Deadbeat

by Leo Atkins

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 042516781X
• ISBN13: 9780425167816
• Release Date: March 1999
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 312 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

Fast paced and funny

I purchased this book because another reviewer indicated that it was written by Clay Harvey, under the name Leo Atkins. I was not disappointed. This is a great book. It is a little over written but that adds to the charm. The book is filled with well written action and humorous puns. More tongue in cheek than a Spenser novel but every bit as enjoyable. Since purchasing this one I have bought the others as well. They were also good.

Best work so far.

This novel was a lot of fun for the reader despite trying too hard at times to attain erudition. No one talks like that all the time. Still a lot of the humor works and the characters are just larger than life enough to push the story along. This isn't hard-boiled realism by any means but it's a fun ride anyway. There's even a lightly applied but touching comment on fathers and sons. I was surprised to find, as I thumbed through the book, that it was written by Clay Harvey of "A Flash of Red" _fame. The action is furious and kind of cinematic and the plot, revolving around the search for a "deadbeat" Dad moves right along despite getting a little boggy.The author knows how to use action to unstick a gooey storyline. I enjoyed the book, found myself laughing out loud several times and am looking forward to his next.

This Blue Devil of a detective will blister the competitors

Cody "Blister" McGraw tries to engage the services of private investigator Connor Gibbs. The nine-year old child desperately wants Connor to locate his missing father, Noah Sizemore. In exchange for accepting his case, Blister offers Connor his entire savings that he accumulated over the past three years. Unable to resist the offer of $67.12, perhaps because his ex-wife rarely allows him to speak with his own child, Connor accepts the case. Connor soon learns the family background. While Noah was bowling and drinking with friends, his pregnant wife drives herself to the hospital to give birth. On the way, a drunken driver crashes into her car. She gives birth by herself just before dying. The driver Able Johnson just about gets away with vehicular homicide. Two years later Noah kills another driver by running him off the road. Noah jumped bail and everyone is looking for him. Connor soon finds himself threatened by various thugs in his quest to locate Noah. Though preferring nonviolence, nothing will deter Connor from satisfying his client. Connor Gibbs is definitely no DEADBEAT as he may be the best character found in a mystery in several years. The story line is amusing, witty, and interesting especially the relationship between Connor and Blister. Leo Atkins has a winner that deserves wide reader attention. That should encourage the author to bring readers more tales starring the former Duke University giant, Connor.Harriet Klausner