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Joe Dylan #3
The White Flamingo
FUN CITY is run by corrupt officials and respectable gangsters wallowing in luxury mansions in the hills high above the harbour, the beach, and the neon jungle.
When vice worker TAMMY is found mutilated on top of a pool table, an effete pervert, and son to the 1970's pin-up beauty queen once known as THE WHITE FLAMINGO, is locked up.
Can Detective JOE DYLAN find THE KILLER before he becomes one of the hunted?
THE WHITE FLAMINGO is a break-neck noir crime thriller from beak to tail feather.
When vice worker TAMMY is found mutilated on top of a pool table, an effete pervert, and son to the 1970's pin-up beauty queen once known as THE WHITE FLAMINGO, is locked up.
Can Detective JOE DYLAN find THE KILLER before he becomes one of the hunted?
THE WHITE FLAMINGO is a break-neck noir crime thriller from beak to tail feather.
188 pages, ebook
First published July 17, 2013
4 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
James A. Newman
25 books55 followersJAMES A. NEWMAN, born in London 1977. He studied Media Arts, Advanced Skateboard Technology and Fretboard Logisics. Newman has sold Pulp Fiction stories and novels to publications in Arizona, Mumbai, Johannesburg, London, Ontario and Bangkok. Newman has worked as a litigation insurance broker, a copy-writer, an English teacher, a movie extra in Bollywood, a rare book dealer, a rainforest tour guide, and an importer of cheese and wine. He lives in Bangkok, Thailand with his family, is kind to certain animals and is very much involved with the local art scene, writing books, reviewing plays, hosting literary events and supporting writers and artists. His novel the White Flamingo has been optioned for adaptation into a motion picture. Newman is busy writing the screenplay and working with authors as content editor of Spanking Pulp Press.
Visit the author at www.jamesnewmanfiction.blogspot.com
SHORT STORIES
MEAT– September 2009- 69 Flavors of Paranoia
CARMEN– March 13th 2010– Freedom Fiction Anthology Vol: 1
KIM– April 2010– Scalped Magazine
RAVANA– February 2011 – Freedom fiction journal
CLEAR– March 2011– Freedom fiction Anthology Vol: 2
THAILAND AFTER DARK– Bangkok Book House– August 2011
TWO LUMPS AND A PAIR OF GLASSES- Big Pulp Magazine- March 2013
THE COLD SUN- March 2014- Twisted Tales
PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY- Exiles Anthology-2014- Blackwitch Press
THE FAST RATS- 2014- Strange Story Saturday
GHOST HIT - 2014 -Freedom Fiction
UNDEAD CARGO - 2014 - Spanking Pulp Press.
NOVELS
BANGKOK EXPRESS– August 2010- Bangkok Book House
THE BOY THAT PLAYED CHEQUERS- August 2011- Fried Fiction. Serial.
BANGKOK EXPRESS- Revised 2012 edition. Books Mango.
RED NIGHT ZONE- BANGKOK CITY- 2012 - Books Mango.
LIZARD CITY- 2012- Books Mango / Spanking Pulp
THE WHITE FLAMINGO- Spanking Pulp Press 2013
THE BLACK ROSE- Spanking Pulp 2014
ITCHY PARK- 2014- Double Dragon. Blood Moon Publishing.
THE PENNY BLACK HOTEL - WIP.
NON FICTION
Thai Meditations (As James Alexander) – September 2010– Bangkok Book House
FROM SUB TO SCRIBE- AUG 2014- Spanking Pulp Press
FILM SCREENPLAYS
The White Flamingo
STAGE PLAYS
The Natives
Visit the author at www.jamesnewmanfiction.blogspot.com
SHORT STORIES
MEAT– September 2009- 69 Flavors of Paranoia
CARMEN– March 13th 2010– Freedom Fiction Anthology Vol: 1
KIM– April 2010– Scalped Magazine
RAVANA– February 2011 – Freedom fiction journal
CLEAR– March 2011– Freedom fiction Anthology Vol: 2
THAILAND AFTER DARK– Bangkok Book House– August 2011
TWO LUMPS AND A PAIR OF GLASSES- Big Pulp Magazine- March 2013
THE COLD SUN- March 2014- Twisted Tales
PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY- Exiles Anthology-2014- Blackwitch Press
THE FAST RATS- 2014- Strange Story Saturday
GHOST HIT - 2014 -Freedom Fiction
UNDEAD CARGO - 2014 - Spanking Pulp Press.
NOVELS
BANGKOK EXPRESS– August 2010- Bangkok Book House
THE BOY THAT PLAYED CHEQUERS- August 2011- Fried Fiction. Serial.
BANGKOK EXPRESS- Revised 2012 edition. Books Mango.
RED NIGHT ZONE- BANGKOK CITY- 2012 - Books Mango.
LIZARD CITY- 2012- Books Mango / Spanking Pulp
THE WHITE FLAMINGO- Spanking Pulp Press 2013
THE BLACK ROSE- Spanking Pulp 2014
ITCHY PARK- 2014- Double Dragon. Blood Moon Publishing.
THE PENNY BLACK HOTEL - WIP.
NON FICTION
Thai Meditations (As James Alexander) – September 2010– Bangkok Book House
FROM SUB TO SCRIBE- AUG 2014- Spanking Pulp Press
FILM SCREENPLAYS
The White Flamingo
STAGE PLAYS
The Natives
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 7, 2016
*Review for the audiobook version*
A solid Pulp Noir tale of murder and corruption in Fun City.
A brutal murder. Local cops are dirty and the son of a famous 70’s pin up girl known as The White Flamingo looks good for the crime. American Detective and smack fan, Joe Dylan is hired to wade through the seedy underbelly of Thailand to catch the real killer and set her son free.
Nicholas Patrella nailed the narration for this gritty and sometimes brutal crime noir and didn’t miss a beat throughout. I think his narration and pacing really added to the tale and I will be looking out for more stuff from both the author and narrator of this one. 4 Stars and Highly Recommended.
A review copy of this audiobook was provided by the narrator at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review. This is it.
A solid Pulp Noir tale of murder and corruption in Fun City.
A brutal murder. Local cops are dirty and the son of a famous 70’s pin up girl known as The White Flamingo looks good for the crime. American Detective and smack fan, Joe Dylan is hired to wade through the seedy underbelly of Thailand to catch the real killer and set her son free.
Nicholas Patrella nailed the narration for this gritty and sometimes brutal crime noir and didn’t miss a beat throughout. I think his narration and pacing really added to the tale and I will be looking out for more stuff from both the author and narrator of this one. 4 Stars and Highly Recommended.
A review copy of this audiobook was provided by the narrator at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review. This is it.
November 10, 2015
I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Blast.
3 stars: 4 stars for the writing, 2 stars for the narration.
Pretty easy to describe this one. It’s obviously Thai noir, it’s obviously hardboiled mystery, and it’s obviously violent. There are some distinct James Ellroy-esque tones in the book that seem to work well as the author describes Pattaya (“Fun City”) and the dark, dank, dreariness found in its underbelly. The writing is pretty good, and captures the scenes well. His description of the murder at the beginning was gruesome, to say the least.
The Audible narration was extremely hard to follow. It took a few “back up and repeat that section” to understand what was going on. The narrator’s accents were off-putting and hard to follow, and didn't seem to fit the characters. That was a problem for me.
I may go back and read this one as an ebook instead.
3 stars: 4 stars for the writing, 2 stars for the narration.
Pretty easy to describe this one. It’s obviously Thai noir, it’s obviously hardboiled mystery, and it’s obviously violent. There are some distinct James Ellroy-esque tones in the book that seem to work well as the author describes Pattaya (“Fun City”) and the dark, dank, dreariness found in its underbelly. The writing is pretty good, and captures the scenes well. His description of the murder at the beginning was gruesome, to say the least.
The Audible narration was extremely hard to follow. It took a few “back up and repeat that section” to understand what was going on. The narrator’s accents were off-putting and hard to follow, and didn't seem to fit the characters. That was a problem for me.
I may go back and read this one as an ebook instead.
December 31, 2014
James Newman has a real gift for making Thailand come to life in writing. I can feel the sticky humidity and see the busy street action in my mind’s eye. The description is vivid enough for the place itself to play a major character. It reminds me of the love affair Raymond Chandler had with 1950’s Los Angles. Newman genuinely immerses himself in the place and thus so was I.
The tricky part of writing a series is to continue the universe while adding something fresh. Usually the kiss of death comes in two forms: 1) The installments are essentially the same story rehashed with no sense of destination or forward mobility. 2) The story goes much too far from its essence.
Joe Dylan’s adventures work because each book introduces a new element. White Flamingo takes a more voyeuristic tone. The narration is an invisible camera that stealthily glides through bedroom windows to watch unsuspecting characters in their private moments. This adds a welcomed psychological layer that functioned effectively and with finesse. Another addition was the graphic brutality of murder. This functions absolutely well in the beginning with the pool table murder victim and following death scenes dripping with sexual imagery and the darkness of Thai black magic. The visceral impact makes murder real.
This time the prostitutes are more human thanks to the voyeuristic insight. Newman did something interesting: the prostitutes’ dehumanization is more powerful because we're shown the humanity they'll lose. We see the process of how they are systematically exploited from the villages to city, and their desperate attempt at maintaining their personhood through Western materialism. Fucking brilliant! Newman's observations are almost journalistic in their accuracy.
Everything about the White Flamingo screams pulp: style, prose, dialogue, and content. Despite this being a neo-pulp, it's influenced by the original pulp masters of the 40's and 50's. Yet the sensibilities are completely modern, which result in a very fascinating hybrid of classic detective work and gritty ultra-detail. I mean you'll have to dodge seamen as well as bullets. Go pass around a few copies at your local Sunday school if you want to see life get interesting.
The tricky part of writing a series is to continue the universe while adding something fresh. Usually the kiss of death comes in two forms: 1) The installments are essentially the same story rehashed with no sense of destination or forward mobility. 2) The story goes much too far from its essence.
Joe Dylan’s adventures work because each book introduces a new element. White Flamingo takes a more voyeuristic tone. The narration is an invisible camera that stealthily glides through bedroom windows to watch unsuspecting characters in their private moments. This adds a welcomed psychological layer that functioned effectively and with finesse. Another addition was the graphic brutality of murder. This functions absolutely well in the beginning with the pool table murder victim and following death scenes dripping with sexual imagery and the darkness of Thai black magic. The visceral impact makes murder real.
This time the prostitutes are more human thanks to the voyeuristic insight. Newman did something interesting: the prostitutes’ dehumanization is more powerful because we're shown the humanity they'll lose. We see the process of how they are systematically exploited from the villages to city, and their desperate attempt at maintaining their personhood through Western materialism. Fucking brilliant! Newman's observations are almost journalistic in their accuracy.
Everything about the White Flamingo screams pulp: style, prose, dialogue, and content. Despite this being a neo-pulp, it's influenced by the original pulp masters of the 40's and 50's. Yet the sensibilities are completely modern, which result in a very fascinating hybrid of classic detective work and gritty ultra-detail. I mean you'll have to dodge seamen as well as bullets. Go pass around a few copies at your local Sunday school if you want to see life get interesting.
September 1, 2014
I first met Joe Dylan in a funky looking blue and white book called 'Bangkok Express.' I was looking after a friends condo here in Bangkok and saw it on the shelf amongst John Burdett's 'Bangkok Haunts' and something spooky by Stephen King. I picked it up, sat on the bed and read the first chapter. It blew me away. The style was something I hadn't seen before. It grabbed me. I borrowed the book, took it home and put it on my 'to read,' pile. I was in the middle of Warren Olson's 'The Red Room.'
A few weeks later I was on a writing forum on Facebook when I happened to mention that I write books.
"What kind of books do you write," somebody asked. I went on to explain in a private chat and was talking to a James A. Newman. I recognized the name and realized he was the author of the book I had recently discovered, 'Bangkok Express.' We chatted, he invited me down to the Bangkok Noir at the 'Check in 99' for a book reading. Everybody was there: Dean Barrett, John Burdett, Christopher G. Moore...... I turned up, handshake, smile, book bought a signed copy of 'The White Flamingo.'
Took it back, read the first chapter and am still talking about that first chapter today.
Thrilling characters, mind-blowing chapters, Noir style description, fast-paced action, artistic killings that make you want to read them in a strange, yet intriguing way, just to see how 'The killer will kill next, and a story I'm still thinking about a month after finishing.
I met Jim again. I had a few questions, queries, something's I wanted him to explain and he did. He told me about his company, Spanking Pulp Press' and his next release 'The Black Rose.' I've since bought my copy and will read it soon.
A few weeks later I was on a writing forum on Facebook when I happened to mention that I write books.
"What kind of books do you write," somebody asked. I went on to explain in a private chat and was talking to a James A. Newman. I recognized the name and realized he was the author of the book I had recently discovered, 'Bangkok Express.' We chatted, he invited me down to the Bangkok Noir at the 'Check in 99' for a book reading. Everybody was there: Dean Barrett, John Burdett, Christopher G. Moore...... I turned up, handshake, smile, book bought a signed copy of 'The White Flamingo.'
Took it back, read the first chapter and am still talking about that first chapter today.
Thrilling characters, mind-blowing chapters, Noir style description, fast-paced action, artistic killings that make you want to read them in a strange, yet intriguing way, just to see how 'The killer will kill next, and a story I'm still thinking about a month after finishing.
I met Jim again. I had a few questions, queries, something's I wanted him to explain and he did. He told me about his company, Spanking Pulp Press' and his next release 'The Black Rose.' I've since bought my copy and will read it soon.
November 27, 2013
James Newman describes his style as Pulp Noir and I'd say he's nailed it. Reading his books, I find myself listening to Humphrey Bogart reciting the text in my head. Then I discovered a YouTube link where actor James Marengo reads the opening paragraphs of Red Night Zone (the 2nd book in this trilogy) and it clicked why Bogie was sitting alongside while I read. Newman has a lyrical, almost poetic style that's just begging to be read aloud... although that's far from a requirement.
In The White Flamingo, Newman captures the essence of the Thai sex industry and the many characters who populate it. He writes about Fun City, I'm assuming this is Pattaya, but his name suggests the irony that for a place that is so popular, there are a hell of a lot of deeply troubled people there. The book captures that dichotomy to a tee.
It's a terrific murder mystery from someone who knows Thailand inside out. Highly recommended.
In The White Flamingo, Newman captures the essence of the Thai sex industry and the many characters who populate it. He writes about Fun City, I'm assuming this is Pattaya, but his name suggests the irony that for a place that is so popular, there are a hell of a lot of deeply troubled people there. The book captures that dichotomy to a tee.
It's a terrific murder mystery from someone who knows Thailand inside out. Highly recommended.
June 12, 2014
The setting of this shocking mystery is Hell itself, ironically renamed "Fun City," somewhere in Thailand.
Not for the squeamish, it brews up a stew of drugs, prostitution and mutilation, seasoned by a Noir cynicism so thick you might not care for the taste at first. But stick with it and a savory, satisfying meal is there to be had.
I look forward to discovering the other Joe Dylan mysteries. It's a whole different world--thanks to James A. Newman for revealing it to those of us who are stuck elsewhere on the planet.
Not for the squeamish, it brews up a stew of drugs, prostitution and mutilation, seasoned by a Noir cynicism so thick you might not care for the taste at first. But stick with it and a savory, satisfying meal is there to be had.
I look forward to discovering the other Joe Dylan mysteries. It's a whole different world--thanks to James A. Newman for revealing it to those of us who are stuck elsewhere on the planet.
August 6, 2016
Rich, gritty descriptions stud the action and paint a vivid picture of the corrupt city of the story. Detective Joe Dylan slogs through the haze of his own brokenness and addiction, and we can't help but wonder if he will manage to overcome his personal demons in time to solve the case...
December 13, 2016
( Format : Audiobook )
""Sounds like you lived in the gutter Mr.Dylan.""
This is not a book for the squeamish with it's somewhat graphic descriptions of eviscerated bodies, drink and drug abuse and sex. It depicts the sordid side of Fun City, chosen home of ex pats from various countries, of prostitutes and the disillusioned, and corrupt officials. I wouldn't want to live there but it certainly makes for some gloriously quirky characters.
A viscous murder has taken place, a call girl dismembered and brutalized. A young suspect is arrested, held awaiting trial - which could be two years in the future. His mother, rich and once a photographic model known as the White Flamingo, is desperate to have him released and persuades the drug addicted, one time alcoholic Dylan to find the real culprit, the only way that the police will let the son go.
As well as being filled with fully rounded, if flawed, protagonists each pursuing their own agendas, this book is descriptively visual with rooms and scenes springing into focus with the use of the minimum of words. It gets inside the characters' heads, their emotions and sorrows past and present, as initially the storyline takes us from person to person.Good dialogue, too, as the action progresses and we mostly follow the detective hired to find the killer as he struggles with his personal demons whilst trying to track down the city's own Jack the Ripper.
Although the author tells small parts of the story from the killer's perspective, this is a proper mystery story, the identity unknown until the end. And with a whole cast of characters to chose from it makes an exciting tale. The narrator, Nicholas Patrella, is masterful in his giving voice individually to so many, bringing them to life and imbuing each with greater personality even than that which has already been written. Different accents needed, too and all good, with the possible exception of the London cockney, but even here the man is invested with such distinction it really doesn't matter. Patrella's whole reading of the text and dialogue is perfectly suited to the pace and style of this dark story, and a joy to hear.
My thanks to the rights holder for gifting me The White Flamingo, via Audiobook Boom. It was a thoroughly enjoyable listen and one I would definitely recommend to a!l (with occasional reservations) who enjoy good snappy writing, great characters and mysteries in a detective noire setting. I had not previously encountered any of James Newman's books but will certainly be looking out for them in the future.
""Sounds like you lived in the gutter Mr.Dylan.""
This is not a book for the squeamish with it's somewhat graphic descriptions of eviscerated bodies, drink and drug abuse and sex. It depicts the sordid side of Fun City, chosen home of ex pats from various countries, of prostitutes and the disillusioned, and corrupt officials. I wouldn't want to live there but it certainly makes for some gloriously quirky characters.
A viscous murder has taken place, a call girl dismembered and brutalized. A young suspect is arrested, held awaiting trial - which could be two years in the future. His mother, rich and once a photographic model known as the White Flamingo, is desperate to have him released and persuades the drug addicted, one time alcoholic Dylan to find the real culprit, the only way that the police will let the son go.
As well as being filled with fully rounded, if flawed, protagonists each pursuing their own agendas, this book is descriptively visual with rooms and scenes springing into focus with the use of the minimum of words. It gets inside the characters' heads, their emotions and sorrows past and present, as initially the storyline takes us from person to person.Good dialogue, too, as the action progresses and we mostly follow the detective hired to find the killer as he struggles with his personal demons whilst trying to track down the city's own Jack the Ripper.
Although the author tells small parts of the story from the killer's perspective, this is a proper mystery story, the identity unknown until the end. And with a whole cast of characters to chose from it makes an exciting tale. The narrator, Nicholas Patrella, is masterful in his giving voice individually to so many, bringing them to life and imbuing each with greater personality even than that which has already been written. Different accents needed, too and all good, with the possible exception of the London cockney, but even here the man is invested with such distinction it really doesn't matter. Patrella's whole reading of the text and dialogue is perfectly suited to the pace and style of this dark story, and a joy to hear.
My thanks to the rights holder for gifting me The White Flamingo, via Audiobook Boom. It was a thoroughly enjoyable listen and one I would definitely recommend to a!l (with occasional reservations) who enjoy good snappy writing, great characters and mysteries in a detective noire setting. I had not previously encountered any of James Newman's books but will certainly be looking out for them in the future.
May 14, 2022
I appreciate Newman's capacity of fresh, brilliant and concise story telling. I liked the previous two Dylan's episodes. And I found intriguing and original this novel plot idea, but I found the superficial pseudo-sociological portays of such a complex phenomenon like prostitution in thailand rather disturbing. Along with what-it-seems-like complacency in describing the typical human squallor you may find in Pattaya et similia finally pushed me away from reading. I home the 4th which i will buy anyway will work better for my tastes
August 13, 2019
Fun easy read
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews