Whiskey River: Detroit Triology, Book 1

The United States's experiment with Prohibition was a disaster that created more criminals than solved problems. Loren D. Estleman with WHISKEY RIVER, the first of his Detroit novels presents a compelling picture of the flow of booze across the Canadian border and the men who transported it, profit by it, and died by it. Constantine "Connie" Minor is a reporter who has seen it all even to riding along across the frozen lake to observe a shipment. This scene is on the the most exciting scenes in the annals of crime fiction and worth the price of the book. Connie is telling the story of Jack Dance and Joey Machine to a Grand Jury, but he also tells the story of himself. A keep your eyes on the page read. Nash Black, author of WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.

Loren D Estleman is probably best known -at least to crime novel devotees -for his Detriot based private eye ,the Chandleresque figure of Amos Walker .The novel Whiskey River is set in Detroit but not the modern day Motor City of the Walker books ; rather ,it is the first in what has become a regular series exploring the history of the city from the Prohibition era onwards It is set in 1928 and the narrator is Constantine Minor -known as"Connie " -an journalist on the Detroit Banner .The framework of the book is his testimony to a Grand Jury investigation into organised crime and racketeering in Detroit as well as police corruption within the city .Minor has known all the major gangsters in the city in his time and was involved albeit in a journalistic capacity in running whiskey across the frozen ice from Canada to the States ,as well as playing a role in negotiations to bring peace between the warring gangster factions ,which it is pointed out are also ethnic divisions . During his testsimony we meet most of the big players on the local crime scene -all are fictional creations but are consistent with the facts of Detroit crime in the prohibition era .The main focus is on the battle between the gangleaders Jack Dance and Joey Machine .Dance is handsome and charismatic while Machine is more the old style hoodlum .Both are ruthless and merciles in dealing with threats to their hegemony . Estelman paints a convincing picture of the era , a time when the distinctions between the world of high society and criminal society were becoming fuzzy around the edges .He demonstrates clearly that Prohibition was an unmitigated disaster and creates an electric atmosphere and complete engagement with the characters The book is not perfect -I found the framing device of the Grand Jury investigation superfluous and it added to the slightly long drawn out nature of the book ,making it a tad overlong . Setting these minor problems aside this is a major work from an accomplished writer and is unreservedly recommended to all lovers of the crime novel and indeed mainstream fiction which is rooted in reality

Loren Estleman is one of the most intelligent and sensitive writers living today and Whiskey River is true "Estleman." In addition to the standard plaudits attributed to his writings his works include an honesty, imagination, and sensitivity to the human condition simply not found in other writers' works. If I may quote from other reviews whose writers say it better than I can (with all due respect and credit): a Chicago Tribune reviewer said, "Estleman could rewrite the Ann Årbor phone book and I'd pay to take a peek."; another reviewer from the Washington Post Book World said, "--you will want to call up your closest friends to read them your favorite paragraphs." Amen.

Loren Estelman really captured the feel of the early days of Prohibition in Detroit. This book offers an 'inside' look at the rumrunners and other organized crime operations that centered in Detroit in the late 1920s and early 30s. It was well written, so it held my interest. The grittiness of gang-related activities in Detroit were laid out sparingly but without trying to gloss over the underlying ugliness of the time and the men involved. I will read more of Estelman's books in the not-too-distant future.

This book is the first in a triology, yet it also a great stand alone read. Told in the first person by a Detroit reporter in the roaring twenties which gives it a great 'you are there' feel. Full of action, suspense and a little sex it is a great read for the beach or a rainy afternoon.