WASHINGTON POST:
“In Jerome
Doolittle’s scabrously funny update on the corporatization and decline of
American journalism, Tom Bethany must wrest control of the Cambridge Daily
Banner from the conniving, cheapskate mogul who purchased the paper from the
widow of the previous owner, Mike Cushing. Poor Cushing choked to death on a
chunk of Polish sausage at a football game...
“Many of the best mysteries are packed with arcana on
subjects most readers might not otherwise steep themselves in, and that’s
true of Kill Story. It’s a meaty primer on the business practices of the
chains that now own most U.S. newspapers . . . Kill Story is the sixth in
Doolittle’s splendid series . . .
“
Doolittle’s wonderful wit and high moral intelligence are undiminished.
And he interweaves plenty of colorful newspaper anecdotes, like the one about
a photo staged by a Boston tabloid of an unlucky man halved by a subway
train. The victim arrives at the hospital on one stretcher but somehow ends
up pictured on two. The headline is ‘BISECTED!’”
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE:
“Cleverly infiltrating the
newspaper ’s staff, Tom Bethany finds a wide range of sleazy goings-on. But
it ’s Doolittle ’s gleeful nonstop joking and irresistible jabs at politics and
contemporary pop culture that bring the most pleasure. Reflecting on his past
as a presidential campaign worker, Tom notes, ‘You can learn a lot about
what ’s wrong with the world by watching how the scum beats the cream to the
top. ’ We know we ’re in expert satirical hands when Boucher explains to Tom
his predatory approach to business: ‘The fact of the matter, Tom, is that
poor quality is the natural and necessary result of sound financial
management. ’”
DROOD REVIEW OF MYSTERY:
“This is simply one of the
best, most opinionated, and absolutely enjoyable narrative voices in
contemporary crime fiction. Listen to Bethany on his politics:
“ ‘I was against whoever was in power. Most of the time this
made me look like a liberal, since nobody but conservatives ever come to
power in America. The only disagreement between the two parties is over how
unfair they can be and still get re-elected. ’”
To Get the Book
The first chapter is
available on this site. The entire book, in
Portable Document Format, can be had as shareware.
This full manuscript is in eleven-point type, a standard
size for hard cover books. It will print in horizontal format on standard
8.5 " x ll " paper, giving the effect of an open book with facing pages.
This PDF file will be
sent as an e-mail attachments. Download time should be three or four minutes.
To order, e-mail remnant@badattitudes.com.
Please include your name, mailing address and phone number, for our
verification purposes. This information will not be made available to anyone
else. The full book will then be e-mailed to you. If you like it, send five dollars.
