Book Review: The BIG Show Stopper

Ken Dalton's Bio:
Ken Dalton was born in 1938. In a turn of bad luck, the dreaded Polio virus found Ken. At the end of World War II, Ken's family moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming for a year where he learned how to live through snow blizzards, avoid walking through the large pile of coal in the basement, and how to survive life as an Army Officer's brat on a base called Fort Warren.

By the age of sixteen, after eleven years of operations, therapy, and braces, Ken's luck changed dramatically when he met the girl of his dreams at a party. A few years later they married, produced three wonderful children, and settled into a happy life in Southern California.

In 1966, Ken, who worked as a technician for Pacific Bell, and his family left Southern California for the green hills of Sonoma County where they bought a home in Sebastopol surrounded with apple trees. A few years later, Ken and Arlene built a new home on three and a half acres. They raised cows, pigs, and learned how to build outstanding fences. While their children grew, they hosted two exchange students, Eva Reimers from Sweden, and Tanja Wuttke from Germany, both of whom are still loved members of the Dalton clan. Also during those years, Ken was promoted to management at Pacific Bell. He eventually ended up responsible for all the central offices, sixty-three, in an area that covered five counties.

In 1977, Ken, Arlene, Bob Wiltermood, and his wife Norma, designed, built, and operated a 2000 case winery named Pommeraie Vineyards. They produced award winning Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. However, after Bob died, the winery was sold. Ken and Arlene moved to a hilltop in Healdsburg.

With the winery gone, and time on their hands, Ken and Arlene started to perform with the Camp Rose Players. Twenty years and forty productions later, both are still acting and singing.

Life was good. All Ken had to do was learn some lines and bow when the audience applauded.

Then, ten years ago, in a moment of madness, Ken started to write. His first article was published in Golf Illustrated in August 1996. More golf articles followed in national and regional magazines including Golf Magazine and Fairways and Greens.

After a two-year stint on the County Grand Jury, Ken felt the need to begin his first novel.

Now, after a decade of struggle to learn the craft of writing, Ken has become the publishing world's latest overnight sensation.

MY THOUGHTS:

My initial feelings about this book were that I didn't really like it due to the bad language in the beginning of the book.  As I read on though, the language improved and the story line grew on me!  Imagine going to a concert, a concert of your idol then seeing him die right before your eyes.  Not only seeing him die, but having parts of him splattered on you.  That's just the beginning!

The characters in this story have some pretty colorful names, Pinky the attorney, Bear the investigator, and Ice the cop.  How the three of these men treat each other is funny in itself, but as they try to solve the murder of singer Brady Bradshaw they each have some of their own personal problems and antics. 

Will Pinky solve the mystery in time to receive his large bonus from Brady's widow or is going to fall prey to women along the way?  How about Bear, can he survive sharp tongued Flo and will he be able to continue getting large amounts of money from Pinky, or will Ice catch up to him and throw him in jail?


This book is full of twists and turns and will keep you on your toes!

**I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Tribute Books, I was not compensated in any other way for my honest review.