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Some Dead Genius
Chicago homicide detectives Mark Bergman and John Dunegan investigate the murder of a well-known painter and uncover a seven-year-long trail of extremely talented corpses. Their hunt for a slippery serial killer is complicated by interference from their superiors, and the FBI, and a ruthless City Hall fixer, and a brutal Mob boss. Because this is a story about how Chicago works, and the marketing of fine art.
334 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2014
18 people are currently reading
515 people want to read
About the author
Lenny Kleinfeld
4 books12 followersLenny Kleinfeld specializes in black comedy crime fiction. His first novel, Shooters And Chasers, received a starred review from Kirkus, which called it "A spellbinding debut."
His second novel, Some Dead Genius, was named one of NPR's Best Books of 2014--"A rollicking caper that you constantly think you've got figured out until you don't. This book is fun. Loads of fun."
The Austin Chronicle: "Clever, well-paced plot and terrifically real characters. A sharp insider's look at the art scene, and an especially addictive narrative voice... Recommending the hell out of this book."
He began his career in Chicago as a playwright and as a columnist for "Chicago" magazine. His fiction, humor and articles have appeared in Playboy, Galaxy, Oui, the Chicago Reader, Chicago Tribune, New York Times and Los Angeles Times.
His second novel, Some Dead Genius, was named one of NPR's Best Books of 2014--"A rollicking caper that you constantly think you've got figured out until you don't. This book is fun. Loads of fun."
The Austin Chronicle: "Clever, well-paced plot and terrifically real characters. A sharp insider's look at the art scene, and an especially addictive narrative voice... Recommending the hell out of this book."
He began his career in Chicago as a playwright and as a columnist for "Chicago" magazine. His fiction, humor and articles have appeared in Playboy, Galaxy, Oui, the Chicago Reader, Chicago Tribune, New York Times and Los Angeles Times.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 16, 2019
First, a warning. There's a lot of sex, a lot of violence and some really nasty swearing in this story. There's also a lot of humour of the pitch black variety that's almost non-stop. If you can stomach all that, this book is one helluva ride.
The bad guys are utter slimeballs and the two good guy cops, Mark Bergman and John “Doonie” Dunegan have a problem because Mark recently had sex with a female artist known as Jane Doe, who may be a prime suspect in two murders. The murders were actually committed by one of the bad guys, an extremely nasty piece of work called Tommy Tesca. To begin with he killed a female artist after he and his long suffering partner Dale Phipps bought a couple of her paintings.
They did that because, as a rule, when an artist dies the price of their work is likely to go through the roof. Now, Tesca has started murdering more artists and one of his relatives, a Mafia boss, has become involved in this unusual crime spree. Along the way, there's a serious run in with a bunch of Serbian gangsters and another major shoot-out when Phipps decides to tell all to the FBI.
The pace is frenetic and features short, choppy chapters with the action switching back and forth between 2005 and 2012 until it reaches a glorious and bloody climax with bodies everywhere. Oh - and there's a terrific twist right at the end. A delightful crime caper but only if you're not easily offended by sex, extreme violence and bad taste jokes. I loved it!
The bad guys are utter slimeballs and the two good guy cops, Mark Bergman and John “Doonie” Dunegan have a problem because Mark recently had sex with a female artist known as Jane Doe, who may be a prime suspect in two murders. The murders were actually committed by one of the bad guys, an extremely nasty piece of work called Tommy Tesca. To begin with he killed a female artist after he and his long suffering partner Dale Phipps bought a couple of her paintings.
They did that because, as a rule, when an artist dies the price of their work is likely to go through the roof. Now, Tesca has started murdering more artists and one of his relatives, a Mafia boss, has become involved in this unusual crime spree. Along the way, there's a serious run in with a bunch of Serbian gangsters and another major shoot-out when Phipps decides to tell all to the FBI.
The pace is frenetic and features short, choppy chapters with the action switching back and forth between 2005 and 2012 until it reaches a glorious and bloody climax with bodies everywhere. Oh - and there's a terrific twist right at the end. A delightful crime caper but only if you're not easily offended by sex, extreme violence and bad taste jokes. I loved it!
November 23, 2018
I received this book as a Goodreads First Read and I want to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read this novel. I also appreciated the personal note—thank you!
The story follows a cast of characters who are entangled in a criminal plot which is focused on killing off gifted artists to profit from their creations after their death. The main character, a Chicago police officer named Mark, is engaged in solving the mystery behind the murders while also trying to keep his love life intact.
The story is told like a Ryohgo Narita novel in some ways—by this, I mean that the writer has multiple character perspectives and sub-stories that all come together in the end and the story is told somewhat non-chronologically.
My main criticism for this novel is how the chapters are structured. I appreciate what the author was trying to do but I found this stylistic tactic to be distracting. I think having longer chapters and using symbols to designate character/year/scene changes might have been a less distracting way to achieve the same effect.
The author does a good job on character development and plot. I thought it was an interesting technique that the characters used their distinguishing verbal ticks when they narrated at certain points in the story. There were very few typos in my copy of the novel and I am sure that the few that were there in my copy were fixed by the official release.
Overall this is a fast and fun read and one I would recommend.
The story follows a cast of characters who are entangled in a criminal plot which is focused on killing off gifted artists to profit from their creations after their death. The main character, a Chicago police officer named Mark, is engaged in solving the mystery behind the murders while also trying to keep his love life intact.
The story is told like a Ryohgo Narita novel in some ways—by this, I mean that the writer has multiple character perspectives and sub-stories that all come together in the end and the story is told somewhat non-chronologically.
My main criticism for this novel is how the chapters are structured. I appreciate what the author was trying to do but I found this stylistic tactic to be distracting. I think having longer chapters and using symbols to designate character/year/scene changes might have been a less distracting way to achieve the same effect.
The author does a good job on character development and plot. I thought it was an interesting technique that the characters used their distinguishing verbal ticks when they narrated at certain points in the story. There were very few typos in my copy of the novel and I am sure that the few that were there in my copy were fixed by the official release.
Overall this is a fast and fun read and one I would recommend.
May 29, 2014
Sometimes I just feel lucky. I was able to read an ARC of SOME DEAD GENIUS by Lenny Kleinfeld with no expectations and feel very lucky for the opportunity!
Lenny has done it again. Following their (mis)adventures in SHOOTERS AND CHASERS, Detectives Mark Bergman and John “Doonie” Dunegan are at it again. This time someone is killing off artists and leaving the most confusing clues. To add challenges to the investigation is Bergman’s past (and present) relationship with the prime suspect.
The crime is creative, the action is fast paced and the sense of place is astounding. If you know Chicago, you will feel at home. If you don’t know Chicago, you will. This is a can’t-put-it-down read that will keep you engaged from the first sentence to the very last. I’m ready for the next one!
Lenny has done it again. Following their (mis)adventures in SHOOTERS AND CHASERS, Detectives Mark Bergman and John “Doonie” Dunegan are at it again. This time someone is killing off artists and leaving the most confusing clues. To add challenges to the investigation is Bergman’s past (and present) relationship with the prime suspect.
The crime is creative, the action is fast paced and the sense of place is astounding. If you know Chicago, you will feel at home. If you don’t know Chicago, you will. This is a can’t-put-it-down read that will keep you engaged from the first sentence to the very last. I’m ready for the next one!
April 20, 2014
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads. The book came with a lovely inscription from the author. Thank you very much!
This book was a delightful R rated romp through Chicago - the police, the FBI, the art scene, the mob, the local government... (R for language and violence). It was a lot of fun and I look forward to reading the first book and the next one!
This book was a delightful R rated romp through Chicago - the police, the FBI, the art scene, the mob, the local government... (R for language and violence). It was a lot of fun and I look forward to reading the first book and the next one!
July 1, 2014
This crime novel most certainly is not for everyone; it is violent, profane, and X-rated. It is also quite funny. But those readers who can see past some of its baser elements will definitely be in for a most exhilarating ride. Read our full review, here: http://www.mysteriousreviews.com/myst...
November 5, 2017
I'm not going to write a full review here, but can we please stop with the switching tense from one paragraph to the next? I think he did it to indicate intense scenes of action - mostly it's written in past tense (he said; they drove; she was murdered) but then there is this flurry of present tense along with invisible punctuation (he says woah as they drive into a ditch where she is sliced to pieces oh my)
What makes this book fun is the whole Chicago crime/mob/politics plot that makes it feel more like a story about the city, rather than just any old crime thriller. But really, do the chapters have to be so short? There are 122 chapters and an epilogue in a 334 page book. Why is that a thing?
What makes this book fun is the whole Chicago crime/mob/politics plot that makes it feel more like a story about the city, rather than just any old crime thriller. But really, do the chapters have to be so short? There are 122 chapters and an epilogue in a 334 page book. Why is that a thing?
February 18, 2022
An entertaining murder mystery, with extremely crazy characters. The book is slightly raunchy and parts of it are quite funny. The only negative was it seemed the author struggled between writing a off the wall funny mystery or a serious mystery with completely off the wall characters.
I would definitely read another book by this author.
I would definitely read another book by this author.
September 16, 2021
Fun book
Started with this book which is third in series. Loved it so much that I am now reading the first two. Wacky and fun
Started with this book which is third in series. Loved it so much that I am now reading the first two. Wacky and fun
October 20, 2014
4.0 of 5 stars – Dark, Yet Light-Hearted, Mystery in Chicago’s Art World.
(I'm excited to have won this as a Goodreads First Read – so thanks, Lenny!)
I love mysteries and crime thrillers, and this one was both cynically funny AND set in Chicago where I live. Even though this is the second in a series, it does well as a standalone. And while I haven’t read any of Lenny Kleinfeld’s work before, I can see why he has many fans.
The story progresses at a good pace, creating tension and well-developed characters along the way, including the MCs, a hard-boiled detective and his fellow partner. I enjoyed how Kleinfeld let you in on the scheme from the start, placing the reader in-the-know, if you will, following what the criminals are doing as well as the cops, putting you a step ahead of the detectives and cheering them on to pick up the right clues and avoid the dead ends. The suspense is in how it will all play out, what with all the realistic, mainly the cynical side of the workings of cops, criminals, government, and relationships. Since the action mainly occurs across a lot of my stomping grounds in Chicago, it was also nice to hear familiar places described in a tongue-in-cheek way. I’ll never step into the Art Institute again without thinking about the fast-paced tour Kleinfeld provided, and I was amused by the portrait and analogy of Dorian Gray that he uses for the reluctant one of the criminals.
The author’s writing style is taut, fast-paced and darkly humorous, with (what I consider medium) R-rated language, violence and sex that spiced it up nicely. Many mysteries have their moments of humor and sarcasm; this one had it on almost every page. It had me smiling at many a snide phrase, name or circumstance, and I’m sure I still missed a few. And for mystery lovers, this also had a solid mystery to sustain it.
In the end, things were nicely tied up with only a few loose ends, not too many but intriguing enough to wonder where Kleinfeld will take you next.
(I'm excited to have won this as a Goodreads First Read – so thanks, Lenny!)
I love mysteries and crime thrillers, and this one was both cynically funny AND set in Chicago where I live. Even though this is the second in a series, it does well as a standalone. And while I haven’t read any of Lenny Kleinfeld’s work before, I can see why he has many fans.
The story progresses at a good pace, creating tension and well-developed characters along the way, including the MCs, a hard-boiled detective and his fellow partner. I enjoyed how Kleinfeld let you in on the scheme from the start, placing the reader in-the-know, if you will, following what the criminals are doing as well as the cops, putting you a step ahead of the detectives and cheering them on to pick up the right clues and avoid the dead ends. The suspense is in how it will all play out, what with all the realistic, mainly the cynical side of the workings of cops, criminals, government, and relationships. Since the action mainly occurs across a lot of my stomping grounds in Chicago, it was also nice to hear familiar places described in a tongue-in-cheek way. I’ll never step into the Art Institute again without thinking about the fast-paced tour Kleinfeld provided, and I was amused by the portrait and analogy of Dorian Gray that he uses for the reluctant one of the criminals.
The author’s writing style is taut, fast-paced and darkly humorous, with (what I consider medium) R-rated language, violence and sex that spiced it up nicely. Many mysteries have their moments of humor and sarcasm; this one had it on almost every page. It had me smiling at many a snide phrase, name or circumstance, and I’m sure I still missed a few. And for mystery lovers, this also had a solid mystery to sustain it.
In the end, things were nicely tied up with only a few loose ends, not too many but intriguing enough to wonder where Kleinfeld will take you next.
November 19, 2015
I haven't read a lot of crime fiction this year. In fact, the last crime book I think I picked up was Dennis Lehane's The Drop, written from his screenplay for the film. That was a tight little story about dark men doing dark deeds. This is another story in the same vein, but cut from very different cloth.
The story is set in Chicago. In 2005, a down-on-his-luck art dealer owes money to a low-ranking gangster. To placate the hood, he gives the man a painting from an up-and-coming artist who is later killed. Thus begins an odd coupling that leads to much murder and mayhem. Flash forward to 2012, and two more artists end up dead, leading to thoughts that a serial killer is on the loose. Detectives Bergmann and Dunegan are assigned to the case, and it turns out to be a doozy.
This book is way funnier than most crime novels tend to be, despite the heavy material. Now I have to hunt down the author's previous novel Shooters and Chasers.
The story is set in Chicago. In 2005, a down-on-his-luck art dealer owes money to a low-ranking gangster. To placate the hood, he gives the man a painting from an up-and-coming artist who is later killed. Thus begins an odd coupling that leads to much murder and mayhem. Flash forward to 2012, and two more artists end up dead, leading to thoughts that a serial killer is on the loose. Detectives Bergmann and Dunegan are assigned to the case, and it turns out to be a doozy.
This book is way funnier than most crime novels tend to be, despite the heavy material. Now I have to hunt down the author's previous novel Shooters and Chasers.
February 12, 2015
This was a good little mystery/detective story, replete with some wholly unlikeable characters (and some likeable ones too, but the beauty is in the unlikeable ones; they show Kleinfeld's talent to be quite strong). Chicago stories are fun, you guys.
Received for free through the Goodreads First Reads program.
Received for free through the Goodreads First Reads program.
December 27, 2014
Read this based on a review on the NPR best books of 2014. I really enjoyed the story and the writing. It is very well written, fast paced, and engaging. I'm normally a fantasy/sci-fi reader but this was a lovely change of pace.
January 14, 2015
Stellar, modern crime story; reminiscent of Elmore Leonard. Engaging and intriguing enough to make you plow through the chapters. May sound standard, but his character development is top notch. Have recommended this and his "Shooters & Chasers" to several of his new fans.
February 9, 2015
Good detective story. Good cops fight organized crime by being harder than the made men. With its detailed choreography of action scenes, this book felt more like a script for a film. i guess that's what the author wants, a movie contract. I liked the dirty talk, and ordered the previous novel.
January 7, 2015
Reminded me of Elmore Leonard - this is, in fact, the greatest compliment I can give. I could see Tarantino turning this into a ball of a movie....
January 13, 2015
Fun interesting quick murder mystery
Didn't like the ending but it was a fun quick read. Interesting way that the author shows the same scenario from 2 different points of view.
Didn't like the ending but it was a fun quick read. Interesting way that the author shows the same scenario from 2 different points of view.
April 5, 2015
Total pulp—and somewhat disgusting.
It had a writing style that I wasn't used to, so found that part interesting.
It had a writing style that I wasn't used to, so found that part interesting.
May 17, 2015
Wish I had know this wasn't the first book in the series.
July 24, 2015
A good easy summer read that was edgy and entertaining
January 16, 2016
Very well written. Not really a mystery from the reader's perspective.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews