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ONE GOOD MAN
by
Del Staecker
"Like a Ferris Wheel, this noirish tale leaves the reader to grip the safety bar, ignore that hollow feeling in the pit of the stomach, and hold on for dear life as Joe Kontos's life spins in circles. Del Staecker is a master of the genre."
-Hollis George, editor and anthologist
This is the gritty hard boiled tale of Joe Kontos, a worn-out music icon, traveling up and down the Jersey Shore searching for a missing girl. In completing his quest Joe is deceived, shot, framed, and deceived again before discovering that it is not easy to be a hero.
- Paperback: 280 pages
- Publisher: Absolutely Amazing Ebooks (November 15, 2016)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1945772174
- ISBN-13: 978-1945772177
AUTHOR
Born in Blue Island, Illinois, Del Staecker grew up in two very different worlds: The surreal artist's community of Chicago's Old Town (where the likes of Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and Bob Dylan hung out at his Uncle Earling's exotic bird shop), and the small town normalcy of Boy Scouts, Little League baseball, and working on his relative's farms. Currently, this Life Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Executive Committee member of the International Association of Crime Writers lives in his Pennsylvania home, which is shared by his wife, the stories that must be told, and the colorful characters in his head.
MY THOUGHTS
This story has some meat to it. Two different locations being boardwalks, Atlantic City and Ocean City, New Jersey.
Joe Kontos, our main character, has finally hit what he thinks is the end of his career. He had been on the music scene for over four decades.
He's at a dead end. He decides to try to pick himself up and put it back on track. He decides to retire to Ocean City. He believes this to be a quiet,safe place to put the pieces back together.
Unfortunately this isn't the case. He finds himself back in Atlantic City and the dull, dirty, wrong side of the tracks life. Joe goes through so much while he goes on search of a missing girl. Joe is trying to be a hero but things aren't working so well. He gets framed after being conned into looking for the girl. Then he is shot. On top of that, he's deceived again. Now either Joe is awful gullible, awful compassionate, sympathetic or just plain dumb. What is it?
The author takes the reader on a ride of their life with Joe. As you read, you get these feelings inside that don't feel quite right. What is wrong with this picture.? Joe's life seems to be out of control and he just keeps getting in deeper and deeper. The author has you turning those pages and you're not sure what to expect. You're kept in suspense and somewhat in a web of deceit. The story is written at a steady pace and there's not too much description that usually bogs a reader down. I would recommend getting a copy of this book if you're a crime thriller, mystery suspense lover and go on the search of the missing girl with Joe. But, remember, Joe is having a lot of problems.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and voluntarily decided to review it.
I would give this book 4 STARS.
2 comments:
As an author I love/hate reviews. No one knows the angst that runs through our veins when we first find someone has decided to share their opinion of our work. Flattered that they even cared, we peek at a reviewers words and cringe. We need their attention, but we fear it so much. With Gayle I have received two fair appraisals of my work...and am thankful for them. Such words will keep me writing,...with a smile.
I am a fan of Del Staecker's books and am looking forward to reading One Good Man -- especially after reading your review! Thanks, Gayle for sharing your thoughts and bringing to light this author's work.
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