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Dutch Curridge #1
Dutch Curridge
"Hardboiled, but hot as a door knob after a nuclear blast. Tim Bryant's work is blessed not only with originality, but with a kind of madness that makes it one of a kind and as special and surprising as a one eyed, three hundred pound toad with a picnic basket. I love this guy's stuff. Seems to me, his success is assured." -- Joe R. Lansdale.Part TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and part UGETSU, Bryant's DUTCH CURRIDGE examines the life of early 1950s Fort Worth from the bottom up. Alvis Curridge is an ex-employee of the Fort Worth Sheriff's Department. When he isn't found at Peechie Keen's Bar & Kanteen, drinking and swapping stories with buddies, he is busy trying to Keep things in line around Cowtown. Even if that means occasionally tangling with his former boss. In his spare time, he enjoys taking in the local music scene. He likes western swing and jazz music almost as much as he likes Ruthie Nell, the spunky writer for the Fort Worth Press. Things are all going smoothly until Dutch-- his friends all call him that, even if he isn't thrilled about it-- is contacted by an old friend to help locate her missing son.Hard boiled crime and mystery meets good old fashioned ghost story as Dutch, who knows a great deal about the ways of the world, learns a little about himself and how he fits into the scheme of things.
274 pages, Paperback
First published August 13, 2010
41 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Tim Bryant
47 books11 followersTim Bryant published his first novel DUTCH CURRIDGE in 2010, and followed it with three more in the series: SOUTHERN SELECT (2013), SPIRIT TRAP (2014) and OLD MOTHER CURRIDGE (2016). He was named one of the Top Five Texas Authors of 2014 by BookPeople in Austin, TX. Tim's novel CONSTELLATIONS was released by Behooven Press in April of 2015. His first Wilkie John Western, A WORLD OF HURT is released by Kensington Books in December, 2017.
Tim also writes and records music, having released albums under his own name, 2Take Tim, Othy and with the international band Ramshackle Day Parade.
He says his heart lives in New Orleans, his head in East Texas. He currently resides with his head and visits his heart whenever possible. He has two kids and two ex wives. He loves them all.
Tim also writes and records music, having released albums under his own name, 2Take Tim, Othy and with the international band Ramshackle Day Parade.
He says his heart lives in New Orleans, his head in East Texas. He currently resides with his head and visits his heart whenever possible. He has two kids and two ex wives. He loves them all.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 7, 2014
Books that I love all have one thing in common: a distinctive voice. Dutch Curridge arrested me from the first page and wouldn't let my eyes move away. I read it in one day. The next day I started reading it all over again. Author Tim Bryant has voice to burn--his words sashay along with more expressive verve and personality than Marilyn Monroe's derriere. I mention Marilyn because she was at the height of her career in 1953, the time period of DUTCH CURRIDGE. The title is a play on "Dutch Courage" which is an old timey term for taking a shot of alcohol to make you fearless.
Fort Worth in 1953 was a place where blacks and whites were still segregated. Few people had telephones, especially poor people, and a black baby could die for lack of seeing a doctor. This tragic premise starts and ends DUTCH CURRIDGE but miraculously it's never maudlin, never heavy-handed. Bryant's effervescent voice moves the story along skillfully and sensitively. Gentle humor breaks up the pathos. Bryant's characters are well-drawn and colorful. Best of all, no sentence is left unadorned. The prose dances and do-si-do's down the page. The dialogue is pure Texas poetry. Fight scenes and action sequences seem written with a lit firecracker.
In my opinion there are very few books out there this good, this original, this assured. It's almost unbelievable this is a first novel. The fact that it's self-published and has only four reviews on Amazon (one of them mine at the time of this writing) leaves me speechless. If it were not for the unsinkable Scott Montgomery, the crime curator of Mystery People/Book People out of Austin, Texas I would never have heard about it. Hopefully it's just a matter of time until the world catches on and gets to enjoy DUTCH CURRIDGE as much as I did.
Fort Worth in 1953 was a place where blacks and whites were still segregated. Few people had telephones, especially poor people, and a black baby could die for lack of seeing a doctor. This tragic premise starts and ends DUTCH CURRIDGE but miraculously it's never maudlin, never heavy-handed. Bryant's effervescent voice moves the story along skillfully and sensitively. Gentle humor breaks up the pathos. Bryant's characters are well-drawn and colorful. Best of all, no sentence is left unadorned. The prose dances and do-si-do's down the page. The dialogue is pure Texas poetry. Fight scenes and action sequences seem written with a lit firecracker.
In my opinion there are very few books out there this good, this original, this assured. It's almost unbelievable this is a first novel. The fact that it's self-published and has only four reviews on Amazon (one of them mine at the time of this writing) leaves me speechless. If it were not for the unsinkable Scott Montgomery, the crime curator of Mystery People/Book People out of Austin, Texas I would never have heard about it. Hopefully it's just a matter of time until the world catches on and gets to enjoy DUTCH CURRIDGE as much as I did.
October 8, 2017
This is the first detective novel I have read. I found it interesting to read about life in Fort Worth in 1953 and to read about the normalcy of racism at the time. I can't imagine writing a piece where you have to take your mind back to a place and time so different than today. The story itself was multifaceted and in a lot of ways I felt the story was a vehicle to explore the time period more than to tell a story. I don't mean that in a bad way, I found that very interesting and fascinating. The main character, Dutch Corridge, was an intriguing. I found him refreshing in a way I can't quite explain. Maybe it was his detachment to things and his attachment to people outside the norm and his attachment to the moment. Overall, a wonderful piece of writing.
April 13, 2012
This isn't my usual sort of book, but I found it engrossing, even haunting. Bryant did a great job and the flow of the book is perfect.
The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is that it isn't my usual sort of read. It really deserves five stars on its own merit.
The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is that it isn't my usual sort of read. It really deserves five stars on its own merit.
January 18, 2014
Loved it from beginning to end. Great story and he nailed the time period perfectly. Wonderful dialog and great characters. Highly recommended.
June 23, 2017
I was looking for a book that was a little different from my usual choices and this one was just right. Wasn't sure in the beginning if I'd be able to complete it because the subject matter was uncomfortable for me to read. As the characters developed, I was glad I'd read it. I rated it 4.7 stars.
June 10, 2018
Well-written, hard boiled detective story.
This book is a perfect revival of the detective stories of the first part of the 20th century. The hero is a perfect wise guy detective with a twist. The story takes place in post war Fort Worth Texas. The locale is just different enough from the big city types, to be really fun. Highly recommended fun read.
This book is a perfect revival of the detective stories of the first part of the 20th century. The hero is a perfect wise guy detective with a twist. The story takes place in post war Fort Worth Texas. The locale is just different enough from the big city types, to be really fun. Highly recommended fun read.
January 25, 2022
As a native of Fort Worth I can appreciate so much of tis book. It’s nicely written and has some good dialogue but I felt it had too many characters that you kind of lost track of things. There’s no real descriptions of people so it’s hard to remember who’s who. But a well written book for sure
March 13, 2018
Can't believe I waited so long to read this! Dutch has the troubles and talents to take him anywhere....I wonder what's next?
August 28, 2015
This book is about a black man that had white hair nicknamed "Whitey" that came up missing and most of the book is about Alvis "Dutch" Curridge, an ex-sheriff's office employee trying to locate him. The story takes place in the Fort Worth, Texas area in the early 50's.
A lot of the book is interesting but it seemed the author kept making point after point throughout the book of how he did not believe in God, taking God's name in vain, and making disparaging remarks about God. At the end, it did not seem very coherent as the book all of a sudden jumps over to the subject of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.
I found the book interesting because it spoke of the area where I am originally from and I found that fascinating most of all along with the fact that once in a while Mr. Bryant did make some valiant attempts at humor. Over all however, I am going to have to pass on recommending this story to the readers that frequent my workplace.
A lot of the book is interesting but it seemed the author kept making point after point throughout the book of how he did not believe in God, taking God's name in vain, and making disparaging remarks about God. At the end, it did not seem very coherent as the book all of a sudden jumps over to the subject of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.
I found the book interesting because it spoke of the area where I am originally from and I found that fascinating most of all along with the fact that once in a while Mr. Bryant did make some valiant attempts at humor. Over all however, I am going to have to pass on recommending this story to the readers that frequent my workplace.
September 17, 2012
I really enjoyed Dutch Curridge. The pacing was precise and the voices of each character were perfect. The feel of old Fort Worth from our grandparen'ts age seeped into my subconcious as I turned the pages and I felt as if I was discovering the city all over again. Some of the characters were so true and felt so real! I wanted to sit with Miz Vita for a glass of sweet tea and shoot some pool with Slant. This was a solid mystery in the old style of the classic noir writers from 50 years ago and I'm glad I took my time to read Dutch Curridge rather than rushing through it!
April 29, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The vivid imagery transported me to 1950's, racially divided Fort Worth. The lead character Dutch is described as an ex-cop who is too bad to be a good cop but way too good to be a 'bad cop.' The book takes you through several dark twists and turns, but also has a underlying vein of humor. Well done.
March 3, 2014
My full review is on Lurid-lit.com. But I will tell you I was amazed and pleased. This is a marvelous tale harkening back to Chandler and Cain.
July 27, 2015
Good
the book that takes you back to the 1950s and how law environment was racism on going. the life of each.
the book that takes you back to the 1950s and how law environment was racism on going. the life of each.
August 21, 2015
Not much
Unfortunately it was never going anywhere, just meandering around Ft. Worth and not making much sense. Unbelievable characters and story.
Unfortunately it was never going anywhere, just meandering around Ft. Worth and not making much sense. Unbelievable characters and story.
August 27, 2015
He's got a great voice and 1950s mostly African-American Fort Worth is a fascinating place. Didn't care for the ending.
May 4, 2016
A good book
This book came as a freebie for Kindle but it would have been a four star read even if I had paid for it. Recommended.
This book came as a freebie for Kindle but it would have been a four star read even if I had paid for it. Recommended.
April 24, 2017
A little too dark for my taste. I don't mean dark thematically, I mean dark in the sense of murky characterization. Also, a couple of anachronisms jarred me right out of the story. Example: people didn't give "input" in the 50s.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews