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Jack Dwyer #5
The Autumn Dead
Jack Dwyer joins the beautiful Karen Lane in a voyage back to their high school days to resolve a mystery that has been plaguing her for years
195 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1987
About the author
Ed Gorman
463 books123 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Edward Joseph Gorman Jr. was a prolific American author and anthologist, widely recognized for his contributions to crime, mystery, western, and horror fiction. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gorman spent much of his life in the Midwest, drawing on that experience to set many of his novels in small towns. After working over two decades in advertising, political speechwriting, and industrial filmmaking, he published his first novel, Rough Cut, in 1984 and soon transitioned to full-time writing. His fiction is often praised for its emotional depth, suspenseful storytelling, and nuanced characters. Gorman wrote under the pseudonyms Daniel Ransom and Robert David Chase, and contributed to publications such as Mystery Scene, Cemetery Dance, and Black Lizard. He co-founded Mystery Scene magazine and served as its editor and publisher until 2002, continuing his “Gormania” column thereafter. His works have been adapted for film and graphic novels, including The Poker Club and Cage of Night. In comics, he wrote for DC and Dark Horse. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2002, he continued writing despite his illness until his passing in 2016. Critics lauded him as one of the most original crime writers of his generation and a “poet of dark suspense.”
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Edward Joseph Gorman Jr. was a prolific American author and anthologist, widely recognized for his contributions to crime, mystery, western, and horror fiction. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gorman spent much of his life in the Midwest, drawing on that experience to set many of his novels in small towns. After working over two decades in advertising, political speechwriting, and industrial filmmaking, he published his first novel, Rough Cut, in 1984 and soon transitioned to full-time writing. His fiction is often praised for its emotional depth, suspenseful storytelling, and nuanced characters. Gorman wrote under the pseudonyms Daniel Ransom and Robert David Chase, and contributed to publications such as Mystery Scene, Cemetery Dance, and Black Lizard. He co-founded Mystery Scene magazine and served as its editor and publisher until 2002, continuing his “Gormania” column thereafter. His works have been adapted for film and graphic novels, including The Poker Club and Cage of Night. In comics, he wrote for DC and Dark Horse. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2002, he continued writing despite his illness until his passing in 2016. Critics lauded him as one of the most original crime writers of his generation and a “poet of dark suspense.”
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 11, 2020
Gorman has written so many different novels in so many genres that it is hard knowing where to begin. Those who know Gorman well, however, claim that The Autumn Dead--the fifith novel in his Jack Dwyer series—is one of the best things he has done.
In a small declining industrial city in the Northwest, Jack Dwyer—a former policeman now working as a rent-a-cop—is surprised when he hears that Karen, an old flame in town for their 25th reunion, wants to hire him to do one simple thing: retrieve a suitcase she left at her last boyfriend’s. But Karen isn’t telling the whole truth, the simple job is not so simple after all, and soon Dwyer finds himself surrounded by mystery and murder.
Perhaps the best thing about this novel is the convincing working class atmosphere and the authentic down-to-earth average guy voice of Jack Dwyer. He may be too out of shape to run too far or to punch too hard, and really fine restaurants may make him uncomfortable, but he is a real man nonetheless, one who refuses to quit when there is a mystery to be solved.
The ending is particularly fine, and surprising too. Without giving too much away, I can say that it echoes themes found in many hardboiled noir endings from the days of Hammett and Cain, but it harmonizes with them in its own mellow, fruitful, autumnal way.
August 3, 2015
No doubt serious scholars of Ed Gorman's extensive literary oeuvre would sniff, or even snicker, were I to suggest that Sam McCain was conceived at least twelve years before The Day the Music Died. I hate being subjected to academic scorn. This is why I would never suggest that arguably Gorman's most popular character became a gleam in its creator's mind's eye sometime during the writing of The Autumn Dead.
It is irrelevant, I would contend, that The Autumn Dead is only the penultimate Jack Dwyer novel in Gorman's debut mystery series. The Cry of Shadows comes out two years later, in 1990. But it's in The Autumn Dead that the Dwyer of the series' first three novels begins to reveal an evolving persona. One that will emerge a dozen years down the road to launch a ten-book run as lawyer/PI Sam McCain.
Additional evidence is the setting of The Autumn Dead, more defined than in the earlier novels: a small Midwestern town, unnamed, but with features strikingly similar to McCain's Black River Falls, Iowa.
There are finer details that would fit neatly into a comparison were that my aim here. I'll mention only one, the one that brings The Autumn Dead closest to the McCain novels in its effect on me. The one that left my heart aching with bittersweet memories long after I finished reading. The one that took me back to my own youth when dreams held real promise and disappointments seemed mere bumps along the Yellow Brick Road to a magical future.
Jack Dwyer trips back to those days from a vantage filled with reminders there is no magic behind the curtain in youthful dreams. A former high school flame prompts his journey in time when she appears out of the blue needing his help. She dies in his arms while dancing at their twenty-fifth class reunion. He soon learns she likely was murdered and that others of their former schoolmates could be involved. An ex-policeman, Dwyer sets out to learn what happened.
The Autumn Dead is the darkest and most violent of the four Dwyer books I have read (The Cry of Shadows is inexplicably out of print), and its violence exceeds any of the McCain novels. In fact it's the most violent of anything I've read by Gorman.
The writing is superb, as always, with the first-person narrator's signature self-deprecating humor and compassionate outlook. Dwyer's approach in confrontations is carrot/stick, with the stick always a last resort.
Gorman's characters are never uninteresting. While some appear initially as caricatures all reveal complexities enough that any one of them is plausibly capable of virtually anything. Not unlike real life.
It is irrelevant, I would contend, that The Autumn Dead is only the penultimate Jack Dwyer novel in Gorman's debut mystery series. The Cry of Shadows comes out two years later, in 1990. But it's in The Autumn Dead that the Dwyer of the series' first three novels begins to reveal an evolving persona. One that will emerge a dozen years down the road to launch a ten-book run as lawyer/PI Sam McCain.
Additional evidence is the setting of The Autumn Dead, more defined than in the earlier novels: a small Midwestern town, unnamed, but with features strikingly similar to McCain's Black River Falls, Iowa.
There are finer details that would fit neatly into a comparison were that my aim here. I'll mention only one, the one that brings The Autumn Dead closest to the McCain novels in its effect on me. The one that left my heart aching with bittersweet memories long after I finished reading. The one that took me back to my own youth when dreams held real promise and disappointments seemed mere bumps along the Yellow Brick Road to a magical future.
Jack Dwyer trips back to those days from a vantage filled with reminders there is no magic behind the curtain in youthful dreams. A former high school flame prompts his journey in time when she appears out of the blue needing his help. She dies in his arms while dancing at their twenty-fifth class reunion. He soon learns she likely was murdered and that others of their former schoolmates could be involved. An ex-policeman, Dwyer sets out to learn what happened.
The Autumn Dead is the darkest and most violent of the four Dwyer books I have read (The Cry of Shadows is inexplicably out of print), and its violence exceeds any of the McCain novels. In fact it's the most violent of anything I've read by Gorman.
The writing is superb, as always, with the first-person narrator's signature self-deprecating humor and compassionate outlook. Dwyer's approach in confrontations is carrot/stick, with the stick always a last resort.
Gorman's characters are never uninteresting. While some appear initially as caricatures all reveal complexities enough that any one of them is plausibly capable of virtually anything. Not unlike real life.
May 17, 2015
Gorman might be the most underrated name in crime fiction. He puts on a clinic in this book. Brilliant stuff
March 16, 2023
Jack Dwyer is an ex-cop that now works for a private security agency. Most of what he does is bust shoplifters and other petty criminals. He is a bit overweight and has few prospects to improve his situation. However, he has an interesting past that is focused on his high school years.
A woman that was a flame of his in high school and has retained her beauty suddenly pops back into his life. She offers Jack a significant amount of money to retrieve a suitcase from the house of a man she had been living with. Since she has a key and claims that the suitcase is really her property and she still has a significant sway over Jack, he agrees to take the job.
When he gets there he finds the owner unconscious from a blow on the back of the head. This is the first hint that the case is much more complex than Jack thought. His actions involve his high school classmates that he fought with back then, some that never amounted to much, and others that managed to amass wealth. Jack is also stalked by a woman in black leather that rides a motorcycle.
While this is in many ways a very standard murder mystery, Gorman demonstrates that he is a master of establishing the context. Jack Dwyer grew up in a lower middle class neighborhood and Gorman does an excellent job of describing how people like that grow up, aspire to something better and while some succeed, many never leave the soil of their roots. Some have little more than pride.
At the climax, Dwyer demonstrates that he is very clever and can still hold his own when the situation devolves into a deadly confrontation. While somewhat formulaic, Gorman once again demonstrates that he is very good at establishing a realistic background and can keep the reader a bit off balance regarding the culprits.
A woman that was a flame of his in high school and has retained her beauty suddenly pops back into his life. She offers Jack a significant amount of money to retrieve a suitcase from the house of a man she had been living with. Since she has a key and claims that the suitcase is really her property and she still has a significant sway over Jack, he agrees to take the job.
When he gets there he finds the owner unconscious from a blow on the back of the head. This is the first hint that the case is much more complex than Jack thought. His actions involve his high school classmates that he fought with back then, some that never amounted to much, and others that managed to amass wealth. Jack is also stalked by a woman in black leather that rides a motorcycle.
While this is in many ways a very standard murder mystery, Gorman demonstrates that he is a master of establishing the context. Jack Dwyer grew up in a lower middle class neighborhood and Gorman does an excellent job of describing how people like that grow up, aspire to something better and while some succeed, many never leave the soil of their roots. Some have little more than pride.
At the climax, Dwyer demonstrates that he is very clever and can still hold his own when the situation devolves into a deadly confrontation. While somewhat formulaic, Gorman once again demonstrates that he is very good at establishing a realistic background and can keep the reader a bit off balance regarding the culprits.
August 22, 2021
The bodies pile up when Jack Dwyer's high school flame hires him to retrieve a blue suitcase from her 5th ex husband. Wonderful descriptions, characters and twisty plot. Highly recommended
June 13, 2021
The best Jack Dwyer Mystery so far. (And sadly only one book is left in the series.
Dwyer is a former cop and currently a local actor. He is a part time security guard as well.
A woman from his past, Karen Lane shows up. A high school crush. It so happens a class reunion is on tap as well.
Karen wants Jack to help her get a suitcase back. It sounds simple, but that is never the case, is it?
Jack revisits old school friends, and foes.
People are attacked on the hunt for the suit case. And some will die because of it.
Jack looks for answers, knowing he won't like the results.
I really liked this one.
Ed Gorman will be missed.
Dwyer is a former cop and currently a local actor. He is a part time security guard as well.
A woman from his past, Karen Lane shows up. A high school crush. It so happens a class reunion is on tap as well.
Karen wants Jack to help her get a suitcase back. It sounds simple, but that is never the case, is it?
Jack revisits old school friends, and foes.
People are attacked on the hunt for the suit case. And some will die because of it.
Jack looks for answers, knowing he won't like the results.
I really liked this one.
Ed Gorman will be missed.
June 15, 2008
it was good while reading but somewhat forgetable. in fact, i checked it out again./ dwyer helps his old girl friend karen lane.
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October 14, 2008M Gor
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews