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Dev Conrad #1
Sleeping Dogs
As a seasoned political consultant, Dev Conrad approaches working on the reelection campaign of Illinois Senator Warren Nichols with trepidation. The senator's best friend and adviser has just committed suicide. And though Conrad agrees with Nichols's political positions, he's leery of the senator's reputation for sleeping around. When a major televised debate proves to be a disaster for the senator, Dev is forced to look into the backgrounds of the senator's staff, which includes several people who have tangled and troubled relationships with their boss. Dev's investigation takes him through the highs and lows of the political system, the well-meaning people on both sides of the aisle, and the increasingly dark forces that work to destroy reputations and lives. It also leads him into the frightening murder of a sleazy political op who knows something about Senator Nichols that could completely destroy his career. Ed Gorman is the author of several political thrillers, including the acclaimed The Marilyn Tapes and The First Lady . In Sleeping Dogs , he looks at how money, power, and unchecked ambition have turned election campaigns into modern gladiatorial contests.
- GenresMystery
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2008
4 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Ed Gorman
466 books118 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Edward Joseph Gorman Jr. was a prolific American author and anthologist, widely recognized for his contributions to crime, mystery, western, and horror fiction. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gorman spent much of his life in the Midwest, drawing on that experience to set many of his novels in small towns. After working over two decades in advertising, political speechwriting, and industrial filmmaking, he published his first novel, Rough Cut, in 1984 and soon transitioned to full-time writing. His fiction is often praised for its emotional depth, suspenseful storytelling, and nuanced characters. Gorman wrote under the pseudonyms Daniel Ransom and Robert David Chase, and contributed to publications such as Mystery Scene, Cemetery Dance, and Black Lizard. He co-founded Mystery Scene magazine and served as its editor and publisher until 2002, continuing his “Gormania” column thereafter. His works have been adapted for film and graphic novels, including The Poker Club and Cage of Night. In comics, he wrote for DC and Dark Horse. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2002, he continued writing despite his illness until his passing in 2016. Critics lauded him as one of the most original crime writers of his generation and a “poet of dark suspense.”
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Edward Joseph Gorman Jr. was a prolific American author and anthologist, widely recognized for his contributions to crime, mystery, western, and horror fiction. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gorman spent much of his life in the Midwest, drawing on that experience to set many of his novels in small towns. After working over two decades in advertising, political speechwriting, and industrial filmmaking, he published his first novel, Rough Cut, in 1984 and soon transitioned to full-time writing. His fiction is often praised for its emotional depth, suspenseful storytelling, and nuanced characters. Gorman wrote under the pseudonyms Daniel Ransom and Robert David Chase, and contributed to publications such as Mystery Scene, Cemetery Dance, and Black Lizard. He co-founded Mystery Scene magazine and served as its editor and publisher until 2002, continuing his “Gormania” column thereafter. His works have been adapted for film and graphic novels, including The Poker Club and Cage of Night. In comics, he wrote for DC and Dark Horse. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2002, he continued writing despite his illness until his passing in 2016. Critics lauded him as one of the most original crime writers of his generation and a “poet of dark suspense.”
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 19, 2010
SLEEPING DOGS by Ed Gorman proves the old adage that you can't tell a book by it's cover. He has been stuck with the ugliest St. Martin's cover in recent history. It's a damn shame, because his book deserves more thoughtful packaging-- a LOT more. It's a biting, fast-moving, darkly funny mystery set inside a Senatorial campaign. The hero is Dev Conrad, a political consultant who knows how to play the game and is growing increasingly uncomfortable with the lies, hypocrisy, and self-delusion inherent in his job.
Ed not only gives us an inside look at the dark side of campaigning, he also offers a good puzzle, too, where the "bad guys" are fully fleshed-out characters who aren't that much different than the "good guys." And after countless books about tortured cops, PIs and forensic scientists...not to mention an endless number of amateur sleuths...Dev Conrad is a fresh, unconventional protagonist. The timing for this book couldn't be better...but, based on the cover treatment and lack of publicity support, I fear the publisher isn't in a position to take advantage of the opportunity.
Ed not only gives us an inside look at the dark side of campaigning, he also offers a good puzzle, too, where the "bad guys" are fully fleshed-out characters who aren't that much different than the "good guys." And after countless books about tortured cops, PIs and forensic scientists...not to mention an endless number of amateur sleuths...Dev Conrad is a fresh, unconventional protagonist. The timing for this book couldn't be better...but, based on the cover treatment and lack of publicity support, I fear the publisher isn't in a position to take advantage of the opportunity.
July 21, 2011
Dev Conrad is in charge of Illinois Senator Warren Nichols' reelection campaign. Dev is a replacement for the previous campaign manager who committed suicide. Now someone is trying to derail and smear Warren Nichols' re-election. In the game of dirty politics, there's going to be a body count.
I really liked Sleeping Dogs. It's fun, exciting and moves along at a fair clip. It's a really well done mystery with plenty of characters operating in the grey—as you'd expect in the world of politics.
I really liked Sleeping Dogs. It's fun, exciting and moves along at a fair clip. It's a really well done mystery with plenty of characters operating in the grey—as you'd expect in the world of politics.
March 17, 2019
Ins & Outs of dirty politics, megalomania, & murder...
Dev Conrad is a top notch political campaign consultant, he has just replaced Senator Nichols' previous consultant, Peter Wylie, who had been fired by the senator after a loud public falling-out.
When the senator falls over from a spiked drink during a public debate, his opponent takes advantage of the situation.
Enter a behind-the-scenes muck-racker, blackmail, Peter Wylie's suicide, and the murder of the muck-racker... along w/ a tape of the senator screwing a young woman in a hotel room....
Just a bunch of ugly people, with one of the culprits being obvious.....
Not much to recommend this book, might drop this series by Gorman.
Dev Conrad is a top notch political campaign consultant, he has just replaced Senator Nichols' previous consultant, Peter Wylie, who had been fired by the senator after a loud public falling-out.
When the senator falls over from a spiked drink during a public debate, his opponent takes advantage of the situation.
Enter a behind-the-scenes muck-racker, blackmail, Peter Wylie's suicide, and the murder of the muck-racker... along w/ a tape of the senator screwing a young woman in a hotel room....
Just a bunch of ugly people, with one of the culprits being obvious.....
Not much to recommend this book, might drop this series by Gorman.
August 2, 2022
This hit my sweet spot - the intersection of a politics and a detective novel. Not too dated.
A seasoned political consultant, who happens to be 6’4” tall and a boxer on the side, gets entangled with criminal and dangerous opponents. Very fun read.
A seasoned political consultant, who happens to be 6’4” tall and a boxer on the side, gets entangled with criminal and dangerous opponents. Very fun read.
January 27, 2019
Liked it a lot. Classic Ed Gorman. He wrote great stories in so many genres. His Dev Conrad series is the last I'm getting to. He will always be missed.
May 29, 2021
The first Dev Conrad mystery.
I read 3 other books in the series before this one.
Dev is a political consultant working for Senator Warren Nichols on his reelection campaign. When a routine debate goes south in a very bad way, Conrad starts to investigate.
A good mystery with good characters.
I read 3 other books in the series before this one.
Dev is a political consultant working for Senator Warren Nichols on his reelection campaign. When a routine debate goes south in a very bad way, Conrad starts to investigate.
A good mystery with good characters.
August 16, 2009
A good mystery/thriller in the dirty world of politics.
Political consultant Dev Conrad had joined the Senator's re-election campaign after a falling out between the candidate and his best friend/advisor, followed by the man's suicide.
Only three weeks were left before election day and the opponent was trailing, but pushing. At a debate, something happened to the Senator, who suddenly appeared drunk and passed out, only to be eased to the floor by his opponent. Dev is immediately suspicious, remembering the Senator saying his Diet Pepsi tasted funny just before the debate began. It was a date rape drug.
Then a phone call brings a blackmailer into the picture. The dirty tricks guy working for the opponent has a sex tape of the married Senator with a young woman and demands a million dollars to keep it out of the hands of said opponent. Dev is incensed as the Senator had promised those days were over to get him on the job and now says he'd just cut back.
Then the blackmailer is murdered and a new blackmailer, unknown this time.
Dev is trying to find out who spiked the Diet drink, likely an inside job, if the suicide was really that(starting to look unlikely), who the new blackmailer is, and if it all ties together. All while trying to win an election.
Political consultant Dev Conrad had joined the Senator's re-election campaign after a falling out between the candidate and his best friend/advisor, followed by the man's suicide.
Only three weeks were left before election day and the opponent was trailing, but pushing. At a debate, something happened to the Senator, who suddenly appeared drunk and passed out, only to be eased to the floor by his opponent. Dev is immediately suspicious, remembering the Senator saying his Diet Pepsi tasted funny just before the debate began. It was a date rape drug.
Then a phone call brings a blackmailer into the picture. The dirty tricks guy working for the opponent has a sex tape of the married Senator with a young woman and demands a million dollars to keep it out of the hands of said opponent. Dev is incensed as the Senator had promised those days were over to get him on the job and now says he'd just cut back.
Then the blackmailer is murdered and a new blackmailer, unknown this time.
Dev is trying to find out who spiked the Diet drink, likely an inside job, if the suicide was really that(starting to look unlikely), who the new blackmailer is, and if it all ties together. All while trying to win an election.
December 22, 2015
I got this book because it came up in the list when I searched my library catalog for dog fiction. I could tell that it was not about dogs at all but rather a political intrigue. I checked it out anyway thinking it would be good to broaden my horizons. I didn't find it to be intriguing at all. All of the characters are one-dimensional regardless of their importance to the plot which is not all that interesting to start start with and provided no real surprises. At least the narrative was simple and it made for a quick read.
May 14, 2008
A Senator is slipped a mickey before a debate, and his political consultant, Dev, who has the soul of a two-fisted hardboiled PI, tries to find out who's behind it. Ed Gorman, one of the true pros in this business, knows how to ratchet up the tension and create more problems for our man, Dev. Flawlessly written, this is a nifty hardboiled mystery for fans of the genre.
May 24, 2013
Dev Conrad is a character that I was cheering for even as I despised him. Ed paints a political picture filled with humor, cynicism, and corruption. The result is a thought-provoking tale about campaigns and the roles all of us play in our political system.
April 12, 2011
Subject: politics. Action centers around a congressman running for re-election. Real eye-opener.
April 26, 2015
Politics! The more time passes, the more things stay the same.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews