When One Man Dies

Dave White has created a truly believable and intriguing character in Jackson Donne. He makes Jackson as fragile and flawed as possible, leaking his past of mistakes and regrets without sacrificing his likability with the reader. It's a story of a young man trying to get his life back together after a stint as a cop and the unpredictable, sometimes dry business of a private investigator. Jackson, recently enrolled at Rutgers, finds himself hurled into a hit and run case that left his best friend dead in the middle of the streets of New Brunswick, New Jersey. Simultaneously, Jackson is asked to investigate a man suspected of cheating on his wife and makes a startling discovery on the case. The more digging he does, the more he wishes he'd never been involved. Problem is, it's too late to turn back. Dave White is gifted at painting the perfect picture for an audience. His description of New Jersey and the people that reside there is about as accurate as anyone could put it and the traits he attaches to the characters establish a sense of value, determination and loyalty. I'd recommend this novel not only to anyone who is a fan of truly captivating mysteries, but to any and everyone who lives in New Jersey. You can relate to many of the little details. Be sure to look into Dave's next novel in the series, The Evil That Men Do, out in June. Grade: A-

Jackson Donne, a former cop turned PI, has just lost one of his closest drinking buddies in a tragic hit and run. Not trusting the local police, Jackson decides to look into the case on his own. Meanwhile, a woman hires him to look into the shady dealings of her husband. As Donne looks further into both cases, he soon discovers connections that could place not only his career, but also his life in jeopardy. Dave White breathes new life into the PI crime genre in this impressive debut. This is clever storytelling that hooks readers from the startling first line up until the gratifying conclusion. This novel is packed with smart and snappy dialogue, absorbing mystery elements, and cleverly portrayed settings. However, White's real strength is found in his main protagonist. Jackson Donne is a memorable hero who is complex, flawed, and admirable, all at the same time. His search for truth and commitment to justice are infectious elements that add to the richness of his character. White effectively uses the first-person narrative to unfold the story through the eyes of Jackson Donne. The result is an engrossing and addictive read that grabs on and never lets go. The first of a new series, When One Man Dies is a dark, gritty, and delightful debut that proves Dave White is a promising new talent to watch for. Armchair Interviews says: Wonderful story, well-told.

I'll admit, I'm not usually a mystery type, but I picked this one up on a whim. It's set in New Jersey, which is my home state, so that drew me to it. I'm so glad I picked it up. The story moves fast, and with every page I turned, I was thrown for another loop. White has more twists in this story than I could ever have expected, and throws them at you constantly, even up to the last five pages. I really can't wait see more from him.

Dave White has long been regarded in the mystery world as one of the finest young writers of short fiction. Now he has produced his first novel, "When One Man Dies," and the results are just as pleasing. Jackson Donne is an ambivalent New Jersey private eye who wants to quit the business and get an education. Before he can do that, however, he is compelled to investigate after his closest friend is murdered. He still has to pay the bills, so he also takes a job tailing an adulterous spouse. Naturally, he finds that there is more going on than meets the eye. As Donne unravels the mystery, White reveals through a series of clever plot twists that the two cases are actually related. White has written a PI novel that is both traditional and fresh, one of the few new talents to join this much-plowed field with something interesting and original to say. Fans of detective novels will, we hope, be enjoying his work for years to come.