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. |