Cradle of the Deep

A momentary bright spark in the thus far abysmal year of 2020. Cradle of the Deep is the eighth book from Dietrich Kalteis and the seventh one from him that has pretty much knocked my socks off. Why not the perfect eight? There’s one I haven’t yet read.

Kalteis writes about the kind of characters I like reading about…. criminals, chancers, low-lifes, mob guys, hangers-on, wannabe toughs, musicians, addicts, bartenders, strippers and the like – all interesting people, all mostly suffering fall out from either bad luck or no luck allied with poor choices and a lack of impulse control.

Here we have an aging mob guy, ripped off by his disaffected younger girlfriend, Bobbi on the same night as a disgruntled former employee and draft dodger, Denny decides to burglarize the mobster for some reparations.

Working in tandem, through circumstance albeit with little trust between the pair, the twosome go on the run with a couple of suitcases full of cash and after a short interval, with a hitman dogging their trail.

It’s a cracking drama, chock-full of incident, with plenty of bounce in the fluctuating relationship between Bobbi and Denny – our two fugitives.

Seeking sanctuary and holed up, they cross paths with some local police who has pegged them for stealing his cop car and inflicting further embarassment on his reputation. Its another red flag which automatically marks them out to the inquisitive residents of the small isolated community; all wondering about the strange newcomers in town and the secrets concealed in the truck of their car. Our not so dynamic duo are skating on thin ice, literally and figuratively.

Along the way we hear about the Vietnam War on a personal level – grief and loss – and a refusal to be the next one in the meat grinder and we have a bit on women’s rights and bra-waving. Along with the music and groups of the day as a further back-drop it’s very firmly set in the 70s. What’s not to like?

Pace, plot, characters, settings, action, humor, conflict, and a satisfying resolution. Big ticks in all the boxes. Roll on 2021 and hopefully number nine from one of my favourite authors.

4.5 from 5

Previously enjoyed….. Ride the Lightning, The Deadbeat Club, Triggerfish, Zero Avenue, Poughkeepsie Shuffle and Call Down the Thunder

Read – October, 2020
Published – 2020 (3rd November)
Page count – 309
Source – Net Galley
Format – EPUB read on laptop

Is it possible to have a Canadian noir crime romp? Yes, it is and this is it. This tale of mismatched thieves and thugs takes you down a rabbit hole of bad behavior but it’s actually funny in spots. Bobbi and Denny have taken off with Mad Dog’s money and he’s angry (to put it mildly). He sends Lee Trane after them to take it back, among other things. Where this shines is when these three find themselves out of their normal environment- none of them knows about the wilderness (for want of a better word) but all of them are determined to best the others. No spoilers. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This would make a great movie.

One of the things that sets Dietrich Kalteis apart from other crime writers I read is his characterization. Characters in his novels have a depth and style to them that other writers simply fall short of, and it is this characterization that gives Cradle the Deep amazing texture and tone. I blew through the book, and if you’re a fan of thrilling crime novels with incredible dialogue, you’ll blow through it too. Highly recommended.

Galaxyaudiobook Member Benefit

- Able to comment

- List watched audiobooks

- List favorite audiobooks

- Bookmark will only available for Galaxyaudiobook member