Doin' Dirty

by Howard Swindle

Book Overview

A year ago, Dallas Homicide Detective Jeb Quinlin went through an alcohol rehab program that was rather more intense than usual, as he double-timed his treatment with tracking a serial killer on an AA agenda. Now, sober and taking things one day at a time on the job and cautiously but successfully involved with Madeline Meggers, a woman he met in the Jitter Joint, he's fragile but surviving. Quinlin and his partner Paul McCarren's latest case involves...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312203896
• ISBN13: 9780312203894
• Release Date: October 2000
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.8" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

A Five Star Mystery About the Lone Star State

As a mystery novelist with my first book in its initial release, I genuinely admire Howard Swindle's second Jeb Quinlin mystery, DOIN' DIRTY. While it features Quinlin, a recovering alcoholic detective, and his partner, Paul McCarren, investigating the death of an investigative reporter with an Eastern Establishment background, Swindle's most impressive strength comes from his knowledge of Texas. He renders the ambience of his setting as few other authors do. His plot is also swiftly-paced with the powerful Colter family apparently involved in the crime. The sub-plot involving Jeb's relationship with Madeline, also a recovering alcoholic, is given significant space. All in all, DOIN' DIRTY is a fine book, deserving of notice and attention.

Quinlin's Back and Even Better.....

Howard Swindle is back and his second novel of this series is even better than his highly acclaimed first thriller, Jitter Joint. Dallas homicide detective and recovering alcoholic, Jeb Quinlin and his partner, Paul McCarren are assigned the murder investigation of a young, ivy-league newspaper reporter, Richmond Carlisle. It seems Carlisle was onto something big, career making big and was playing his card very close to the vest. With the help of his many well placed sources, Jeb traces Carlisle's steps back to his own hometown of Comanche Gap and the very powerful and prominent Colter family and discovers crime and corruption at its highest levels.....Doin' Dirty is a fast paced, edge of your seat page turner, full of great realistic characters and vivid, riveting scenes. Mr Swindle's writing, is tense and gritty, with a real ear for dialogue. As an Edgar nominated true-crime writer and Pulitzer-prize winning investigative reporter, his expertise on police investigations and the newpaper business adds real credibility to the story. This is a very compelling, suspenseful novel, with a climax and ending that will leave you breathless. Doin' Dirty is a MUST read for all mystery/thriller lovers.

An excellent mmystery and dramatic suspense

Dallas Detective Jeb Quinlin investigates the murder of Register & News reporter Richmond Carlisle, a recent Yale graduate and son of a wealthy family. Jeb's source on the newspaper provides him two potential tips, but Jeb feels the one involving Clendon Colter seems the more likely source of the homicide.Jeb knows the Colter family first hand, having grown up in their backyard in Comanche Gap. As Jeb makes inquiries, he learns how the family became so rich: through insider knowledge as to when the government claimed some form of eminent domain. Jeb also finds himself a target from bought politicians, corrupt cops, and a drug smuggling ring that would not mind burying Jeb.DOIN' DIRTY, the second quality Quinlin Texas police procedural (see JITTER JOINT), is an excellent novel filled with powerful characters and a strong investigative story line. Readers will feel Jeb's constant need for a drink while the former alcoholic barely manages to contain his thirst. Dallas newspaper editor Howard Swindle's novel works because his descriptions of Texas and Texans are so vivid, the Republican party will demand equal exposure for the State of Tennessee.Harriet Klausner