The delta star (original 1983; edition 1983)

by Joseph Wambaugh

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413	3	61,670	(3.54)	1
Fiction. Mystery. HTML: A cheap hooker known as Missy Moonbeam takes a fatal dive from the roof of a seedy hotel, but what was she doing with a Caltech phone number? And what does that prestigious think tank have to do with a Russian sub, the Nobel Prize, and the prostitute's murder? The cops of LAPD's Rampart Division will have to find out. Publishers Weekly said of Wambaugh's book, "for all the raunchiness, color and humor, his story is very moving . . . another delight, a wonderful, winning book." .… (more)

▾Book information

Member:	rhedreen
Title:	The delta star
Authors:	Joseph Wambaugh
Info:	New York: W. Morrow, 1983.
Collections:	Your library
Rating:
Tags:	thriller, cold war, police

Work Information

The Delta Star by Joseph Wambaugh (1983)

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I really don't know how to describe this book...it started out seemingly trying to be the most crude and offensive book it could possibly be. Either that, or that was really how the LAPD was back when this book was written. It also started out as a mish mosh of characters and introductions and randomness, then, it feels like, the actual true plot of the book came through halfway to three quarters of the way through the book. But, luckily for me, I embrace the crude and enjoy it, so this book was an interesting trip through the wild and wacky world of Wambaugh for me. If you are easily offended, this one isn't for you, but if you enjoy it, this could be a definitely interesting one for you. (

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MrMet | Apr 28, 2023 |

The Delta Star is filled with quirky characters who spend the vast majority at a local watering hole getting drunk. In between they tackle several cases. This is not a gripping, can't put down thriller but it did keep my attention. (

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lewilliams | Apr 8, 2020 |

It's Joseph Wambaugh, cop lovers. That means it's either extremely good or tremendously great. Either way, it's worth a chunk of your change. Buy it.Dam (

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NathanielPoe | Feb 17, 2019 |

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New York Times bestseller (Fiction – 1983)

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Canonical title

The Delta Star

Original title

The Delta Star

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People/Characters

Important places

Los Angeles, California, USA

Important events

Related movies

Epigraph

Dedication

For Buddy and Nancy Moss

First words

In Oct 1981 a Soviet submarine ran aground in restricted Swedish waters near the navel base at Karlskrona.

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Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

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Blurbers

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Wikipedia in English (1)

Géza von Cziffra

▾Book descriptions

Fiction. Mystery. HTML:

A cheap hooker known as Missy Moonbeam takes a fatal dive from the roof of a seedy hotel, but what was she doing with a Caltech phone number? And what does that prestigious think tank have to do with a Russian sub, the Nobel Prize, and the prostitute's murder? The cops of LAPD's Rampart Division will have to find out. Publishers Weekly said of Wambaugh's book, "for all the raunchiness, color and humor, his story is very moving . . . another delight, a wonderful, winning book."

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Book description

A cheap hooker named Missy Moonbeam takes a fatal dive from the roof of a sleazy hotel. But what's a Caltech phone number doing in her trick book? And how does that connect to a dead private eye and a useless credit card? And what does all that have to do with a Whiskey-class Russian sub and the Nobel Prize?

The ravaged corps of Rampart Station as they follow a trail of corruption from the world of pimps and crazies to the think-tank labs of the country's top chemistry wizards - where genius and greed mix to create an award-winning case of murder.

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