SETUP ON FRONT STREET (Key West Nocturnes series) [Kindle Edition]

Mike Dennis (Author)

Book Description

Key West, 1991. Don Roy Doyle is back in town. Tough and quick-witted, he's fresh out of prison, where he served three years for a diamond swindle. Now he's back to collect his share of the proceeds, about $200,000, but the money has vanished.

A local family dynasty which has controlled the island's politics for generations, a cop with a grudge, the FBI, and the Russian mob all have a stake in the action. They're convinced Cuba is on the verge of "opening up", and they all want Doyle gone.

In this tightly-knit town, who can be trusted? And how long can Doyle stay alive?

SETUP ON FRONT STREET is the first novel in Mike Dennis' Key West Nocturnes series. Each book in the series will feature a different criminal as the central character, taking you deep inside the world of Key West noir, a world tucked way back in the shadows, where the tourists never go.

What they're saying about Mike Dennis and SETUP ON FRONT STREET:

"Mike Dennis is a modern master of noir." -- Max Allan Collins, author of ROAD TO PERDITION

"Dennis writes true noir." -- Vicki Hendricks, author of CRUEL POETRY

"...tight, to the point, like a line drawing..." -- Noir Journal

"Fans of Elmore Leonard should find Mike Dennis an author worth watching - and worth reading." -- BooksAndPals.com

Editorial Reviews

Review

What they're saying about Mike Dennis and Setup On Front Street:

"Mike Dennis is a modern master of noir." -- MAX ALLAN COLLINS, author of Road To Perdition

"Dennis writes true noir." -- VICKI HENDRICKS, author of Cruel Poetry

"...tight, to the point, like a line drawing..." -- Noir Journal

About the Author

After thirty years as a professional musician (piano), Mike Dennis left Key West  and moved to Las Vegas to become a professional poker player. He turned to writing when his first novel, The Take, was picked up by a publisher in 2009.
 
His second book, Setup On Front Street, was the first of a series of Key West Nocturnes, standalone noir novels. These books will lift the veil on Key West and reveal it as a true noir city, on a par with Los Angeles, New Orleans, or Miami.
 
The Ghosts Of Havana is the second book in that set. The third, Man-Slaughter, is now available, and the fourth, The Guns Of Miami will be coming in 2013.
 
Mike has also introduced the Jack Barnett/Las Vegas series, about a reluctant ex-private investigator living in Sin City, USA. The first entry in that series, a novelette called Temptation Town, is now available. The second installment, Hard Cash, is coming soon.
 
Mike also has a collection of short stories, Bloodstains On The Wall. In addition, his stories have been published in A Twist Of Noir, Mysterical e, Powder Burn Flash, Slow Trains, and The Wizards Of Words 2009 Anthology.
 
In December, 2010, Mike moved back to Key West, where he enjoys year-round island living. 

Product Details

• File Size: 407 KB
• Print Length: 292 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0615478727
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Mike Dennis (May 9, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0050642V2
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,676 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Stylish and Dark - Great Noir May 22, 2011

By Jessica

Format:Paperback

Setup On Front Street is my favorite Mike Dennis offering so far. Dennis has a gift for drawing psychologically true characters and opening up a world that is only glossy on the surface. I found myself rooting for a truly flawed hero, who is only marginally better than the criminals he is out to destroy. This is a suspenseful story of tenderly nursed vendettas, ramped up grudges that keep coming at you until you realize that you have gotten halfway through the novel without putting it down. This book is flawlessly plotted, dark and oddly humorous in parts - something I really enjoy - a mark of intelligent writing. I really enjoyed the balance and multiple layers in this novel including a surprisingly tender romance in the middle of the gutter and bloodshed. I think we are witnessing Mike Dennis come into his own as a noir writer - but with a signature style that distinguishes his work from the many others writing in this genre. Stylish and dark, I am beginning to truly know this voice.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Gritty & Tough December 17, 2011

By Christopher Blewitt

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book starts with a good setting, Key West, Florida. Add in believable characters who get their hands dirty and you have a great novel with a climactic ending. This is not your typical "whodunnit" murder-mystery. This is about a guy down on his luck after spending a few years in prison, who exacts his revenge on a few unsavory people. If you're looking for a book that dives into the criminal underworld, has strong characters and a great story, this book is for you.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A good noir mystery read. June 6, 2011

By R.E. Schobernd

Format:Kindle Edition

Set up on Front Street by Mike Dennis is a good mystery read. The book is medium length and took me about five hours from start to finish. Character development of the lead character, Don Roy Doyle, is very good and was done subtly over several chapters. Supporting characters are described in enough detail that I had a mental image of them when they entered following scenes. Another thing that impressed me was the quality of editing. Throughout the book I didn't find any glaring errors. The plot is clever and involves multiple bad guys. Although I enjoyed the read and recommend it, the story doesn't qualify as great, therefore I give it a four star rating. It doesn't have that special draw to pull me in and wish for a follow up book with the same character. I will however, definitely look for other books by Mike Dennis.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Good story, good writing December 7, 2012

By K. Nixon

Format:Kindle Edition

It's 1991. Don Roy Doyle, a hustler and con artist, is just out of prison after a seven year stretch and he has the scars to prove it. He was jailed for his part in a jewel heist, the only gang member that took the fall. In the opening chapter Doyle steps off a bus to arrive back in Key West and settle a few more scores, in particular he wants his $200,000 share of the robbery proceeds. He wastes no time and immediately confronts Frankie Sullivan (Sully) a nightclub owner and partner in the original scam. Sully, however, has `invested' the money in a dubious property deal with the Russians mafia and cannot immediately access it. Doyle gives him a week to do so or expect the worst.
After leaving Sully, Doyle spends subsequent chapters reacquainting himself with characters from his past - Avi Abraham a weapons supplier, BK the mayor and ex-classmate, Ortega the local police officer who threatens to send Doyle back to prison should he step out of line and Mambo DeLima a Cuban criminal. Then Sully ends up dead and Doyle is in the frame for his murder.

And herein lies one of the problems with this novel - new characters pop up almost every chapter through literally the first half of the book (and one or two in the latter half as well) including BK's patriarchal father, Wilson J Whitney, and Doyle's ex-girlfriend Norma who's turning tricks for BK (she immediately becomes his current girlfriend), BK's needy wife Rita, and a variety of Russian gangsters among quite a few others. Unfortunately, the time spent introducing characters, their past relationship to Doyle and / or the crime, means the rest of the plot feels crammed into the second half primarily because Setup on Front Street is relatively short at 50,000 words. So little space is left to fully explore the plot.... For example Ortega the policeman is only made reference to once more in passing, FBI special agent Ryder appears then shifts to the background until it's time, all too soon and all too easily, to take down the bad guys (helped by yet another character introduced to help Doyle get the information he needs).

That being said, Setup on Front Street was an enjoyable read, the story skipped along at a decent pace and the characters, despite there being so many, were in the main colourful and entertaining. The plot is set against an interesting historical backdrop - the locals are convinced Castro is about to fall and Cuba will be a fantastic opportunity for a new criminal gold rush that is about to begin and the various factions want a piece of the action.

If I were to come across Mike Dennis' books in the future, I certainly would pick them up and, I am sure, enjoy them.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. ** Read more ›

18 of 23 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Not Very Good January 3, 2012

By M. Knight

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I place a lot of value on the reviews here and had to comment on this story. I was very unimpressed. The basis for the story was all there it just wasn't executed well. The hooker character, the "buddys" that help out and the primary villian just are not presented as having any real motives for what they do. There is a burden on the author to present the material in a way that allows the reader to "buy in" to the story. It just isn't here. The writer shows promise but not there yet.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book! May 20, 2011

By PSCD

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was a little afraid to buy this book, seeing no recommendations, but I downloaded a sample and immediately upon finishing the sample downloaded the book. It was really a page-turner and I couldn't put it down. I was surprised at how much I wanted the good bad-guy to win. The characters were wonderfully fleshed out and the location of Key West was perfectly described. I'm looking forward to many more books by this author.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't Put it Down May 17, 2011

By Lisa Rusczyk

Format:Kindle Edition

I love the language in this book. It flows like a conversation over coffee late at night in a poorly lit diner while a jukebox plays lazy classic rock. I enjoyed the story of the main character and the setting was perfect. This is the second of Mr. Dennis' books I've read and I can't wait for the next one.

More About the Author

After thirty years as a professional musician (piano), Mike Dennis left Key West and moved to Las Vegas in 2006 to become a professional poker player, but turned to writing when his first novel was published.

SETUP ON FRONT STREET is now available in ebook and paperback. It's the first in the Key West Nocturnes series of noir novels which lift the veil on Key West, revealing it as a true noir city, on a par with Los Angeles, New Orleans, or Miami. The next book in the series, THE GHOSTS OF HAVANA, is currently available in ebook and paperback. The third book, MAN-SLAUGHTER, is also available in ebook and paperback. The fourth book, THE GUNS OF MIAMI, will be coming in 2013.

Mike has also begun the Jack Barnett / Las Vegas series, about a reluctant ex-private investigator in Sin City USA. The first two entries in that series, both novelettes called TEMPTATION TOWN and HARD CASH, are now available in ebook and paperback. The third installment, a full novel called THE DOWNTOWN DEAL, is now available in both print and digital.

In addition, Mike has had short stories published in Powder Burn Flash, A Twist Of Noir, Mysterical e, Slow Trains, and the 2009 Wizards Of Words Anthology.

In December 2010, Mike moved back to Key West, where he enjoys year-round island living with his wife Yleana, whom he married on a warm December night in 2012 on the rooftop of an apartment building in Havana, Cuba.

Other titles by Mike Dennis:

THE TAKE / A novel of human desperation, the ebook and paperback are now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble online, Fictionwise, and All Romance.

BLOODSTAINS ON THE WALL / A collection of three short stories from the dark side, the ebook and paperback are now available on Amazon.

CADILLAC'S COMIN' / A hard tale of a one-hit wonder in the early days of rock & roll, the novel is now available in ebook and paperback on Amazon.

BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE EYES / Las Vegas noir short story shows Sin City USA at its darkest. Ebook now available on Amazon.

THE SESSION / A harrowing short story of a man who can't quite grab the brass ring.