Book Review - The Left-Handed Dollar by Loren D. Estleman

We've now come to the end of Book Week here on Dave's Buttoned-Up Mind, and this time we get out of the SF field and head into the Hard Boiled detective novel genre.

My wife has been a big fan of Loren D. Estleman since before I married her. I think we've got all of his books.

So when I saw his latest book, The Left-Handed Dollar, on the list of books to review for Curled Up With a Good Book, I knew I had to have it.

Because I'm a good husband that way.

Estleman, among other things, writes about a gumshoe detective named Amos Walker. Based in Detroit, he has a lot of the typical detective tropes. He has an ambiguous relationship with the police (they can't decide if they like him or want to lock him up), he has his own little office where he conducts business, a beat-up car, and he has kind of an aversion to technology (though he does now use a cell phone).

He's a really interesting character, and I may have to read some of the other books my wife has if I ever get a free moment.

Anyway, here's the description of this particular book, from my review:

"The Left-Handed Dollar is another in the long series of books about private detective and Detroit native Amos Walker. He's been hired by a crafty lawyer, Lucille Lattermore (known as "Lefty Lucy"), to clear the name of noted mobster Joey "Ballistic" Ballista. Unfortunately for Amos, the crime he's been asked to clear him of is the bombing (and maiming) of his best friend, investigative reporter Barry Stackpole. That could cause problems. So could the fact that former witnesses and potential snitches are dropping like flies around him."

This is a classic novel, not in the "best novel in the world!" sense, but in the way that it's just like many of the old detective novels.

And that's definitely a good thing.

Check out the review and let me know what you think!