Thunder City [Unabridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Loren D. Estleman (Author), Paul Hecht (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2000

Novel of Detroit. Story of the rise of two powerful industries in Detroit during the early 20th century.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Recorded Books, LLC; Unabridged edition (2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0788740512
• ISBN-13: 978-0788740510
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,898,143 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Since the appearance of his first novel in 1976, Loren D. Estleman has written more than 65 books and hundreds of short stories and articles. Alone (Dec 2009, Forge Books) is the second in a new series about L.A. film detective Valentino, and features Greta Garbo.

To kick off the new decade, Estleman's The Book of Murdock (eighth in the U.S. Deputy Marshal Page Murdock series) will appear in March and, to celebrate the 30 year anniversary of Private Detective Amos Walker, The Left-Handed Dollar will publish in December. It's the 20th novel in the award-winning series.

An authority on both criminal history and the American West, Estleman has been called the most critically acclaimed author of his generation. He has been nominated for the National Book Award and the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Award.

He has received seventeen national writing awards: four Shamuses from the Private Eye Writers of America, five Spurs from the Western Writers of America, two American Mystery Awards from Mystery Scene Magazine, two Outstanding Mystery Writer of the Year awards from Popular Fiction Monthly, two Stirrup Awards for outstanding articles in the Western Writers of America magazine, The Roundup, and three Western Heritage Awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. In 1987, the Michigan Foundation of the Arts presented him with its award for literature. In 1997, the Michigan Library Association named him the recipient of the Michigan Author's Award. In 2007, Nicotine Kiss was named a Notable Book by the Library of Michigan.

Estleman graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Journalism. On April 27, 2002, EMU presented him with an honorary doctorate in letters. He left the job market in 1980 to write full time. He lives in Michigan and is married to writer Deborah Morgan. For more information, please visit his website: www.lorenestleman.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Detroit Wins Series in Seven on Estleman Homer, January 24, 2000

By 

mrpennysworth "mrpennysworth" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thunder City (Detroit Crime Series #7) (Hardcover)

David Mamet recently published an elegy to Patrick O'Brian in The New York Times. In it he said that only the genre writers are writing interesting English, creating characters that we eagerly wish to know and becoming part of our everyday lives. Loren Estleman is one of the best of the genre writers. His Amos Walker mysteries carry the torch of Chandler and MacDonald. His westerns carry the torch of L'Amour. But, unlike any of the others currently writing, he has also invented a new fictional genre. It is one in which the main character is a place, with a supporting cast that weaves in and out of its history. "Thunder City" is the seventh (and last) of the City of Detroit series, which seeks to define the character of Twentieth Century Detroit, one of the most gritty, down-to-earth, hard-working, corrupt, in-your-face, dangerous and exciting cities in America. I know. I grew up there. This series is recommended reading for anyone interested in genre fiction, but it is essential reading for anyone who feels connected to Detroit. You will recognize the culture, the locations, the history, the trivia, the conflicts, the voices, the attitude. It is a one-of-a-kind fictional endeavor that will someday compare with the formative novels of established genres. Not to be missed. You need them all: "Whiskey River," "Motown," "Edsel," "Stress," "King of the Corner," "Jitterbug" and "Thunder City." I suppose Loren Estleman will finally get his "best seller" due when he turns eighty, like Patrick O'Brian. Life just works out that way sometimes. But maybe, just maybe, there is a David Mamet somewhere who will speak out sooner this time around. Then maybe, just maybe, Loren Estleman will continue this marvelous series about the City of Detroit.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Thunder City, October 18, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Thunder City (Detroit Crime Series #7) (Hardcover)

Loren D. Estelman's Thunder City portrays a city of new beginnings and organized crime. Detroit is becoming a hotbed of automobile manufacturers and con men. Harlan Crownover emerges from the pack willing to jump into the automobile business and finance the mechanical genius Henry Ford. Harlan's father Abner, the wealthiest man in Detroit and many other powerful men fell that the automobile will ruin everything that they have worked so hard for. In his quest for financial backing, Harlan comes across Jim Dolan, the city's street railway commissioner who immediately turns him down. Next the relentless Crownover turns to the Sicilian Prince, Sal Borneo, a mafia boss who loves the idea of having young Harlan backed into a corner. Now the pressure rests on Ford to make an efficient, affordable vehicle. Could he overcome the pressure of Detroit's political scene? Or will he be crushed in his third attempt at the automobile industry?

Loren Estleman's historical novel is a great look into the history of Detroit and the birth of the auto industry. It also delves into the first stages of organized crime, and Prohibition. While a good read, it is often difficult to follow and contains many unnecessary details that slow the progression of the story. At times the novel can be very suspenseful and riveting; but at other times, it can be very dull and uneventful. Estleman begins most chapters by setting the scenes with many lengthy, drawn out observations that eradicate the story's pace. For this reason I would recommend Thunder City to history lovers but not to those in search of an exciting quick read.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent work of historical fiction, October 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Thunder City (Detroit Crime Series #7) (Hardcover)

Harlan Crownover pleads with his father Abner to provide him with money to invest in Henry Ford's automobile business. Abner, who made a fortune with his patented suspension system for coaches, rejects the idea of investing in any enterprise headed by a failure like Ford.

Harlan turns to politician Big Jim Dolan for a loan, but receives the same treatment afforded him by his father. Harlan next turns to Mafioso boss Sal Borneo who is Jim's business associate. Soon everyone seems to be turning on everyone else and even family ties are not a sure shot from treachery. Worse yet, Ford appears ready to use Abner's suspension system to solve the only major problem inhibiting him from mass producing his vehicles.

Loren D. Estleman's latest Detroit novel, THUNDER CITY, is an incredible work of historical fiction that makes the turning point era of changing to automobiles seem like yesterday. The story line is filled with action and authentic items from real life. The characters are exciting and their harmony and conflicts make for more interesting reading. However, this tale is clearly that of Detroit, which seems to do a classy JIITERBUG under the direction of that Grand Prix writer Mr. Estleman.

Harriet Klausner