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Cullen and Cobb #2
Dead Air: A Cullen and Cobb Mystery
A Calgary Herald Bestseller!
There’s no such thing as bad press …
Ex-cop turned private detective Mike Cobb is hired as the personal bodyguard of right-wing radio celebrity Buckley-Rand Larmer, who has been receiving a string of vicious, graphic threats. Once again, Cobb recruits crime journalist Adam Cullen, this time to dig into Larmer’s past and find out who might have a grudge against him.
Soon it becomes evident that Cullen and Cobb have more to contend with than the not-so-veiled threats. When Larmer’s associate turns up dead, the broadcaster is charged with the killing, but Cullen believes the murder might be related to a series of suspicious deaths of right-wing media figures going back years. As layers of secrets and lies peel back, Cullen and Cobb have more than Larmer’s guilt or innocence to worry about. A vicious killer is out there somewhere, poised to strike again.
There’s no such thing as bad press …
Ex-cop turned private detective Mike Cobb is hired as the personal bodyguard of right-wing radio celebrity Buckley-Rand Larmer, who has been receiving a string of vicious, graphic threats. Once again, Cobb recruits crime journalist Adam Cullen, this time to dig into Larmer’s past and find out who might have a grudge against him.
Soon it becomes evident that Cullen and Cobb have more to contend with than the not-so-veiled threats. When Larmer’s associate turns up dead, the broadcaster is charged with the killing, but Cullen believes the murder might be related to a series of suspicious deaths of right-wing media figures going back years. As layers of secrets and lies peel back, Cullen and Cobb have more than Larmer’s guilt or innocence to worry about. A vicious killer is out there somewhere, poised to strike again.
- GenresMystery
376 pages, Paperback
Published May 30, 2017
4 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
David A. Poulsen
30 books22 followersDavid A. Poulsen has been a rodeo competitor and rodeo clown, rock singer, high school football coach, stage and film actor, documentary television writer and host, and college English instructor. Since retiring from rodeo competition - he admits to being a not-very-good bareback rider and later an accident-prone rodeo clown, David Poulsen has taken up residence in announcer's stands across North America. The results have been tremendously positive both for David and audiences who have listened to his knowledgeable and enthusiastic commentary for the last twenty-six years.
With 1500 performances to his credit, the likable Alberta native has appeared at many of the major rodeos and bull riding events in Canada, among them the Canadian Finals Rodeo (three times), the Calgary Stampede for the last sixteen years in a row and, the PCB Bull Riding Finals. He has been at the microphone for twenty-eight Finals events in seven different associations. Equally at home in front of a TV camera, he has been seen on CTV Wide World of Sports, TSN Television Sports and each year co-hosts the popular Stampede Roundup program on Calgary's CFCN-TV with Glen Campbell. He also acted as co-host of the documentary series The Complete Rider for The Outdoor Life Network. David's announcing talents have also taken him to the big screen. He twice played the role of a rodeo announcer in the successful family series The Black Stallion and was behind the microphone for the rodeo scenes in the movie Convict Cowboy that starred Jon Voigt
David is also a successful writer with some 17 published books to his credit. His writing career began in earnest in 1984 when his short story The Welcomin’ won the Alberta Culture Short Story Writing Competition. His newest book Last Sam's Cage (published by Key Porter Books, Toronto, ON) arrived in bookstores in October, 2005 and has been enjoying a tremendous reception with readers across Canada and beyond. Because a number of his books target young readers, David spends between 60 and 80 days a year in classrooms across Canada, talking to kids about his books and his life as a writer and sharing his stories with students.
David and his wife Barb raise running quarter horses on a small but picturesque ranch (El Rancho Pequino) in the Alberta foothills west of Claresholm.
With 1500 performances to his credit, the likable Alberta native has appeared at many of the major rodeos and bull riding events in Canada, among them the Canadian Finals Rodeo (three times), the Calgary Stampede for the last sixteen years in a row and, the PCB Bull Riding Finals. He has been at the microphone for twenty-eight Finals events in seven different associations. Equally at home in front of a TV camera, he has been seen on CTV Wide World of Sports, TSN Television Sports and each year co-hosts the popular Stampede Roundup program on Calgary's CFCN-TV with Glen Campbell. He also acted as co-host of the documentary series The Complete Rider for The Outdoor Life Network. David's announcing talents have also taken him to the big screen. He twice played the role of a rodeo announcer in the successful family series The Black Stallion and was behind the microphone for the rodeo scenes in the movie Convict Cowboy that starred Jon Voigt
David is also a successful writer with some 17 published books to his credit. His writing career began in earnest in 1984 when his short story The Welcomin’ won the Alberta Culture Short Story Writing Competition. His newest book Last Sam's Cage (published by Key Porter Books, Toronto, ON) arrived in bookstores in October, 2005 and has been enjoying a tremendous reception with readers across Canada and beyond. Because a number of his books target young readers, David spends between 60 and 80 days a year in classrooms across Canada, talking to kids about his books and his life as a writer and sharing his stories with students.
David and his wife Barb raise running quarter horses on a small but picturesque ranch (El Rancho Pequino) in the Alberta foothills west of Claresholm.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 11, 2017
5 stars
This novel is set in Calgary during the Calgary Stampede, one of the author’s favorite times of the year – and mine as well.
Adam Cullen is a former newspaper reporter for the crime beat. He assists his friend, Mike Cobb, who is a private investigator, from time to time on his cases. Mike contacts Adam wanting him to do some deep research on Buckley-Rand Larmer, a virulent right-wing radio broadcaster.
Adam begins his research, but is stymied at several points. He feels that there is something in Larmer’s past, but can’t seem to get a handle on what it is. He is also distracted because his girlfriend’s daughter is very ill from an unknown cause. He also becomes somewhat fixated on the murder of a young girl several years earlier. Her murder remains unsolved.
Surprisingly, Larmer’s sidekick/bodyguard, Jasper Hugg is murdered. Larmer is taken into custody. Did he murder his friend as the police believe?
Mike wants Adam to help him prove Larmer’s innocence. Adam abhors the very idea. While he finally decides to work with Cobb on the case, he remains unhappy about it.
Following clues and making connections, this very fine book is drawn to a conclusion. The murderer is a surprise, and the denouement of the book is just great. The cops are competent and justice is swift.
This book is very well written and plotted. Mr. Poulsen’s characters are likeable and engaging. This is the first David Poulsen book that I have has the pleasure to read and it certainly won’t be my last!
I want to send a very big thanks to Netgalley and Dundurn for forwarding to me a copy of this wonderful book to read.
This novel is set in Calgary during the Calgary Stampede, one of the author’s favorite times of the year – and mine as well.
Adam Cullen is a former newspaper reporter for the crime beat. He assists his friend, Mike Cobb, who is a private investigator, from time to time on his cases. Mike contacts Adam wanting him to do some deep research on Buckley-Rand Larmer, a virulent right-wing radio broadcaster.
Adam begins his research, but is stymied at several points. He feels that there is something in Larmer’s past, but can’t seem to get a handle on what it is. He is also distracted because his girlfriend’s daughter is very ill from an unknown cause. He also becomes somewhat fixated on the murder of a young girl several years earlier. Her murder remains unsolved.
Surprisingly, Larmer’s sidekick/bodyguard, Jasper Hugg is murdered. Larmer is taken into custody. Did he murder his friend as the police believe?
Mike wants Adam to help him prove Larmer’s innocence. Adam abhors the very idea. While he finally decides to work with Cobb on the case, he remains unhappy about it.
Following clues and making connections, this very fine book is drawn to a conclusion. The murderer is a surprise, and the denouement of the book is just great. The cops are competent and justice is swift.
This book is very well written and plotted. Mr. Poulsen’s characters are likeable and engaging. This is the first David Poulsen book that I have has the pleasure to read and it certainly won’t be my last!
I want to send a very big thanks to Netgalley and Dundurn for forwarding to me a copy of this wonderful book to read.
May 8, 2017
I'm torn on this book. It's easy to read, the setting is intriguing, the story decent if not a little easy, but it all feels a little too by the numbers and not very mysterious. Most of the time Cullen is looking information up, and then spending time showering, getting coffees, hanging out and watching sunsets...it's a very calm mystery indeed. And Cobb? He's in the background doing his thing, being a bodyguard and then Cullen's handler. Basically he's exited scene left until he's conveniently needed.
Another big problem for me in this book is the blatant plugs. Mr. Poulsen loves to show the sites and sounds of Calgary via where he's drinking(Starbucks), to where he's eating(Ship and Anchor), what he's drinking(Amarone), and what he's listening to(whatever's Canadian all the time). It's fine to throw that in your book a few times, but after an entire page of it, I had had enough and every new plug took threw me out of the story.
It sounds like I'm ripping the book a new one, and in some ways I am, but I did enjoy the book and then characters and it's moments. I wish it had a little more mystery and danger with less coffee advertising.
Another big problem for me in this book is the blatant plugs. Mr. Poulsen loves to show the sites and sounds of Calgary via where he's drinking(Starbucks), to where he's eating(Ship and Anchor), what he's drinking(Amarone), and what he's listening to(whatever's Canadian all the time). It's fine to throw that in your book a few times, but after an entire page of it, I had had enough and every new plug took threw me out of the story.
It sounds like I'm ripping the book a new one, and in some ways I am, but I did enjoy the book and then characters and it's moments. I wish it had a little more mystery and danger with less coffee advertising.
April 6, 2018
Adam Cullen is a freelance writer/former newspaper journalist and Mike Cobb is an ex-cop, now a private detective. Mike has been hired to protect Larmer, a right wing radio celebrity, who has been getting death threats. Mike enlists Adam to help to research the Larmer's background to figure out who is making the death threats and why. In the meantime, Larmer's associate is murdered and and Larmer gets arrested. Mike's job changes from bodyguard to investigator and Adam continues to do research. Neither Mike nor Adam like Larmer but they have to put aside their feelings to do the job.
I liked the writing style and enjoyed this book. The editing could have been tighter, though. For example, there is mention to Adam's late wife, Donna, but she is called "Diana" in the beginning of the book and correctly as "Donna" through the rest of the book. Also, it was lacking punctuation in some places. It is written in first person perspective in Adam's voice. As a head's up, there is swearing.
I like that this story is set in Calgary and the author doesn't try to hide the fact that the story is happening in Canada. There are numerous references to Calgary and many many references to Canadian musicians, even obscure ones I've never heard of (Adam is a big music fan with eclectic tastes).
I liked the characters and their interactions ... Adam and Mike, Adam and Jill (Adam's girlfriend) and Adam and Kyla (Jill's young daughter). Adam and Jill have been dating for about six months and had discussed taking the next step (with Kyla's approval) but are taking it slowly.
This is the second in the Cobb and Cullen series ... I'd read the first one earlier this week. I look forward to reading others in the series.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2018/04...
I liked the writing style and enjoyed this book. The editing could have been tighter, though. For example, there is mention to Adam's late wife, Donna, but she is called "Diana" in the beginning of the book and correctly as "Donna" through the rest of the book. Also, it was lacking punctuation in some places. It is written in first person perspective in Adam's voice. As a head's up, there is swearing.
I like that this story is set in Calgary and the author doesn't try to hide the fact that the story is happening in Canada. There are numerous references to Calgary and many many references to Canadian musicians, even obscure ones I've never heard of (Adam is a big music fan with eclectic tastes).
I liked the characters and their interactions ... Adam and Mike, Adam and Jill (Adam's girlfriend) and Adam and Kyla (Jill's young daughter). Adam and Jill have been dating for about six months and had discussed taking the next step (with Kyla's approval) but are taking it slowly.
This is the second in the Cobb and Cullen series ... I'd read the first one earlier this week. I look forward to reading others in the series.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2018/04...
June 1, 2021
This series was recommended to me by a friend, as she said it was set in Calgary.
I found the murder mystery interesting enough (and wrapped up very quickly in the end) but wanted to learn more about the murder of the young girl. I will read None So Deadly next.
The author loves Calgary and knows Calgary very well, as he described routes driven, restaurants visited (a few now are no longer), landmarks, and neighbourhoods. A lot of 'product' placement throughout the book. For someone who is visiting Calgary and wants to follow in Cullen's footsteps, the author has given them a map, so to speak.
Cullen listens to a lot of music....I suspect this is Poulsen's playlist...distracting me from the story.
One thing: Kyla's hospital stay: the Children's Hospital, not the Foothills. (They are near to each other, but since Kyla is a child, the Children's Hospital.)
I found the murder mystery interesting enough (and wrapped up very quickly in the end) but wanted to learn more about the murder of the young girl. I will read None So Deadly next.
The author loves Calgary and knows Calgary very well, as he described routes driven, restaurants visited (a few now are no longer), landmarks, and neighbourhoods. A lot of 'product' placement throughout the book. For someone who is visiting Calgary and wants to follow in Cullen's footsteps, the author has given them a map, so to speak.
Cullen listens to a lot of music....I suspect this is Poulsen's playlist...distracting me from the story.
One thing: Kyla's hospital stay: the Children's Hospital, not the Foothills. (They are near to each other, but since Kyla is a child, the Children's Hospital.)
February 26, 2017
Full review to come!
June 30, 2018
Mike Cobb, an ex-cop turned detective, is hired as personal body guard of right-wing radio celebrity Buckley-Rand Larmer who has been receiving a string of vicious and graphic threats.
Cobb asks for the help of crime journalist Adam Cullen, who tells this story in the first person. Cullen is a music fan which also intrigued me and taught me some new songs.
Dead Air takes the reader on an in-depth journey through Calgary, during Stampede, in an adventure that keeps you guessing until the very end. Dave’s characters, Mike Cobb and Adam Cullen might not be cowboys by day but they are the essence of them. This book might not be a western but it has that rugged, law-of-the-land feel and theme.
Cobb asks for the help of crime journalist Adam Cullen, who tells this story in the first person. Cullen is a music fan which also intrigued me and taught me some new songs.
Dead Air takes the reader on an in-depth journey through Calgary, during Stampede, in an adventure that keeps you guessing until the very end. Dave’s characters, Mike Cobb and Adam Cullen might not be cowboys by day but they are the essence of them. This book might not be a western but it has that rugged, law-of-the-land feel and theme.
February 7, 2020
I quite enjoyed this story. I read the one prior, but you don't need to in order to enjoy this one. David Poulsen has the beat of the city and uses it as a great backdrop for the story. I am looking forward to picking up the next one and curling up with it.
December 17, 2022
As a news guy at a talk radio station in Calgary, this was unputdownable.
July 22, 2022
This was a pretty sloppy book, in one sense. It had the good plot and characters the same as the first one, but it was based on an improbability.
The guy who got arrested in this book, right at the beginning almost, couldn't have done it because he had bodyguards who would have known exactly where he was every minute. So there was no need to try and clear him. But other than that and the fact that no one seemed to take the time to contact the woman in Buffalo Wyoming and tell her that the father of her child was dead and not coming back, it was a decent read.
The guy who got arrested in this book, right at the beginning almost, couldn't have done it because he had bodyguards who would have known exactly where he was every minute. So there was no need to try and clear him. But other than that and the fact that no one seemed to take the time to contact the woman in Buffalo Wyoming and tell her that the father of her child was dead and not coming back, it was a decent read.
November 14, 2017
A fast-paced murder mystery, Dead Air is a page turner. Recommended for anyone who enjoys and easy-to-read, contemporary mystery novel.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews