Aaron Gunner is a streetwise private eye working out of an office in Mickey Moore's Barber Shop in Los Angeles. He's already working for Connie Everson who wants him to find out who her City Councilman husband is having an affair with--she already knows about his white woman, but fears she has a black rival. Now, he's also hired to find Yolanda McCreary's brother, Elroy Covington. Elroy never returned home from the Million Man March. When last seen, he was in LA at the Stage Door Hotel and he had Gunner's card in his room.

Looking for Elroy leads Gunner to Barber Jack Frerotte, a notorious razor blade wielding psychopath and then to the Defenders of the Bloodline, who are dedicated to ridding the African-American community of "Uncle Toms".

As always, Haywood is stronger on setting, character & dialogue than on the actual mechanics of the mystery. While he doesn't measure up to James Sallis or Walter Mosely, it's still a fun series.

GRADE: C

Gar Anthony Haywood has done it again. As usual, he has two plots going at once and the reader has to figure out "who done it" for both of them. He doesn't have predictable endings.

This was my first Aaron Gunner story, and it won't be my last. This book had the the P.I. tackling two mysteries at the same time. Looking for a disreputable writer missing for over 9 months and tailing a congressman in search of his indiscretions had Gunner at his wit's end, but each plot had it's own twists and turns, and there was no way to guess each ending. Believe me, I tried! It is so hard sometimes to settle down with a good mystery, because in order for the story to work, the detective must be familiar and accessable to the reader. With this P.I., it was no problem. If you are a fan of Walter Mosley's Easy Rollins or Valerie Wilson Wesley's Tamara Hayle, then this guy is for you. Good Work, Mr. Haywood!

While there is a lot of information here on the gansta rap scene and its denizens, and while Mr. Haywood has considerable talent, there's a certain flatness to this book that leaves the reader feeling rather empty. The investigation of rapper C.E. Digga Jones's suicide by Haywood's series detective, Aaron Gunner, introduces us to some interesting, very well-developed characters. But the resolution of this story just doesn't have the chilling effect it should, perhaps because of Gunner's somewhat cool, distanced position on what he ultimately learns about the death. The writing is clean and crisp, but Gunner's understated emotions deprive the ending of its punch.

This was a very good book. The author takes subject matter pulled from recent headlines and gives it a new twist. Aaron Gunner is a welcome mix of brains and brawn but flawed and vulnerable enough to be human.

Gangsta-rap superstar C.E. Digga Jones seems to have everything. His career appears at its apex and yet he seems to be rising even further into a mega-superstar. He is extremely wealthy and his personal life appears even more prosperous than his career. Yet at the pinnacle of personal and professional success, C.E. Digga commits suicide. Only the father of the popular rapper thinks someone murdered his son. He hires LA detectivre Aaron Gunner to elarn the truth.

As Aaron digs into the Digga case, he rejects serving as a bodyguard to Sparkle Johnson. Though he could use the cash, Aaron has ethics and the noted radio talk show host is hated by just about everyone, including the private sleuth. Sparkle rejects Aaron too until a car bomb makes both reconsider their mutual animosity. As he struggles to keep Sparkle safe, Aaron learns that Digga had several enemies and loved ones benefiting from the superstar's death. He begins to agree with his client that someone killed the rapper, which takes Aaron into the ugliest streets of Los Angeles in an effort to obtain the truth.

The sixth Aaron Gunner tale contains the elements that have made this an award winning series. Yet, author Gar Anthony Haywood imbues a freshness into the story line that makes ALL THE LUCKY ONES ARE DEAD feels like a debut tale. The dual story lines are both interesting though separate plots. The links are the mean streets of LA and Aaron. Mr. Haywood makes the novel work as his African-American detective brings the city to life in a way rarely seen in a novel including those well written previous tales starring Gunner.

Harriet Klausner

What a delightful addition to the series. Wish there were more.

You know when you're playing a video game and you have to pause it to go do something, and you cannot even wait to return to the game well that's how this book is. It's hard to stop reading it and when you do you can hardly wait to be swept back into the book. I am not one to read books often, but I haven't appreciated a book more or read one as fast.
This book in narrated by a retired woman by the name of Dottie. Dottie has several children who are all trouble makers and cause lots of stress. Dottie has a great sense of humor along with a big heart with lots of love for all her kids even though they are hellions. She is married to an equally aged man named Joe. Joe is still young at heart but his body doesn't keep up anymore. They are both energetic and they travel the country in an Airstream camper. Joe's camper is his pride and joy and he even named her Lucille, and he feels that it is a crime to do harm to one or call it a Winnebago or along those lines. Together they have agreed to avoid all of their children (except one, their daughter Maureen) for as long as possible.
This story takes place in Washington D.C. where the couple were visiting because it was one of their life goals. But when they arrived their son Eddie some how found out about their arrival and invited them over to his place for dinner and to meet all of his friends. They were rudely interrupted by an old friend of theirs who they did not care for very much, Eddie and him exchanged some harsh words and then he left. A day later Joe and Dottie were notified that their son was being held in jail and being charged for the death of his old friend.
This book is a mystery book, and it definitely has you on your toes. Throughout the book you find yourself stopped from reading and trying to solve the case in your head. I definitely liked all of the twists and turns in the book. But when you start reading the book you feel completely lost, I found out later that this was due to the fact that the book is a sequel and they expect that you have read the first book. The characters were very real and easy to relate to, I mean Dottie kind of reminds me of my grandma because she's the caring one but there is never a dull moment when you are around her. As for Joe, his character fits my grandpa extremely well; stubborn, assertive, and always thinks he is younger than he is.
The book seemed to have quite a boring start to it, and took a while to get the story rolling so that you became interested. That would have normally caused me to find another book but instead I just kept on reading and now I am glad that I finished it.

Delightfully humurous and entertaining while also being a good mystery. Follows after Going Nowhere FAst an equally good book.

Based on the reviews, I expected to read an excitement filled, humorous novel. The humor was there -- to some degree, but the excitement wasn't. It was a decent read, but it's not one I could pick up again.

It was heartwarming to read about a middle class African American family who encountered the same or similar problems of our blue-eyed brothers and sisters. I WANT TO READ MORE OF THE LOUDERMILKS...WHEN IS THE NEXT ADVENTURE....IT HAS BEEN TOOO LONG..

GOING NOWHERE FAST takes time to introduce Joe and Dottie Loudermilk in their souped-up winebago, traveling here and there, and ending up at a pit stop with two unwanted passengers...baby son(aptly nicknamed), Bad Dog, and a dead white man in there mobile bathroom. The Loudermilks related to each other as if we had known them all along, and the totally manic/off-center Dog will remind you of that one member of your family that acts as if needs Pat Sajak to buy a clue, when all along, he knows more than he's willing to admit. Characterization hits high notes, and the mystery, while simple enough to follow, will take you along until bad guys have been caught and you want to see them in print again.

Gar Anthony Haywood's It's Not a Pretty Sight is a gritty story that takes place on the streets of South Central Los Angeles. They are, indeed, not a pretty sight. In addition to the mystery, Haywood portrays the tragedy of life, sometimes the hopelessness and certainly the pain. But he also reveals the good that can survive amidst evil and death and pain, the roses that grow among the most robust of weeds. Aaron Gunner, p.i., seeker after the truth, learns that Nina Hillman has been killed and the police are looking for her estranged husband, Michael Pearson. Gunner's reaction is dictated by the past. He has never been able to forget an abused woman he chose not to help who was found dead the next day, killed by her abuser. Gunner blamed himself for her death. Also ten years ago, Gunner had been planning to marry Nina, but broke it off just three months before the wedding. Again he blames himself a little for her death. So he determines that he will avenge her death and, when Michael Pearson attacks him, he fires back and gravely wounds him. But Pearson insists that he did not kill Nina and gives Gunner his alibi. Gunner, alone of everyone who knew Nina, began to doubt Pearson's guilt. So he initiated a one-man crusade to discover who was guilty. On his quest he learns about abuse, why men hit on women and why women often do not leave these men. He also discovers relationships which sometimes fester and turn sour. One by one all the people who had reason to hate Nina are exposed and then cleared. The loner continues to search for justice and truth until he finds them. Gunner is a complex and somewhat enigmatic man who does seem to be first cousin to Shane and all the other cowboys who rode into town at high noon. The bit players are well developed and memorable as well. The setting is authentic, from the barber shop where Gunner has his "office" to the bar where he drinks when he is depressed. The only quarrel I had with this book was the solution to the murder; I felt Haywood reached a bit to select the murderer. However, I did not catch the clues that he had dropped so lightly and so delicately. I went back and looked; they were all there. If you enjoy tough p.i.'s and mean streets and straight-forward stories, this is a book you will savor. I found the character of Gunner redeeming and ethical, a man who supersedes his environment and typifies all the virtues and vices by which the human animal survives

A writer with a different perspective falls into the same old plot devices. Too many cops willing to divulge information at the drop of a hat, a detective too willing to forgive a half naked woman who has just emptied a gun at him. Although witty,a story that carries little mystery or suspense, and too few believable situations.

I waited a long time for the paperback edition of the novel to reach the bookstore and Gar Anthony Haywood's Aaron Gunner series are definitely still at the top of my list. I enjoyed this story of Aaron Gunner trying to solve the mystery of a rap star who "supposedly" committed suicide. Did rapper Digga Jones, an up and coming rap star, who had everything going for him, fame and fortune commit suicide or did one of his fellow rappers, his manager or his record label executives do the deed? All these questions are answered and when you find out the truth, you may be surprised. Check out this novel as Mr. Haywood is definitely the real deal.

This is the first Aaron Gunner mystery I've read, but I will read the others! This intricate mystery involving several different cases is wrapped up in far fewer pages than the norm these days, and it was appreciated by this reader! Excellent plotting, spare writing: I recommend it highly!