Loren D. Estleman is a literary treasure that no one seems to talk about much. He has been steadily producing one book after another for over 40 years. Author of crime fiction and Westerns as well as nonfiction, the list of his works on Wikipedia is likely incomplete but is nonetheless awe-inspiring. Recognition of his accomplishments include The Eye from the Private Eye Writers of America for lifetime achievement; the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer from the Short Mystery Fiction Society for lifetime achievement; the Owen Wister Award from the Western Writers of America for lifetime achievement; four Shamus Awards from the Private Eye Writers of America; two American Mystery Awards from Mystery Scene magazine; and a Barry Award for the Best Mystery Short Story 2010.
More widely known for his Amos Walker private investigator stories, first published in 1980, the 32nd title is scheduled for 2025, Estleman has also written seven books about crime in Detroit throughout various pivotal times in the city’s history. I read the first one, Whiskey River (Bantam Books, 1990), years ago and was overwhelmed by its striking sense of place and time. It is set during Prohibition; the river in the title is the steady flow of Canadian whiskey across the border to the booze-starved citizens of Detroit.
The story is told from the perspective of former newspaper reporter Constantine Minor who is testifying to a grand jury that is investigating the venal local police. Minor looks back ten years and describes his younger self who inadvertently befriends an up-and-coming member of Detroit’s underworld. Through this friendship Minor becomes well acquainted with the urban gangs of the region and the corrupt law enforcement that allowed crime to flourish in the Motor City. A highlight of the narrative is the late-night transport of whiskey from Canada in a caravan of vehicles that drove across the frozen Lake Erie in the dead of winter.
The sharp contrast between people suffering the deprivations of the Depression and the free-spending criminals, the turf wars as the gangs battled over rights to sell illegal liquor, and the multitude of ways the bootleggers found to bring their illicit products into the country while police looked the other way, punctuated with an assortment of colorful characters, all add up to a striking and enthralling narrative. A fine piece of historical crime fiction. Highly recommended!