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Joe Hannibal Mystery #1
The Burning Season
While pursuing Junior Odum, the bail jumper he had been hired to locate, private detective Joe Hannibal becomes involved in an investigation into the "accidental" death of his quarry's mother
Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1988
About the author
Wayne D. Dundee
93 books19 followersWayne Dundee lives in the once-notorious old cowtown of Ogallala, on the hinge of Nebraska's panhandle. To date, Dundee has had six novels, three novellas, and over two dozen short stories published. All of the novels and most of the short stories have featured his PI protagonist, Joe Hannibal. He also writes in the fantasy, straight crime, and Western genres. Dismal River is his first Western novel.
Titles in the Hannibal series have been translated into several languages and nominated for an Edgar, an Anthony, and six Shamus Awards. Dundee also founded and was the original editor of Hardboiled Magazine.
A short Western story was recently named winner of the Peacemaker Award from the Western Fictioneers.
Titles in the Hannibal series have been translated into several languages and nominated for an Edgar, an Anthony, and six Shamus Awards. Dundee also founded and was the original editor of Hardboiled Magazine.
A short Western story was recently named winner of the Peacemaker Award from the Western Fictioneers.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 5, 2011
If you liked Mickey, you'll love Big Wayne.
September 25, 2020
PROTAGONIST: PI Joe Hannibal
SETTING: Illinois
SERIES: #1
RATING: 4.25
WHY: Joe Hannibal is a PI from Illinois who has become a reluctant PI. He's looking for bai jumper and robberyu suspect Junior Odom. When he finds him, they strike a deal. Odom's mother has died in a suspicious fire. It may be connected to the fact that she was fighting a local toy company from taking over her land. Odom agrees to go back peacefully with Joe if he will investigate what he feels is his mother's murder. I really liked the protagonist; he's very genuine, tough but caring. Even though he thinks he knows what that truth is, he tries to keep an open mind about the situation. This is the first book I've read by Dundee, but it won't be the last.
SETTING: Illinois
SERIES: #1
RATING: 4.25
WHY: Joe Hannibal is a PI from Illinois who has become a reluctant PI. He's looking for bai jumper and robberyu suspect Junior Odom. When he finds him, they strike a deal. Odom's mother has died in a suspicious fire. It may be connected to the fact that she was fighting a local toy company from taking over her land. Odom agrees to go back peacefully with Joe if he will investigate what he feels is his mother's murder. I really liked the protagonist; he's very genuine, tough but caring. Even though he thinks he knows what that truth is, he tries to keep an open mind about the situation. This is the first book I've read by Dundee, but it won't be the last.
May 27, 2011
There’s honor among at least one thief in this tale, though it takes a little time for Joe Hannibal to discover it.
This is the first of Dundee’s Joe Hannibal novels and the first to be resurrected on Kindle. If you haven’t already discovered this tough-as-nails, heart-of-gold private eye you’ve got a treat in store for you. It’s a fast-moving, tough-fisted account of the search for justice in the murder of a beloved elderly woman who stood in the way of what some consider progress and the killer sees as opportunity.
Joe goes out of his home turf of Rockford, Ill., in search of a bail-jumper who just happens to be the son of the victim. Junior Odum convinces Hannibal to devote 48 hours to investigating what has been declared an accidental death by fire. Whatever the outcome, Odum gives his word he’ll willingly return to custody.
Though Mrs. Odum had received threats when she refused to sell her property to the largest employer in the county, it initially appears the ruling on her death might be correct. But it isn’t long before Joe turns up some suspects and hostility. He also finds an accomplice in his investigation who has no objection to him getting physical with her.
Dundee provides solid characters, an action-filled plot and even a few surprise developments to keep the reader flipping pages.
This is the first of Dundee’s Joe Hannibal novels and the first to be resurrected on Kindle. If you haven’t already discovered this tough-as-nails, heart-of-gold private eye you’ve got a treat in store for you. It’s a fast-moving, tough-fisted account of the search for justice in the murder of a beloved elderly woman who stood in the way of what some consider progress and the killer sees as opportunity.
Joe goes out of his home turf of Rockford, Ill., in search of a bail-jumper who just happens to be the son of the victim. Junior Odum convinces Hannibal to devote 48 hours to investigating what has been declared an accidental death by fire. Whatever the outcome, Odum gives his word he’ll willingly return to custody.
Though Mrs. Odum had received threats when she refused to sell her property to the largest employer in the county, it initially appears the ruling on her death might be correct. But it isn’t long before Joe turns up some suspects and hostility. He also finds an accomplice in his investigation who has no objection to him getting physical with her.
Dundee provides solid characters, an action-filled plot and even a few surprise developments to keep the reader flipping pages.
October 11, 2020
Great detective novels are a little like great pop songs - they are simplicity itself. But they’re also in surprisingly-short supply. I was looking on the website for The Edgars (awards for mystery novels) and I saw that Wayne Dundee had been recognized a few times about 30 years ago. So, I decided to order The Burning Season from EBay. It’s the first book in his Joe Hannibal series. I got a copy for $4 and read it last week. The Burning Season is a cut above the average private eye novel. But I’d have to say that while the novel is good, it isn’t great.
Private eye Joe Hannibal is an ex-Chicago cop who scrapes out a living in Rockford, Illinois. He finds himself working a bounty hunting job in southern Illinois. The man Hannibal tracks down convinces Hannibal to look into the mysterious death of an elderly woman in a fire. And the adventure begins...
The Burning Season is a solid book. Dundee has some terrific lines and displays a knack for capturing the small-town setting. But The Burning Season just doesn’t have that extra something that would set it above the crowded private-eye field. Too often, Dundee slips into cliche - the marginally-employed detective, the jerky, yuppie businessman, etc. Also, Dundee makes the old mistake of telling the reader what to think, rather than showing it through the characters’ actions.
The Burning Season is good. But, given the acclaim for the Hannibal series, I was hoping it would be even better. If I come across other books in the series, I’ll be happy to read them. But I probably won’t seem them out.
Private eye Joe Hannibal is an ex-Chicago cop who scrapes out a living in Rockford, Illinois. He finds himself working a bounty hunting job in southern Illinois. The man Hannibal tracks down convinces Hannibal to look into the mysterious death of an elderly woman in a fire. And the adventure begins...
The Burning Season is a solid book. Dundee has some terrific lines and displays a knack for capturing the small-town setting. But The Burning Season just doesn’t have that extra something that would set it above the crowded private-eye field. Too often, Dundee slips into cliche - the marginally-employed detective, the jerky, yuppie businessman, etc. Also, Dundee makes the old mistake of telling the reader what to think, rather than showing it through the characters’ actions.
The Burning Season is good. But, given the acclaim for the Hannibal series, I was hoping it would be even better. If I come across other books in the series, I’ll be happy to read them. But I probably won’t seem them out.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews