Dev Haskell Boxset 1-7 (Dev Haskell Mystery, #1-7) by Mike Faricy

Dev Haskell Boxset 1-7 (Dev Haskell Mystery, #1-7) Reviews

• 
  Kendra Morgan

  Unlucky or a complete idiot? By the third book in this set, this was the question I was asking. By the seventh, I had my answer: Dev Haskell a bit unlucky, but started out as a complete idiot. He eventually does learn from his past, though. I'm curious to see how much he learns. I will probably be reading the rest of the series because even though Dev is a complete idiot, he's a sweet idiot.
• 
  Madelon

  Book 1: RUSSIAN ROULETTE
  Remember Donny and Marie? "I'm a little bit country… I'm a little bit rock 'n' roll…?" Devlin Haskell, PI, is a little bit 30s noir detective and a little bit 21st century screwup. Modern noir sometimes uses throwback technology to set the scene. Mike Faricy gives Dev Haskell all the modern gadgets, but sets the mood with sharp language.
  
  RUSSIAN ROULETTE is a well written mystery/thriller that includes the private eye and his cop buddy, interfering Feds, booze, and women. Yes, let us not forget the women.
  
  I'm not one to give away the farm while reviewing. If you want that, read the blurb. Faricy sets the stage for the books to come without actually giving away too much about Devlin. It is suggested in the blurb that followers of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series will enjoy this book. Ms. Plum has several traits that follow her through the books. I am reserving judgement on this until I have read more books in this series because the one thing that stands out about Stephanie (in my mind anyway) does happen to Dev.
  
  I confess to having put off reading this series (17 books and counting) for far too long. My excuse? So many books, so little time! I see this first book in the series as the start of an ongoing, beautiful relationship.
  
  Book 2: MR SWIRLEE
  I grew up in the Bronx. We had Mr. Softee trucks, complete with annoying chimes. I guess in the St. Paul half of the twin cities they have Mr Swirlee driving parents nuts. Ice cream trucks seem innocent enough, but with the wrong owners there is apparently no end to their nefarious uses.
  
  MR SWIRLEE is the second book in the Dev Haskell, Private Investigator series, and it is jamb packed with all the things you need for a page-turner.
  
  Devlin Haskell is just trying to make it through life doing as little actual work as possible while making enough money to keep body and soul together. Somehow, trouble seems to find him no matter how hard he tries to avoid it. In the first book, we met his cop buddy, Aaron LaZelle, and his friend with benefits Heidi Bauer both of whom appear again in MR SWIRLEE. And now we meet Dog, known only to his mother as Anthony Colli.
  
  MR SWIRLEE is filled with a lot of not-so-legal shenanigans alongside some really nasty criminal behavior. As you turn the pages, you'll find this book hard to put down until the final bell on the ice cream truck tolls.
  
  Book 3 - BITE ME
  The titles in this series have a connection to a running theme in the book; you might say they're a running gag. BITE ME fits this one to a T. As in the first couple of books, Dev finds himself in trouble, only in BITE ME trouble doesn't begin to describe it.
  
  Devlin Haskell drinks… a lot! Yet, he doesn't seem to be an alcoholic. His ability to turn down a drink, even go cold turkey for a period of time is remarkable. (Don't think of this as a spoiler, but as an observation.)
  
  It takes a skilled writer to create havoc around the central theme of a guy who thinks about only three things… babes, booze and, well, the third one varies, but usually ends up being bodies… yet keep it interesting and new book after book. Mike Faricy does just that. Last time I checked, there are now 17 books in this series, and I plan on reading them all.
  
  Book 4 - BOMBSHELL
  It's been three years since I've dipped my toe in the Devlin Haskell universe. There are currently 25+ books in this series, and I found it easy to slip back into the 21st century tech noir that are so much a part of the appeal. It has been suggested that fans of Stephanie Plum will enjoy these books… I concur.
  
  The recurring theme in the life of Dev Haskell is 'wrong time, wrong place.' He is a private investigator with a fondness for beer and women… lots of women. Heidi Bauer seems to be his go to squeeze when all else fails. Detective Manning and Haskell seem to have a double-sided relationship where Manning alternately arrests Dev and asks for his help. Let's not forget his disheveled lawyer Louie Laufen.
  
  In BOMBSHELL, our hero gets picked up in a noisy bar by a sassy girl and winds up as security for an upcoming roller derby match between the Bombshells the local St. Paul team, and the Hasting Hustlers imported from the UK. As always, the big question is 'what could go wrong' watching over a bevy of gorgeous derby girls? The answer is, of course, everything!
  
  Mike Faricy is very good at describing the characters throughout the book… everyone except Devlin Haskell. He leaves the looks of the lothario PI to your imagination. His success with women, albeit usually short lived, seems to indicate he is far from being a toad, yet we know nothing about his height, weight, hair or eye color. An interesting portrayal to be sure.
  
  BOMBSHELL, like the first three books in the series, is a very fast read. The action keeps you turning the pages, and the mayhem that is the life of Devlin Haskell will make you shake your head and laugh aloud.
  
  Book 5 - TUTTI FRUTTI
  
  I really enjoy reading books that I don't have to take too seriously during these times of upheaval. A body can take just so much politics without having a total meltdown. Devlin Haskell, 'call me Dev,' manages to combine beer, babes and bad luck in very clever ways thanks to the skill of author Mike Faricy in convoluting any and all situations.
  
  TUTTI FRUTTI is the fifth book in the Dev Haskell series; take note… the title does not refer to a flavor of ice cream. It is a club that caters to a clientele with very specific tastes… again, not ice cream. Once more, Dev finds himself in the wrong place at the right time to land in hot water with the police.
  
  Dev's client in this outing is Swindle Lawless… female, blonde, curvy (of course!). The way she becomes his client is nothing but unorthodox. And our feckless womanizer thinks he's in love with an older woman with the unlikely name of Candi Slaughter. I'm starting to notice a pattern in the names in this series and that pattern spells satire. If you read mysteries, you know that there is generally no fat in the telling. Every detail is a clue. Sometimes that clue is a red herring; more often than not, it is worth considering. That makes every name, of every character (particular to the book) a very clever ploy on the part of Mike Faricy. Remember the names that make you laugh!
  
  Book 6 - Last Shot
  
  LAST SHOT gives us more insight into just who Devlin Haskell really is. Yes, he still cracks wise, but he also reflects inward which gives his character more depth. I've thought of Dev mostly as a kind of goofball until now. There is a kind of quiet strength and more integrity in him than you might think.
  
  Desi Quinn is a woman wronged. She is not just down on her luck, she can't get Dev to dig into why she was wronged. This is strange because she is an attractive, intelligent woman… and (if you've been reading the series) you know just how Dev feels about attractive women. She is the almost client, then she is dead. Some of the last words she spoke to him were "You were sort of my last shot. I don’t know, but I just have a feeling.” These words will haunt him throughout the book.
  
  In some respects, the books in this series border on noir without actually crossing that line; LAST SHOT puts a couple of toes in that direction. The Spot is not the bar in Casablanca, and Heidi Bauer is far from the tragic heroine. The usual suspects - Detective Norris Manning, Lt. Aaron LaZelle, and Louie Laufen - are all there in their usual roles that roots the story in 21st century reality. So far, and I have a lot of books left to read, LAST SHOT is my favorite.
  
  Book 7 - Ting-A-Ling
  
  Dev Haskell made the mistake of answering a 2 AM phone call; his life went downhill from there. The sexy voiced caller was one Danielle Roxbury the heiress-princess-trust fund-baby. Dev, of course, couldn't resist. She has apparently loaned $50,000, in cash, to lowlife con man Renee Paris, and she wants Dev to send the message she wants her money back. Dev suggests she get a good lawyer.
  
  Now that I'm seven books into the series, I realized that I don't know much about Devlin Haskell. Mike Faricy does a great job of describing all the regulars, and the cast of characters introduced in each book, but he doesn't tell us much about Dev. In the last book, LAST SHOT, there is mention that Dev is an Iraq War vet, and all along, I've assumed he must be easy on the eye because women seem to be drawn to him (at least at first). The only thing, I know about him after reading this book is that he has dark hair, combed back. The emphasis on Devlin Haskell has always been his ability to be at the wrong place, at the right time, to find himself in hot water. He is also charming enough, and smart enough to get himself out of these jams pretty much unscathed.
  
  We also learn about a childhood friend of Dev's, Jimmy White who Dev recalls taking the blame for a broken window for him.
  
  The skill of a mystery writer is showcased by how well they pull all the threads in a plotline together. I find that Mike Faricy is a very good thread puller. No matter how far from the central story something may seem, it will matter in the end. However, there is a teeny, tiny thread… no, maybe just a trace of lint… that remains a mystery here… What would that be?! Ahh, that would be telling.
• 
  Musings of a Middle-aged Mum

  I read this book on holiday last week. Actually, that's not strictly true. I read most of this book before I went on holiday. On holiday, however, I did finish the book, and continue to read books 2-14 in the series!
  
  These books centre around Dev Haskell, a PI who I guess to be late 30s/40s (it may have said, I can't remember, but that's how I imagine him). He's a bit of a ladies man to say the least, but not successful in love at all. He shares his office with his lawyer, Louis, and together they spend much of their time in the pub opposite. That said, he does keep getting employed for short-term contracts, which inevitably end up not being as easy as expected and he sometimes ends up on the wrong side of the law. Whilst there are adult themes and violence, this isn't actually heavy or gruesome, but very enjoyable and funny in places.
  
  The books are a very easy read, perfect for when relaxing by the pool, and were gripping and interesting enough for me to keep wanting more. If you want a serious(ish) insight into the life of a PI, these books are probably not for you, but if you want an enjoyable romp, then get yourself a copy. As I said, I did read books 1-14 in less than a week, and thoroughly enjoyed them; I have put the next books (15 onwards) on my wishlist so that when I do start buying books again, I can continue to read about Dev's escapades. What I particularly liked is that some characters keep making an appearance, not only FWB Heidi or Detective Manning, but Swindle Lawless, Donna and Luscious, bit-parts who play key roles in helping (and hindering) Dev as he endeavours to solve crimes without ending up in jail himself.
• 
  Kelly

  P.I. dev Haskell is Great.. I can't get enough.!!
  
  When I can't put a book down (in my case, the Kindle), it means the story was fantastic. I love this genre and this was a thrilling story...
  Private Dective Devlin Dev, Haskell can't keep it in his pants , but he always solves the case , eventually and with classic style... Love him or hate him he is outrageous with Laugh out loud situations and lots of enjoyment... !!
  I love this series..
• 
  lesley hernandez

  this series was very long i wouldnt read such a long series. It did have its moments Dev poor him i felt bad for him with each book. He is just trying to do his job and of course there is always gotta be problems following after him. All the ladies get him in and out of trouble but that the least of his problems cause authority does not like him as well.
• 
  Monica

  I love this series. It's fun and funny with occasional seriousness. My only complaint is that I wish Dev could have more depth to his character more often. I'm on book 19 and he's still acting like he's in his 20s. But, with that said, he's a lovable character and I thoroughly enjoy all his adventures.
• 
  CA Portnellus

  Can crime be fun? Dev Haskell says 👍
  
  Another set of crazy PI tales by Faricy. Dev gets into trouble every time, finds the wrong women to fall into bed with and blunders into crime filled shark infested waters . Every good turn he finds himself in a bad way, suspect in more crimes as he tries to figure out 'who done it' and barely escapes each time. Amusing, sometimes crass but a fun adventure in crime ridden Minneapolis. I wanna know what happened to all the wholesome Christian folks, at every turn everyone is a criminal! Yikes!
• 
  Rob Whinnery

  First timer
  
  I read the first seven books in the box set. It is always interesting to experience a new author's series. I was entertained, mostly because I lived in St.Paul and still hang out there a bit. The first five were slow moving and a little too cute. Six and seven the author kind of hits his stride. I met Mike a couple times, know a bunch of his high school friends. Not sure I'll become a fan, but I was curious. Not Vince Flynn, but not completely awful either.
• 
  Chuck

  All the same
  
  Drink, get entangled with a female, get entangled with the police, get bailed out of jail by the ever present Heidi, wreck a car or two, etc. I'm surprised that books about a womanizing misogynist are being written nowadays. Thankfully these were all free, so all that was wasted is time. I am going to read one more book from the end of the series to see if the plot, characters, drinking, womanizing, are still the basis of Dev's stories.
• 
  Aparna J

  Brilliant
  
  I enjoyed reading the series. All the stories had humor and great thrill. Dev's character was simply superb. I loved the way he gets into trouble with law while he is investigating cases for his clients but successfully clears his name. His camaraderie with Heidi is amazing and so is his friendship with Louie, his lawyer.
• 
  Steve Goulding

  Really Really poor
  
  Terrible, so many things wrong, I.e. lack of continuity, one minute hero is driving a big burgundy car with a blue door, then he gets rid of it via Walter, in the very next book he is back driving the same car.
  Just one of too many examples.
  Lack of character development, poor plots, is a complete waste of time, no real redeeming features.
• 
  Jennie Ersari

  Funny and thrilling!
  
  Dev Haskell is my new favorite private eye. He's tough and funny and deep down, has a big heart. I really enjoyed reading this series of books and look forward to reading more.
• 
  Angela Verdenius

  Took a bit reading all these volumes, but I did it! LOL Entertaining, though I have to say this man asks for all the trouble he gets! He lets his eyes wander way too much, seeming to like the ladies who are bad for him ;-)
• 
  Barb VanderWel

  I love the book.
  I will be leaving review on Goodreads & Amazon.
  I want to read more.
  I give it a 5 Stars.
• 
  v.geniebrown

  All were good
  
  Good reading , interesting twists and turns, somewhat racey, vulgar language, but overall quite interesting. I give them five stars