DEADER BY THE LAKE: A Reno McCarthy Thriller [Paperback]

Doug Cummings (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 9, 2003

How do you solve a murder nobody wants solved and catch a killer nobody wants caught?When a woman with explosive secrets is murdered, City Hall orders a cover up. But fired TV reporter Reno McCarthy has never been politically correct. Reno's out for justice and he won't back off-even if it means a showdown with a brutal manipulator intent on turning Chicago into a branch office of the Russian mob. Reno's city is on the verge of a 21st Century mob war; one that will make the Roaring Twenties seem like a cap gun fight. It's summer in Chicago. It's supposed to be cooler by the lake. Not this summer. " complex, fast-paced snappy."-Barbara D'Amato, past President, Mystery Writers of America"Crisp, street-wise dialogue. Cummings pulls no punches."-John Drummond, author of Thirty Years in the Trenches: Covering Crooks, Characters and Capers" a crime spree all by itself. It has politics, sleaze and sleazy politics. It's peopled by cops, hookers, gangsters and even nastier types like radio hosts and senators. And Doug Cummings knows the territory."-Sam Reaves, author of Dooley's Back

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* The trick to writing a mystery starring an amateur sleuth is to find a credible way of getting your accidental/part-time detective to stumble over a body or two or to be asked, by virtue of said detective's real line of work, to investigate a crime. Cummings, crime reporter for WGN Radio News based in Chicago (see "Story behind the Story" on the opposite page), has hit upon a marvelous way of channeling his own wealth of crime scene and media expertise into the character of an ideal sleuth, an investigative journalist. Reno McCarthy, fired on a boss' whim from his old job as an ace TV investigative reporter, languishes as an FM morning news anchor. When an old colleague dangles the chance for Reno to get his old job back if he can do a discreet investigation, Reno lets desperation win over good sense and starts chasing down leads. The assignment? Find the call girl who called the station ready to spill about a Chicago Outfit-backed escort service but then disappeared. Exploding with murders, accidents, and threats, the plot is gasp producing but always believable. Holding it all together are Cummings' insider knowledge about the Chicago Outfit, the new phenomenon of Russian Organized Crime, cop-shop atmosphere, crime-scene protocol, and newsroom workings. Cummings uses Chicago as a sometimes glitzy, sometimes grim backdrop to the action. A street-smart and altogether satisfying debut. Connie Fletcher
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Doug Cummings is an award-winning 25-year veteran of television and radio news. Formerly in law-enforcement, Doug brings a unique perspective to covering crime and breaking news for Chicago?s #1 rated news-talk radio station.

Product Details

• Paperback: 430 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (November 9, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 059529359X
• ISBN-13: 978-0595293599
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,674,363 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing, August 25, 2004

By 

Lynn the book lover (Elk Grove Village, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: DEADER BY THE LAKE: A Reno McCarthy Thriller (Paperback)

From the first page, this exciting mystery set in Chicago grabs the reader and does not let go. It's intricately plotted, meaty and satisfying. As a Chicago area resident, I found that the detailed description of the neighborhoods really added to my enjoyment of the book. Although the plot becomes a little overly complicated towards the end and the reporter protagonist is somewhat over the top, this book is well worth experiencing. An excellent read.

So many novels written by well known people (Cummings is a reporter on Chicago radio) end up a disappointment. It seems some get publishing contracts only because of their name. But, this is definitely not the case here. This is better than most mysteries I've read recently. I'm happy to say that this book is more than a pleasant surprise and I hope it's the start of a first rate series.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, January 8, 2004

By 

"tac27" (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Deader by the Lake: A Reno McCarthy Thriller (Hardcover)

I couldn't put this book down! It is fast-paced and full of surprises. The character's sense of humor is engaging. The plot's twists and turns kept me on my toes and while Cummings did a fantastic job of wrapping it all up in the end, he left me wanting more. I anxiously await the next in the Reno McCarthy series!

3.0 out of 5 stars Exciting Chicago action, July 21, 2007

By 

L. Blumenthal "lynn" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DEADER BY THE LAKE: A Reno McCarthy Thriller (Paperback)

As someone who has worked many years in Chicago journalism, I found this book right up my alley. I'm always looking for books with Chicago references--and this book is chock-full of them. The only problem is that Cummings goes way overboard trying to cram as many Chicago scenes in as possible. The lead character, Reno McCarthy must have spent a fortune on gas because he's driving all over the metro area, often in record time. First he's in Hyde Park, then Winnetka, then River North, then even Oak Brook. He lives in Evanston, but is wheeling downtown every chance he can get. Hey, these places are far apart and there is a lot of traffic to be considered. I doubt anyone could make those trips in the time Cummings allots to McCarthy.

Although the action is terrific and the characters well-defined, I thought a judicious editor could have trimmed this book by one third. There are many extraneous scenes that don't really further the mystery and just serve to get McCarthy beaten up for the umpteenth time. Sometimes a writer can't see when he has overwritten parts of the novel, and definitely this is the case here.

Still, I was glued to this book until it ended, and wondered why a major publisher did not pick this up (it is self-published by iUniverse). A few minor editing glitches are apparent, but on the whole the book is polished and well-researched.

I'd be interested in seeing what Cummings does next.