Deal with the Dead

John Deal #6

by Les Standiford

Struggling to revitalize the Miami building firm that his late father had ruined, John Deal is delighted when he receives the contract on a major construction project, only to discover that his contract comes with strings attached--the government agency for who his late father had worked secretly wants him to Deal to take his place. By the author of Black Mountain. 17,500 first printing.

Genres: Mystery

302 pages, Hardcover

First published February 19, 2001

About the author

Les Standiford is a historian and author and has since 1985 been the Director of the Florida International University Creative Writing Program. Standiford has been awarded the Frank O'Connor Award for Short Fiction, a Florida Individual Artist Fellowship in Fiction, and a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Fiction, and belongs to the Associated Writing Programs, Mystery Writers of America, and the Writers Guild.

Reviews

[Mark- · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first two chapters of this book are poorly written. My first thought was that the author was writing in English as a second language. Anyway, it starts out as a banal spy thriller, that would have made Ian Fleming yawn. But, then the writing improves and the Deal family mystery begins.

The suspense actually builds to the end with several twists and turns that I did not see coming. So, as a mystery thriller, that sort of sneaks up on you and improves greatly, this is one to pick up.

Just as a smile, I will never think of a Cornish Game Hen the same way.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good John Deal novel. Good characters...a quick read.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

eh.