Drive Me Crazy [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Eric Jerome Dickey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 12, 2004

A New York Times Bestseller

"Driver" is an ex-con trying to make his life right but who shares an expensive secret and a past affair with his boss's wife - a woman who is nothing but trouble. Dickey's rich characters jump off the page, drawing readers into the hustle-filled pool hall, the bedroom, and the Lincoln Town Car as Driver chauffeurs his wealthy and notorious clients around. A fast-paced novel of raw emotion softened with humor, this is Dickey at his best.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An ex-con tries to make good while an old flame tries to make trouble in this smart, gritty and gripping 10th novel by bestseller Dickey (Naughty or Nice, etc.). "[S]ix-two and dark as an open road," Driver spent two years in lockdown to spare his gay albino brother, Rufus; these days he's a chauffeur. Driver likes to hang with his boss, Wolf; they drink beer, have a laugh, do the crossword, shoot pool. It's all cool—as long as Wolf doesn't find out about Driver's affair with Lisa, Wolf's wife. Even worse, Lisa gave Driver 15 large to kill her husband. Driver couldn't do it, but he spent the money on his mother's funeral; Lisa will forgive the debt if Driver keeps "dicking her down." When he won't, she tries to run him down with her Hummer. Next trick? An ugly pair of thugs who stalk and threaten him. Meanwhile, Driver must drive a visiting celebrity author—notorious for inflammatory race-related statements and for wearing the silver briefcase containing his next million-dollar book handcuffed to his wrist—all over L.A. Steamy sex scenes alternate with mayhem and vandalism; the lively, truncated dialogue is filled with literary references, product placements and newsworthy names. Urban melodrama, gorgeous grifters, a tough but likable hero and sharp takes on racial politics add up to another winner.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Another novel with a cliched title--but with an atypical backdrop. The famous Dickey love-story formula here begins with intrigue, but it turns into what may be his best novel to date. Driver, an ex-convict, accepts $15,000 to kill Lisa's husband, Wolf, but is unable to do the deed. In a twist of fate, Wolf hires Driver as a chauffeur at his limousine company. Lisa is so irate at Driver's audacity--for accepting a job with her husband and keeping the money--she begins to stalk him. Arizona, a beautiful con artist, offers Driver an opportunity to make a lot of money fast if he is willing to take some risks. Panther is a stripper with whom Driver spends time, and she becomes the only woman he can trust. As all three women put forth their best efforts, Driver becomes crazed and caught in the middle--there's the woman who loves him, the woman who has been scorned, and the woman who lusts for him. Similar to the work of Donald Goines, this page-turner will appeal to the same audience. Lillian Lewis
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 549 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press; 1 edition (November 12, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786270330
• ISBN-13: 978-0786270330
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (107 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,919,920 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eric Jerome Dickey is the author of twelve novels, including the bestsellers Genevieve, Drive Me Crazy, Naughty or Nice, The Other Woman, and Thieves' Paradise. Dickey writes full time and is developing a six-issue mini-series of comic books for Marvel Enterprises featuring Storm (X-Men) and the Black Panther.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ENJOYED IT, BUT......., April 10, 2005

By 

Dana Y. Bowles "DYB" (West Chester, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Drive Me Crazy (Hardcover)

Just a little curious about the sudden turn the author's work has taken. At the center of this rather intriguing tale is Driver--ex-con, limo driver, chocolate bald hottie who has a serious love for women and a knack for finding trouble. At an especially vulnerable time in his life, the married woman that he is servicing gives him a down payment of 15K for offing her husband. But Driver isn't as hard as his past and his persona leads one to believe; he meets the husband, forms a bond, and begins working for him instead. Wifey is furious, and the story is off and running. She wants to continue their relationship...and when he refuses, she demands her money back. And of course he cannot oblige, and the clock begins ticking. Not your typical ignored rich wife, Lisa is also an ex-LAPD officer with lots of connections--legit and otherwise. She enlists the help of both to make Driver's life--and the lives of those who are close to him---a living hell. Lisa is out for blood, and won't stop until she gets it...and not everyone will survive.

Taking the reader deep into the underbelly of LA, EJD weaves a tale of hustlers, ex-cons, strippers, and major scam artists. Peppered with beautiful women, hot sex, and double-crosses, this is a tale that his fans will find fascinating.

DYB

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Some fans may feel conned, but, July 13, 2005

By 

Robin R. Pendleton - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Drive Me Crazy (Hardcover)

While defining and categorizing the various genres permeating our reading sensibilities is endemic in our society, Eric Jerome Dickey has once again defied the mold which initially made him an anomaly. The effervescent question, "How do you write with a woman's voice?" can finally be laid to rest, at least as it relates to his tenth novel, "Drive Me Crazy".

"Drive Me Crazy" is a potpourri of romance, struggle, dysfunction, debacles, treachery and sizzling adventure with several twists and turns. Once Driver is released from prison, he gets entangled in a black widow's web of lust and lies. Lisa Wolf is another man's wife, Driver's boss' own combination of Delilah and Jezebel. While Driver struggles to extricate himself from her insanity, he is hustled by yet another African-American beauty. Arizona struts into Driver's space and uproots his rehabilitation. Dickey fans will recognize her as the femme fatale from "Thieves' Paradise".

Between the pages in this latest work, Reverend Daddy had taught his boys to be men. He told them, "Hate unites people. It's almost like we need somebody to hate in order to pull together." Driver and his gay brother Rufus straddled that thin line between love and hate. Such is also the formula for the fate of the pompous author as contrived by his more talented and wealthy fiancé. Introduce a pickpocket (another transplant from "Thieves' Paradise") and a stripper/hustler who wants Driver as her man and you have ample angles to validate the title, "Drive Me Crazy".

Naturally, we infer and anticipate plots based on our experiences with an author's prior works. Mr. Dickey proved much to my delight that the recently bestowed title of "Chick lit king" has not rendered him impotent to showcase his talent beyond talking in a woman's voice. Although "Drive Me Crazy" serves as his second venture of this type versus a sequel to "Thieves' Paradise", he has successfully asserted his versatility.

This is a must read which I rate 4 ½ stars.

Robin R. Pendleton, Author

"More Than You'll Ever Know"

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Kudos to EJD!, April 11, 2005

By 

Kristy M. Phillips - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Drive Me Crazy (Hardcover)

As an avid reader I must admit that I have become a little bored with the "cookie-cutter" novels that a lot of authors have been putting out lately. It seems like if you have read one you have read them all.

EJD, however, has stepped outside of this comfort zone and done a wonderful job of breaking the mold in his last few books. Drive Me Crazy takes a week in the like of Driver, and ex-con whose past affair with Lisa, a former LAPD officer, comes back to haunt him.

Driver's tale includes some really interesting characters including his gay brother Rufus, Panther the stripper that wins his heart and Arizona, the soon to be Queen of the Cons.

This book is a little lengthy and drawn out but picks up in the end and you find yourself rooting for Driver's escape. If you are looking for a good read that isn't a ho-hum love story, I definitely recommend this one.

Kp

Sister-2-Sister Book Club