Stone Cribs: A Smokey Dalton Novel

Stone Cribs

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I would have given the entire Smokey Dalton series 10 stars if possible. Looking forward to more novels in the series! This series about a private investigator during the tumultuous sixties continues to provide an excellent read. It is well researched and gives the reader a snapshot of the difficult choices many felt they had to make back then. All of Smokey Dalton books are exciting and definitely a page turner. I read one after the other.

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This is the 4th book in the Smokey Dalton series, a series that is set in Memphis and then Chicago in The tension produced by the need to remain undiscovered underlines the entire series and is continued in this book. It isn't helped by the fact that, because Smokey works as an unofficial private detective, he seems to be a magnet for trouble, threatening to bring him to the notice of the police too often. The story starts off at a frantic pace after Smokey and his girlfriend Laura arrive home to find a woman lying in his neighbour's apartment bleeding to death.

Upon closer inspection it becomes obvious that the woman has had an abortion, an operation that is illegal in They rush her to hospital where she is almost refused treatment because she would not name the doctor who performed the procedure. The whole scene raises the abortion issue, as it was at the time in great detail.

It particularly highlights the way in which a black woman was treated and explains how they were occasionally punished by being sterilized for having an abortion, a fact that shocked Smokey and me. It turns out that the woman is the "sort of" cousin of his neighbour and she hires Smokey to try to find out who performed the abortion in the hope that other women will be warned to stay away from that particular doctor. It's a vague case that appears to have no real direction to it.

Smokey merely works his way down a list of names, running into dead ends and false leads, pretty standard detective work. What is established over and over is Smokey's caring nature as he puts himself out for less fortunate families that he meets while working. The case is turned on its head halfway through the book when a murder takes place that hits very close to home for Smokey.

The directionless feel to the story suddenly coalesces into a grim and determined fight as once again Smokey finds himself up against a police force that refuses to properly investigate a crime against a black man. The tension that has dominated the first three books of the series is still a major factor in STONE CRIBS, but it has been complemented by a significantly greater emphasis on the character development.

Characters who played minor roles previously have been brought back here and we learn a great deal more about them and their role in Smokey's life.

The characters include Marvella, the voluptuous neighbour of Smokey's who, up until this book, has simply been the woman who occasionally flirted with him as he arrived home. A more sensitive and serious side to her has now been revealed. Sinkowicz, the white cop who has reluctantly put himself out for Smokey has become his permanent friend in the force and a surprisingly intuitive character. Truman Johnson, the black cop that Smokey has just started to truly trust reveals a hidden personal life. The most pronounced development though, is the relationship between Jimmy and Smokey, which is becoming increasingly strained.

This is mainly due to Jimmy's fear that something will happen to Smokey and he will lose him as has happened to Jimmy so many times in the past. Jimmy has become moody and uncommunicative and although Smokey seems to be able to solve everyone else's problems, he appears unable to come up with a solution to this one. Nelscott continues to highlight the racial prejudices of the late 's through Smokey Dalton's experiences.

But rather than come across as a voice that's shrieking in outraged indignation, it's more weary and grim-faced, occasionally speechless with frustration. This is illustrated by Smokey's own summation of his jaded personality when he says: The mix between Smokey's personal troubles and the more widespread civil unrest that is sweeping the nation is proving incredibly effective and I've found it particularly compelling. See all 10 reviews. Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers.

Smashwords – Stone Cribs: A Smokey Dalton Novel – a book by Kris Nelscott

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English Choose a language for shopping. Not Enabled Word Wise: The most dilapidated building may house a gentle soul or a rabid criminal, and so too may a luxurious home. Smokey Dalton , Book 4 Category: June 12, Words: Learn more about Kris Nelscott. Also by This Author.

Stone Cribs: A Smokey Dalton Novel

Also by This Publisher. This act of charity blooms into a more complicated situation when Smokey learns that the woman became pregnant after being raped. The woman survives, but the fallout is deadly: Her ex-husband vows revenge at any cost. And in a city torn apart by racial strife, gang wars, and a burgeoning drug problem, Smokey believes that cost could be too high.

Kris Nelscott, one of the most nuanced, intelligent writers of crime fiction working today, has authored another heart-stopping, complicated novel of a country ripped apart at the seams and a lone man doing all he can to put things right.

Paperback , pages. Published February 1st by St. Martin's Press first published Chicago, Illinois , United States. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Stone Cribs , please sign up. Lists with This Book. Apr 21, carol.

I'm continuing to enjoy the Smokey Dalton series centering on Smokey, an African-American man who solves problems for his friends. In this one, Smokey is returning home with his girlfriend Laura when they hear an ominous noise in his neighbor Marcella's apartment.

When they check it out, they discover a woman badly bleeding. They rush her to the hospital where Laura has to fight with hospital staff to get the woman seen, as it appears that she's had an illegal abortion. It turns out Smokey's met I'm continuing to enjoy the Smokey Dalton series centering on Smokey, an African-American man who solves problems for his friends. It turns out Smokey's met the woman once before, and she's also connected to his small circle of Chicago friends.

Marcella begs Smokey to find out who the butcher who performed the abortion is, so she can make sure no one from the underground network uses him. Smokey reluctantly agrees, half-heartedly contacting names on Marcella's provider list. At the same time, he works for Laura's company paying site visits to various buildings her company owns. When a murder follows, Smokey finds he is unable to remain disengaged.

The story is a chilling and timely reminder of a time not so long ago when abortions were illegal. Although Nelscott took the ethically easy road in this story, the ramifications remain no less important as multiple states attempt to restrict or ban access to abortions and to make providing abortions as complicated and dangerous as possible for health care practitioners.

Unlike prior books, this is relatively fast-paced, taking place over a short time period. As usual, there's a side mystery, but this time Nelscott doesn't allow Smokey to get too far bogged down in the details. Atmosphere is nicely developed, from the tension-filled hospital waiting room to the dangerous tightrope Smokey walks with the gangs.

Laura and Smokey have better settled into their relationship, but Smokey remains troubled and challenged by Jimmy. The ending is satisfying but somewhat ethically ambiguous. Overall a satisfying mystery read that also provides the reader with insight into challenges faced by a black man and his friends in a time of tremendous cultural upheaval. Three and a half stars, rounding up for the unique setting. While the books can be read alone, this is definitely a series that is best read from the start, as Smokey's surroundings and past actions constantly weave through his current circumstances.

This particular volume is about children - either abandoned, unwanted, loved and protected, or warped by poverty and the people around them. It's a grim story on many levels.

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Jimmy continues to be the weak point of the series for me. I can't decide if it's uneven characterisation, or just that I'm not giving h While the books can be read alone, this is definitely a series that is best read from the start, as Smokey's surroundings and past actions constantly weave through his current circumstances. I can't decide if it's uneven characterisation, or just that I'm not giving him enough credit for his difficult past, but he just comes across as a sulky brat.

Stone Cribs or Smokey 4, a great story even if it contains minutiae overkill. This is the 3rd of the Smokey Dalton series. Once again it has captivated me enough that I will be downloading number 4 momentarily. It is a saga that grabs you and does not let you leave without knowing what comes next. I did have some trouble getting through overly descriptive uninteresting information of mundane actions of the main characters. It added little to the story other than to prolong it.

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Nelscott does a mar Stone Cribs or Smokey 4, a great story even if it contains minutiae overkill. Nelscott does a marvelous job drawing me and I am sure all her readers into her stories. She does it with a rare ability to make you interested in and care about her main cast of characters. Do not hesitate to start with "A Dangerous Road" the first of this series, you will not regret it. Although Nelscott has won awards for her previous Smokey Dalton novels, I'm not convinced this is up to caliber.

The story deals with Chicago, and the extreme racial tension between the black and white communities. Smokey is caught in the middle, since he dates a white wealthy entrepreneur. In this story, the main theme is adoption of black babies and illegal abortions. Smokey and his lady Laura arrive at his place after a banquet to find a woman hemorrhaging in a neighboring apartment. They Although Nelscott has won awards for her previous Smokey Dalton novels, I'm not convinced this is up to caliber. They get her to the hospital and learn the problems are caused by a botched abortion.

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