Ross Thomas is better known for his classic Chinaman’s Chance and The Eighth Dwarf, but in 1981 he published The Mordida Man where he takes the political caper to a new level. The President’s brother, Bingo McKay, has been kidnapped. The President receives Bingo’s ear wrapped in a Gucci box. Clearly, this is job for “The Mordida Man,” Chubb Dunjee. “Mordida” means bribery in Spanish and Dunjee has to spread the money around to mount a rescue of the President’s brother. However, like most Ross Thomas novels, nothing is exactly what it seems. There’s plenty of suspense and intricate plotting in The Mordida Man. It’s astonishing that an author who won the Edgar for Best First Novel in 1967 for The Cold War Swap and another Edgar for Best Novel in 1985 for Briarpatch is out-of-print and nearly forgotten.
Read Briarpatch, but I think that might be the only Thomas book I’ve read. It’s a crime it’s out of print
Thank you for coming up with the concept of FORGOTTEN BOOKS on Fridays so other mystery readers can discover great books. It’s distressing to think that wonderful writers like Stanley Ellin and Ross Thomas are out-of-print and nearly forgotten.
A great one. Thomas is a favorite of mine. Guy couldn’t write a bad book.
The Mordida Man is a terrific book that is rarely mentioned when Ross Thomas is discussed. I just wanted more people to know about it and, hopefully, find a copy and read it.
I’ve been working my way through Thomas’s novels since discovering the fantastic The Fools in Town are On Our Side. Agree with the above comment that Thomas “couldn’t write a bad book.” Thanks for the recommendation.
Ross Thomas is a terrific writer. It’s sad that his work is out-of-print.
Ross Thomas is great. I think I’ve read most of the books, but I’m sure I missed The Mordida Man, so thanks for the tip.
I didn’t know you appeared on AMERICAN BANDSTAND. I’m impressed!