Lover Man (Artie Deemer Book 1)

The widely acclaimed, Edgar Award finalist hailed by Publisher’s Weekly as one of the best novels of the year.

Artie Deemer lives off his dog Jellyroll, the most famous canine in the country, star of movies, TV, and dog-food advertising. Artie hangs around the apartment, smoking a little pot, listening to jazz, trying to keep the world away. But then his ex-lover, Billie Burke, is murdered and he receives a note from her: “I’m dead, darling. Get out of your chair and look in the ice tray.” And so begins the wild, unpredictable ride. Artie becomes a reluctant sleuth, dodging hoods, blackmailers, killers, and crazy combat pilots as he struggles to uncover Billie’s murderer—without joining her in the morgue.

“Lover Man is a first novel of unusual skill with amazing characters... the writing is flip and sophisticated." New York Times

"Lover Man is a bouncy, quirky, funny mystery with racy dialog. The story line makes more twists and turns than a New York cabdriver running up the meter." Washington Post

“Artie Deemer is a true original – the frantic, antic humor carries along the characterization and narration like twin, runaway trains.” Chicago Sun-Times