Customer Reviews

On the Ropes (A Duffy Dombrowski Mystery)

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I read a lot of crime novels. This is one of the best debuts I've ever read.

It's laugh out loud funny, plus it's crammed full of action, suspense, and a wonderfully complex mystery.

Duffy is a terrific character. Those who enjoy Robert B. Parker, Robert Crais, or newcomers like Jeff Shelby and Harry Hunsicker will feel right at home here. But beneath the wiescracks and fist fights is some real heart, written in a wonderfully readable style.

It's really that good.

The Amazon shorts whetted my appetite for "On the Ropes" by Tom Shreck. While reading the short stories I found myself with lots of questions and wanting to know more about the characters. I wanted to know more about the kind of person Duffy was, how he got Al, what made the Fearsome Foursome tick and if they had more in them than crazy conversations. "On the Ropes" answered all my questions and more. This book is action packed with mystery, terrorism, porn, child abuse, sex, drugs and Elvis tunes!

Duffy is a likeable character. He doesn't try to hide, make excuses for, or sugarcoat his faults. His belief in the human race endears him to you. He sees the good in people and he doesn't judge those who are down on their luck for what they've done or who they've become. Duffy sees both sides of the coin. But on the other hand, when it comes to bad guys he doesn't hesitate to act on his beliefs. Right or wrong Duffy acts on those beliefs and he doesn't let little things like the law or protocol get in his way, even if that means putting his boxing skills to the ultimate test.

My emotions ran the gamut with this book. I laughed, I was frustrated/cried, I was angry and I was elated. I couldn't stop turning the pages as I had to find out what happened next. Can't wait to find out what happens with Duffy and Al next!

Normally I stick to sci fi and fantasy books but, this book kept me entertained and was an easy read from start to finish. I will buy the sequels when they come out. Heres to hoping that another up and coming author can make it big.

What can one say about "On the Ropes" that hasn't been said already? How many times did you find yourself cracking up in the middle of a chapter? How many times did you wonder who the bad guys were? How many twists and turns and subplots are there going to be?

These are questions that have been answered. What I enjoyed the most about Schreck's prose was the world he created in the town of Crawford. There is a part of me that wants to believe Crawford is a real and tangible place. I want to believe it because Schreck has made it romantic. Not in the generic-romantic sense, but in a seedy, drug-infested, violent sense. A place where anybody can make it or break it just by coping with the dregs of everyday life. And that to me is what "On the Ropes" captures in 300 odd pages--a series of stories about people struggling to find their place on the big blue ball.

It takes a keen sense of wit, wisdom, and attention to the mundane details of life to attain an appreciation of this sort of romance. Schreck has gone beyond the call and used all of his life experience to give us this treat. I am salivating for the next installment of Duffy Dombrowski and his dog.

If you want to get lost in a romantic place, get this book and spend some time with these characters. You will love them, hate them, and by the end you'll want to drink some beers with them. In my mind, I just pounded a Natty Bo with Duff and Al. Sorry Duff, I only drink Schlitz on very special occasions.

-Derek Dobson

What do you call it when you can't put a 336 page book down but are then upset with yourself because you finished it so quickly...leaving you wanting more, more, more?

I just call it damn good writing.

Thank you for the free short stories (& audio versions!) to help quell the need for more Duffy & Al adventures.

-BillyD

It is a clever mystery, but the star of the book is Al. He doesn't get much respect, at first, but woofs through! The book is a little racy, very clever and worth it just to see what Al the Basset is up to. Good story and worth reading.

The characters and setting feel real and add to the hilarious plot. Love the Social Worker/Boxer combo. Very original. Duffy's a winner like it or not!!!! Keep em coming!!!

I loved Duffy Dombrowski, the boxer/social worker with a twisted sense of humor, drinking issues, and a determination to see justice done, even if it means using unorthodox means (which it usually does). Although I found the story as intriguing as the colorful characters that populate Duffy's world, the plot of this book involves child porn and terrorism and may not be everyone's cup of tea. But Duffy is definitely an everyman's hero worth rooting for! Looking forward to the next one!

Okay, who says a girl can't love a "guy book"?

Not I. Sure, Tom Schreck writes with authority about boxing, about a guy, and from a male point of view. But I took a knock-down punch and fell for Duffy. He's everything a guy should be: virile, sensitive, thoughtful, and he loves dogs.

This book had me laughing through an airplane flight that mimicked the most frightening roller coaster you can imagine. It had me sniggering out loud while all my travel companions gripped the armrests in fear. My only disappointment? It ended far too quickly.

Long live Duffy, king of the ring, and of my heart. I give my new hero a perfect 10, both in the ring and out of it.

On the Ropes has a great central character--a social worker who is also a boxer. His clients are sad or funny, ocasionally both at the same time. And his bar buddies are great. There's a scene in which they are arguing about whether you can throw Minute Rice at a wedding, or will birds eat ir and blow up? If you give seagulls Alka-Seltzer will they blow up in mid-air? Fresh and a good mystery too.