Hyperion, Aug 2001, 24,95, 324 pp.
ISBN: 0892965940
In Southern California, Ephrem Poteet inside a bear costume performs a dance routine while also pickpocketing his audience. However, someone must have hated his act because the gypsy performer is murdered. The police and the Muchwaya Nation of Gypsies believe that the victim's wife Yana killed him after the ugly incident in San Francisco, but she seems to have vanished.
In San Francisco, the Dan Kearney Associates (DKA) are very busy in a street war with the owners of cars that need repossessing. In spite of the workload, the employer of this sleaze group Dan Kearney agrees to help the Muchwaya Nation locate Yana. Treating her like a classic car, DKA goes after her, but she proves much more slippery than 32 CADILLACS ever did.
The latest DKA tale is an amusing romp that will delight fans of the comic caper sub-genre. The story line is all over the place, but Joe Gores has it under maniacal control so that the audience has quite a joy ride accompanying the DKA operatives. If you are going to San Francisco, no one provides a wilder tour than Joe Gores, who is at his most amusing and delightfully weird best with CONS, SCAMS, & GRIFTS. Just watch your wallet and make that car payment first.
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book descript. of violence and chases - 20% Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50% How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 30%
Tone of story
- Dry-cynical
Time/era of story:
- 1980's-1999
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 40%
Misc. Murder Plotlets
- Proving innocence of very obvious suspect
Kind of investigator
- amateur citizen investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- searching for missing person
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- small businessman
Age:
- 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Female
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- unemployed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- revenge
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- California
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 1
Amount of dialog
- significantly more descript than dialog
