions of the city and the low life’s who hang there is as real as it gets. I know. My job takes me there every day.
Pick up Sweet Thing. You will be up all night.
November 22, 2023
Oh my gosh, I couldn't wait to finish this book. I give it two stars because the author did keep the story moving along which I'm very thankful. I was hoping for a type of a Pelecanos story with grit and characters that you care about. Nope. No characters that anyone would care about and none of the grit that is advertised. They say this story takes place in D.C. but it could have been anywhere. D.C. plays no part in this story. What a massive letdown.
December 2, 2023
1999 Washington DC
Homicide detective Alex Blum and his partner are called to a dead body in a residence.
Blum finds pictures of the dead man with a former informant of his. Curious to what the connection could be, he reaches out to the informant 's girlfriend Celeste.
Soon Blum is on a dark and deadly road.....
A very entertaining (if somewhat depressing) story.
I didn't get all the answers I wanted for various things, but it wasn't enough to ruin the story for me.
Homicide detective Alex Blum and his partner are called to a dead body in a residence.
Blum finds pictures of the dead man with a former informant of his. Curious to what the connection could be, he reaches out to the informant 's girlfriend Celeste.
Soon Blum is on a dark and deadly road.....
A very entertaining (if somewhat depressing) story.
I didn't get all the answers I wanted for various things, but it wasn't enough to ruin the story for me.
October 3, 2023
Thank you to Novel Suspects Insiders Club and Netgalley for this novel. All my opinions are entirely my own. I was sent this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book is set in the year 1999 a little bit before 2000. We are following a cop who ends up dating the girlfriend of a guy who helped deal drugs and was the cop's informant while he was in narcotics. The cop decides to pin two murders on Trevor since it might have been his new girlfriend Celeste. Celeste OD's after Trevor is sent to prison. The cop ends up dying from gunshot wounds.
This book is set in the year 1999 a little bit before 2000. We are following a cop who ends up dating the girlfriend of a guy who helped deal drugs and was the cop's informant while he was in narcotics. The cop decides to pin two murders on Trevor since it might have been his new girlfriend Celeste. Celeste OD's after Trevor is sent to prison. The cop ends up dying from gunshot wounds.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2023
Sweet Thing is what I’d call Noir Absolute. Homicide detective falls for Femme Fatale, you know how it goes. Has kind of a European vibe giving a distinct and unusual nuance to the story like glossy updated 60's pulp written by Manchette, Modiano or even Japan's Kitakata. Also it was good to see an unexpected appearance of Frank Marr from David Swinson's excellent Trilogy.
February 24, 2024
Reads exactly like I would expect from a former detective. The lingo the jargon the way it reads is as if someone is just saying it how it is without a ton of detail to fill out scenes. That what was jarring for me. But I shouldn’t haven’t expected something else with me projecting what I was hoping for vs what I got. There’s always a twist in a detective store and this has some.
May 13, 2024
(3) Step into the world of homicide Detective Alex Blum. Make sure you are prepared for a wild ride. D.C. is a rough place, and Alex does not manage to avoid the cracks that grab so many. A fair amount of violence, deceit, sex, and about any other part of a strange cop's life you could imagine. A real easy read, discomforting but very enjoyable. Good stuff.
August 20, 2024
4.75 stars. This is a really good crime-cop novel. Murder, good cops, bad cops, strippers and drugs set in 1999. It's well written and moves at a good pace but it reads like a crime scene description written by a cop (the author was a cop.) That's not bad but as a crime novel it doesn't quite make it to the level of a Lehane or Connelly novel so I held off on the 5th star in my rating.
September 24, 2025
This book was very well written and loved how he used the police talk! Loved the details. I didn’t want to put it down!! I didn’t really care for the way he ended it though :( felt like he could have went a different way with it and maybe made another book. But otherwise great read plan to read more by him
November 30, 2023
I usually enjoy this author. This book was a disappointed. Depressing police procedural with dirty cops, no
In depth characters of the people involved and a tied story re told.
Mr Swinson can do better.
In depth characters of the people involved and a tied story re told.
Mr Swinson can do better.
January 31, 2024
This was a very good story, well written. As I got into it, I was unsure if the bad guy was going to get what he deserved, no one is above the law and the laws are made for everyone. I felt it had a fitting ending. I was not disappointed.
November 14, 2023
A wonderful exploration of violence, obsession and their consequences. David Swinson is one of the best writers in the crime genre.
November 21, 2023
David Swinson at his best!
Nothing is black or white, just different shades of gray, that is life for all of us ! Good reading
Nothing is black or white, just different shades of gray, that is life for all of us ! Good reading
December 7, 2023
A gritty neo-noir set in 90's DC about a cop who goes too far for the wrong woman.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews