Dead Dog

Rating:
Summary: Buy this book
Review: As I cool my heels waiting for the next Segretto novel I'll kill some time sharing my thoughts on the first one. Dead Dog is a compelling read from start to finish with cleverly drawn characters and - in the midst of the protagonists' admittedly bleak existance - a surprising amount of humor. I often found myself laughing out loud and then scanning the room furtively, afraid someone might find out about whatever sick scenario I happened to be laughing about. Dead Dog is sexy, violent, suspenseful, and as addictive as the coffee Segretto's narrator seems to solely subsist on. As a side note - directors take heed, this would make a great film!

Rating:
Summary: Quick, Hilarious Read by a Promising Young Writer
Review: Full disclosure: my friends started Contemporary Press, the company that publishes Dead Dog, so this is not a totally unbiased opinion. However, I would not be writing this review if I wasn't thoroughly impressed by Mr. Segretto's book.

Above all else, Dead Dog is about a loser. Living alone in a trailer park, the unnamed narrator describes the action happening around him... think white trash Rear Window. When the trailer master's wife takes a fancy to him, he gets sucked into a mystery that ends in a twist that is both darkly funny and unsettling.

The characters are great and well fleshed out, the dialogue is smart and hilarious, and the mystery keeps you guessing. One funny running bit is that the narrator is continually right on the verge of getting laid, but one thing or another always gets in his way. Don't worry, there is a payoff... but in an entirely different way than you would ever imagine.

Overall, a very impressive first book from a writer who deserves to be read. The Contemporary Press crew is doing some cool stuff... definitely keep your eyes on these guys and definitely pick up a copy of these book!