James Conroy

When coyotes spread East and threaten the comfortable peace of a small Rhode Island community, the decision is made to hire a professional hunter. The hunt should be discrete, humane, and fast, but can killing ever really be that?
Micah Le Veck lives alone and likes it that way. He’s a retired writer of army manuals, now hiring himself out to write memoirs from diaries. More importantly, he’s the owner of a small piece of land on Aquidneck Island where the hunter might set up camp. And so show more begins a curious relationship—Micah hunting the past while Kodi hunts coyote; Micah revisiting the Civil War while Kodi’s war grows uncivil, Micah losing his grip on life while Kodi shows him how to find it.

Learning that death is a part of life rather than a threat to hope can be a slow process. It’s a process beautifully told in James Conroy’s novel. The scenery comes to life, rife with evocative detail. The coyote’s beauty and power are hauntingly real. Native American history blends with Civil War and modern peace. And the human place, in ancient spirituality, in nature, and in the nature of small-town politics is presented with delightful orchestration. Coincidence or spiritual plan—the coyote haunts this tale and draws the reader into lives and histories. Politics and guns invade. But a stone, a truth and a promise will prevail.

Coyote Hunter is a truly beautiful book, a hauntingly evocative story, and a vision that expands to encompass far more is told. It’s highly recommended.

Disclosure: I was given a preview copy by the publisher and I offer my honest review. show less

Writing a satirical mystery set in the 1930's with a Raymond Chandleresque tone populated with famous figures of time, many of them literary, is a high bar to set for yourself as a writer. Fortunately, this is a bar that James Conroy is able to reach reliably. Entertaining as a mystery, even more entertaining with major figures who may or may not have ever interacted (Carl Sandberg, Ernest Hemingway, Clarence Darrow) is a fun read. It's Chicago Depression Era setting is a huge bonus.

Conroy show more has written a historical mystery with plenty of laughs and many people to care about. This isn't a book with lots of language to distract, Conroy isn't writing for style, but rather for uncluttered story and for this book the choice really works. Well-imagined with characters to care about, many of them literary figures, this book has plenty to say about Chicago at the time and will make you want to learn more about everyone he includes. Good read! show less

Chicago, Chicago my kind of town.....but at the moment it definitely wasn't Amos Jansen's kind of town since he is being accused of murder simply because he found his boss, Dwight Eldon, dead at his desk. Amos' only saving grace was that Ernest Hemingway and Carl Sandburg, yes both of those famous authors, came to his rescue and got him out of the interrogation room and out of jail for now.

You will follow the story from present day back to the rioting that caused the death of Amos' father. show more You will love the characters especially Nelson who is an aspiring author and a real con man who has an answer for any dilemma. Nelson is Amos' best friend, and he even talks Ernest Hemingway into something not above board and gets them both into trouble. Underneath all of this, though, is police corruption and other individuals who are covering up the murder of Amos' father and Dwight Eldon while trying to pin it on an innocent person.

I really enjoyed the book because of the time period, because of the numerous famous authors brought in as characters, and because it made me laugh out loud at some of the antics. It is funny and serious at the same time, and is a great inside look at what life was like in Chicago for law-abiding and non-law-abiding citizens in the 1930's during the depression.

LITERALLY DEAD is a wonderful history lesson with many names you will definitely want to look up to find out what part they played in America's history of unions and civil liberties. Murder mixed with laughter make this book an historical page turner. If you want to laugh and truly enjoy a book's characters, you will want to read this book. 5/5 show less

Literally Dead by James Conroy is a highly entertaining historical fiction that takes real historical figures and puts them in the middle of a fictional story. The result is a fun story that’s full of great characters, mystery, action, and suspense.

Amos Jansen works as the secretary for the Chicago literary society. It’s not a high paying job, but it is a job, and during the Great Depression that was a big deal. He and his wife Anna are getting by and he hasn’t had to resort to working show more at his father-in-law’s company stuffing sausages. The literary society hired none other than Ernest Hemingway to come and do a reading, and as secretary for the society, it’s up to Amos to take care of Mr Hemingway’s needs and make sure the event goes off without a hitch. But, when Amos’ boss turns up dead, Amos has his whole word turned upside down. With the help of some new friends he needs to find out what really happened, if they can all stay out of trouble, and stay alive long enough to do it.

I very highly recommend this book! The writing is excellent, with a story that hooks you and keeps you glued to the pages. Then the author adds in this marvelous cast of characters that add so much more to the story. I truly love the way the author takes real historical figures such as Ernest Hemingway, Carl Sandburg, Clarence Darrow, and several more, and puts them in the middle of this fictional story. There’s some great historical detail blended in with fiction to create a highly entertaining story. I was hooked from the very beginning and could not put it down. The story is fast-paced with lots of mystery and suspense to keep you turning the pages, and there are some good twists and surprises. If you enjoy historicals and mysteries, I think you’ll love this one. show less