Book Review: Doin' Dirty

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Doin' Dirty     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Howard Swindle
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural
St. Martin’s, Oct 2000, $22.95, 288 pp.

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

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