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.***

Book Tour and Feature: 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


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
**My Review will be coming later today**

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.

About the Author:

KEN DALTON was born in 1938 at Hollywood Hospital. He grew up with his parents, his older sister, Pat, and younger brother, Richard in Los Angeles. The year 1938 informs the quick reader that Ken’s older than a lot of people, but younger than some.

In a turn of bad luck, the dreaded Polio virus found Ken.

At the end of World War ll, Ken’s family moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming for a year where he learned how to live through snow blizzards, avoid walking through the large pile of coal in the basement, and how to survive life as an Army Officer’s brat on a base called Fort Warren.

By the age of sixteen, after eleven years of operations, therapy, and braces, Ken’s luck changed dramatically when he met the girl of his dreams at a party. A few years later they married, produced three wonderful children, and settled into a happy life in Southern California.

In 1966, Ken, who worked as a technician for Pacific Bell, and his family left Southern California for the green hills of Sonoma County where they bought a home in Sebastopol surrounded with apple trees. A few years later, Ken and Arlene built a new home on three and a half acres. They raised cows, pigs, and learned how to build outstanding fences. While their children grew, they hosted two exchange students, Eva Reimers from Sweden, and Tanja Wuttke from Germany, both of whom are still loved members of the Dalton clan. Also during those years, Ken was promoted to management at Pacific Bell. He eventually ended up responsible for all the central offices, sixty-three, in an area that covered five counties.

In 1977, Ken, Arlene, Bob Wiltermood, and his wife Norma, designed, built, and operated a 2000 case winery named Pommeraie Vineyards. They produced award winning Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. However, after Bob died, the winery was sold. Ken and Arlene moved to a hilltop in Healdsburg.

With the winery gone, and time on their hands, Ken and Arlene started to perform with the Camp Rose Players. Twenty years and forty productions later, both are still acting and singing.

Life was good. All Ken had to do was learn some lines and bow when the audience applauded.

Then, ten years ago, Ken started to write. His first article was published in Golf Illustrated in August 1996. More golf articles followed in national and regional magazines including Golf Magazine and Fairways and Greens.

After a two-year stint on the County Grand Jury, Ken felt the need to begin his first novel.

Now, after a decade of struggle to learn the craft of writing, Ken has become the publishing world’s latest overnight sensation.

***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.***