Dying for the Highlife: A Hard-Boiled Crime Novel: Dan Reno Private Detective Noir Mystery Series (Dan Reno Novel Series Book 2)

I enjoyed Stateline so much (despite the violence and foul language) that I immediately bought the sequel, Dying for the Highlife. Dan Reno is a believable character. He has his flaws, drinking to much is one of them. In this book, a drunken looser Jimmy wins a fortune in the lottery, and Dan is hired by the step mother to locate her now-rich step son to try and to weezle some money out of him. Jimmy's father, and step-brother are also looking for him for the same reason. Ditto a small time drug dealer who wants to collect the $2000 Jimmy stole from him. The drug dealer enlists the help of the Mexican Mafia to locate Jimmy. All are trying to track down this waste of a man who insists on spending his millions on coke and whores. All hell breaks loose and people die, but Dan Reno lives to sleuth again. By the way, when I finished this book, I bought the next 3. Dying for the Highlife is a good book, not great in my opinion due to the excessive violence and language, but I enjoyed it none the less.

I don't know that I loved it but I liked it a lot. Very well-written, for starters. That's a big plus for me as I am sick to death of the wholesale corruption of the English language. Only a couple of typos in this one and one other thing that I find totally mystifying--the baffling disappearance of the word "wasn't" from said language. I am starting to grind my teeth at the wholesale use of "weren't" where it sounds stilted and awkward and, also, is incorrect. But I digress--so I can digress again on the subject of noir fiction, of which I think this book is a prime example, unlike the last half-dozen books I've read that billed themselves as noir and didn't even come close. This one didn't but is. Moving right along (however slowly) I liked the Elmore Leonard-style plot and the disturbing "realness" despite being a basically standard PI offering. I was surprised so many women like it, even though I did. Due to the very graphic mostly gratuitous violence and sex, I thought maybe it was more "dick-lit". I don't particularly mind the violence but the degrading sex is a little icky. Womanizing goes with the territory in PI novels but some of it was a tad TMI for me. Nevertheless I will read his other books if the opportunity arises (read they're free).

Dave Stanton does a really good job with his follow up Dan Reno crime novel. This book was full of great characters, fast-paced, and a thrill by the page story. I really enjoyed how the book shows each situation from the viewpoint of the various characters and keeps Reno in the middle of everything. I’m looking forward to reading the next Reno story in the series. I would highly recommend the Dave Stanton crime novels.

Stateline was my last Dave Stanton novel. I loved the winter setting of this Dan Reno story, but in Dying For The Highlife, things hot up as private eye Reno ('as in no problemo') hooks up again with his buddy Cody Gibbons. This time, Dan's South Lake Tahoe PI business is on its knees until the 'nearly beautiful' Sheila Marjorie propositions him in a casino. Her stepson has won $43 million in a lottery, and now the jackals are circling.I'm not a great fan of book series, but the Dave Reno formula works so well that I go back for more. Dave Stanton achieves a consistent mix of complex plotting, characters that grow with each new book, and - number one for me - California-Nevade setting. Keep it up, Dave!

REVIEW DYING FOR THE HIGHLIFE by Dave StantonDan Reno (that's pronounced like "Renno," not like "Reeno," as in the Nevada city) is a failing part-time detective in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada, an area noted for its beautiful scenery, and rampant casinos. Dan can't find sufficient investigative work, so must supplement his meager income with bartending at Caesars Casino. Approached with a request to locate a missing person which he knows is couched in lies, Dan wants to demur, but finally accedes, only to discover the off-the-grid individual, a person of little integrity, is the recent winner of a high-paying lottery. No wonder if he is sought out!I much appreciate the new trend in mystery, in which the protagonist is often flawed and failing, but self-analytical enough to realize, and to acknowledge. Such is private investigator Dan Reno, and these qualities persuade me to continue to read his series.I reviewed a digital copy generously provided by the author in return for my fair and honest review. No fees were exchanged.

This is the second novel I have read By Dave Stanton. I love the plot on this one. It takes so many twists and turns. I couldn't wait to see how it all turned out. The many varied and colorful characters added to the suspense. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Very well written and very readable. I burned through two books in short order. Not so typical PI novel. Just the right amount of sex and violence. If I could fault anything it would be the clumsy language dealing with firearms. Not bad but obviously written by a novice. Used "piece" too much. I kept waiting for "gatt". LOL

Win the lottery and see what changes in the people from your life. This is a fast paced story, with multiple sub plots. Fast cars, fast lose lifestyles. Masterfully written, and no errors of any kind. Wild, dirty seedy side of life. You never know where a story leads you until you start turning the pages. This story was an adventure of a lifetime. I look forward to the next book. Thank you Dan.

Another great read in the Dan Reno series of books. The story rolls along at a nice pace and the characters in it are colourful and you root for our heroes as they move through an unpredictable world.

A really good entertaining read. Good strong characters which are given the right amount of detail. Reno is quite a character and is entertaining. Will read the next book.

Enjoyable crime thriller . Has plenty of twists and turns. If you enjoyed the first Dan Reno thriller Stateline this is a must read.

Found this difficult to finish, did in the end, but not as enjoyable as the first, too busy, shame.

I really like Dan Reno novels,flawed real life type characters,well written and set out plots.Only moan,-bought this two days ago,now its free! Grab it,not often something for nothing turns out this good.