The Devil's Redhead

Corbett's writing is exceptional and his story lines not only entertain but get you thinking. I discover him through his second book, "Done for a Dime." I picked it up in a little bookstore in Pacific Grove CA. The jacket described a mystery about a jazz legend in and around the East Bay of SF/Bay Area Ca where I live. Another great story. The "Devil's Redhead," lived up to my expectation in every way.

THE DEVIL'S REDHEAD is a violent tale, beautifully told.The writing flows. The pace never falters. At its tenderheart, this is a story of love, loss and reconciliation.Opening line: "He blew into Las Vegas the first week ofspring, primed to hit the tables, sniff the wildlife and,basically, cat around."That's Danny Abatangelo, freelance photographer andwildcat smuggler of Thai marijuana since college days. Hismotto: "No guns, no gangsters, it's only money." Then hemeets Shel, a knockout redhead, and they slam togetherlike a couple of magnets.Danny wants out of the drug trade. Everybody's moving in-- Cubans, Marielitos, Vietnamese, Colombians, Mexicans,the Mob. No more room for someone like Danny, who's in itfor kicks. End of an era.He sets up one last job as a nest egg for retirement. Whatfollows is a harrowing sequence of events, resulting innear-total destruction of everything Danny and Shel hopedfor.This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. Until Corbett came along,the only crime writer who could guide me through such violent material without setting me up for nightmares was James Lee Burke. Good company, those two!For information about Corbett and his novels, check out his website:www.davidcorbettauthor.com.Pat Browning, author of FULL CIRCLE

Short review here.The Devil's Redhead was a breath of fresh air. I'm not much of a fan of this genre - the prison/revenge thriller, Ex-Con needs to go out and make good, etc... Nonetheless, this book floored me. Its not very often than a writer speaks TRUTH about the human condition. Early on in the book, the author discusses Shel's co-dependant relationship with a petty, mental-defective criminal named Frank. The paragraph talking about the role of a "Good Samaritan" details some of the truth I'm talking about. Its not only true, but beautifully written.Yeah, the book is a crime thriller but it manages to sidestep almost every cliche of the genre. Despite their foibles and criminal tendancies, you care about these people, and fiercely at that.

A great noir in the tradition of David Goodis and the masters. Here is a writer who knows just what he is talking about, presumably based on his years as a genuine PI in the Bay area. His dialogue is superb, tough, surprising and unsentimental, and his convoluted revenge and counter-revenge tale reminds you of Elmore Leonard at his best, except you have a feeling any of Corbett's characters could have had Leonard's for lunch. His characters do surprising things, just like real people, and you desperately want them to get past their own blind spots and weaknesses, as they get swept up into a Central California Delta drug war with racial overtones--rednecks vs. Mexicans. You desperately want the couple to get back together after their separate ordeals, worthy of Odysseus. It's a book you can learn from, about Spanish slang, about the changes that have taken the drug trade down several notches in viciousness, about the whole fascinating industrial Delta region itself--I read the book with a map by my side. It was compulsive and fun and ought to get a nod or two as best first novel.

I picked up David Corbett's First Novel, The Devil's Redhead, on a whim and I was very plesantly surprised with the choice. This is one of those rare novels that contains all aspects of a good novel without bogging down or taking away from the main story line. There's action, violence, suspense, love, romance, loyalty, and more, all weaving together to create a fine story that all readers will enjoy.The plot of the novel centers around Dan Abatangelo, a former smuggler jailed for several years, and his quest to reunite with his former love, Shel, a dazzling redhead whom he met before his sentence. She is involved with another low level smuggler who creates a dangerous situation for everyone involved when he rips off the wrong person. The violence and danger escalate with every turn and the suspense is kept a high levels.Corbett has written a fine novel that will satisfy several different types of readers. If you're looking for a book that covers all the bases, The Devil's Redhead is a good choice for you.