Simon Crumb and the Ghost of Blaine Street
First-place Royal Palm award winner in the middle-grade category presented by The Florida Writers Association.
There was a time when Simon Crumb didn’t believe in ghosts. That was before he accepted a dare by the school bullies to go into a haunted house for a selfie. There, he’s confronted by a vengeful spirit. He manages to escape. But as he races home on his bike, he realizes the ghost has hitched a ride with him.
In his phone.
The entity wants something, demands something. But Simon’s nightmares about a roaring freight train, a rickety bridge, and a strange medallion bring him no closer to the answer. And what about the bullies who pushed him into the dare? Do they have a connection to the past that could spell danger to Simon and his friend, Nikki?
Simon and Nikki dig into the history of the haunted house on Blaine Street and uncover a tale of treachery, deceit, and murder. Can they solve a mystery that has been buried for decades?
Drawn and Buried
Political cartoons are supposed to tick people off not drive them to violence. Tim Ryder finds out the pen is not only tighter than the sword but is the sword. Tim Ryder is trying to bury the past, but, it’s a stubborn corpse. Seven years ago he drew a cartoon series the earned him a Pulitzer but drove a presidential candidate to kill himself by putting a bullet in his head. After drinking himself to out of the profession, Ryder moved to Orlando, Florida and began drawing for a small daily. But his troubles expand like a fat man at a free buffet.
The Dark and the Dead
Haley McGlinn has a car trunk full of light bulbs and a purse full of flashlights. She has good reason to fear the dark. Five years ago she survived a vicious serial killer. When another murder shocks the city bearing the signature of Haley’s attacker, she wrestles with her own questions as she realizes the possibility that the only man she trusts could be the killer!
Downhill Fast
Aging hit man Lou Braga is losing his touch. Bad back, cloudy eyes, and clogged arteries. The last job he took was a flat-out fiasco. In the world of contract killing, he’s gone from top-notch to cheap joke. He’d be happy to kick back and live out his time smoking cigars and drinking scotch. But Mia, his only daughter, is on Benny ‘Graves’ Epstein’s radar. And that means her life span just got shorter. Benny would off his mother if there was a buck in it. Sending Mia away is only part of the answer because Benny has eyes everywhere. Lou knows the only sure way to protect her is to settle an old score. But to do that he must go underground.
To flush him out, Benny goes low, way low, low enough to kidnap Lou’s best friend, his Chihuahua, Edward. The move ignites the old Lou, the Lou hell bent on winning no matter what. But now a wise-cracking ten-year-old kid named Zero is also in Benny’s crosshairs and Lou has a soft spot for him. The guns-blazing approach could get the boy killed. On the other hand, brute force is the only way to deal with Benny. Battling his crumbling health, he struggles to save both Mia and Zero, while holding off dark forces from the past.
WHAT READERS SAY
Great book.
I thought this book is just as good as any best seller crime books. Once I decided to really get into it I couldn’t put it down. The ending was heart pounding. Very well done.
Couldn’t put it down
The characters were the biggest stars of the show…..The Dark and the Dead is clever, well executed, and gripping enough that I couldn’t put it down even though it was hours past my bedtime.
A must read
Another suspenseful thriller from Dana J. Summers. The plot is full of twists and turns, and the bad guys get it in the end. The kind of book you can’t put down.
A slightly noir voice with a dry sense of humor
Good debut mystery with a complex and enjoyable protagonist. The protagonist is a cartoonist as is the author. I found the peek into his world very enjoyable. He has a slightly noir voice with a dry sense of humor. It contrasts nicely with the Orlando setting. There are several crimes and lots to keep you… Read more “A slightly noir voice with a dry sense of humor”
Good debut mystery
Good debut mystery with a complex and enjoyable protagonist. The protagonist is a cartoonist as is the author. I found the peek into his world very enjoyable. He has a slightly noir voice with a dry sense of humor. It contrasts nicely with the Orlando setting. There are several crimes and lots to keep you… Read more “Good debut mystery”
Ryder has plenty of confidence and cool and genuine concern for the good in others to…
Drawn And Buried is an entertaining local flavor of a mystery novel. The protagonist has found a successful career and an outlet to express himself through his drawing and as a family member tried to take it away from him as a child, the antagonist also attempts to shut him down. Ryder has plenty of… Read more “Ryder has plenty of confidence and cool and genuine concern for the good in others to…”
Who did it?
This book kept me guessing as to who did it and questioning what would happen next. Suspenseful from start to finish!
fast-paced writing
The fast-paced writing kept the story moving…a fun ride until the end.
Sharp and Memorable
The snarky hero and the sharp writing make this mystery memorable. Several surprises spring in the last pages, tying up the rollicking ride. Probably includes the best metaphors and similes I’ve ever read.
A lot of irreverent and funny banter
If you are a fan of fast moving witty murder mysteries then you need to read Dana Summers ‘Drawn and Buried’. His Editorial Cartoonist and wanna be detective Tim Ryder takes you on a really fun romp around the City Beautiful while simultaneously looking for and trying to stay away from a killer on the… Read more “A lot of irreverent and funny banter”
The bodies stack up
…the bodies stack up along the way, and much like Carl Hiassen’s novels, victims have interesting deaths, two including a car crusher….electric dialogue make this book a compelling read.
Zero is the soft spot in Lou’s heart!!
Downhill by Dana Summers is an endlessly entertaining novel. The witty prose and fast action has been rattling in my head for days. The characters are colorful and before long you are rooting for the “good hearted” bad guy. Looking forward to your next book Dana! It was a hoot!
Action with Character Development
Dana Summers has done it again. This was his best work yet showing his ability to drop you into continuous action while developing understanding of characters. He writes creating anticipation of the next scene/chapter and pulls you into another “can’t put it down until I finish” work. I always look forward to his next book.
Darn good murder mystery!
If you are a fan of fast moving and witty murder mysteries then you need to read Dana Summers ‘Drawn and Buried’. His Editorial Cartoonist and wanna be detective Tim Ryder takes you on a really fun romp around the City Beautiful while simultaneously looking for and trying to stay away from a killer on… Read more “Darn good murder mystery!”
A complex and enjoyable protagonist
Good debut mystery with a complex and enjoyable protagonist. The protagonist is a cartoonist as is the author. I found the peek into his world very enjoyable. He has a slightly noir voice with a dry sense of humor. It contrasts nicely with the Orlando setting. There are several crimes and lots to keep you… Read more “A complex and enjoyable protagonist”
Kirkus – on Downhill Fast
…downhill fast this thriller isn’t, Fast, yes. The pace rarely flags….Readers will find this crackerjack thriller hard to put down.
