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Dutch Uncle

by Peter Pavia

      Harry Healy is fresh out of jail after learning the hard way that punching a cop can be considered a felony. He likes his freedom and has resolved to change his ways in hopes of preserving that freedom. But right now Harry needs a little money, and when he bumps into his old cellmate, Leo, and is offered some quick cash for making a simple delivery, he decides to take on one last job. It seems like "Dutch Uncle," Manfred Pfiser needs someone to drop off a package and collect the money. Harry handles the task but when he returns to Manfred's hotel room to deliver the money, he finds the old man dead from a gunshot wound.

     Harry knows that he'll be connected with the murder if he calls the cops so he decides to fade into the local scenery. He finds a job as a bouncer at a small touristy bar and settles into a low profile mainstream existence. He even develops a promising relationship with one of the women that he works with. All Harry really wants is to blend into society and mind his own business.

      In the meantime, Harry's jailhouse buddy Leo has to deal with a couple of his maverick cohorts who had taken it on themselves to rob and murder the Dutch Uncle. People farther up the ladder in the drug trade industry are unhappy about one of their dealers being bumped off and are out to settle the score.

     The police haven't exactly been sitting on their hands either and have uncovered some crime scene evidence that ties Harry to the murder location, and they would like to talk to him.

      The plot of this book is somewhat complex, following several different players as their paths crisscross and sometimes collide. It's a good story with interesting and distinctive characters. Author Peter Pavin handles it nicely, and his style is brilliant. Pavin is undoubtedly headed for great success as a novelist. It's been a long time since I've encountered anyone who writes this well.

The Book

Hard Case Crime
July 5, 2005
Paperback
0-8439-5360-8
Mystery/Thriller
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Excerpt
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The Reviewer

Dennis Collins
Reviewed 2005
NOTE: Reviewer Dennis Collins is the author of The Unreal McCoy
© 2005 MyShelf.com