LA Donna Detroit: A Detective Sergeant Mulheisen Mystery - Hardcover

Jackson, Jon A.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0871138107 ISBN 13: 9780871138101

Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2000

Synopsis

Detroit's Detective Sergeant "Fang" Mulheisen finds himself in the middle of a deadly struggle between Helen Sedlacek and Humphrey DiEbola, head of the local mob, a battle that has all-too-lethal consequences for Humphrey and his cronies. By the author of Dead Folks.

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Reviews

Jackson continues to crank out one of the wildest and wittiest crime series going. This time out his hero, Detroit cop "Fang" Mulheisen, doesn't get a whole bunch to do till the last 50 pages. Before that we follow the Machiavellian moves of mobster Humphrey DiEbola (Jackson has a droll way with his character names). Humphrey's dark deeds stretch back to his childhood, and now he's trying to plan his retirement. For a made guy, retiring can sometimes require whacking most of his rivals and faking his own death. Humphrey gets help here from Helen Sedlacek, an old Mulheisen nemesis, who vanished with mob money in a previous adventure. Now she's back in action, with Humphrey unexpectedly friendly toward her, along with her hired-killer lover, Joe Service, who's currently in the shadowy employ of a government agency after recovering from a bullet-inspired coma. Of course, Joe's job still requires killing. Once Mulheisen surfaces, he winds up this vastly enjoyable caper with his usual high style. "La Donna" is the name of the quality cigar brand Helen is sellingDCuban tobacco rolled in the Motor City at a price even Mulheisen can appreciate. That Jackson spends a lot of narrative time backtracking is good news for new readers, if a shade irksome for older fans. With any luck he'll start producing mysteries more often. That would be great news for everyone. Agent, Bob Datilla. Phoenix Literary Agency. (June)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Jackson's Fang Mulheisen series remains a favorite among hard-boiled devotees. This latest installment continues the saga of Helen Sedlacek and Joe Service, who were on the run from the Detroit Mob in Deadman (1994) and Dead Folks (1996), but who have now made peace with the don, Humphrey DiEbola, who seems to be turning more and more of his power over to Helen (La Donna). Detroit cop Mulheisen, ever the bulldog, remains on DiEbola's trail, and when it appears that the don has been killed in a poker game turned violent, the skeptical detective looks to Helen for answers. Mulheisen plays a relatively minor role in this story, which focuses on the human sides of Mob life (a cross between Prizzi's Honor and The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight). Humor and humanity have always been key to the appeal of the Mulheisen novels, but this time the context is less dark than usual. That may disappoint some fans, but it provides a showcase for Jackson's wide-ranging talent. A slight change of pace, then, but not an unwelcome one. Bill Ott
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Detective Sergeant "Fang" Mulheisen (Man with an Ax) clashes with the mob when he learns of an apparent reconciliation between a Mafia chief and the woman who killed his predecessor. Sex, violence, and the nitty-gritty: look for demand.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0871138107
• ISBN 13: 9780871138101
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 284