Customer Reviews

Out Cold (Duffy Dombrowski Mysteries)

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(4)
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Duffy Dombrowski is a fascinating and flawed main character who loves Elvis music, boxing, and ducking paperwork; and has compassion for the underdog, especially his basset hound Al (which is how I found these books, thanks to `The Slobber Shoppe' at nybasset.org).
Schreck has a talent for instilling humor into even the darkest of plot lines. I have never been a boxing fan, but I have learned to appreciate the strategy and athleticism of the sport. The Fearsome Foursome conversations and theories have me laughing out loud! Schreck is one of my favorite authors and I can't wait for his next release!

In Crawford, New York, at the not for profit Jewish Unified Services, guidance counselor Duffy Dombrowski was knocked Out Cold last week while sparring with a heavyweight so he remains somewhat disoriented. Back at work after a few sick days, his first client is late twenties schizophrenic Karl Greene, who brings new meaning to paranoia starting with his Michael Jackson surgical mask and even challenging what Duffy means by the ominous threat of "good morning".

Karl tells Duffy that he is back on the street, off his meds and the NOW is setting terrorist fires as a forerunner of a bigger plot. When Duffy begins to understand Karl's brand of military-industrial-political-terrorist paranoid complex, he begins to wonder how much brain damage he received from the left hook he failed to see yet he still denies wobbling. However the news report of an ROTC deadly arsonist fire just like Karl claimed spins Duffy's head further. With his roommate Al the Basset Hound and crazy Karl at his own deranged side as well as the Fearsome Foursome, Duffy tries to prevent terrorist attacks at the Notre Dame football home opener and a massacre at either his or Karl's respective former high school. That is as important is liberating Al's relatives from a basset-hound factory.

This over the top of the Adirondack Park peaks is a well written, but strangely mixed amateur sleuth thriller as dark humor blends (not always smoothly for us squeamish reviewers) with some serious scenarios. Duffy struggles with regaining his equilibrium though in total denial, which cleverly mirrors Karl's outlook. Although the jocularity seems out of place at times especially with deaths from terrorist activity and the threat of much more violence, Columbine-style, Tom Schreck provides a strong thriller as Duffy can only cope through mocking humor with what he faces (see TKO and On The Ropes).

Harriet Klausner

Schreck continues to not disappoint his followers in the third installment of Duffy Dombrowski. Duffy's relaxed view of paperwork continues to keep him on the danger list with his employer. Not only is Duffy battling for his job, but finds himself working with a client who has the ability to predict terrorist attacks. As Duffy sets out to put a stop to these attacks, he quickly realizes he may have bit off more than he can chew. Adding to the plot Duffy struggles with his relationship, takes on a puppy mill crime ring, and struggles to accept a medical complication that infringes on his love for boxing. It quickly becomes apparent that if Duffy's not careful enough, losing his job, his friends, and his ability to box is the least of his worries - as death could result in his actions. Don't hesitate another minute to pick up this explosive new mystery, Out Cold - to see if Duffy will survive!

I'm a Duffy and Al fan, this is the third book in the series, read them all, love them all. Tom Schreck has written characters that you truly want to meet in real life because you either can't believe the things they say (the foursome in the bar) or you just want to have friends like that (Duffy and Al). Start with the first book, get to know the characters and then, you'll be in love with them too and want to be the second member of the I Love Duffy and Al Fan Club!

The Duffy Dombrowski series is very well written! I love the characters, the convertible and the basset!! I find it hard to put down once I start and HIGHLY recommend them to boxing; basset and mystery fans alike!

Please don't confuse this Schreck with Dreamwork's version. Although his lead character, Duffy, does have some similarities, probably with both Schreck and Shrek. Out Cold is way worth the read and you don't have to be in a theater of screaming children to enjoy the fun. Get it now, enjoy the heck out of it, and then see if you can't wait to go and devour the other two.

With Duffy, the alcohol-abusing addictions counselor and Al, his faithful Muslim basset hound, Tom Schreck has created characters that are simultaneously larger than life and down-to-earth. Schreck's sense of humor and real-life knowledge of the seedier aspects of society (where Duffy and Al always find themselves mixed up in something), guarantee an enjoyable read.

Tom Schreck delivers a great read in Out Cold. Duff Dombrowksi is the type of rugged diamond every girl loves and every man wants to be. Tom writes with charm, yet his action packed foot work keeps the story moving. His love of the sport, bassets and the under dog is apparent through out the book as he tackles a touch subject that braver authors steer clear of. The darkness of the theme is off set with an old fashion Dick Tracy charm that is reminiscent of old time radio thrillers and detective stories. Duffy is real, he is raw and he may not be perfect, but we wouldn't want him any other way.

Like the first book of Schreck's that I read and loved (which was his first novel as well, ON THE ROPES), the humor is what makes these books great. Schreck's humor turns what would be average mysteries into superb comic tales of mayhem and dry wit. At the core of Schreck's humor is his basset hound Al, who has been a feature in all three of the Duffy Dombrowski books (ROPES and TKO being the first two). Al is a, wait for it, Muslim basset. Yes, you read that right. Stop there and this gives enough humor for several good laughs but the story that Schreck weaves social worker Dombrowski and Al into provides both thrills and much more laughs. Maybe not everyone would like these books, but a lot of people I know have no sense of humor. If you're one of those unlucky few, this might not be for you. But, if you need a good belly laugh, check out what Schreck and Duffy are up to this time.

I really like Duffy and his cast of friends and enemies. The basset "Al" plays a starring role as always. In this book Duffy is knocked "out cold" in the opening pages. It is obvious to the reader that he is concussed but Duffy being a tough guy has to fight it. He even goes so far as to fight at another gym, getting a second concussion. It is these two concussions that lead to the problems that Duffy gets involved in this time. One of his clients is suffering from PTSD and willing admits to being crazy. But as he talk to Duffy he starts making a lot of sense. Leading to the question "is Duffy crazy too or is this guy making lots of sense?"

There were some things I didn't like about the book but they are personal issues not anything wrong with the writing or the storytelling. I'm not a big fan of conspiracy theory's or the people who blindly believe a lot of the wild-eyed zealots who push those theory's. Having said that, this story presents them and then goes on to prove that not all of them are crazy and sometimes there is someone out to get you.

There is a scene near the end of the book that involves Al, Duffy's client and a puppy mill that is both heartbreaking and wonderful. Takes a talented author to bring that off, and the scene is well worth the cost of the book.

Now, how long do I have to wait for the next Duffy mystery?