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Practice to Deceive [Paperback]

David Housewright (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)


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Book Description

January 1, 2000
Housewright's Edgar Award-winning first novel, Penance, introduced readers to Holland Taylor, a wisecracking, cynical ex-cop turned PI. Now Taylor takes on a shocking embezzlement case that puts millions of dollars, the reputations of the city's most powerful people--and even Taylor's own life--on the line...

"Housewright follows up his Edgar-winning debut with a greased lightning tale of scam and counterscam."-- Kirkus Reviews

"A colorful cast of characters."-- Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Excellent."-- Nevada Barr

"Clever...believable...lively."-- Philadelphia Inquirer

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

At first, reading about Holland Taylor might seem like déjà vu. He's a former cop turned private detective; he has an African American associate who covers his back, a high-level friend on the police force, and a smart lady who tries to keep him on the straight path. He also practices martial arts, brews exotic coffee, and favors a special brand of local beer. But author David Housewright isn't doing a Spenser rip-off; he's just having fun telling a good story while ringing a few changes on Robert Parker. Taylor works out of Minnesota's Twin Cities, a long way from Spenser's Boston, and Housewright's plot is as open-faced as his genial homage. Asked by his father to help an 85-year-old neighbor recover the life savings stolen from her by an oily investment counselor, Taylor uses a cross-dressing computer genius to harass the swindler. Things quickly turn nasty and lots of shots are fired--some are deadly. Housewright's Edgar Award-winning first book about Taylor, Penance, is available in paperback. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

Brian Emerson returns with a deadpan Dragnet reading as Holland Taylor. This PI caper opens with a series of trite high school pranks as Hollands first attempt to squeeze out the embezzler of elderly Mrs. Gustafsons life savings. Millions of dollars and the reputations of high-profile Twin Cities citizens are at stake as a hired gun stalks Holland and key suspects Levering and Amanda Field. Housewright does a meager job of characterizing Taylor and Cynthia Gray, Taylors love interest cum lawyer, while others are left with cardboard personalities. Recommended only where recorded PI stories are very popular.Sandy Glover, West Linn P.L., OR
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 275 pages
  • Publisher: Berkley (January 1, 2000)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0425173127
  • ISBN-13: 978-0425173121
  • Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 3.9 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #986,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A reformed newspaper reporter and ad man, Housewright's book "Penance" (Foul Play Press) earned the 1996 Edgar Award for Best First Novel from the Mystery Writers of America and was nominated for a Shamus in the same category by the Private Eye Writers of America. "Practice to Deceive" won the 1998 Minnesota Book Award (it is currently being developed as a feature film) and "Jelly's Gold" won the same prize in 2010. His 11th novel -- "Highway 61" -- will be published in June 2011 (St. Martin's Press Minotaur). Housewright's short stories have appeared in several anthologies including "Silence of the Loons," "Twin Cities Noir," "Resort to Murder," and "Once Upon A Crime" and publications as diverse as Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine and True Romance. Website: www.davidhousewright.com as well as Facebook.

 

Customer Reviews

6 Reviews
5 star:
 (2)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars All the right formulas for a good detective story., April 4, 2000
By 
This review is from: Practice to Deceive (Paperback)
Practice to Deceive is an enjoyable novel...for lots of reasons. First, it has a plot with some twists in it which surprise the most perceptive reader. And Housewright draws some startling and yet believable characters whose greed borders on madness and who are obsessed with filling their empty lives with deception and fantasy. Consider the hateful teenaged daughter who holds her mother hostage, the mother who refused to belive her daughter is a spoiled and greedy brat, and the cross-dressing computer geek whose desire for money leads him to murder and theft.

All of this intrigue is set in Minneapolis, a colorful city described in finely-drawn detail and with obvious appreciation.

What holds it all together is Our Hero, Holland Taylor...detective, martial arts expert, and jokester. You gotta like Taylor as he wisecracks his way through the action, strongarms the ugly guys, and uncovers the perverted values of life around him.

As a matter of fact, you gotta like this book! It's got all the right formulas for a good detective novel....

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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars great book, July 9, 2001
By 
M. S. Butch (Katonah, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Practice to Deceive (Paperback)
I love this series. The books are almost impossible to put down, the plots are intricate and not obvious, the characters are interesting. In this one, P.I. Holland Taylor tries to recover the entire life savings of a little old lady who was defrauded by her investment advisor. kept me guessing throughout
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Up to Snuff....., March 31, 1998
By A Customer
The second offering by David Housewright is every bit as enjoyable as the first. The relationship between Holland Taylor and Cynthia is developing nicely. Housewright has fleshed out the characters (Cynthia and Freddie) more this time around but his ex-partner, Homicide detective, Anne Scalasi still has some mystery to her. The character of Steve/Sara is definitely a new twist on the computer nerd. I had great fun with the pranks! I like this character, Holland Taylor!
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