Back in the early 1980s, talented mystery writer Loren D. Estleman started writing a series of novels about a hit man named Peter Macklin. Macklin works for a crime family in Detroit. However, the leader of the crime family is serving some jail time when terrorists seize a tour boat. In Kill Zone (1984) the Feds work out a deal with the crime lord to reduce his sentence if Macklin can “neutralize” the terrorists.
In Roses Are Dead (1985) Macklin has left the crime family and is working as an independent operator. But Macklin’s enemies haven’t gone away and Macklin finds himself hunted down by other hit men.
Any Man’s Death (1986) revolves around Reverend Sunsmith’s crusade against legalized gambling. Sunsmith opposes the casinos that both the politicians and Mafia support. After surviving an assassination attempt, Sunsmith stirs up the Detroit community as he decides to run for Congress. Macklin accepts a contract to “remove” a local crime boss, but complications intrude.
Something Borrowed, Something Black (2002) begins with Macklin and his new wife, Laurie. But Macklin’s past catches up to him as he’s forced to accept a hit on a bookie in San Antonio while the Bad Guys control his wife. This novel has a lot of twists to it.
Little Back Dress (2005) begins with Macklin and Laurie looking at real estate in Ohio. But Laurie’s mother (she’s Macklin’s age, 44) is dating a guy Macklin suspects is a “player.” Sure enough, there’s an explosive robbery that brings out the best in Macklin. If you’re looking for stories of a stone cold killer, check out these Peter Macklin novels.
Great pick. This is definitely a series that shouldn’t be forgotten.
Bill, I found the Peter Macklin series had a very different vibe than anything else Loren Estleman ever wrote.
George, I did not know Loren D. Estleman had written these. I have only read a couple of his westerns and was impressed with his writing style. Are the Peter Macklin novels short?
Prashant, the Peter Macklin books are all about 230 pages. Quick reads!
I’ve read a lot of Estleman’s books – Amos Walker books and all the short stories, the Valentinos, some westerns, lots of his stories in general – but have never read these.
Jeff, the Peter Macklin books have a very different vibe from anything else I’ve read of Loren Estleman’s work. Worth a look.
Wow, a five-for-one Friday Forgotten Book post. Cool. Like Jeff, I haven’t read any of these, and only one Amos Walker, for that matter. I don’t think I was in the right mood at the time, an Estleman’s writing didn’t resonate with me (sorry for the cliche). I’m not generally a fan of “mob books” but I’ll admit that the idea in the first one of these, use the bad guys against the bad guys, is intriguing.
Rick, of the five Peter Macklin books I liked the first one, KILL ZONE, the best.
Rick, you might prefer his Valentino books as they are centered on “Old Hollywood” and the preservation of films. The main character is not Rudolph Valentino but a modern preservationist who works (for UCLA? Can’t remember) buying up old, missing films. The books have tie-ins to real old movies. They started as short stories in EQMM, I believe, and a few were expanded to full-length novels. FRAMES was the first novel. There was a collection of the stories too.
This is the one Estleman series I missed, but I’ve read almost all of his Walkers and Westerns.
Jeff, Estleman uses a lot of movie references in the Peter Macklin book. SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BLACK takes place, in part, in L.A.
Bob, I’ve read many of the Amos Walker series and Westerns. But Estleman is so prolific I probably have a dozen more of his books on my shelves waiting to be read.