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The Narcissism of Small Differences: A Noir Detective Novel
The Narcissism of Small Differences is a noir detective novel about the guiding influences of memory and the subconscious mind. It's also a story about how insignificant the differences are between the defenders of law and order and those who live in the world outside of it. And, while it is also a fast-paced police procedural, in the end this is the story of Conor Delaney, a man who can see into the dark.
The story starts with a traumatized, ten-year-old Conor Delaney sitting at the kitchen table of Grandmother Raven, a powerful Ojibwe Midewikwe. Before he leaves her doublewide on the frozen shores of Lake Superior, she holds a ceremony for him, heals his trauma and dubs him Owl Eyes for his ability to see into the dark.
As an adult, he is the head of Delphi Investigations and Research. In this role he ferrets out corporate misdeeds like bank fraud, money laundering and market manipulation. He will ultimately find that these corporate crimes are at the heart of his first murder case; one that the perpetrator of three gruesome murders forces him into. The police team he joins is headed by his good friend, Mel Thorogood, Assistant Police Chief.
Another of his friends is Dr. Phil, a former Jesuit, psychologist and carney barker, who murdered six abusive priests. He is now a permanent resident at the State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Delaney thinks him to be among the most moral men he knows. Dr. Phil is still a formidable forensic psychologist and profiles the killer as a malignant narcissist who may be a woman. He also lays to rest the notion of a serial killer.
Mackey Stately is the City's crime boss and a close friend of Delaney's since childhood. He is pledged to help Delaney with this case. Other unconventional friends, including Henri Bouchard, his Ojibwe brother, help him bring this case to a conclusion. The journey to that goal is grounded in St. Paul, Minnesota, but also involves excursions through Belfast, Kansas City, Tulsa, St. Peter, Minnesota, and St Petersburg, Russia.
But it is the journey into Delaney's subconscious mind and dreams that bring the investigation to its astonishing conclusion.
The story starts with a traumatized, ten-year-old Conor Delaney sitting at the kitchen table of Grandmother Raven, a powerful Ojibwe Midewikwe. Before he leaves her doublewide on the frozen shores of Lake Superior, she holds a ceremony for him, heals his trauma and dubs him Owl Eyes for his ability to see into the dark.
As an adult, he is the head of Delphi Investigations and Research. In this role he ferrets out corporate misdeeds like bank fraud, money laundering and market manipulation. He will ultimately find that these corporate crimes are at the heart of his first murder case; one that the perpetrator of three gruesome murders forces him into. The police team he joins is headed by his good friend, Mel Thorogood, Assistant Police Chief.
Another of his friends is Dr. Phil, a former Jesuit, psychologist and carney barker, who murdered six abusive priests. He is now a permanent resident at the State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Delaney thinks him to be among the most moral men he knows. Dr. Phil is still a formidable forensic psychologist and profiles the killer as a malignant narcissist who may be a woman. He also lays to rest the notion of a serial killer.
Mackey Stately is the City's crime boss and a close friend of Delaney's since childhood. He is pledged to help Delaney with this case. Other unconventional friends, including Henri Bouchard, his Ojibwe brother, help him bring this case to a conclusion. The journey to that goal is grounded in St. Paul, Minnesota, but also involves excursions through Belfast, Kansas City, Tulsa, St. Peter, Minnesota, and St Petersburg, Russia.
But it is the journey into Delaney's subconscious mind and dreams that bring the investigation to its astonishing conclusion.
294 pages, Paperback
Published October 13, 2021
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12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 13, 2022
Entertaining and unpredictable. Dorgan delves into the dark depths of humanity and leaves the reader catching their breath at every chapter's end. This debut novel is complex, tension-filled, and highly entertaining. Set in St. Paul, Minnesota we are given details of history previously hidden. Conor Delaney is a complex, realistic character who carries the reader along on an intricate journey of discovery and intrigue. One of the best noir detective novels of 2021! A real treat of a read. Thank you, Dennis Dorgan, for sparking my interest in mysteries once again.
December 8, 2021
The Narcissism of Small Differences by Dennis Dorgan is a new take on the crime novel, and I couldn’t put it down. The title alone piqued my curiosity. Are we as different from one another as we think? Are the police very different than the criminals?
Each chapter introduces new, diverse characters and their stories. From a wise native American grandmother to a pedophile-hunting priest, to the city of St. Paul itself, you will want to pay attention to the detail and figure out who the real criminal is. A must read for lovers of fictional crime novels.
Each chapter introduces new, diverse characters and their stories. From a wise native American grandmother to a pedophile-hunting priest, to the city of St. Paul itself, you will want to pay attention to the detail and figure out who the real criminal is. A must read for lovers of fictional crime novels.
December 6, 2021
Normally I'm not drawn to the Crime genre, but a trusted friend loaned me his copy of the Narcissism of Small Differences by Dennis Dorgan and recommended I read it. The Prologue was quite intriguing, so I kept turning the pages. This is a complex detective novel—at times magical and other times macabre. Full of intriguing characters and complex connections. A great who-dunnit that begs for a sequel!
February 9, 2022
Mediocre story. Stereotypical characters. Annoyingly pretentious.
February 7, 2022
I enjoyed this book- it was very different and kept me guessing. I hope the author is already working on the next book!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews