Hell’s Heart
In Oakley, Florida, in 2005. Frank Jackson and Diane Ferguson are killed with a pipe wrench. The problem? Frank and Diane have no connection.
Drawn and Buried
Political cartoons are suppose 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…
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 finds herself…
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….
Simon Crumb and the Ghost of Blaine Street
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…
WHAT READERS SAY
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 more “Sharp and Memorable”
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… Read more “Kirkus – on Downhill Fast”
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… Read more “Couldn’t put it down”
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…”
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… Read more “Zero is the soft spot in Lou’s heart!!”
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!”
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… Read more “Great book.”
Kirkus – on Hell’s Heart
…In Summers’ style of Florida noir, action drives both plot and character. The economical but potent prose is as sharp as Sabal palm leaves, as insistent as Florida heat, and as twisty as a live oak’s branches….Summers has the recipe right….A fast-paced collision of small-town violence and delayed… Read more “Kirkus – on Hell’s Heart”
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”
Who did it?
This book kept me guessing as to who did it and questioning what would happen next. Suspenseful from start to… Read more “Who did it?”
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”
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… Read more “Action with Character Development”
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”
a wholly likable protagonist
Summers crafts a charming, lightly scary middle grade ghost story with an enticing mystery at its center and an engaging modern twist. Twelve-year-old Simon’s voice is authentic, approachable, and infused with relatable humor as well as moments of reflection on loss. Summers skillfully reveals information without relying on exposition, and dialogue is well crafted and… Read more “a wholly likable protagonist”
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”
fast-paced writing
The fast-paced writing kept the story moving…a fun ride until the… Read more “fast-paced writing”
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 more “The bodies stack up”
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… Read more “A must read”