When One Man Dies

By Dave White

Book Overview

"A terrific novel, a unique and artful blend of the PI and the Police Procedural in a plot as nicely tangled and sexually violent as a cat fight." --James Crumley, Dashiell Hammett Award-winning author

It's been four years since Jackson Donne went from cop to private investigator, so he's seen his share of trouble in New Brunswick, New Jersey. And he doesn't like it when it hits too close to home--or, in this case, too close to the Olde Towne Tavern, Donne's home-away-from-home. His drinking buddy, Gerry Figuroa, gets killed right outside the bar in a hit-and-run. Just when Donne is looking for a fresh start by returning to college at twenty-eight years old, he's drawn back into the game. All this while investigating a suspected cheating husband.

Donne soon discovers that Gerry was not the man he thought he knew. Instead, he's someone whose secrets will bring down a world of pain on his friends and relatives. And when Donne realizes that both of his cases have dangerous underworld connections, he's about to be launched into a world of violence . . .

" A] remarkable debut novel. . . . White manages the neat trick of respecting the genre's traditions while daring to nudge it toward something new and unexpected." --Laura Lippman, New York Times-bestselling author

"White has written a PI novel that is both traditional and fresh, one of the few new talents to join this much-plowed field with something interesting and original to say." --Chicago Sun-Times

"Derringer Award-winner White's engrossing, evocative debut novel will grab most readers from its opening sentences." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FFP8PB82
• ISBN13: 9798337201504
• Release Date: August 2025
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
• Length: 308 Pages
• Weight: 0.71 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Jackson Donne, a household name...

Dave White has created a truly believable and intriguing character in Jackson Donne. He makes Jackson as fragile and flawed as possible, leaking his past of mistakes and regrets without sacrificing his likability with the reader. It's a story of a young man trying to get his life back together after a stint as a cop and the unpredictable, sometimes dry business of a private investigator. Jackson, recently enrolled at Rutgers, finds himself hurled into a hit and run case that left his best friend dead in the middle of the streets of New Brunswick, New Jersey. Simultaneously, Jackson is asked to investigate a man suspected of cheating on his wife and makes a startling discovery on the case. The more digging he does, the more he wishes he'd never been involved. Problem is, it's too late to turn back. Dave White is gifted at painting the perfect picture for an audience. His description of New Jersey and the people that reside there is about as accurate as anyone could put it and the traits he attaches to the characters establish a sense of value, determination and loyalty. I'd recommend this novel not only to anyone who is a fan of truly captivating mysteries, but to any and everyone who lives in New Jersey. You can relate to many of the little details. Be sure to look into Dave's next novel in the series, The Evil That Men Do, out in June. Grade: A-

Delightful debut novel

Jackson Donne, a former cop turned PI, has just lost one of his closest drinking buddies in a tragic hit and run. Not trusting the local police, Jackson decides to look into the case on his own. Meanwhile, a woman hires him to look into the shady dealings of her husband. As Donne looks further into both cases, he soon discovers connections that could place not only his career, but also his life in jeopardy. Dave White breathes new life into the PI crime genre in this impressive debut. This is clever storytelling that hooks readers from the startling first line up until the gratifying conclusion. This novel is packed with smart and snappy dialogue, absorbing mystery elements, and cleverly portrayed settings. However, White's real strength is found in his main protagonist. Jackson Donne is a memorable hero who is complex, flawed, and admirable, all at the same time. His search for truth and commitment to justice are infectious elements that add to the richness of his character. White effectively uses the first-person narrative to unfold the story through the eyes of Jackson Donne. The result is an engrossing and addictive read that grabs on and never lets go. The first of a new series, When One Man Dies is a dark, gritty, and delightful debut that proves Dave White is a promising new talent to watch for. Armchair Interviews says: Wonderful story, well-told.

Great thrill ride of a book!

I'll admit, I'm not usually a mystery type, but I picked this one up on a whim. It's set in New Jersey, which is my home state, so that drew me to it. I'm so glad I picked it up. The story moves fast, and with every page I turned, I was thrown for another loop. White has more twists in this story than I could ever have expected, and throws them at you constantly, even up to the last five pages. I really can't wait see more from him.

A stand-out private eye debut

Dave White has long been regarded in the mystery world as one of the finest young writers of short fiction. Now he has produced his first novel, "When One Man Dies," and the results are just as pleasing. Jackson Donne is an ambivalent New Jersey private eye who wants to quit the business and get an education. Before he can do that, however, he is compelled to investigate after his closest friend is murdered. He still has to pay the bills, so he also takes a job tailing an adulterous spouse. Naturally, he finds that there is more going on than meets the eye. As Donne unravels the mystery, White reveals through a series of clever plot twists that the two cases are actually related. White has written a PI novel that is both traditional and fresh, one of the few new talents to join this much-plowed field with something interesting and original to say. Fans of detective novels will, we hope, be enjoying his work for years to come.