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 own 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.
Awards
First place in mystery category First place in suspense category Unpublished book of the year
WHAT READERS SAY
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 loose. He captures the essence of Orlando in locales with real life characters that the tourists very rarely get to see. There is a lot of irreverent and funny banter that you would expect from an Editorial Cartoonist but without the visual drawings that are left to your imagination from his slightly flawed hero. I have always enjoyed Dana’s cartoons and his book is a logical extension of his sense of humor. Also, it’s a darn good murder mystery! Put in on your reading list, you will thank me.
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.
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 guessing. I’d like to see this protagonist again.
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.
fast-paced writing
The fast-paced writing kept the story moving…a fun ride until the end.
