The Long Way Out - (Franky Dast Mystery) by Michael Wiley (Hardcover)

About the Book

A desperate Mexican family turn to Franky Dast, rather than trust the authorities, to help them track down their daughter's murderer. Franky is an unlikely hero, but his past makes him compelled to help even if it puts him in danger! Can Franky stop this vicious killer and escape his own personal hell before it's too late?

Book Synopsis

Franky Dast is an unlikely hero.

Wrongly convicted and later exonerated of killing two boys, Franky went on to uncover the real murderer. Now a 'free man' but living on the edges of society, for some he will always be tainted by his dark past.

That's why a desperate Mexican family turn to him, rather than trust the authorities, to help them track down their teenage daughter's murderer. He is compelled to help but comes up against the detectives who wrongly put him away, and people who are determined to blame the dead girl.

When another body shows up and he is personally threatened, Franky doubles-down on his investigation. Can Franky stop this vicious killer and find his own way out of his personal hell before it's too late?

Review Quotes

A fine detective story-- "Library Journal"

Gripping . . . Wiley carefully balances story developments with his exploration of the psyche of a lead committed to justice despite being denied it-- "Publishers Weekly"

A searing portrait -- "Kirkus Reviews"

Engrossing . . . Readers will want to see more of the complex Dast-- "Publishers Weekly on Monument Road"

Like your noir pitch-black? So does Wiley-- "Kirkus Reviews on Monument Road"

Outstanding . The whodunit plotline is enhanced by Wiley's superior gift at integrating humor, mostly deriving from Kelson's inability to keep himself from sharing blunt truths. The author's ingenuity shows no sign of diminishing. Fans of the TV series Monk will be enthralled-- "Publishers Weekly Starred Review of Head Case"

The setup is red meat to crime-story lovers . . . The case is resolved in a stunning climax that will leave readers paging back to take in those magical lines one more time-- "Booklist on Head Case"

About the Author

Michael Wiley was brought up in Chicago, and now teaches creative writing and literature at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. As well as the Franky Dast thrillers, he is the Shamus Award-winning author of the Chicago-based Joe Kozmarski PI series, the Daniel Turner thrillers, and the Sam Kelson mysteries. His first Franky Dast thriller, Monument Road, was nominated for the 2018 Shamus Best PI Novel Award and the Sam Kelson mystery, Head Case, was nominated for the same award in 2022.