Ward James is a brilliant young journalist in Miami, who investigates the killing of a sheriff and finds himself believing the innocence of the man about to be executed for the crime. Narrated by Ward's brother, the novel explores the havoc caused by Ward's opinions.
The Paperboy
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By Eileen Shaw
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
Dexter's books are noir at its most bleak, unforgiving, humane and disturbing. At his best, he uncovers a side of American life that is unsung, uncelebrated and perhaps best undiscovered, at least in real life. The deep south has always been an area of darkness - with its slave plantations, its human rights record and the Florida hinterlands where kids don't go to school much, even if they want to. The poor white trash get raw deals as a matter of course and never, it seems to the observer, manage to make the best of things.
In this novel two brothers, the sons of a small county newspaper proprietor, make their way towards truth in the case of a murder. They work for a large paper in Miami and are joined by a woman determined to save a man on death row. Ward, the elder brother, is a respected reporter but has made his name in an investigation case with another reporter as his partner. The younger brother, the novel's narrator, is drafted in as a driver and gofer.
Dexter's strength is in character. Ward is taciturn, obsessive, dysfunctional on a social level, but honest and moral. His partner is altogether more mercurial, a ladies' man, a dissimulator, but a writer at least. Their investigations into the background of the case against poor white boy, Hillary van Wetter, seem unpromising at first, but there are contra-indications and puzzling lapses in police procedure.
The writing is undemonstrative, like the brothers, but astonishingly powerful as high drama unfolds. There are no wasted words and it is compulsive reading. This is a haunting, violent, and deeply disturbing novel.
In this novel two brothers, the sons of a small county newspaper proprietor, make their way towards truth in the case of a murder. They work for a large paper in Miami and are joined by a woman determined to save a man on death row. Ward, the elder brother, is a respected reporter but has made his name in an investigation case with another reporter as his partner. The younger brother, the novel's narrator, is drafted in as a driver and gofer.
Dexter's strength is in character. Ward is taciturn, obsessive, dysfunctional on a social level, but honest and moral. His partner is altogether more mercurial, a ladies' man, a dissimulator, but a writer at least. Their investigations into the background of the case against poor white boy, Hillary van Wetter, seem unpromising at first, but there are contra-indications and puzzling lapses in police procedure.
The writing is undemonstrative, like the brothers, but astonishingly powerful as high drama unfolds. There are no wasted words and it is compulsive reading. This is a haunting, violent, and deeply disturbing novel.
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Telling a dark story about investigative reporting and the people involved in it, Pete Dexter sets his story in 1965 - 1969, in Moat County, Florida. Jack James, the narrator, is a college dropout who works as a driver and general gofer for his idealistic brother Ward, a reporter for the Miami Times, and his writing partner, Yardley Acheman, an attention-seeking dandy. The two writers are investigating the possibility that Hillary Van Wetter, convicted of the murder of the sheriff in the town where Ward grew up, may have had an alibi--along with an incompetent attorney. Charlotte Bless, an attractive woman who has a fetish for death row inmates like Hillary, aids them by providing mountains of files she has collected about the murder.
As Ward and Yardley investigate, Dexter explores the newspaper business. Questions they raise about Van Wetter's legal counsel, a famous good-ol'-boy attorney, affect the reputation and popularity of Ward James's father, owner of the local newspaper, sending his ad revenues plummeting. When Ward is physically unable to continue working on the story, Acheman and an editor from Miami rush the story into print and the second phase of the novel begins.
Ward James and Yardley Acheman, represent the drive of reporters to succeed and their tendency to identify personally with their stories. The aftereffects of the reporters' investigation into the Van Wetter case, which constitute phase two, grow exponentially, further affecting the reporters, Ward James's father, Charlotte Bless, and, obviously Hillary Van Wetter, as the national media become involved. Along the way, Dexter raises ethical questions, not just about the ethics of reporting, but about the ability of the press to control outcomes and public perceptions. Ultimately, he raises the issue of whether justice is served when the egos of reporters and the desire to sell newspapers cause the media to lose their sense of perspective and cloud their judgment about what is right.
Dexter, an outstanding writer of (sometimes earthy) dialogue is brilliant in his selection of revealing details, especially the mannerisms of his sometimes odd characters--how they move, speak, and respond to direct questions. Ultimately, most of them face ironic destinies. While this novel may not have the intense thematic focus of Paris Trout, which won the National Book Award in 1988, it raises important issues regarding the press, and in the process tells an exciting story about the search for justice. Mary Whipple
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Film might be better, I think.
Although the story sounded quite interesting I found that the characters were unlikeable which put me off. Read more
Published 2 days ago by J. Harwood
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good read
Got into the story straight away and even though there was not a lot of plot lines etc found it a good read
Published 6 days ago by Miss Stella A Curran
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Paperboy
I saw the film before reading this book and normally I would do this the other way around. Nevertheless it was an enjoyable read and to be recommended.
Published 8 days ago by Mrs. Elizabeth McCreath
5.0 out of 5 stars
Page turner
Easy book club read.Everyone seemed to enjoy the book . Look forward to seeing the film.Great story.Interesting characters with an unsurprising end.
Published 8 days ago by Carol Phillis
3.0 out of 5 stars
I stuck with it
I thought this story started quite well, but I had to make an effort to finish it. OK if you have nothing much to do.
Published 11 days ago by para3drop
3.0 out of 5 stars
It's fairly okay
A strange tale indeed. I'm not sure if I liked any of the characters but I kept on reading - I wondered where the story would go and how it would end. Read more
Published 12 days ago by Joyce
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent read
Excellent read and can't wait for the film to come out. Although didn't know about the film until i'd started reading
Published 23 days ago by Mr M C Ronan
1.0 out of 5 stars
whatever!
A whole lot to do about nothing. Can i have my 99p and the time i spent reading it back please?
Published 1 month ago by Alias Nom-de-plume
4.0 out of 5 stars
A superbly written story
I heard a review of the film of this book on the radio and thought it sounded interesting, and then saw the Kindle edition as a deal of the day. I'm so glad I took the chance. Read more
Published 1 month ago by YeahYeahNoh
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Paperboy
This story was intriguing and quite gripping in places. Overall a believable tale with family relationships at the centre of it all.
Published 1 month ago by petedb
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