Iron City [Kindle Edition]

David Scott Milton (Author)

Book Description

Frank Kalinyak, disgraced ex-cop, returns to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, "Iron City", his hometown, from Tucson where he has been living a desperate existence since the death of his young daughter. He has been summoned home by Bobby Mack, an Assistant D.A., to find out who murdered an old high school friend. Kalinyak is swept into a whirlpool of bizarre killings, religious fanaticism, church duplicity, hustlers, cops, junkies, old friends gone bad. Amid the fractured landscape of Iron City, rusting mills, rotting industry, he struggles to find sense in his life. Ultimately he must ask: who is he and can he survive?

"David Scott Milton can write like an angel... a writer hell bent on fulfilling the legacy of John Steinbeck, carrying on the tradition of James Jones and exploring his own heights." -- Alabama Journal

"Make sure everybody hears about this book; it's not about a gambler and a broad and a fighter at all--it's about the human condition, and it's beautiful."
-- George V. Higgins, author of "The Friends of Eddie Coyle"

Editorial Reviews

Review

"David Scott Milton is that rare contemporary American writer whose body of work represents an honest and authentic study of the mysteries of the human heart. In Iron City he creates a fast-moving and original plot, and a lead character whose pain and passion haunt the reader long after the story's end." Gina Nahai, author of Caspian Rain

About the Author

David Scott Milton started as an early member of Theater Genesis alongside Sam Shepard, Leonard Melfi, and Murray Mednick. His first plays, "The Interrogation Room" and "Halloween Mask," were produced there. Later plays, "Duet" and Bread," were done at the American Place Theatre. Duet, starring Ben Gazzara, went on to Broadway. Milton's play Skin won the Neil Simon Playwriting Award. His screenplay, Born to Win, became Ivan Passer's first American film and starred George Segal and Karen Black. He has published six novels. Paradise Road was cited by the Mark Twain Journal "for significant contribution to American literature." From 1977 until recently, he taught playwriting and screenwriting at USC. For thirteen years, he taught creative writing to men at the maximum security prison in Tehachapi, California. He wrote an article about the prison for the Los Angeles Times, and he created a one-man show, Murderers Are My Life, which was nominated as best one-man show by the Valley Theater League of Los Angeles.

Product Details

• File Size: 489 KB
• Print Length: 215 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0983632928
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: White Whisker Books (September 1, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005KSS4D2
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,177 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Complex And Intriguing November 27, 2011

By N. Medina

Format:Kindle Edition

Devastated by the loss of his daughter, Frank Kalinyak is summoned to his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to attend his high school reunion. Every step he takes reminds him of his loss. Yet he can't let himself forget about the one thing that truly made him happy: his daughter.

While many are not that concerned with the death of a man he'd once called a friend, there are a select few who feel that there's more to the case than meets the eye. Bobby Mack, the assistant D.A., wants to acquire Frank's services in digging a little deeper into Jack Dahlgren's death. He's convinced that Frank can find what it is that they're not seeing.

Unable to deny his friend's request, Frank stumbles into a world that leaves him wondering what he's gotten into. As another killing rattles the community, he does his best to unravel the clues that have been subtly left behind and begins to wonder whether it's possible for the killer to come after him, as well. Come what may, he intends to set things straight. To shine the light at the end of the tunnel in hopes of redeeming himself and setting all wrongs to right.

David has written such a complex and intriguing story that leaves the reader on the edge of his/her seat as they delve deeper into the book in hopes of finding out what happens next. The myriad of characters that we come across as the story progresses adds and enhances the story as we learn about the circumstances that have led Frank to where he is now. I enjoyed the book very much and actually found myself doing some research on Saint Philomena. Truly recommend reading it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Iron City full of interesting characters February 9, 2012

By W. Bittinger

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Iron City is a great read. While working on solving a series of crimes, the characters come to life in the author's capable hands. The plot twists and turns, leading the reader down one path after another each one more interesting than the last. This book could easily turn into a series, if the author so desires. With all the complexities of the main character, I'd love to see what will happen to Frank Kalinyak now that he's back in "Iron City."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Really enjoyed this book April 22, 2012

By Retrospectre

Format:Paperback

I'm not a big mystery fan but my girlfriend recommended this book to me. I was kind of surprised by how much I liked it! The atmosphere was really convincing, like the city came alive while reading. So give it a shot, even if it's normally not your thing. I'm planning on reading more in this genre now.

More About the Author

David Scott Milton started as an early member of Theater Genesis alongside Sam Shepard, Leonard Melfi, and Murray Mednick. His first plays, "The Interrogation Room" and "Halloween Mask," were produced there. Later plays, "Duet" and Bread," were done at the American Place Theatre. "Duet," starring Ben Gazzara, went on to Broadway. Milton's play "Skin" won the Neil Simon Playwriting Award. His screenplay, "Born to Win," became Ivan Passer's first American film and starred George Segal and Karen Black. He has published six novels. "Paradise Road" was cited by the Mark Twain Journal "for significant contribution to American literature." From 1977 until recently, he taught playwriting and screenwriting at USC. For thirteen years, he taught creative writing to men at the maximum security prison in Tehachapi, California. He wrote an article about the prison for the Los Angeles Times, and he created a one-man show, "Murderers Are My Life," which was nominated as best one-man show by the Valley Theater League of Los Angeles.