Book Review: The Big Show Stopper by Ken Dalton

The Big Show Stopper by Ken Dalton

Publisher: Different Drummer Press
ISBN: 9780578054599
Pages: 296
Size: 5.5 x 8.5 paperback
Release: September 2010

My Review:

The Big Show Stopper was a very entertaining and at times amusing book. Mr. Dalton does a great job setting up the characters and the mystery plot in this book and keeping the reader hooked from the first page until the last..

The Big Show Stopper is the second book in the Pinky and the Bear series, but the first one I have read.  I believe this book stands alone quite well but I am sure I will go back and read the first one when I get a chance.  The main players in the book are lawyer, Pinky, Bear who is Pinky's investigator and someone that Pinky successfully defended against a murder charge, and Flo who is Bear's girlfriend.  They are all interesting and very individual characters, there is no confusing one character from another.

The plot centers on the murder of a very popular singer who is killed at the beginning of one of his concerts, one that Bear and Flo just happen to be at and takes place near Carson City where Pinky practices law.  Add in the stage manager who is accused  of murder, the dead singer's  wife who is involved with accused stage manager, and others who had plenty of reason to kill Brady Blackstone, who to those who knew him well was not the nicest guy.  As Bear and Flo follow the trail things get more and more interesting until it all comes to a head and things are finally figured out.

I found the interplay between the characters to be the most interesting.  The plot kept things moving, but the characters really made the book to me.  Lots of sarcasm and realism is involved with the characters and that made the book satisfying to me.  A pretty quick and easy read.  It's not deep nor does it require a lot of thought.  I did not figure out exactly who did it until close to the end so the plot is not a dead giveaway.

So if you like fun murder mysteries without a lot of violence in them, this is the perfect book for you.  Full of interesting relationships and lively characters, The Big Show Stopper is sure to impress readers.

About the Book:

Brady Blackstone, America's richest and favorite concert performer, dies in a tragic accident while Bear and Flo, along with thousands of northern Nevada's music lovers, look on in horror. However, before Bear can maneuver Flo back to their apartment to complete her birthday celebration, they stumble across a clue that makes them question if Brady's death was an accident.

In The Big Show Stopper, Pinky, a sleazy but successful defense attorney, and Bear, a street-wise ex bartender, mix madness with mayhem as you meet Brady's less than grieving widow-a trigger-happy Carson City Cop named Ice Conner-travel in first-class luxury with Pinky as he follows a questionable lead to an exotic location and suffer with Flo in Bear's old pick up while they drive to another of America's armpit locations where they discover Brady Blackstone's killer.

For more information about the author, check out this post.

The Big Show Stopper can be purchased at
Amazon.com or by special order at your local bookstore.
Price: $14.95 
eBook Kindle - $4.99

***I received this book from the author as part of his blog tour for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  I do not receive money for my amazon links since I live in NC (something about some law), so they are up purely for my readers to have a place to check out the book.***