Short Money

By Pete Hautman

Book Overview

Desperate for cash, addicted to prescription drugs, and mourning his failed marriage, ex-cop Joe Crow takes a security job that could cost him his life in this hilariously thrilling mystery by Pete Hautman. A depressed ex-cop with a dead-end job, a faltering marriage, a rotten stomach, and an increasingly expensive drug habit, Joe Crow is just looking for a drink and poker game on the night he steps into Birdy's. Instead, he comes face to face with the man who might either save his life or absolutely destroy it. Crow first notices Dr. Nelson Bellwether when a chair is smashed over his head. A surgeon with a big mouth, a gambler's personality, and some serious debt to the IRS, Bellwether is on his way to deep trouble. Bringing him along for the ride when he hires him as a body guard, Crow finds himself in the midst of trophy elk's murder, a dual kidnapping, and a six-hundred-pound tiger, making the small town cop wish he had a bodyguard of his own.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1476748519
• ISBN13: 9781476748511
• Release Date: April 2013
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

If you like Hiaason, you'll love Hautman!

Pete Hautman's Short Money is a delightfully charming, outrageously funny mystery along the lines of Carl Hiaason. Hartman takes us on a runaway roller coaster ride with policeman, Joe Crow. Crow's life is out of control, and he has drug problems, marriage problems and job problems. Of course, most of his problems are of his own making.Joe takes a new job that seems rather simple, and things are never as simple as they first appear. The plot is hysterically funny and without giving too much away, Joe has to deal with a sleazy brother-in-law lawyer, a runaway kid, a missing cat, two crazy brothers (one downright psychopathic), a scheming plastic surgeon, a druggie wife, a farm for canned hunts, and several wild animals. There are more than a few belly laughs, and I actually had tears rolling down my cheeks from laughing so hard in several spots.I have been told that Short Money is not Hautman's best effort. If this is the case, I can't wait to read more.

Fast, Funny Read - Delightful!

I purposely waited to read "Drawing Dead" until after I finished this prequel, so I can attest to its merits as a standalone book.Pete Hautman's prose is lean, mean and hilarious. The action occurs almost without warning and the nutty bad guys always get what's coming a la Carl Hiassen and James W. Hall.If you're looking for a quick, refreshing read, look no further.

Great Prequel to Drawing Dead

Fans of Pete who love Joe Crow, will get a good laugh, and a great story in this "prequel" to "Drawing Dead". Unsavory characters, good twists and turns, and of course, Joe. This was my favorite of all his books, and it had the most laughs as well. Get a copy and dig in.