Jackie Disaster: A Mystery

by Eric Dezenhall

Book Overview

From his curved-glass desk in a casino overlooking the Atlantic City boardwalk, Jackie "Disaster" DeSesto--an ex-welterweight boxing champ and former top flack for the Atlantic City Police... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312307691
• ISBN13: 9780312307691
• Release Date: June 2003
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.53 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Master of Disaster

I have just finished reading Jackie Disaster, Eric Dezenhall's second novel, and I feel an urgent need to get this review out immediately, in order to alert my fellow Delaware Valley natives (and more far flung South Jerseyans), to go out and snatch this book - or risk missing some of the biggest laughs of any novel you are likely to bring "down the shore" with you this summer. The new book has all of the page-turning hyper-drive of Dezenhall's first novel, Money Wanders¸ but the laughs are bigger, and the characters this time around are completely out of control.It is possible that those that did not grow up within a certain distance of the Benjamin Franklin bridge may find some of the characters that Dezenhall has cooked-up to be somewhat over the top, but having come of age in crazy, class-and-ethnicity-obsessed South Jersey, I can vouch for the authenticity of even the most outrageous of these characters (the disgraced plastic surgeon, the obese mobster (wanabee) and the flamboyant queen with a gift for inventing the most absurd nicknames stand-out among some of the more hilarious and twisted characters). Make no mistake, no matter how clever (and sometimes diabolical) Dezenhall's improvisations, the real craft here is careful observation. But there is much more to Jackie Disaster than just detailed description and belly-laughs. Dezenhall is also able to immerse the reader in a complex and highly nuanced world, where even slight gradations in social class and economic fortunes explain more about the behavior of adults (and, sadly, some children) than any amount of psycho-sexual Freudian theory could ever hope to explain. Dezenhall's trick is to give us enough of the social, economic and religious background of the characters and their environment so that we understand the motivations of the characters as they begin to unravel, without once slowing the down the juggernaut of his plot. As with many of the best episodes of the Sopranos, Dezenhall knows that what draws in the audience is not simply a string of incredibly brutal acts of the protagonists, but that they live among us in a parallel universe with its own complex moral hierarchy - a code of ethics that allows them to sit next to us and participate at PTA meetings, while at the same time truly believing that murder and mayhem are acceptable (and even just) punishments for not showing the proper "respect" for a small-minded thug who oversees the crimes of other, smaller-minded thugs. Just describing the acts is never enough - you need to see the characters go through their normal routines and have (for them) normal conversations with their peers in order to recognize how deep the evil really runs.And then there is the plot. It may be that Eric Dezenhall created an entirely new genre - the "public relations/crisis management thriller" - with his first book. In Jackie Disaster, he again gives us a two-layered view of the crisis-management game that keeps us flipping the pages; the h

superb satire

Former professional boxer Jackie "Disaster" De Sesto manages Allegation Services, a crisis-management spin-doctor firm. His offices overlook the gaming floor of the Golden Prospect Casino in Atlantic City, owned by his prime customer and girlfriend, Angela Vanni, daughter of a deceased Mafia boss. Jackie Disaster and his team of Imps handle and often deliver scams and cons to paint a rosy picture of his clients regardless of the truth.Millionaire Sally Naturale hires Jackie Disaster and associates to restore her and her firm's reputation. Murrin Connolly filed a lawsuit claiming that the organic soymilk that Sally's company produces caused her to miscarry. Expert Jonah Eastman suggests a two front attack. First Jackie Disaster and team need to destroy the credibility of Murrin with a negative dirt smearing campaign and second Sally must act contrite in public as a counter to her posh upper crust living style. Instead of smooth sailing, Jackie lives up to his nickname as nothing goes right especially when Sally vanishes. Jackie and the Imps begin a new counteroffensive.JACKIE DISASTER is a superb satire that showcases a professional who uses any means including dirty tricks to provide counter cover for the rich and famous. The story line stuns the audience with its relative simplicity that paints a dirty image making game by the in crowd to protect their reputation. A cast, starting with the antihero and his cohorts including his father, niece, girlfriend, and new client make for a wild ride down the Jersey shore. To protect the image of Eric Dezenhall, a sequel is required.Harriet Klausner

Fast paced fun

Last year, I read "Money Wanders" and I enjoyed it so much that I decided to pick up "Jackie Disaster." This book was even better than the first novel by this author. While both books were fun, (I actually laughed out loud many times) "Jackie Disaster" had a really well developed feel to it. The cast of characters was interesting, the plot ran smoothly without telegraphing the ending and I found myself completely caught up in the action. I definitely recommend this one-as well as "Money Wanders." Can't wait for Dezenhall's next book.

Sharp, Funny and Perceptive

A clever skewering of mercenary, media-hungry "victims," czarinas of marketable "good taste," and Mafia wannabes by today's sharpest satirist of America's quest to reinvent itself. I especially loved the scenes where Jackie Disaster joins forces with the hero of Dezenhall's earlier (and equally perceptive) comic novel, Money Wanders, to trade insights and strategems in the quest to save New Jersey's Martha Stewart. The pace is a quick as the hero's wits.

DEZENHALL DOES IT AGAIN

Dezenhall has done it again!!!For those of us whose first language if phlersey, Jackie Disaster is a must read. For those less fortunate and less fluent in the Boss' English consider this book an opportunity to see what you've been missing. For yous it's a read it if yous knows what's good fer yous. Reading this book is like growing up in Philly or South Jersey, working summers at the Jersey Shore, and then going on to take over the world. Finishing this book I felt the same way I did after finishing Money Wanders - anxious for the next Dezenhall novel to be released. I just hope the Republican Party doesn't snag him for an eight year stint in the white house - it would be great for the country - but - leading the free world might take away from his writing time thus delaying the release of his next novel. It may be a selfish thing to say but DON'T VOTE FOR DEZENHALL - KEEP THE MAN WRITING - LET THE FREE WORLD FEND FOR ITSELF!!