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Dirty White Boys Abridged

Dirty White Boys Abridged

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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Powerhouse, rock hard, non-stop slam banger
Review: Crime fiction at its best.

This is a tough as nails thriller that defines contemporary noir like few other recent novels do. You know d**n well this is gonna be a rough ride when the story opens with a description of Lamar as having biggest organ of any white guy in his prison. Set in the Oklahoma-Texas region, it pulls no punches as it tells of the vicious, violent and voracious Lamar Pye and his idiot cousin Odell who, along with pansy genius Richard Peed--saved from prison gang-banging by Lamar because of Richard's amazing artistic talent--escape from the pen and stage a Denny's holdup, a raid on an old farmer's homestead, and an astounding, suspense-filled wrap up that does not disappoint.

It also tells of Bud Pewtie, a seasoned, 48-year old Oklahoma State Trooper who goes after Lamar relentlessly, and Bud's family troubles. Lamar himself yearns for a family and picks up Ruta Beth Tull, a scrawny, half-deranged woman with a horrific crime in her past. She latches onto Lamar like a flea on a big dog and lets him enjoy her whenever he wants.

This ain't no cozy mystery--not by a long shot. Those of you who long for Agatha Christie, pack up your bags and head out 'cause this is so far removed from little old ladies and genteel polite tea-sipping ninnies and nannies, it'll curl your hair and then some to read it if that's what you need in your life.

Hunter's done his homework. He knows guns inside out, backwards and forwards, up and down. Guns figure large here; it's what Bud knows better than anything else, and what Lamar needs to do his dirty work. Guns not only kill people here; their wielders kill hope for a good life in this rock hard piece of writing. Dirty White Boys is a more than fitting title for a tale of low class lowlifes who steal and kill because that's what they know, and of lawmen who have to descend just as low because that's what they expect to encounter in their work.

And it is true--once started, this is really, really difficult to stop reading. Don't take my word for it. Start reading and see what happens.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I didn't want to like it
Review: This is a shameless prurient page-turner. But it's also, despite my sometimes too-highbrow resistance, a strongly written novel with very solid character development.

I loved the action sequences that, although impossible in the real world, caused me to gawk at Hunter's ability to engage the reader.

I loved the descriptions of firearms that, although overindulged, were specifically sustaining. The reader knows exactly what is fired, and what damage it will do to its target.

However the characters of the novel are its strength, and its weakness. Most are extremely well developed, even down to Pewtie's brainy son Russ, who barely speaks. But the character of O'Dell, who I tried to love, falls flat.

This is apparent almost humorously when Hunter dives into the mind of the idiot to give the reader a line-by-line account of O'Dell's thought processes. Not only does this not work; it seems lifted from the oafish character in Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men:" especially when Hunter's O'Dell is holding a dead cat in the prison yard.

Another criticism is the early dialogue. In addition to O'Dell's baby talk, I refuse to believe a hardened farmer who just fought off the advances of evil criminals would utter the term "wee-wee" while facing almost certain death.

Other than those nit-picks, however, this book is a joy.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Fun and Fast - You Can Not Put It Down
Review: This fast-paced book and the speed of the story helps to increase the tension and suspense. I hate to sound like a dust jacket, but this book really is an action-packed thriller. You have a murder mystery and a revenge angle. He really gives us a good insight to his favorite anti-hero. An interesting and exciting mix that keeps the book fast paced. This author is great at building the speed of the story up so that you stay turned in and races yourself to the end of the book. Well-written story and characters add to a great book that is well worth the time. I have read other books by this author with this character mix and he is getting better by the book.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Not Hunter's Best--- but Extremely Powerful!!!
Review: Stephen Hunter is dead on in both the Nasty Boys& Rescuing Knight department with this one! It has all the Right Stuff for a Modern Southern Thriller. Guns, Bad Boys, Good Ole Boys, Fast Cars& Plenty of Excitment. Overlook the profanity& follow the story line! It's an essential read for S.H.Fans. He may not have been born Southern, but he sure knows how to "Parade the Crazy Folk Around". Makes me long for my Louisiana Backroads!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not Hunter's best, but still better than most
Review: I have yet to read a Stephen Hunter novel that I did not love. This one is not my favorite, but still beats the competition in the market place with no problem.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: goddamn good book
Review: Tired of those recommended books where you struggle through hundreds of pages before it finally has you engaged? Have no fear. Stephen Hunter's "Dirty White Boys" will have a grip of your imagination by the time you finish the first paragraph. If your looking for a story layered with deceit, treachery, ruthlessness and laced with that small glimmer of hope of true sentience. If you share my test of of a truly great story with the degree of bittersweet feeling you have when you read the last page...the sweetness and accomplishment of finishing a novel coupled with the bitterness that it's over, I highly recommend this book.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great action
Review: Great action in this book. Great descriptions of pure evil without any tricks, just plain nasty boys. My first Hunter book, won't be my last.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Dirty Language
Review: This is a hard one for anyone with an I.Q. of over 100 to get into. The use of bad language and violence runs fierce.

However... It's interesting enough to make you keep reading because a good manhunt makes for an interesting action tale.

I've now read most of Hunter's books and I am beginning to find a repetitive pattern towards his 'heroes' as they all look and act like John Wayne and love to commit adultery.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Stephen Hunter's best book.
Review: My friend gave me this book and I was skeptical because of the title. However "Dirty White Boys" is one of the best books I have ever read. I have lent this book to several other people and they all argee. The characters are well developed and while the story is no better than most books it is so well written that the reader does not care. The only book I have ever read twice.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: You'll love it as much as I did!
Review: If you are a fan of suspense thrillers than you should look no further than Stephen Hunter's Dirty White Boys. It explodes off the first page and you're locked in all the rest of the way. You cannot help but lose all track of time. You won't want to do anything else once you start. I haven't been able to say that about too many books. But this is one that you will want to have in your collection! Lamar Pye is one of the nastiest, enchanting villains you will ever encounter. He is repulsive and vicious yet he sticks to you like a tattoo. He will leave a lasting impression. This book teases your senses. One of the finest books I've read! You'll love it as much as I did!


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