Review: The Bloody Birthright – Ken Dalton

Paperback: 292 pages
Publisher: Different Drummer Press (October 6, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0578034441
ISBN-13: 978-0578034447
Order book here:

amazon

Order E-book here:
amazon

Characters:

J. Pinkus “Pinky” Delmont – Defense Attorney
Benate “Bear” Zabarle – Part time Bartender/Investigator
Florence “Flo” Sonderlund – Bear’s girlfriend/Tech helper.
Willow Stone – Chief Deputy District Attorney

Synopsis:

One brother is murdered, a second is killed in an accident? The son of the murdered man is arrested and the evidence looks bad. That is when Pinky Delmont arrives on the scene, determined to prove the man’s innocence, but most of all, collect a large payment for his services.

Review

I loved these characters. Like the similar Stephanie Plum series, the characters are light hearted. The stories are serious, but the author manages to throw some light humor into the interractions of the various characters. You can visualize one character irritating another, or feeling impressed by their knowledge. The plot is strong enough to keep you interested, without being so complicated that you find yourself lost.

The mystery was fun, but Bear, Flo and Pinky were the highlights. I found myself at the end looking for their next adventure. In an unusual pattern for us, we will be reviewing all four of the books in this series over the next two weeks. So stop back by on Tuesday to see our review of the next book.

I’d definitely grab this if you like light mysteries. I’d rate it PG-13 for language and content.

About the Author

Ken Dalton was born in 1938 at Hollywood Hospital. He grew up with his parents, his older sister, Pat, and younger brother, Richard in Los Angeles. The year 1938 informs the quick reader that Ken’s older than a lot of people, but younger than some.

In a turn of bad luck, the dreaded Polio virus found Ken.

At the end of World War ll, Ken’s family moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming for a year where he learned how to live through snow blizzards, avoid walking through the large pile of coal in the basement, and how to survive life as an Army Officer’s brat on a base called Fort Warren.

By the age of sixteen, after eleven years of operations, therapy, and braces, Ken’s luck changed dramatically when he met the girl of his dreams at a party. A few years later they married, produced three wonderful children, and settled into a happy life in Southern California.

In 1966, Ken, who worked as a technician for Pacific Bell, and his family left Southern California for the green hills of Sonoma County where they bought a home in Sebastopol surrounded with apple trees. A few years later, Ken and Arlene built a new home on three and a half acres. They raised cows, pigs, and learned how to build outstanding fences. While their children grew, they hosted two exchange students, Eva Reimers from Sweden, and Tanja Wuttke from Germany, both of whom are still loved members of the Dalton clan. Also during those years, Ken was promoted to management at Pacific Bell. He eventually ended up responsible for all the central offices, sixty-three, in an area that covered five counties.

In 1977, Ken, Arlene, Bob Wiltermood, and his wife Norma, designed, built, and operated a 2000 case winery named Pommeraie Vineyards. They produced award winning Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. However, after Bob died, the winery was sold. Ken and Arlene moved to a hilltop in Healdsburg.

With the winery gone, and time on their hands, Ken and Arlene started to perform with the Camp Rose Players. Twenty years and forty productions later, both are still acting and singing.

Life was good. All Ken had to do was learn some lines and bow when the audience applauded.

Then, ten years ago, Ken started to write. His first article was published in Golf Illustrated in August 1996. More golf articles followed in national and regional magazines including Golf Magazine and Fairways and Greens.

After a two-year stint on the County Grand Jury, Ken felt the need to begin his first novel.

Now, after a decade of struggle to learn the craft of writing, Ken has become the publishing world’s latest overnight sensation.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Nicole at Tribute Books for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

1 people like this post.

One Response to “Review: The Bloody Birthright – Ken Dalton”

  1. Marjorie Says:

    I like the storyline sounds like a read me book.

Reply