Dead Man's Dance

by Robert Ferrigno

Book Overview

In Ferrigno's latest thriller, five men are linked by a crime thirty years old--and one has a deadly plan to put the past behind him. "Crime, punishment, sex, violence, corruption, betrayal . . . a captivating blend of suspense and brooding romanticism that submerges readers in a sultry Southern California underworld . . . impeccably paced".--Associated Press.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425154106
• ISBN13: 9780425154106
• Release Date: August 1996
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 303 Pages
• Weight: 5.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

A well crafted mystery with interesting characters.

As an investigative reporter who is not shy about getting involved in the uglier side of life, Quinn, the protagonist of Dead Man's Dance, is no stranger to humanity's dark underbelly. But when he has to investigate the brutal murder of his own stepfather, his protective veneer of professionalism and objectivity is entirely stripped away. Dead Man's Dance is a well crafted murder mystery populated with a host of interesting characters. Readers know from the onset of the narrative that the killers are two frighteningly creepy hired guns named Hugo and Rick. The novel's mystery therefore revolves around the identity and the motivation of the person who has paid them to kill. As Quinn pushes forward in his search for the truth he becomes aware that events occuring 3 decades in the past, some of which involve him personally, have led to his stepfather's killing. Robert Ferrigno is a very talented novelist. The story is nicely paced and quite engaging. And the characters are well fleshed out and interesting. I look forward to reading other books by this same author.

All of the right ingredients, but the mix is a little off.

Robert Ferrigno can write. The Cheshire Moon and, especially, The Horse Latitudes prove that. With his southern California settings and dark, noir technique, he's been compared to James Ellroy. Dead Man's Dance falls a little short, though. It has evocative atmosphere, a couple of genuinely frightening psychopathic villains, a brooding, conflicted protagonist, some excellent minor characters, and a labyrinthine plot. The ending, however, just doesn't meet the high standard set by the rest of the book. It's not bad; it just isn't very satisfying. The book is definitely worth a read, but for a taste of Ferrigno's true potential, try The Horse Latitudes