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Dek Elstrom #3
Hunting Sweetie Rose: A Mystery
IN HARM'S WAY
He's not an ex-cop or private investigator. Still, Dek Elstrom has a knack for solving Chicago's most oddball cases. They help him forget his shattered life and many losses…at least for a little while. But now an anonymous client wants to know why an innocent clown fell to his death doing a promo stunt. When Dek figures out wealthy socialite Sweetie Fairbairn is his employer, his attempt to get answers results in her bodyguard being murdered. Then Sweetie vanishes and Dek is on the hook for both crimes.
The only way to clear his name is to locate Sweetie. But Dek soon finds the murky trail of her past entangling him in a decades-old unsolved crime, a twisted family tree, and a grim legacy of abuse and hatred. And as the body count and number of suspects snowball, Dek must risk his darkest secrets to crack the case—even as he puts his life and future on the line….
He's not an ex-cop or private investigator. Still, Dek Elstrom has a knack for solving Chicago's most oddball cases. They help him forget his shattered life and many losses…at least for a little while. But now an anonymous client wants to know why an innocent clown fell to his death doing a promo stunt. When Dek figures out wealthy socialite Sweetie Fairbairn is his employer, his attempt to get answers results in her bodyguard being murdered. Then Sweetie vanishes and Dek is on the hook for both crimes.
The only way to clear his name is to locate Sweetie. But Dek soon finds the murky trail of her past entangling him in a decades-old unsolved crime, a twisted family tree, and a grim legacy of abuse and hatred. And as the body count and number of suspects snowball, Dek must risk his darkest secrets to crack the case—even as he puts his life and future on the line….
Paperback
First published February 28, 2012
About the author
Jack Fredrickson
24 books29 followersJack Fredrickson’s first Dek Elstrom mystery, A Safe Place for Dying, was nominated for the Shamus Award for Best First Novel. His short fiction has appeared in the acclaimed Chicago Blues and in Michael Connelly’s Burden of the Badge anthologies. He lives with his wife, Susan, west of Chicago, where he is crafting the next Dek Elstrom novel.
Series:
* Dek Ekstrom Mystery
Series:
* Dek Ekstrom Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 30, 2013
Another great story by Jack Fredrickson!! I came across this author quite by chance, but have loved each of his three stories I've read. This one was another great mystery with a very well thought out and delivered plot, with quite a surprising ending. Just when you thought you had it figured out, the author comes in with an unexpected twist. Interspersed with humor, this book is well worth the read!! Definitely 9 out of 10 for me.
July 15, 2012
Did NOT keep my attention or interest.
June 8, 2015
I enjoyed this immensely. The humor is great and the story takes twists and turns that leave you wondering where you will land next. My first Dek Elstrom mystery - hope the rest are just as good.
October 26, 2024
A hard boiled almost-but-not-quite-a-private-eye mystery, this is my favorite book of the year so far. I read it when I really should have been doing other things.
Dek Elstrom is hired by a go between to investigate the death of a clown on a roof. Everything goes sideways from the start. There were more twists and turns than a shortcut up a mountain road.
There were some laugh out loud funny scenes, enough adventure to keep one reading and on the edge of one's seat, and enough plot twists that one never grew tired of the book.
Wonderful! One of a series, but reads well as a stand alone.
Dek Elstrom is hired by a go between to investigate the death of a clown on a roof. Everything goes sideways from the start. There were more twists and turns than a shortcut up a mountain road.
There were some laugh out loud funny scenes, enough adventure to keep one reading and on the edge of one's seat, and enough plot twists that one never grew tired of the book.
Wonderful! One of a series, but reads well as a stand alone.
March 21, 2025
Dem Elstrom lives in a turret in Chicago and works as an unlicensed investigator. He is hired by a representative of Sweetie Rose, a well known philanthropist, to investigate the death of a clown. This, on its own is puzzling but things get more complicated when Sweetie Rose is found bending over the body of a dead man and then disappears . As Dek works to find her he unravels a complex conspiracy which leaves him wondering if Sweetie really exists at all.
July 12, 2017
Another solid effort. Even better than the first two. I still think Dek is awful trusting for a tough guy, and there's one inexplicable plot twist, but I'm happily moving onto book 4 in the series.
His sidekick is the best wing man a guy could ask for, by the way.
His sidekick is the best wing man a guy could ask for, by the way.
November 3, 2018
Probably a 3.5*, but went to the low side for the extremely improbable plot. When our hero Dek gets a lawyer who tells him to stay away from the press and lie low, he does the exact opposite. Plus as a Jeep owner I object to Jeep abuse by owners. Jeeps are NOT lawn decorations.
April 4, 2026
I don't quite know what to say about this book. It was like 1950's hard boiled old timey detective meets 2012. I didn't dislike it, I didn't like it necessarily, but I finished it. Kinda weird. Might have been better if I was familiar with Dek's past.
October 11, 2023
Light funny mystery.
March 15, 2025
Just couldn’t get into it
May 4, 2025
Forgot how much I enjoy reading the Dek Elstrom series.
January 10, 2026
I had some confusion about who was the aggressor towards the end, but I have been enjoying the characters in this series.
March 4, 2014
Part of the ‘A Book from every State of the Union’ Reading Challenge – Illinois.
I came across this novel while I was searching my library for books to include in my 2014 reading challenge; it was the only one by this Author on their shelves and immediately cried out to me. Heeding that cry, I brought it home... am I glad I did.
The main protagonist is everything there is to love, and hate, in the character of a private detective, or should that be insurance investigator; to find out what this means you’ll have to read the book. He is full of the dry sarcastic wit and one-liners that a lover of a traditional mystery novel will find to their taste. He is, or thinks he is, invincible, not easy fooled and a tough guy to boot; but really as we find out as his character develops in this novel, he is more than a little vulnerable. There is so much about this man that reminded me of Philip Marlowe, that I wasn’t but a few chapters into this novel before I found myself really rooting for the guy, and wanting everything to go his way. There are a cast of supporting characters for our main to play off against, but rather than let his main character overshadow them, the Author does an excellent job of making sure that the others he encounters either bring out the best him in, stop him from totally self-destructing, or really bring out his hard side; whatever their role they are written with equal parts of grit and humour and enough realism to make the reader feel as if they actually lived.
The plot is quirky and funny wrapped up in a pretty page turning mystery that will keep you guessing to the end. I finished this book in one sitting, and when I finally came to the closure of the plot all I could wonder was ‘how the heck did I not see that coming’. The Author is also able to inject a touch of realism into the locations of his novel by throwing the reader pieces of plot that link to past, or current, news items. Normally I don’t like this in the fiction I read as I hate being distracted from a good plot by the feeling I’ve seen this in the paper, but that was not the case here. I think the difference between this novel and others that I’ve read that attempted this was the fact that this Author wrote about these events with the same wit as he did his plot.
A downside to this book, I found, was that it actually the third in a series containing this protagonist; however, this did not make me like the book any less or feel I was missing out on anything, as it works just as well as a standalone novel. What this discovery did achieve however, was to ensure that I will be reading more by this Author.
If you are looking for a writer who has a similar style to Raymond Chandler, I highly recommend this novel. If you’re looking for a good traditional mystery, well see the sentence above this one.
Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2014/03/04...
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
I came across this novel while I was searching my library for books to include in my 2014 reading challenge; it was the only one by this Author on their shelves and immediately cried out to me. Heeding that cry, I brought it home... am I glad I did.
The main protagonist is everything there is to love, and hate, in the character of a private detective, or should that be insurance investigator; to find out what this means you’ll have to read the book. He is full of the dry sarcastic wit and one-liners that a lover of a traditional mystery novel will find to their taste. He is, or thinks he is, invincible, not easy fooled and a tough guy to boot; but really as we find out as his character develops in this novel, he is more than a little vulnerable. There is so much about this man that reminded me of Philip Marlowe, that I wasn’t but a few chapters into this novel before I found myself really rooting for the guy, and wanting everything to go his way. There are a cast of supporting characters for our main to play off against, but rather than let his main character overshadow them, the Author does an excellent job of making sure that the others he encounters either bring out the best him in, stop him from totally self-destructing, or really bring out his hard side; whatever their role they are written with equal parts of grit and humour and enough realism to make the reader feel as if they actually lived.
The plot is quirky and funny wrapped up in a pretty page turning mystery that will keep you guessing to the end. I finished this book in one sitting, and when I finally came to the closure of the plot all I could wonder was ‘how the heck did I not see that coming’. The Author is also able to inject a touch of realism into the locations of his novel by throwing the reader pieces of plot that link to past, or current, news items. Normally I don’t like this in the fiction I read as I hate being distracted from a good plot by the feeling I’ve seen this in the paper, but that was not the case here. I think the difference between this novel and others that I’ve read that attempted this was the fact that this Author wrote about these events with the same wit as he did his plot.
A downside to this book, I found, was that it actually the third in a series containing this protagonist; however, this did not make me like the book any less or feel I was missing out on anything, as it works just as well as a standalone novel. What this discovery did achieve however, was to ensure that I will be reading more by this Author.
If you are looking for a writer who has a similar style to Raymond Chandler, I highly recommend this novel. If you’re looking for a good traditional mystery, well see the sentence above this one.
Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2014/03/04...
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
March 8, 2012
First Sentence: The Argua-Observer was the only Chicago newspaper that dared run the pictures of the clown going off the room screaming.
Investigator Dek Elstrom is hired by a mysterious man in a limousine to investigate the death of a clown. It doesn’t take Dek long to discover his client is wealthy socialite Sweetie Fairbairn. Working with the help of reporter Jennifer Gale and his Dek’s sartorially-challenged yet delightful best friend Leo, Dek finds himself with more bodies than clues, pegged as a suspect by the police, and hunting for his own client and her past.
Every author strives for a strong, compelling opening. Fredrickson succeeded in creating one. It’s not only compelling, but provides images that will stay with the reader for some time. However, a good opening doesn’t always guarantee a good book unless that level of involvement is maintained. It is.
Fredrickson has a wonderful sardonic voice…”Google, that collector of all lint…” and wry humor. His protagonist, Dek, has lost almost everything and, in this book, he even seems to be letting go of his one last self-delusions. I did appreciate learning more about Dek’s family history.
There is palpable tension and suspense along with intriguing and unexpected twists that you don’t see coming. Any holes one fears there might be there have been plugged in advance. The ending is a bit ambiguous for my taste and left me rather confused but not to where it spoiled my enjoyment of book overall.
“Hunting Sweetie Rose” is the third book in the Elstrom series. Although it may not be my favorite of the three, so far, I really enjoy Fredrickson’s style and recommend him as an author well worth reading. I do feel there are good things ahead.
HUNTING SWEETIE ROSE (Trad. Myst/Invest-Dek Elstrom-Chicago-Contemporary) – Good+
Fredrickson, Jack – 3rd in series
Minotaur Books, 2011
Investigator Dek Elstrom is hired by a mysterious man in a limousine to investigate the death of a clown. It doesn’t take Dek long to discover his client is wealthy socialite Sweetie Fairbairn. Working with the help of reporter Jennifer Gale and his Dek’s sartorially-challenged yet delightful best friend Leo, Dek finds himself with more bodies than clues, pegged as a suspect by the police, and hunting for his own client and her past.
Every author strives for a strong, compelling opening. Fredrickson succeeded in creating one. It’s not only compelling, but provides images that will stay with the reader for some time. However, a good opening doesn’t always guarantee a good book unless that level of involvement is maintained. It is.
Fredrickson has a wonderful sardonic voice…”Google, that collector of all lint…” and wry humor. His protagonist, Dek, has lost almost everything and, in this book, he even seems to be letting go of his one last self-delusions. I did appreciate learning more about Dek’s family history.
There is palpable tension and suspense along with intriguing and unexpected twists that you don’t see coming. Any holes one fears there might be there have been plugged in advance. The ending is a bit ambiguous for my taste and left me rather confused but not to where it spoiled my enjoyment of book overall.
“Hunting Sweetie Rose” is the third book in the Elstrom series. Although it may not be my favorite of the three, so far, I really enjoy Fredrickson’s style and recommend him as an author well worth reading. I do feel there are good things ahead.
HUNTING SWEETIE ROSE (Trad. Myst/Invest-Dek Elstrom-Chicago-Contemporary) – Good+
Fredrickson, Jack – 3rd in series
Minotaur Books, 2011
January 18, 2013
"Hunting Sweetie Rose: A Mystery" by Jack Fredrickson is the 3rd book in the Dek Elstrom series.
As a mystery, it's a good one. And this book, like the entire series, is liberally seasoned with Chicago, and with distinctive characters.
However, it has a pretty fatal flaw:
Almost every female character in the novel is heavily sexualized.
It doesn't matter what they do for a living, how competent or successful or even how old they are. They are sexualized, defined (or mocked) in terms of their sexuality. A successful news caster? Sexy. An incredibly wealthy widow? Well preserved and sexy. A noble ex-wife struggling with her relationship with her father? Nice ass, not being sexually giving enough to the main character. Sheriff of a small town? SEXXXXY. Someone's 60+ year old mom and her female friends? OH GROSS THEY LIKE SEX EW EW EW EW EW UGH GODDDDDD.
It's really disturbing because it takes what should be a very good, engaging, fun story and in big letters says NOT FOR YOU. It's a book BY a heterosexual man written FOR heterosexual men and that's the ONLY POV that matters. Everyone else can fuck off.
I liked the first book, "Safe Place For Dying," especially the tender relationship between Elstrom and his ex wife. I liked the complicated and protective, regretful relationship revealed between Dek and a high school sweetheart in "Honestly, Dearest, You're Dead." In both books, women are Dek's equals. They operate on the same plane. But in "Hunting Sweetie Rose," it feels like every woman is being taken down a peg because otherwise they're too much of a threat.
I'll be reading the next book in the series, but if it's as dismissive of women I won't be following this author any longer. Which is a shame, because other than this he's a good author. I'm just tired of media that's so proudly directed at a small subset of humanity and so quick to alienate everyone else.
As a mystery, it's a good one. And this book, like the entire series, is liberally seasoned with Chicago, and with distinctive characters.
However, it has a pretty fatal flaw:
Almost every female character in the novel is heavily sexualized.
It doesn't matter what they do for a living, how competent or successful or even how old they are. They are sexualized, defined (or mocked) in terms of their sexuality. A successful news caster? Sexy. An incredibly wealthy widow? Well preserved and sexy. A noble ex-wife struggling with her relationship with her father? Nice ass, not being sexually giving enough to the main character. Sheriff of a small town? SEXXXXY. Someone's 60+ year old mom and her female friends? OH GROSS THEY LIKE SEX EW EW EW EW EW UGH GODDDDDD.
It's really disturbing because it takes what should be a very good, engaging, fun story and in big letters says NOT FOR YOU. It's a book BY a heterosexual man written FOR heterosexual men and that's the ONLY POV that matters. Everyone else can fuck off.
I liked the first book, "Safe Place For Dying," especially the tender relationship between Elstrom and his ex wife. I liked the complicated and protective, regretful relationship revealed between Dek and a high school sweetheart in "Honestly, Dearest, You're Dead." In both books, women are Dek's equals. They operate on the same plane. But in "Hunting Sweetie Rose," it feels like every woman is being taken down a peg because otherwise they're too much of a threat.
I'll be reading the next book in the series, but if it's as dismissive of women I won't be following this author any longer. Which is a shame, because other than this he's a good author. I'm just tired of media that's so proudly directed at a small subset of humanity and so quick to alienate everyone else.
April 15, 2013
Dek Elstrom is an ex document authenticator, slowly rebuilding his live and restoring the turret that he calls home. In A Safe Place for Dying he was brought in to investigate a series of bombings and since has taken on a few detective jobs here and there to help pay for the turret restoration.
One day a clown falls off the roof of a building and Dek is hired by Chicago socialite Sweetie Fairbairn to investigate the possible connection to herself. Was there a connection, is Sweetie all that she makes out to be, is she herself in danger, will Dek get to the bottom of things before more people die, how far will Dek go to see things set tight. Deep down Dek has a strong sense of right and wrong and sheer determination to see the job through to completion.
The Dek Elstrom series is quirky and full or eccentric characters and events. A series that doesn't take itself too seriously. Well written and fast paced, they make for very entertaining reading. Over the top for sure, but just outright so much fun. Jack Fredrickson is a great writer and one of the best at pulling this off.
Have been looking forward to the next in the series since the last page.
One day a clown falls off the roof of a building and Dek is hired by Chicago socialite Sweetie Fairbairn to investigate the possible connection to herself. Was there a connection, is Sweetie all that she makes out to be, is she herself in danger, will Dek get to the bottom of things before more people die, how far will Dek go to see things set tight. Deep down Dek has a strong sense of right and wrong and sheer determination to see the job through to completion.
The Dek Elstrom series is quirky and full or eccentric characters and events. A series that doesn't take itself too seriously. Well written and fast paced, they make for very entertaining reading. Over the top for sure, but just outright so much fun. Jack Fredrickson is a great writer and one of the best at pulling this off.
Have been looking forward to the next in the series since the last page.
April 14, 2012
I was sold in the first 30 pages of this book. First a clown dies, falling off the roof of a building. I hate clowns! Then after this there is a subplot where in the basement of a home, 70 year old ladies ditch their bridge club for hard core porn and lessons in stripping as a cardio exercise. One of which is on a walker.
Beyond that this is a great mystery with a main protaganist that harkens back to noir style of character, I was reminded both of Sam Spade and Fletch rolled into one down on his luck unlicensed private eye.
The story here revolves around the death of the clown which turns out to be the tip of the iceberg that will encompass murder, theft of millions and a tragic killing in the past that comes back to haunt all involved.
The pace is fast and the action crisp with plenty of tongue in cheek moments to keep you laughing as well.
A fun fun read!
Beyond that this is a great mystery with a main protaganist that harkens back to noir style of character, I was reminded both of Sam Spade and Fletch rolled into one down on his luck unlicensed private eye.
The story here revolves around the death of the clown which turns out to be the tip of the iceberg that will encompass murder, theft of millions and a tragic killing in the past that comes back to haunt all involved.
The pace is fast and the action crisp with plenty of tongue in cheek moments to keep you laughing as well.
A fun fun read!
April 13, 2012
I waited a long time for a new Dek Elstrom book, and I wasn't disappointed. I think this volume was a little more intense than the previous two, and Dek seems to have lost a touch of his humor, but with his relationship with Amanda waning, it's no wonder.
Dek is hired to look into the death of a clown, but that incident has far reaching implications and drags Amanda's relationship with Dek right where neither want it; the spotlight.
Leo never disappoints with his acerbic wit and loud clothes; the introduction of Jenny was a pleasant surprise. Dek refers to the city council members as lizards, as they do everything in their power to thwart building and living in his turret.
All in all, a good novel, and I really do hope to see more of Dek in the future!
Dek is hired to look into the death of a clown, but that incident has far reaching implications and drags Amanda's relationship with Dek right where neither want it; the spotlight.
Leo never disappoints with his acerbic wit and loud clothes; the introduction of Jenny was a pleasant surprise. Dek refers to the city council members as lizards, as they do everything in their power to thwart building and living in his turret.
All in all, a good novel, and I really do hope to see more of Dek in the future!
June 24, 2014
This book is about a man who is no longer a cop, nor a P.I. but was hired by someone to investigate the death of a clown. Under the pretense of an insurance claim. It took some time for him to realize his actual client was a philanthropist who learned of him through a mutual friend. Shortly after, her bodyguard is found dead, and she is missing. He finds himself working off and on with a female reporter from one of the news channels. As he begins to hunt down clues to the socialites unknown past, he uncovers a very old unsolved crime, family ties nearly forgotten with revenge and hatred tentacles left to unwind, avoiding his own past, and dead bodies showing up wherever he is. This book will keep your attention.
April 24, 2014
In Fredrickson’s mystery novel, Dek Elstrom has a knack for solving puzzling crimes. It’s a hobby that keeps him occupied. When he is hired by an anonymous client wanting an explanation for the death of a clown, Dek finds himself embroiled in several crimes that he is blamed for. To prove his innocence, he sets out only to find himself entangled in a decades-old cold case, a dysfunctional family, and a dark legacy of abuse and hatred. As the mystery deepens, Dek must pull down the walls he has built around himself and expose his inner sole or risk his own future.
A solid introduction to the A Dek Elstrom Mystery series.
A solid introduction to the A Dek Elstrom Mystery series.
June 28, 2012
Hunting Sweetie Rose is the third book in the Dek Elstrom series of thrillers that takes place in a fictonal corruption-filled suburb west of Chicago. I have liked each of the books in the series very much. As someone who lives in the same general area of the Chicago suburbs, I like the local flair and atmosphere a great deal and the characters and plot are orginal and engaging. Jack Fredrickson is a very good writer. A very good read.
Want to Read
February 3, 2012I have so enjoyed Fredrickson's previous mysteries and look forward to this release! Its been on my wish list for a while now!
July 9, 2012
Liked the characters but plot was a bit convoluted. Dek Elstrom is assuming, as are his comments about corruption in a fictional area of Chicago.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
April 1, 2014Miniseries: A Dek Elstrom Mystery
July 8, 2014
I enjoyed the twists and turns. I also appreciated the ending. Well done!
March 4, 2015
My first time reading this author. While I felt it dragged a little the story line was great. Started reading his next book immediately after finishing this one.
March 16, 2015
Dek Elstrom is hired by a very wealthty socialite to investigate the death of a clown. This of course, leads to much mayhem and madness and more murder. I do enjoy this series mystery.
May 4, 2015
Small town girls makes it big and then her past catches up with her. Loved it Jack.
Want to Read
December 24, 2018Synopsis: Dek Elstrom is hired to investigate the death of a clown. What is the connection between him and Sweetie Fairbairn?
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews