Dimebag Bandits

by Craig Furchtenicht

When Kori Woodson's stepfather gives his entire college savings to a religious zealot's campaign fund, he takes matters into his own hands. He steals drugs from his employer, who also happens to belong to the same church, and sells them to the bored housewives in the neighborhood. When he is eventually caught he finds himself expelled from school, fired from his job and facing jail time.
Now his parents plan to travel the country on a mission to “Save the world from itself” with the church that has shunned him. With no other place to stay, Kori is forced to return to his real father's home in rural Iowa. A place that he has not been to in over six years.
It is a far cry from the big city but his older brother, Brenden, and his motley crew of friends do not hesitate to take him right into the fold. Within hours of returning home, Kori gets caught up in the dangerous and potentially deadly trade of robbing drug dealers of their wares. He soon realizes that the people they work for can be even more of a threat than the people that they steal from.
Drugs, sex, money and death... It is all a day in the life of a Dimebag Bandit.
Product Details

330 pages, Paperback

First published August 10, 2013

About the author

My name is Craig Furchtenicht. I live in the beautiful state of Iowa, USA. I work as a mechanical technician for a large toothbrush manufactoring facilty. In my spare time I enjoy the outdoors, spending time with my wife and of course writing.
My first novel, "Dimebag Bandits", was published last year and I am currently working on the follow up to it. The second work also takes place in Iowa, mainly in the fictional towns of Cameron and Cedar Ridge.
Most of the ideas for my books come from past personal experience, both good and bad. Many revolve around extreme situations involving recreational drug use and the violence that accompanies them. I do not condone these activities, but god only knows that without my years of mispent youth I would not have the material to fill my pages today.
I also write short story collections that lean towards the horror/bizarro genre. These works include "The Blue Dress Paradigm" and the upcoming "Night Speed Zero". All of which can be found on Amazon.com
Enjoy.

Reviews

[Bill Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exciting and very well written book that after reading the first few pages, you won't want to put down. The central characters, who are mainly thieves and drug users or bent cops, are well described and despite them being on the surface not very pleasant, you actually get caught up in the adventure and begin to like at least a couple of them and forget their bad side. This makes the characters original and unusual, which is a big plus.
This is a great thriller that deals with the dark side of life in an atmospheric and gripping story, which well deserves 5 stars. I look forward to reading more by the author.

[Tom Conyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kori Woodson steals and sells drugs from the veterinary clinic he works for in order to pay his tuition fees. He's caught and his stepfather, the preacher Clayton, gets him off the charges but sends him to live with Kori’s brother Brenden in Cedar Ridge. Brenden, and his thug friends, introduce Kori to a life of beating people to steal their drugs before selling the ill-gotten gains further up the criminal chain. Interwoven are the trials of likeable cop Dale who has been partnered with the thoroughly nasty Butch, and the pedophile 'Virge the Perv' who makes pornography with minors.

There is a hard-boiled, unadorned style to the writing that I thought was appropriate to the subject matter. The characters were well drawn. For me, I enjoyed the less violent scenes of character development, particularly between Kori and his brother Brendan, Kori and his burgeoning friendship with Todd, and Dale's thoughts and reminiscences. But there's plenty of carnage for aficionados of gore.

Author Craig Furchtenicht presents some pretty unlikeable protagonists with some fairly unsavory attitudes and prejudices. I agree that politically correct writing can be the death knell of a good story, and if you're writing a tale set in the particular milieu of brutal rednecks, corrupt cops and sexual violence, then your dialogue needs to be true to that setting.

But some of it did make me uncomfortable. For instance, every gay character is presented as a sad sack, sleaze or pedophile. There are no positive examples to counteract this impression, at a time when many now realize that gay people are your uncle, your niece, your baker, your accountant; in other words, most are ordinary, upstanding individuals like the rest of the population.

Similarly, the only representation of blacks is a short scene involving a street gang. When one of Kori and Brendan's mates refers to one of the blacks in direct speech as a monkey, you can accept that this would be the kind of thing to spew from the mouth of an irredeemable thug. But the supposedly impartially positioned narrator also refers to the black guys' 'fit of mindless dancing' in a tired racial stereotype.

While it’s a mistake to assume an author holds the views of his characters (Furchtenicht’s writing is too wry and knowing to invite this error) ‘Dimebag Bandits’ runs a very fine line between authenticity and offensiveness, which I felt it overstepped at times.

That said, it was a mainly well-handled ride for an emerging author to pen, and Furchtenicht should be commended for not being afraid to step into darker territory. The author could have moderated his characters' views and actions, but that would have made for a ‘safe’ and therefore bland novel, which this certainly isn’t.

Nor was it ever predictable, often veering off into unexpected places. I was waiting, though, for the first character we're introduced to, Stacey, to come back into the story, and also to find out what happened to the hapless Carissa. Neither thread is picked up. On the note of Carissa, she and Kori's mother are the only two female characters in a male-dominated story. From a story point of view, it was understandable why this bunch of guys might not attract female company, but perhaps several of the cops could have been women, introducing a much-needed extra dynamic to proceedings.

I very much enjoyed the local color in the book: the description of the farm work, the pickup trucks, the details that might seem humdrum to the author but are exotic to a foreign reader like myself (from Australia). I can see room for Furchtenicht to develop his mise-en-scène in future novels, assuming he revisits the same setting, which hopefully he does.

This review may seem overly critical, but I do want to end by saying that I believe Furchtenicht has a lot of natural talent and when he gets all his elements working together seamlessly (and a few currently missing), he will become a highly entertaining, but also thoughtful, presence on the crime/drama scene. An author to watch.

[Carmen Amato · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprisingly engrossing crime drama set in small-town Iowa has well-developed plotlines, believable circumstances and a cast of dirty cops and petty sluggers.

Kori Woodson's college career comes to a halt after he's caught dealing drugs stolen from his veterinarian employer, selling them to Des Moines socialites and weight lifters. He's dumped on the doorstep of the father and brother he hasn't seen in 6 years and the brother quickly makes him part of his local gang of crackhead thugs. Their specialty is busting up those with big drug stashes and peddling the goods to a dealer higher up on the food chain who also films kiddie porn. Add to the mix a couple of dirty local cops and the one cop who is trying to keep his head above water and the scene is set for some really interesting action.

The author writes with the insider authority of a cop or counternarcotics agent and the end is a kick. Recommended.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this novel. Loved, loved, loved it! An Outsiders for a new generation. I hope Furchtenicht isn't insulted by that analogy, because I love that American classic. I have never been to Iowa, but I could see every scene, every character. They really got under my skin and I followed them every step of the way. I thought it was because of my love of American TV shows like Breaking Bad and True Detective, but it wasn't that. It was due to Furchtenicht's style: simple yet completely effective. No overblown imagery and flowery language, yet very visual and honest. Almost cinematic. I would love to hear more from Kori and Todd. A truly fantastic read. As an English teacher, I would love to teach this to my Year 11, but alas, this idiotic Tory government will not allow such a thing!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time reading this author and I was not disappointed. Other reviewers mention the writing is on the line of Chuck Palahniuk and I have to agree, although Craig’s is also hugely original and all the better for it. It was so great to read something which differs from the ‘safe’ storylines and clichés, and I think it will appeal to a wide audience. This is a gripping and unpredictable story, which never falters and in the end is utterly rewarding. Loved the book!

[Brandon Nagel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!! Must read!! Let's go talk to a no hand man about a horse...

[Pete Conrad · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I am not going to post anything that could be remotely spoilery or summarize the whole story, as some reviews tend to do. This book is that good, and I think you should go ahead and read it and enjoy the full experience that Craig Furchtenicht offers.

That said, I very much enjoyed this story of two brothers and their unconventional reconnection after being separated from each other at a young age. Upon a forced reunion, Kori and Brenden appear to be at odds with each other, not having much in common and having pursuing different paths in life. Kori seems like the good kid who’s been dropped into a bad situation, while Brenden comes across as the troublemaker. Kori hesitatingly participates in Brenden’s relatively small-scale criminal activities, finding along the way that he has his own unique skill set related to Brenden’s “business”. The brothers eventually reconnect, rediscovering the bond that was taken from them as boys. While it appears to be a crime drama at the surface, there's a lot more going on here.

This story is set in Iowa, and the author conveys a sense of boredom, a lack of excitement, and a feeling that there is not a lot of promise for the future in this humdrum midwestern town. It is in this setting that he gives us Kori and Brenden, and a variety of secondary and fringe characters that add immense depth and color to the story, and really bring it to life. Some of these other players include the rest of Brenden’s gang, a creepy older man who totters around in a worn robe and nothing else and rarely leaves his home, members of law enforcement that range from the old and corrupt to the young and naïve to the retired and injured in the line of duty. But there is more going on here than meets the eye… what motivates Brenden in pursuing his criminal activities will surprise you, and likely your opinion of him as you continue reading. There are twists and turns, some might be considered shocking in nature, but they are all consistent with the story and characters.

Furchtenicht has crafted a very well-developed story that brings the reader full circle from a solid beginning, where one is given the time and information needed to become invested in what happens to these characters, and pushes it to an unexpected and very satisfying ending. His writing is clear and his dialogue is natural. He weaves in some extremely dark criminal elements, and delivers them very effectively without barraging the reader with any unnecessary violence, sexuality, or graphic detail.

I highly recommend this novel, and look forward to reading more by this author.

[Keith Nixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kori Woodson is in trouble. When he learned his stepfather preacher had given Kori's college savings to the church he decides to makes ends meet by stealing and selling drugs. The problem? He gets caught and finds himself bundled off to live with his brother and father in rural Iowa, far from the city's bright lights.

Almost as soon as he returns home Kori is dragged into his brother's nefarious schemes – robbing drug dealers and selling the proceeds. These are the Dimebag Bandits...

This is an interesting, well written story (with a caveat that I'll get to shortly). It opens with a hard-hitting scene, several unknown men rob a bar owner of his drugs stash, using some pretty stiff techniques to loosen up his tongue. Next we're with protagonist Kori, he's in a police interview room witnessing fellow wrongdoers and their antics as he awaits judgement for his theft.

His preacher stepfather is, from the outset, a hypocrite (he had an affair with Kori's mother) and instantly detestable. In fact, the majority of characters in Dimebag Bandits are thoroughly unpleasant – thieves, drug users, bent cops to name but a few. Everyone is out for a buck and puts themselves first, even resorting to murder in the process.

The characters are one of the major strong points of this generally excellent novel. They're well drawn and engaging and, via their actions, drive the story along at a pace that never really lets up. Like the story itself the characters are seedy and often nasty, in particular Virge the Perv, a paedophile who films his activities and is key in the later story.

The other strength of Dimebag Bandits is the hard-bitten scenes and back stories of which there are many. They swing between gory and gruesome, but most have a humorous vein, something that cuts through the entire book. I'd like to describe them, however, it is something that's best discovered by the reader themselves. Don't expect soft views from the author, in fact it's the opposite. The characters and their portrayal may offend some.

All in all this is a very strong read, the author shows plenty of promise. The only issue I would flag is the need for a small amount of editing to tighten up some of the narrative, an easy 'issue' to resolve. Normally this would be a factor that would thoroughly irritate me and ruin the overall story, however the quality of the writing deservedly pushes this to one side. A writer for the future.

**Originally reviewed for Books and Pals blog. May have received free review copy.**

[Ryan Bracha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not entirely sure how to start this review without using expletives to emphasise how fucking good this book is.

We pretty much open with our protagonist, Kori Woodson, sitting in a police interrogation room reflecting on the mistakes that led him there. His preacher stepfather Clayton has bled him dry of money for 'the greater good of the church', so to finance his college fees he's been skimming drugs from his employer to sell to the rich and the desperate. After pulling some strings, Clayton and Kori's mother ship him back to live with his real Dad for a few months, whilst they travel the world to spread the good word, and they inadvertently expose him to a world of petty crime, sleazy drug barons, corrupt cops, and eventually murder.

So why is this book so fucking good? Let me tell you why. Craig Furchtenicht has numerous strengths to his writing. The characterisation for a start, is flawless. From Todd and his subtle evolution, to Virge the Perve and his not so subtle potential for rape at any moment, to the desperate to be liked fresh faced cop Dale. Furchtenicht paints them all to perfection, as he does with the relationships. The rapidly growing bond between Kori and his estranged brother feels natural, as does the mutual hatred between good cop Dale and bad cop Butch.

What I liked most of all, were the multitude of unflinching yet hilariously violent set pieces that Furchtenicht throws onto the page, I won't spoil anything, but watch out for the man/deer love scene. I laughed out loud.

All in all then, I can't speak highly enough of this book. There are one or two grammatical errors, but as somebody who has been accused of that in my own books, who am I to judge? Besides, it's the quality of the story I'm here for, and this tale has quality by the bucketload. I don't say this very often, but I think this has flown straight into my top 3 all time favourite independently published novels. This is an author to watch. This is a novel you need to read.

[Dasc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dimebag Bandits is a novel that has all of the makings of an action movie. Craig Furchtenicht cleverly weaves together the lives of an assorted array of characters, many who possess what I would call “flexible moral values”. Most are jaded and feel that their actions are justified, from skimming drugs, to robbing people of their drugs and cash, to leaving one’s husband and child for a “man of God”.

The author offers clever insights, such as a husband toward his cheating wife, “maybe he knew all along that she was already gone, long before she actually left” and even about something as simple as the door to a main character’s childhood home: “Good or bad, that door was an integral part of the Woodson house. Accompanied by glorious arrivals, furious departures and everything in between; that door had seen it all.” He comments that “trash always blew back to where it was first thrown out” to summarize a character’s feeling that one cannot escape his roots. And he refers to “kitchen table narcotics negotiations” as not an unusual occurrence.

I highly recommend Dimebag Bandits. I couldn’t put it down.

[Flemming Bermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is not often that one comes across a storyteller, who has such a distinctive, developed and absorbing 'voice' without at the same time being a well known, world famous best selling author.

The author does brilliantly in portraying and describing a rural, farming community deep in some far away American backwater. A community, which has shaped the story's brutal characters, their harsh language, the way they interact and behave towards each other within their little gang and towards the community, which spat them out into the world.
The characters are well defined and believable, each with their own quirks and defining features - some have less appealing features than others it has to be said.

However, what I like most about this novel is the actual storyline, which is absorbing and intriguing, and which makes you keep on reading and turning the pages, right to the end.

In summary a stylish and absorbing read, which comes highly recommended. When I compare this story to other excellent novels I have read and scored five stars, this might just be a six!

[Davona Quinlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non-stop action in this page turner that you won't want to put down. The main character, and his family and friends are extremely well fleshed-out, the story is very, very good, and the ending, while just the tiniest bit disappointing (in terms of character growth), is very appropriate.

Two criticisms:
I did find myself rolling my eyes at all of the stereotypical "ignorant redneck" cop characterizations and stilted dialogue. Could have been dialed back a bit.

Difficult to ascertain what year this story took place due to the technology utilized (seemed entrenched in the 80s/early 90s--Nikon film camera, dark room, etc.); story became slightly incongruous when today's technology is mentioned.

Those tiny criticisms aside, I would highly recommend this book. It's a quick, unpredictable read with no lulls that will have you riding along with the dimebag bandits, and sympathizing with Kori and his brother.

Looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Robert Cowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read which reminded me of True Detective in its laconic style, warts and all characters and edgy drama, albeit told from the other side of the badge. The main characters engage you first, before the story really gets going, but get going it does along back roads of speed freak heists, crooked ministers and child porn, dealing with difficult subjects without being gratuitous or overly sentimental. Another thing worthy of mention is how the environment, often overlooked, plays an equally important part in the book, being used to great atmospheric effect but also shaping the characters and their actions.
It’s a cliché free read about the low rent drug scene. There's no glamour here, but there is warmth amongst the pain and darkness. Even people from this world can have a moral compass and this one faces north.

[Alan Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a superb book, bubbling over with incident and emotion, written in a brilliantly hard-bitten, laconic style. We follow Kori, sent away by his mother and hypocritical preacher stepfather to stay with his father in Cedar Ridge, as he teams up with his brother, Brenden, and his bunch of redneck junkies and dealers. We also meet Deputy Dale Scheck, and his loathsome sidekick, Butch. This book is not just a hard-nosed portrayal of the drug scene, but explores a world of violence, sexual aggression, corruption, crime, murder, porn exploitation, and revenge. The blunt, hard-hitting tale is graphically executed, culminating in a breathless finale where all the threads of the story are perfectly brought together. Check it out!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The plot is original. I found it difficult to imagine where it was heading and this kept me involved right to the end. It's pacy and moves confidently towards its conclusion. The story takes in multiple characters and a complex plot and knits them all together very satisfyingly.

The writing is vivid and, at times, hilarious. I also loved the deer scene. Enough said!
The characters are well-crafted and intriguing; there was considerable depth to them and I did come to care what happened to them. The descriptions of small-time drug dealing, occasional cruelty and petty crime were vivid and suitably repulsive.

I do recommend this book as a great and gritty read.

[Loren Lockner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fargo meets Breaking Bad! It is said that what can go wrong, will go wrong. That is the premise of this stunning gritty mystery whose characters ring so true, that it is a pleasure to watch their actions in this complex thriller. The plot centers around two brothers, Brenden& Kori, who steal from drug dealers with their band of meth friends (The Dimebag bandits). Trying to track them down is Dale Scheck a policeman who resides in a trailer on the wrong side of town, because he likes it. Reading this well-written book was like watching a Cohen brothers’ film; disturbing but addictive. A definite page turner, this book is not for the faint of heart. Highly recommended!

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! This story had me from start to finish. It's gritty, darkly funny at times and just flat out gripping. You want to know from page to page, chapter to chapter where the story and these characters are going and before you know it it's 2 am and you're wondering where the time went. If you like your stories a little outside the norm and you enjoy rooting for the bad guy (lookin' at you fans Sons of Anarchy or Boardwalk Empire) this is the perfect read. My only criticism is that I encountered a few typos. That's it, and they were minimal at that.

[J. Percy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Furchtenicht will keep your attention from beginning to end. Without drowning you in details, he paints a dark and vivid picture of a midwest town's seedy underbelly. Cops, junkies, and the lowest of the low find their lives consequentially intertwined, much to their displeasure, and your nail-biting pleasure. I especially enjoyed the depth and layers of motivation developed in each character. Brilliant! Steel your gut readers, instinct will have you looking away while intrigue and delight keep your eyes moving down the page. excellent read!!!

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads giveaway.

I started reading this book and it absolutely pulled me in. I had a tough time setting it down to go to bed each night. The book is intense, violent, exciting, and a true thrill ride. Even though the main characters were thugs and troublemakers I found myself caring about what happened to them. Hoping that each one of them would make it through the adventure safely. The twists in the story kept me on the edge of my seat.
Definitely a book worth reading!!!

[Mark Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved Craig's book. Engaging from the start, the book throws a series of complex characters at us and picks away at the threads between them, exposing the very real human emotions that motivate them and drive the story forward.Craig's use of language is concise and inventive. Very accomplished for a debut novel.

[Nicholas Boyland · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent read! A Panhead Harley hooked me in right at the start, followed by an intriguing story with an equal spread of likeable and detestable characters. The plot twists and turns with a pace which barely takes a breath. Even when you think it's winding up, the author still manages to insert a sting in the tail. 3 nights and 3 cold baths. That's how I rate a good book!

[Karren321 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I dont know about the people that rate this book so high

The plot was all over the place and didnt make sense - the beginning never finished anything up - clayton just ups and disappears

I couldnt tell who or what was going on in the 'finale'

kori suddenly expresses suspicion of the cop who has been the "good guy" all along...

bad writing

[Gareth Lush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Predictable plot but well written

Good characterisation and good quality writing rescue what is ultimately a predictable plot. I got quite attached to the two main characters but overall the book left me a bit detached.

[Steven Atwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like stories where the characters come alive and are unique. Craig came through on both counts. The plot line kept me guessing which only increased my interest as I went along. I loved it.

[Amy Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book...great author. Fun stuff! I will be reading all of his work for sure.

[Phil Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow