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Dope Thief: A Mystery
Ray and his best friend, Manny, close ever since they met in juvie almost twenty years ago, have a great scam With a couple of fake badges and some DEA windbreakers they found at a secondhand store, they pose as federal agents and rip off small-time drug dealers, taking their money and drugs and disappearing before anyone is the wiser. It's the perfect the dealers they target are too small to look for revenge and too guilty to call the police, nobody has to die, nobody innocent gets hurt, and Ray and Manny score plenty.
But it can't last forever. Eventually, they choose the wrong mark and walk out with hundreds of thousands of dollars, and a heavy hitter, who is more than willing to kill to get his money back, is coming after them. Now Ray couldn't care less about the score. He wants out---out of the scam, out of a life he feels like he never chose. Whether the victim of his latest job---not to mention his partner---will let him is another question entirely.
Dennis Tafoya brings a rich, passionate, and accomplished new voice to the explosive story of a small-time crook with everything to lose in Dope Thief, his outstanding hardboiled debut.
But it can't last forever. Eventually, they choose the wrong mark and walk out with hundreds of thousands of dollars, and a heavy hitter, who is more than willing to kill to get his money back, is coming after them. Now Ray couldn't care less about the score. He wants out---out of the scam, out of a life he feels like he never chose. Whether the victim of his latest job---not to mention his partner---will let him is another question entirely.
Dennis Tafoya brings a rich, passionate, and accomplished new voice to the explosive story of a small-time crook with everything to lose in Dope Thief, his outstanding hardboiled debut.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2009
130 people are currently reading
2808 people want to read
About the author
Dennis Tafoya
10 books69 followersDennis Tafoya is the author of three crime novels, And Dope Thief, The Wolves in Fairmount Park and The Poor Boy’s Game, as well as numerous short stories appearing in magazines and anthologies including Philadelphia Noir and The Best American Mystery Stories . His work has been optioned for film and television.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
January 18, 2011
Tafoya’s tale of lowlife despair and redemption in the Philadelphia area is an impressive debut and a potential future classic (if not this book than the next one). His writing is very much in the tradition of Pelecanos, Lehane, and Price, an accolade he deserves rather than it merely being shorthand for East Coast grittiness. He is a strong writer who has taken many of their strengths to heart and used it to map out his own territory. This is in the story of a low rung participant in the Philly area drug wars. He takes classic tropes of the crime novel including heist gone wrong and man trying to escape the criminal life he was born into. Than brings a depth of character, unpredictability of plot, and prose that varies between taut and poetic to create a novel that never cheats you as literary novel and never cheats you as a crime novel.
February 7, 2013
DOPE THIEF is essentially two tales – one of pure balls-to-the-wall, all out adrenaline noir, the other a quiet unassuming suburban-like cozy noir made for book lovers. Ray, one half of the sting duet features in both acts, firstly as a methodical hardened criminal accustomed to strong arm tactics, and lastly as a man trying to win his way back into society using money for good and making recompense for past discretions.
I love the concept of thieves imitating DEA agents to raid drug houses. The raids are calculated, written in a style I can only compare to THE WIRE. There is an urban war feel to the first act of DOPE THIEF delivered in a way that’s both realistic and humbling. Almost a case of Robin Hood with the dope thieves performing a public good by way of eliminating the competition for a much larger player. Justifiable as it may seem, it’s oh so violent with a knife edge balancing act omnipresent throughout each raid. You wait for it to go pear shaped and the author doesn’t disappoint.
“Laying there spattered with blood under the white moon like a hull of bone, he saw that there was almost nothing in it and that all around him were the dogs that slinked under the table and chewed each other’s throats for scraps….Ripping at each other with teeth and black claws and the whole time dying themselves, worn thin and bleeding. Wandering away to die alone or killed for their weakness.”
Ray and Manny become embroiled in a bikie drug war after accepting a raid by middleman Ho which lands them in the thick of bullets and bodies. No longer does the quick score seem as important, as Ray and Manny try to keep their heads away from the chopping block. While the violence is plentiful, the introspective dialogue and flashbacks to an unfortunate event which resulted in the death of Ray’s teen girlfriend really drive DOPE THIEF, turning it from pure entertainment to sometime much more meaningful. Ray’s past both condemns and redeems him - for me, the highlight of the novel.
DOPE THIEF is a very well written and multi faceted noir catering to the violent edged fiction enthusiasts and those readers who enjoy character driven journey tales laden with heartache and break alike.
I love the concept of thieves imitating DEA agents to raid drug houses. The raids are calculated, written in a style I can only compare to THE WIRE. There is an urban war feel to the first act of DOPE THIEF delivered in a way that’s both realistic and humbling. Almost a case of Robin Hood with the dope thieves performing a public good by way of eliminating the competition for a much larger player. Justifiable as it may seem, it’s oh so violent with a knife edge balancing act omnipresent throughout each raid. You wait for it to go pear shaped and the author doesn’t disappoint.
“Laying there spattered with blood under the white moon like a hull of bone, he saw that there was almost nothing in it and that all around him were the dogs that slinked under the table and chewed each other’s throats for scraps….Ripping at each other with teeth and black claws and the whole time dying themselves, worn thin and bleeding. Wandering away to die alone or killed for their weakness.”
Ray and Manny become embroiled in a bikie drug war after accepting a raid by middleman Ho which lands them in the thick of bullets and bodies. No longer does the quick score seem as important, as Ray and Manny try to keep their heads away from the chopping block. While the violence is plentiful, the introspective dialogue and flashbacks to an unfortunate event which resulted in the death of Ray’s teen girlfriend really drive DOPE THIEF, turning it from pure entertainment to sometime much more meaningful. Ray’s past both condemns and redeems him - for me, the highlight of the novel.
DOPE THIEF is a very well written and multi faceted noir catering to the violent edged fiction enthusiasts and those readers who enjoy character driven journey tales laden with heartache and break alike.
November 25, 2009
A good first novel. It hits the ground running and through the first two-thirds, it has a pace and story that is consistently strong. It just couldn't find the ending.
While I can see what the author was trying to do, the story ends at about pages 200 and the book ends closer to 300. Rather than tell two stories concurrently and retain the momentum, he tells two stories consecutively, the slower story second. It makes for an unsatisfying end, as the end of the book is what you are left with.
I'll check out what Tafoya does next. The action and writing are sure-handed and confident.
While I can see what the author was trying to do, the story ends at about pages 200 and the book ends closer to 300. Rather than tell two stories concurrently and retain the momentum, he tells two stories consecutively, the slower story second. It makes for an unsatisfying end, as the end of the book is what you are left with.
I'll check out what Tafoya does next. The action and writing are sure-handed and confident.
April 24, 2025
I thought this was going to be something different than it ended up being. There were elements I liked a lot, regarding typical crime fiction, but the way the last few chapters are really made me love it more.
It becomes profound and beautiful in a way that most crime novels don't stick with and commits to it. I started this to watch the show and now I'm curious if the show will stick the landing like the book.
It becomes profound and beautiful in a way that most crime novels don't stick with and commits to it. I started this to watch the show and now I'm curious if the show will stick the landing like the book.
October 29, 2009
I couldn't go beyond a 3 star for this book regardless of its high rating here and on Amazon. The first part of the book was slow, then it became non-stop action which I found page turning, but then the last part of the book felt like an immense let down to me. I felt no closure from the main drama and the ending was somewhat disappointing to me. Had the book continued with the fast pace and had a climactic ending, who knows? This book has movie potential but the last 1/4 of the book would have to be re-written - just my opinion.
February 4, 2015
PROTAGONIST: Ray and Manny, ex cons
SETTING: Philadelphia
SERIES: Debut
RATING: 4.5
Ray and Manny first met when they were juveniles in prison almost twenty years earlier. They certainly learned a lot from that experience. Now they are running one of the best schemes ever, raiding drug dealers. Flashing fake badges and wearing surplus DEA jackets, Manny and Ray make quick work of most dealers. They just grab the drugs and cash with a minimum of violence. It's a very lucrative deal.
But it's only a matter of time before one of these grabs is going to go wrong in a big way. They've taken on a third man for this job, and he's a little bit too jumpy. As a result, some people end up hurt or dead. Ray and Manny score big on this one, hundreds of thousands of dollars, which is way beyond anything they've ever hauled in before. As you can imagine, the people behind this operation want their money back; and Ray and Manny are soon the targets of these drug kingpins.
Long before this job, Ray had been awakening to the fact that this wasn't the kind of life that was going to lead him to long term happiness. He's obsessed with the past, and most especially with his relationship with the only woman he ever loved, who perished in a car crash for which Ray blames himself. How he manages to work through his present precarious situation and redeem himself is a riveting tale. Essentially, he is a good man who has taken the path of least resistance. In so doing, he's cheated himself and the people he cares about.
The book seems at first to be following the standard noir pattern, with lives spiraling out of control amidst increasing darkness—hohum—but all along the way, you sense that something different is going to happen. Even though he willingly participates in the various schemes, Ray starts showing signs that he views the life he is leading as being an exercise in futility. Where DOPE THIEF really excels is in the last third of the book, as Ray begins a redemptive journey. It is how Ray deals with his own awareness that makes the book something special. Great characterization and solid plotting along with lots of action and heart resulted in a very satisfying reading experience. The only issue I had was with a writing technique that Tafoya used, wherein he included lengthy flashbacks to the past in italic text, something I find hard to read in long passages.
DOPE THIEF is an outstanding debut. Tafoya has gone beyond the noir formula to create a book where despair and hope are intertwined and the reader becomes as emotionally conflicted as the characters. I fully expect to see this on many nomination lists as best first novel. It deserves to win.
SETTING: Philadelphia
SERIES: Debut
RATING: 4.5
Ray and Manny first met when they were juveniles in prison almost twenty years earlier. They certainly learned a lot from that experience. Now they are running one of the best schemes ever, raiding drug dealers. Flashing fake badges and wearing surplus DEA jackets, Manny and Ray make quick work of most dealers. They just grab the drugs and cash with a minimum of violence. It's a very lucrative deal.
But it's only a matter of time before one of these grabs is going to go wrong in a big way. They've taken on a third man for this job, and he's a little bit too jumpy. As a result, some people end up hurt or dead. Ray and Manny score big on this one, hundreds of thousands of dollars, which is way beyond anything they've ever hauled in before. As you can imagine, the people behind this operation want their money back; and Ray and Manny are soon the targets of these drug kingpins.
Long before this job, Ray had been awakening to the fact that this wasn't the kind of life that was going to lead him to long term happiness. He's obsessed with the past, and most especially with his relationship with the only woman he ever loved, who perished in a car crash for which Ray blames himself. How he manages to work through his present precarious situation and redeem himself is a riveting tale. Essentially, he is a good man who has taken the path of least resistance. In so doing, he's cheated himself and the people he cares about.
The book seems at first to be following the standard noir pattern, with lives spiraling out of control amidst increasing darkness—hohum—but all along the way, you sense that something different is going to happen. Even though he willingly participates in the various schemes, Ray starts showing signs that he views the life he is leading as being an exercise in futility. Where DOPE THIEF really excels is in the last third of the book, as Ray begins a redemptive journey. It is how Ray deals with his own awareness that makes the book something special. Great characterization and solid plotting along with lots of action and heart resulted in a very satisfying reading experience. The only issue I had was with a writing technique that Tafoya used, wherein he included lengthy flashbacks to the past in italic text, something I find hard to read in long passages.
DOPE THIEF is an outstanding debut. Tafoya has gone beyond the noir formula to create a book where despair and hope are intertwined and the reader becomes as emotionally conflicted as the characters. I fully expect to see this on many nomination lists as best first novel. It deserves to win.
March 24, 2025
Ray and Manny are busy raiding homes, confiscating illegal drugs and money, and arresting those involved in the drug trade. They waltz in with their fancy walkie talkies and jackets with bold DEA lettering. There's just one catch...they're aren't police. They're dope thieves. But when a bust goes wrong, they find that they've stolen from the wrong person.
As much of a compelling plot we are given in the beginning, this book seemed to have lost its footing along the way. While deeply character focused on Ray, the plot runs away with itself and then off a cliff about two-thirds into the book, and then we're left with the remnants of the situation trying to pick up the pieces. Normally, I would be okay with this if the first part of book were so heavy on the action and the character building left much to be desired, but that's not what Dope Thief does. We're put into chaotic situations where Ray tends to be a side character in much of his own story. And when the train that drives the plot is somewhat resolved part way, we're left with a broken character that's just trying to figure things out. But Ray as a character just wasn't compelling enough to make me really care about what was happening towards the end.
As much of a compelling plot we are given in the beginning, this book seemed to have lost its footing along the way. While deeply character focused on Ray, the plot runs away with itself and then off a cliff about two-thirds into the book, and then we're left with the remnants of the situation trying to pick up the pieces. Normally, I would be okay with this if the first part of book were so heavy on the action and the character building left much to be desired, but that's not what Dope Thief does. We're put into chaotic situations where Ray tends to be a side character in much of his own story. And when the train that drives the plot is somewhat resolved part way, we're left with a broken character that's just trying to figure things out. But Ray as a character just wasn't compelling enough to make me really care about what was happening towards the end.
September 16, 2010
I read the kindle version and sombody did a poor job of editing. I gave it a 4.5. The action is great and the story of redemption is very good.
I found the ending a bit too hollywood and the character of the supporting actors a bit lacking. I wish he would have done a little more development of Manny and Michelle. Overall a good start for a new novel. I plan to read the second one. Thanks Bob for the heads up.
I found the ending a bit too hollywood and the character of the supporting actors a bit lacking. I wish he would have done a little more development of Manny and Michelle. Overall a good start for a new novel. I plan to read the second one. Thanks Bob for the heads up.
January 1, 2009
My book, coming from St. Martin's Minotaur in May. Hope you enjoy it!
May 17, 2025
DOPE THIEF Dennisa Tafoye dobio je jednu od najprestižnijih ekranizacija ove godine kada ju je za Apple priredio Peter Craig, u produkciji Ridleya Scotta i sa Brian Tyree Henryjem i Wagner Mourom u glavnim ulogama. Sam roman je međutim bitno drugačiji od serije, i moram reći da ga je Peter Craig znatno unapredio u narativnom smislu.
Craigove intervencije su veoma značajne i krupne, i u izvesnom smislu, stvaraju pogrešnu sliku o romanu. Naime, Craig uzima Tafoyinu premisu o dva sitna kriminalca džankija koji se prave da su agenti DEA i otimaju robu sitnim dilerima, i od nje razvija punokrvni krimić sa sve odmetnutim DEA agentima koji su bili ubačeni u bandu koju su ovi opljačkali ne znajuči da je to bitno čvorište za plasman metha. Craigov televizijski DOPE THIEF je daleko od savršenog, i slabiji je od njegovih ranijih radova kao što su TOWN ili BLOOD FATHER, ali je to ipak koliko toliko fokusirana priča koja se kreće prema ishodištu i ponegde precenjuje originalnost klišea kojima se služi.
U tom pogledu, DOPE THIEF je serija koja ne dobacuje do kvaliteta svojih izuzetnih glumaca, čini se da oni zaslužuju više i bolje, i ima deonice koje su bolje od drugih, dakle nije ujednačena. Ali, u osnovi, ovo je ipak jedna ozbiljno napravljena i sasvim solidna serija.
Roman međutim uzima tu osnovnu premisu, nema paralelnu radnju sa policajcima koji su upleteni u neuspelu pljačku, nema pomoćnu igru sa ocem kog iz zatvora puštaju da bi cinkario sina itd. Umesto toga svoju premisu iscrpi posle dve trećine romana i onda postane nešto drugo, neka amorfna literarna tvorevina o daljoj sudbini glavnog junaka koja ne vodi nikuda. Naravno, nijedan roman nije dužan da bude žanrovski ortodoksan, i samim tim nemam ništa protiv da se u nekom trenutku pretvori u psihiološko preispitivanje junaka. Međutim, Tafoyin rukopis jedva da je dovoljan za efektan krimić a nekmoli za neki složeniji žanrovski derivat.
Otud, sve što je pre toga zanimljivo zamislio, Tafoya uredno uspeva da prokocka i obesmisli u završnici romana. On je pisac kog nije greška pročitati, ali evidentno je da mu dobra volja nadilazi sposobnosti.
U tom smislu, serija je uprkos krupnim izmenama Tafoyu unapredila i stvorila mnogo bolju sliku o njemu od one koju daju romani.
Craigove intervencije su veoma značajne i krupne, i u izvesnom smislu, stvaraju pogrešnu sliku o romanu. Naime, Craig uzima Tafoyinu premisu o dva sitna kriminalca džankija koji se prave da su agenti DEA i otimaju robu sitnim dilerima, i od nje razvija punokrvni krimić sa sve odmetnutim DEA agentima koji su bili ubačeni u bandu koju su ovi opljačkali ne znajuči da je to bitno čvorište za plasman metha. Craigov televizijski DOPE THIEF je daleko od savršenog, i slabiji je od njegovih ranijih radova kao što su TOWN ili BLOOD FATHER, ali je to ipak koliko toliko fokusirana priča koja se kreće prema ishodištu i ponegde precenjuje originalnost klišea kojima se služi.
U tom pogledu, DOPE THIEF je serija koja ne dobacuje do kvaliteta svojih izuzetnih glumaca, čini se da oni zaslužuju više i bolje, i ima deonice koje su bolje od drugih, dakle nije ujednačena. Ali, u osnovi, ovo je ipak jedna ozbiljno napravljena i sasvim solidna serija.
Roman međutim uzima tu osnovnu premisu, nema paralelnu radnju sa policajcima koji su upleteni u neuspelu pljačku, nema pomoćnu igru sa ocem kog iz zatvora puštaju da bi cinkario sina itd. Umesto toga svoju premisu iscrpi posle dve trećine romana i onda postane nešto drugo, neka amorfna literarna tvorevina o daljoj sudbini glavnog junaka koja ne vodi nikuda. Naravno, nijedan roman nije dužan da bude žanrovski ortodoksan, i samim tim nemam ništa protiv da se u nekom trenutku pretvori u psihiološko preispitivanje junaka. Međutim, Tafoyin rukopis jedva da je dovoljan za efektan krimić a nekmoli za neki složeniji žanrovski derivat.
Otud, sve što je pre toga zanimljivo zamislio, Tafoya uredno uspeva da prokocka i obesmisli u završnici romana. On je pisac kog nije greška pročitati, ali evidentno je da mu dobra volja nadilazi sposobnosti.
U tom smislu, serija je uprkos krupnim izmenama Tafoyu unapredila i stvorila mnogo bolju sliku o njemu od one koju daju romani.
February 13, 2025
⭐️⭐️���️⭐️.75/5
This book was the very definition of a wild ride with a redemption character arc that was satisfying and yet somehow left me wanting just a little bit more, which I guess isn’t a bad thing. Always leave them wanting more, I suppose.
Ray, our main character, along with his buddy Manny, knocks over drug houses pretending to be a DEA agent. As soon as I realized what was happening, I knew it was only a matter of time before they went to the wrong house, and that’s exactly how it goes. I was on the edge of my seat for the first half of the book; this is supposed to be an easy gig because no one is dumb enough to shoot a DEA agent, they don’t really hurt anyone, and it’s always in and out. Until it isn’t.
Following Ray was so interesting, he is a super complex character who was blamed and sent to prison for something he didn’t do, but it completely messed up his life and put him on a path of crime and drugs. Could he have gone a different way if not for one singular moment in his life? The book does a good job of making Ray and the reader wonder.
Then you get to see what Ray could be as you finish out the book. There was a plot I didn’t see coming that really helped bring this man full circle from a dope thief (and fiend) to someone with two solid feet on the ground. The pacing was great, I would say my only nitpick was that at times it could be difficult to follow the action, but it wasn’t bad. The cover bills this as a mystery, but it really wasn’t, not to me. It was a thriller, and I couldn’t help but think of shows like Breaking Bad and Jett while I was reading.
If you can handle shoot outs, violence, drug use, and similar themes, and you love a good tense moment, this book will do it for you. I actually think I’ll read it again at some point, I enjoyed the ride that much.
This book was the very definition of a wild ride with a redemption character arc that was satisfying and yet somehow left me wanting just a little bit more, which I guess isn’t a bad thing. Always leave them wanting more, I suppose.
Ray, our main character, along with his buddy Manny, knocks over drug houses pretending to be a DEA agent. As soon as I realized what was happening, I knew it was only a matter of time before they went to the wrong house, and that’s exactly how it goes. I was on the edge of my seat for the first half of the book; this is supposed to be an easy gig because no one is dumb enough to shoot a DEA agent, they don’t really hurt anyone, and it’s always in and out. Until it isn’t.
Following Ray was so interesting, he is a super complex character who was blamed and sent to prison for something he didn’t do, but it completely messed up his life and put him on a path of crime and drugs. Could he have gone a different way if not for one singular moment in his life? The book does a good job of making Ray and the reader wonder.
Then you get to see what Ray could be as you finish out the book. There was a plot I didn’t see coming that really helped bring this man full circle from a dope thief (and fiend) to someone with two solid feet on the ground. The pacing was great, I would say my only nitpick was that at times it could be difficult to follow the action, but it wasn’t bad. The cover bills this as a mystery, but it really wasn’t, not to me. It was a thriller, and I couldn’t help but think of shows like Breaking Bad and Jett while I was reading.
If you can handle shoot outs, violence, drug use, and similar themes, and you love a good tense moment, this book will do it for you. I actually think I’ll read it again at some point, I enjoyed the ride that much.
July 24, 2018
A nice gem - You really feel for the caracters in this one. It starts with a bang , the story is well crafted, and has a great ending. Very well written from start to finish. I don't give many 5 stars, but this one is worth it.
February 22, 2024
Was nicely surprised where this went and the amount of compassion it went with
April 19, 2011
This story opens by introducing us to two friends who make their living posing as DEA agents with the purpose of robbing dealers of their cash and their 'product'. They're very good at it too. But, sometimes, even Lady Luck has a way of saying 'f*$k you', and then even the best laid plans can go tragically up in smoke.
Okay. It's simple and predictable, right? You know exactly where this is going, right? Wrong. While it is true that these two do make a big mistake and steal from someone they should have never crossed paths with, this plot does not proceed in quite that straight of a line.
You'll hold your breath during the car chases, you'll encounter very bad guys, and believe it or not, a hero. Yes. I did say a hero. True, he's incredibly flawed and pretty much broken, but in a bizarre sort of way, a hero still. In trying to make things right, at times, he drops five steps back for every one he takes forward, but still he doesn't fold his hand. Can he find his way out of a situation from which there is no escape? Most importantly, can he minimize the collateral damage to those closest to him?
Dennis Tafoya's debut is ten stars and counting. Remember his name because you'll be seeing it in all the best and brightest places. His style is gritty and genuine--his characters are solid and strongly driven on their seemingly predestined paths. This is a story about criminals and the crimes they commit, but you know what? You'll strongly despise some, and yet, you'll get down and root for others. You'll laugh with them, you'll hang on to the edge of your seat with them, and you'll feel their pain and desperation as well.
Whatever you do, don't let the title, Dope Thief, throw you. This is not a run-of-the-mill go-from-point-a-to-point-b type tale. And, don't let the word 'mystery' fool you either. While there is a mystery running through it, this is a story about people and the choices they make and those that are forced upon them. Their lives will frighten, excite and even touch you, and you will savor each page, so take your time with this one. You'll be so glad you did, and like me, when you're finished, you'll anxiously await Tafoya's next.
Okay. It's simple and predictable, right? You know exactly where this is going, right? Wrong. While it is true that these two do make a big mistake and steal from someone they should have never crossed paths with, this plot does not proceed in quite that straight of a line.
You'll hold your breath during the car chases, you'll encounter very bad guys, and believe it or not, a hero. Yes. I did say a hero. True, he's incredibly flawed and pretty much broken, but in a bizarre sort of way, a hero still. In trying to make things right, at times, he drops five steps back for every one he takes forward, but still he doesn't fold his hand. Can he find his way out of a situation from which there is no escape? Most importantly, can he minimize the collateral damage to those closest to him?
Dennis Tafoya's debut is ten stars and counting. Remember his name because you'll be seeing it in all the best and brightest places. His style is gritty and genuine--his characters are solid and strongly driven on their seemingly predestined paths. This is a story about criminals and the crimes they commit, but you know what? You'll strongly despise some, and yet, you'll get down and root for others. You'll laugh with them, you'll hang on to the edge of your seat with them, and you'll feel their pain and desperation as well.
Whatever you do, don't let the title, Dope Thief, throw you. This is not a run-of-the-mill go-from-point-a-to-point-b type tale. And, don't let the word 'mystery' fool you either. While there is a mystery running through it, this is a story about people and the choices they make and those that are forced upon them. Their lives will frighten, excite and even touch you, and you will savor each page, so take your time with this one. You'll be so glad you did, and like me, when you're finished, you'll anxiously await Tafoya's next.
May 27, 2015
Crime Thriller
Two lowlifes who scout meth or crack sales houses then, posing as DEA agents raid the house, tie people up with plastic handcuffs, acting like law enforcement.
Most people selling or hanging out in these houses are also users, so they're not thinking rationally, and do exactly as told, while the "agents" confiscate all the drugs, guns and money. Rinse and repeat.
One wacked out meth user/seller who operates a meth lab turns out to have connections the two lowlifes know nothing about. He wants all the money, drugs, and guns they have "confiscated". The fake DEA agents fear for their lives.
Sounds like a great plot, but I never cared for any of the characters one bit. Surprisingly, I was bored before the end and had no interest in continuing, or how the book ended.
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Two lowlifes who scout meth or crack sales houses then, posing as DEA agents raid the house, tie people up with plastic handcuffs, acting like law enforcement.
Most people selling or hanging out in these houses are also users, so they're not thinking rationally, and do exactly as told, while the "agents" confiscate all the drugs, guns and money. Rinse and repeat.
One wacked out meth user/seller who operates a meth lab turns out to have connections the two lowlifes know nothing about. He wants all the money, drugs, and guns they have "confiscated". The fake DEA agents fear for their lives.
Sounds like a great plot, but I never cared for any of the characters one bit. Surprisingly, I was bored before the end and had no interest in continuing, or how the book ended.
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May 9, 2009
Dope Thief is easily one of the best books I've read this year, a remarkable combination of action and dread, brains and heart, with everything I look for in great crime fiction, and more. While the "mystery" on the cover is certainly a misnomer, there is mystery within it, as well as a great plot and characters that live and breathe and suffer and change and stay with you long after you have put the book down. An excellent read.
May 5, 2009
Don't be fooled by the words "A Mystery" on the front cover, or the adjectives "noir" and "fast-paced" on the back. This is as tender and subtle a portrait of a criminal mind I've ever seen. Effortlessly beautiful and heartfelt, even as the bullets fly and the wounds open. If In Cold Blood was set in a meth lab, and written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, you'd have DopeThief.
May 18, 2009
I couldn't stop reading this novel. It has been days since I finished it, and it still resonates with me. The out of control actions of the main characters, then their scramble to save themselves, and a beyond touching turn of events make this a highly recommended read. Add in great imagery, and action packed drama laced with guns and dope, and you've got the makings of greatness. Don't miss it!
January 20, 2009
Disclaimer: the author is on my friends list and performs a similar function in real life. But both these things came to pass after a mutual friend sent me a galley of "Dope Thief" to read. This is the real thing, hard core Noir the way many attempt and few achieve.
July 18, 2012
If you like Dennis Lehane or George Pelecanos, you're going to love Dennis Tafoya. Fantastic characters and a plot that was simultaneously easy to follow and impossible to anticipate. Read this book!
March 25, 2025
Two Stories in One Book
Part one: an exciting drug ripoff story with loads of exciting action. Part two: a boring self analysis saga filled with way too much exposition. Honestly, you might not want to read the entire book - you will know what I mean when you get to the transition. I forced myself to finish it.
Part one: an exciting drug ripoff story with loads of exciting action. Part two: a boring self analysis saga filled with way too much exposition. Honestly, you might not want to read the entire book - you will know what I mean when you get to the transition. I forced myself to finish it.
May 21, 2025
Not sure “a mystery” are the best words following the colon in the title. This book is so many things—good in many ways, disappointing in a few, but not a mystery. It made me think a lot…about life, society, fairness, judgment—which is why I gave it three stars instead of two. The ending should have been more true to the rest of the book.
May 13, 2025
Liked it in general, Pa native so that’s always a nice connection with location. Somewhat maudaline conclusion but still satisfying. A bit Good Will Hunting but in Philly, boy from Bucks instead of kid from Southie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2025
Entertaining enough to keep the pages turning, but the plot played it safe. Felt like I knew where it was headed three chapters in. Good for when you want something easy to sink into without too much second-guessing.
July 23, 2025
I started reading it because I worked on the show and glad I finally got back to finishing it. This was absolutely excellent. Great plot, awesome characters, has action and humor too. Really good Philly story.
August 1, 2025
While the book lacks the relentless pacing of the Apple TV series that is reminiscent of the Safdie brothers, it more than makes up for it with more interesting, broken characters on a redemptive arc.
September 22, 2025
This book was good! Read it very quickly. Liked the characters and the story / plot was compelling.
Would’ve given it higher stars but started losing me towards the end. Middle was fantastic though I was fully absorbed.
Would’ve given it higher stars but started losing me towards the end. Middle was fantastic though I was fully absorbed.
November 24, 2025
Each character was easy to love and root for. I wish the best for them all. Ray’s bookstore purchase was perfect. He found his true family and a shot at happiness all thanks to the bookstore tying everyone together.
February 20, 2019
Really compelling book about the drug trade and if of its perpetrators. Lots of great Philly area atmosphere. Docked a star for momentum killing flashbacks, and an overlong, rather silly denouement.
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