SHAKEDOWN BEACH (2004)
by Eric Dezenhall
Review by: Joshua Taj Bozeman
written on: August 1, 2004
A political pollster, an
interesting choice as the main character in a mystery
novel. A humorous pollster at that, dealing with
kidnappings, murder, and other sordid things that happen in the
underground of New Jersey.
In Eric Dezenhall's novel, Shakedown Beach, Jonah Eastman,
political pollster fallen from grace, is working for New Jersey
governor, and US Senate candidate, Gardner 'Rebound' Rothman, so
named because of his time spent with the Philadelphia 76's back
in the 70's and 80's. Rothman is a shrewd man who cares
very little about Jonah, but he's also a man who is having major
problems with scandals. Rumors abound that Rothman is
involved with an intern in one of his programs, and there are
other things taking place that suggest there might be more
secrets in his closet- serious ones like murder, maybe.
Eastman is a great character, tho I didn't think I would like him
so much- I mean, he's a pollster, what sort of hero in a novel is
a pollster? It worked really well for me tho, and as I read
reviews from Dezenhall's other two books, I kept reading that his
stories were laugh out loud funny. I didn't buy it, but I
did, indeed, find myself laughing out lout throughout the
book. Dezenhall is sharp with the wit, and he's created a
very likeable character with Eastman...
Eastman grew up with his grandparents, after his parents
died. His gradfather, Mickey was a gangster of
sorts...dealt with bad people who did bad things, and Jonah has
lived with the guilt of this for a long time. Jonah is no
angel himself, but nowhere near the type of man his grandfather
was. He is simply a man fallen from grace (due to a scandal
on the national level) who is working for a jerk who is running
for Senate- just doing what he can to make his paycheck, and try
to rebuild what is left of his career. He's married and has
a son and a daughter, and a friend named Irv- a man who was also
a ganster with his grandfather. He also has help in his
adventure from 'the dames', especially Chief Willie Thundercloud,
an aging wrestler, popular when wrestling was still a local
thing. The dames aren't angelic either- they know how to
get rid of bodies, they know how to break into places...very
useful to Eastman during his adventure, but not normally the type
of thing he would involve himself in really.
So, Jonah is trying to solve a possible murder, figure out who is
following him, and get the governor elected to the
senate. We meet some interesting characters along the way
and some interesting landmarks that dot New Jersey, from the
boardwalk in Atlantic City to the infamous pine barrens.
Dezenhall is a good write, and his story is somewhat complex,
coming together nicely in the end, leaving a possible out for yet
another book to follow.
Shakedown Beach, for me, was the type of book that was a breeze
to get thru. It was all relevant to the story, it didn't
drag on too long, and it was compelling to the very end.
The characters, along with the added humor, and the various
settings all add up to make one great read. Hopefully, this
won't be the last time we hear from Jonah Eastman.
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