MOTOR CITY BLUE introduces readers to the hard-boiled detective Amos Walker, who is hired to find the missing adopted daughter of an elderly former member of the Purple Gang in Detroit. The plot, while not overly complex, follows Walker's investigation, intertwined with themes of organized crime, nostalgia for the 1970s, and the portrayal of Detroit as a setting heavily influenced by film noir. The writing style of the book is described as reminiscent of classic noir authors like Raymond Chandler, with a mix of engaging dialogue and descriptive prose that aims to capture the essence of the private eye genre.

Characters:

The characters are a mix of archetypes typical of noir, with Walker serving as a flawed and often problematic lead.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is overly stylized and heavily influenced by classic noir, often reading as a parody of the genre.

Plot/Storyline:

The story follows a private eye hired to locate a missing person, intertwining organized crime and social commentary about Detroit's racial dynamics.

Setting:

The setting in Detroit serves as a backdrop for exploring racial and social dynamics in a crime-laden environment.

Pacing:

The pacing is fast and engaging, maintaining the excitement expected in detective fiction.

My lesson began while I was setting fire, or rather trying to set fire, to a Winston in just about the only place where it’s still legal to do so, a public street corner. Specifically, it was the corn...

Notes:

The first Amos Walker novel, MOTOR CITY BLUE, was published in 1980.

Amos Walker is portrayed as a white male private eye with a reactionary view of the world.

The book's writing includes heavy influences from classic noir authors like Raymond Chandler.

Estleman is known for his unique voice and engaging dialogue that develops over the series.

MOTOR CITY BLUE explores themes of racism and sexism that some readers find troubling today.

Amos Walker's character is often compared to Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation; he is old school and grumpy.

The book introduces recurring characters, including Iris, Walker's on-again, off-again lover.

The plot follows Walker as he searches for a missing person linked to an elderly mafioso.

MOTOR CITY BLUE is noted for its humor and fast-paced storytelling despite its dated elements.

Estleman acknowledges the challenges of remembering numerous characters due to their abundance in the novel.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains medium content warnings for themes related to racism, sexism, and violence.

From The Publisher:

The first book in the long-running Amos Walker Mysteries introduces the hard-boiled Detroit detective as he searches for an aging mobster's missing adopted daughter

Private eye Amos Walker is a Vietnam veteran who was thrown out of the Police Academy for punching a fellow cadet. He's a hard man in a ruined city, scratching out a living looking for lost things.

Walker's latest case comes by way of ex-mobster Ben Morningstar, who's been living out his retirement in Phoenix while raising Maria, the daughter of a long-ago murdered friend. Only now, Maria is missing and the gangster needs Walker's help. But the trail has gone cold-the only clue is a faded pornographic snapshot.

Never one to give up, Walker witnesses the kidnapping of a former Vietnam friend and solves the murder of a young black labor leader while slugging his way to a solution.

Fans of Raymond Chandler and Elmore Leonard's crime fiction will find Estleman's lean prose, retro style, and tough-guy hero irresistible.

This ebook features an illustrated biography of Loren D. Estleman including rare photos from the author's personal collection.

What can you read after
Motor City Blue?

See the list (29 books)

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Motor City Blue

Loren D. Estleman

Book 1 in the series:Amos Walker

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From The Publisher:

What can you read after Motor City Blue?

What can you read after
Motor City Blue?