The Dead Don't Talk: A Tale of Murder and Mystery

Danny Ryle's official title is speechwriter, though he's never written a speech in his life. He's 28-years old with a mixed reputation but the general consensus among those in the know is that Danny's the "go to" guy if you have a problem that needs to go away. For the past 6-years he has worked as a problem solver or "fixer" for Congressman James Foster Miles (First Congressional District of New York).

It's 1982, the Congressman is running for re-election while trying to build favor with a potential candidate for the upcoming Presidential election in '84. Danny is busy doing what he does. A friend from the past requests that Congressman Miles look into the unsolved murder of his former mentor. Naturally the Congressman puts Danny on the case.

It doesn't take long for things to get complicated. Danny ruffles some feathers, steps on some very influential toes, and is soon in need of some backup - enter Ari Eilat, former member of the Isreali special forces. When the case requires more investigative skills than Danny possesses, Betsy Revere, a tough ex-cop, joins the team.

This was a quick, easy read. I enjoyed it. It may sound silly but I really like that the author went easy on the similes (similes are almost a prerequisite for this genre), opting for simple and direct rather than attempting to imitate Raymond Chandler (there was only one Chandler).

One thing that I found a little incongruous was the attempt to portray Danny as both an experienced "fixer" who does what it takes as well as something of a naive "babe-in-the-woods" who wasn't prepared for some of the harsh realities in life. It was a minor thing but the inconsistency bugged me.

Bottom line:The Dead Don't Talk is a pleasant way to kill an afternoon. The kind of literary snack food that fills a void when you need it but is little more than empty calories.

***Thanks go to NetGalley, the publisher, and author Lawrence J. Epstein for providing me with a free digital copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Fig Hollow Publishing for this arc.

This was a short and fast read for me. I was intrigued by the political fixer story (as a fan of Mike Lawton's Joe DeMarco books) and settled in for a good read.
While it wasn't a bad read, it was a little too saccharine for my tastes.... just too daggum neat if you know what I mean. Characters appeared when and where as convenient and most of them were really flat. The story moved along fast enough.... but the book was less than 160 pages, speed was of the essence.
The main character, Danny Ryle felt entirely too naïve for his job position and the whole book felt like more of an Aesop fable than an adult novel, though I can see it appealing to the teen reader.

2.5 stars rounded up

Characters, plot, and setting are blended together expertly in this new, well-paced series starter featuring Danny Ryle, a congressman’s ‘speechwriter’ (really a “fixer”). Danny is given a couple of chores to follow through with before the election (solve a murder; find ‘dirt’ on the opposition), but his morals/conscience/convictions steer those directives in different directions. Supporting characters abound, and their strengths and weaknesses help to develop Danny’s character to the extent that I’m already looking forward to the next book in this series.

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book it was a good book

" I'll be Archie Goodwin and you be Nero Wolfe. "
Danny worked for the Congressman as his scriptwriter in the weeks leading up to the elections. But his job was more that of fixer, preparing a safe route for his employer's re-election at the same time trying to dig up out any dirt that might damage the opponent, He felt lucky to have that job, or any job, with his delinquent history, and his father having been a bit man. Then a Rabbi comes to see his Congressman and begs for Danny's help - to find out who murdered his predecessor eighteen months before...
This tense but somehow gentle murder mystery thriller, set in the cut throat world of political intrigue and double dealing, is written in a nearly noir style, with engaging, if unpleasant, characters, each with their own agendas. A vivid, a!most cartoon like picture emerges of Danny's attempt to unravel the truth of the killing which the police had been unable to solve, whilst still being pressured to fully engage in his Congressman's attempted re-election and personal aspirations to future power.
The book is intriguing, well written and would be an easy read had it not been for the singularly poor editing. Not only are there occasional typos but the presentation is peculiar, without the usual convention of same sentence running linearly. Instead, they are often broken into new paragraph lines, seemingly at random, with sometimes a
single
word making a solitary appearance for no
apparent reason.
This, for this reader, at least, was disconcerting and very much distracted from the ongoing motion of the story. So, too, did the frequent missed spaces between individual words so that they can together into one, as in 'excuseto' instead of 'excuse to', and 'againstthe' rather than 'against the'. The frequency of this occurring (easily in excess of 25 times), began to make it look like an eccentric style feature. If so, it did no service to the fluidity of the reading and, combined with an occasional word missed altogether ('She needed to believe in.') served only to annoy and frustrate. Had the book been more conventionally presented, or better editted, it would have meditated an additional star.Sent

But an enjoyable story, the killer, when finally uncovered, no surprise although the reasoning behind it was; and, despite the twists, turns and betrayals, it still retains an innocence. A recommended read to anyone fond of crime drama.
My thanks to Netgalley, through whom I received a complimentary copy at my request.

It is good to be finishing one year and still reading books that thrill and surprise me.
At first, I thought The Dead Don't Talk was a bit of a parody on the old American sleek PI novels.
Clearly, there is a lot of love and respect for these books, but the author is a fresh and entertaining voice, quite independent in his writing and plot.
Instead of the jaded PI, we have Danny Ryle employed as a Script Writer to a local Congressman seeking re-election with higher political aspirations. Danny is used as a fixer. Sweep up and conceal bad news and any threats while investigating opposition players, digging up any dirt to smear their name and destroy their reputation and public profile.
A novel full of interesting characters and political intrigue that sings like a boiling kettle. Never taxing or technical in the corruptor elements of campaign management it is a fun piece because of the character of Danny. He is a little star as a person; a young man who genuinely thinks of others and grows into his role. However, he is uncomfortable in some of the shadier practices and the insincerity of politicians. He remains young and impressionable needing the job, but you sense a little bit of doubt in his enthusiasm for some of his tasks. This changes when a more difficult job is given to him. A friend has as the congressman to investigate the murder of an influential and almost universally liked Rabbi some 18 months previously that is a cold case with the Police no idea of the motive or any suspects in the frame.
This case seems to re-invigorate Danny and shows a new side to his well-adjusted character. He likes helping others, he is fair and respected by others and he has a heart to seek out the truth.
There is a sense of political workings in most of his dealings. It seems it is done on the old barter system you owe me a favour - you’re in my debt. If I do this are we even?
Danny the fixer is no detective, but he is not easily put off and he is committed to seek out the truth. He could stir things up and place himself in danger; he feels little about his own safety but when a beautiful woman is threatened he loses his heart to her beauty and a possible injustice.
I loved it. The plot is tight and open to seedy goings on; the world of thugs and corruption, where money bankrolls the wheels of political ambition and can almost buy anything.
Danny is a character I easily identify with; he isn't restricted by the usual hindrances of detectives in fiction but has a rather infamous Father, whom he loves dearly. He seems also unconsciously to want to take back the family name and redeem the family honour.
I really liked the ties of blood and work that at times conflict with the heart and sense of moral duty Danny seeks to adhere to for his own life. Epstein works this well throughout the story which demonstrates his fine writing and knowledge within this political maelstrom. The murder investigation is plotted cleverly with many layers and the book reads well and drives you to want to find the outcome of this murder and see Danny is right and justified in his risks and choices.

The dead don't talk by Lawrence j. Epstein.
This was a slow starter but I liked it in the end. I really liked Danny. 4*.