A Deadly Business

a Jack Susko mystery

Lenny Bartulin

'A witty, engaging romp, stuffed full of beguiling characters and bulging with wry humour. Charming, cheeky and immensely readable.'

Max Barry

'A stunning debut … That was fun, let's do it again.'

Sue Turnbull (Sydney Morning Herald)

'A Deadly Business is a load of fun with the required sexpot dame, crooked copper, eccentric millionaire, bloody bodies and many twists and turns before the surprise revelation of whodunit. Bartulin wrote poetry before this and he will find a darn sight more readers with this.'

Frank Walker (Sun Herald)

Jack Susko is trying for a quiet life in his second-hand bookshop in downtown Sydney. It’s more tin mine than gold mine, yet it’s his and that’s something. But when a wealthy businessman hires Jack to locate some books for him, life starts to get a little more complicated.

Soon he’s up to his neck in family secrets, corruption and murder, plunged into a world he thought he’d left behind. Making a play for the businessman’s beautiful daughter doesn’t help matters. And as the bodies start piling up, Jack can’t help but wonder when second-hand book dealing became so dangerous.

A Deadly Business introduces a new crime hero who’s not a detective and whose motives aren’t always pure, but he’s sure got a talent for finding trouble.

'There's wisecracking humour, sticky situations and dark fun. I can hardly wait for the promised sequel.'

Ian Nichols (West Australian)

'This is a witty, clever debut, full of in-jokes and colourful characters. The author is clearly a fan of the noir classics — particularly Raymond Chandler — and he negotiates the tricky path between homage and pastiche better than many more seasoned writers of the genre. (4 STARS)'

Tim Coronel (Bookseller & Publisher)

'Susko is a welcome new character on the Aussie crime fiction scene. Refreshing.'

(Weekend Gold Coast Bulletin)

'I suspect Mr Susko will brush himself down and be getting into more trouble in the stacks very soon – a sequel which I'll definitely look forward to.'

Martin Shaw (Readings Monthly)

'In a crowded field Bartulin stands out as one to watch - fans of crime fiction will find this an atmospheric and very entertaining reading experience.'

Gordon Bain (Good Reading)

'Bartulin introduces irrepressible Sydney, Australia, used-book dealer Jack Susko in this tight hard-boiled whodunit, the first of what one hopes will be a long series.'

(Publishers Weekly)

'The scruffy, dialogue-heavy narrative has great charm...'

(Kirkus Reviews)

'Talk about cliffhanger openings: Sydney bookseller Jack Susko clings to the side of a cliff as a woman takes aim with a gun. How did the works of an obscure poet lead to this predicament? VERDICT Nonstop action, smart talk, and a twisty plot make this an exciting debut that will appeal to readers who like Jonathan Gash mixed with a splash of Dick Francis for the violence and brutal characters.'

(Library Journal (US))

'Bartulin's debut is an old-fashioned mystery with lots of snappy dialogue and a noir atmosphere. A secondhand book dealer in Australia, Jack just wants a quiet life among his beloved books and far away from his former work as a Mob driver. Broke and with his store struggling, Jack accepts a commission from a local magnate to locate and buy all known copies of any books by a relatively unknown and out-of-print poet. But Jack isn't the only one tracking down the books, and the businessman drives a tough bargain ... With a fast pace and a noir tone, this is bound to appeal to a wide audience of mystery readers ... A strong debut and a promising series.'

Jessica Moyer (Booklist)