Smoke-Filled Rooms

Smokey Dalton, Book 2

By: Kris Nelscott

Narrated by: Mirron Willis

Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

On the run after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., Private Investigator Smokey Dalton and Jimmy, the young boy he rescued, have settled under assumed names in Chicago. But history won’t leave him alone. His job in security at the Chicago Hilton places him in the center of the protests at the 1968 Democratic Convention. Worse, a killer works his South Side neighborhood, killing children. The Chicago Police Department doesn’t solve crimes in the South Side. Smokey can’t ignore the crimes, any more than he can ignore the tension building in the city that hot August. He has to take action, before he loses everything.

Chosen as one of the top 10 mystery novels of the year by both Deadly Pleasures and Booklist, Smoke-Filled Rooms fulfills the promise of the award-winning Dangerous Road, and makes Smokey Dalton into one of the mystery field’s most memorable detectives.

©2001 Kristine K. Rusch (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This is mystery fiction at its highest, most gripping level." (Chicago Tribune)

"A blistering rendition of the '60s racial wars marks this series as a standout as early as its second entry. You don’t need to be a fan of private-eye novels to admire Smokey: You just need a conscience." (Kirkus Reviews)

"Nelscott does a superb job of using a familiar historical moment to dramatize an intimate human drama, as Smokey and Jimmy struggle to avoid becoming anonymous casualties lost behind the headlines. This series has all the passion and precision of Walter Mosley’s early Easy Rawlins novels, but it is not derivative. In fact, Smokey just may be a more compelling character than the celebrated Easy." (Booklist)

Smoke Filled Rooms

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I absolutely love this series as it coincides with historical events. The characters are so real. The narrator is not my favorite but the story compensates for this. Can't wait to listen the next book.

Great Story but it ended too soon

Would you listen to Smoke-Filled Rooms again? Why?

Yes, but not until I listen to the other books in the series. I feel that this series when listened to for a second time will provide details that were missed/forgotten the first time through.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

There were many twists to the plot that allowed me to never really trust I knew what was going to happen next. Definitely was not predictable.

Which scene was your favorite?

Two come to mind, so without giving the plot away. I'll say when he went to Laura, and the second was when he found Brian.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

His succession of emotions and reaction when finding Brian.

Any additional comments?

I'm really enjoying this series, which should be listened to in order to get full understanding of the relationships between some of the characters. The first book was longer and when this book ended I was surprised. I'm moving on to book 3 and can't wait to get through all of the stories.

Great Series

The narrator is perfect for this series. The historical accuracy makes the series a riveting read/listen.

Narration

when narrator changed tones for different characters, his voice sometimes dropped to low to he heard. When I adjusted volume, the voice of Smokey was wayyy too loud.

very well done!

Wonderful second book. I couldn't stop reading. I like the way it flows from book one and the fact that it was not overly repetitive, like many books in a series. It gives a brutally honest portrayal of social issues in the sixties, while maintaining the humanity of the characters.