Book Review: Thunder City: A Novel of Detroit

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Thunder City: A Novel of Detroit     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Loren D. Estleman
Class/Genre:   Fiction   Historical
Series: History of Detroit # 7
Forge, Nov 1999, $22.95, 252 pp.

Harlan Crownover pleads with his father Abner to provide him with money to invest in Henry Ford's automobile business. Abner, who made a fortune with his patented suspension system for coaches, rejects the idea of investing in any enterprise headed by a failure like Ford. Harlan turns to politician Big Jim Dolan for a loan, but receives the same treatment afforded him by his father. Harlan next turns to Mafioso boss Sal Borneo who is Jim's business associate. Soon everyone seems to be turning on everyone else and even family ties are not a sure shot from treachery. Worse yet, Ford appears ready to use Abner's suspension system to solve the only major problem inhibiting him from mass producing his vehicles.

Loren D. Estleman's latest Detroit novel, THUNDER CITY, is an incredible work of historical fiction that makes the turning point era of changing to automobiles seem like yesterday. The story line is filled with action and authentic items from real life. The characters are exciting and their harmony and conflicts make for more interesting reading. However, this tale is clearly that of Detroit, which seems to do a classy JIITERBUG under the direction of that Grand Prix writer Mr. Estleman.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner