"The Woke and the Dead" By Mark S. Bacon: Review/Giveaway

Review by Terrance McArthur

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase it.

Lyle Deming used to be a cop. Now, he drives a cab in Nostalgia City, a mammoth theme park recreating the 1970’s—and he solves crimes, sometimes. After an unscheduled LGBTQ+ day at the park, he finds a murder victim in the parking lot, and thus begins The Woke and the Dead, the fifth book in Mark S. Bacon’s Nostalgia City series of noir-ish mysteries.

Kate Sorensen handles PR for Nostalgia City. Rod Gudgel, running for re-election as governor of Arizona, criticizes the park for inclusiveness, and he questions the safety of the park’s rides. The tall-and-gorgeous Kate checks out an anti-Gudgel rally at the politician’s campaign headquarters, and the day erupts into gunfire and death, killing several park employees. Is it a hate crime?

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Image Source ‎ Archer & Clark Publishing

Lyle investigates hate groups, getting too close to some gun-toting conspiracy-junkies who “welcome” him violently. Kate goes to Montana, looking into Gudgel’s shady past and corruption. They both find more than they expect.

The park’s billionaire owner finds his retro-empire dragged into the present as Gudgel mounts a war of dirty tricks. Bribery, extortion, a private police force, homophobia, racism, missing witnesses, help that seems suspicious, undercover surveillance ... A lot of things are happening.

Bacon understands the behind-the-scenes workings of a theme park after years working as a copywriter for Knotts Berry Farm, which formed part of his inspiration for Nostalgia City. His prose is tense, terse, and taut, stretching attention to a hair’s breadth of the breaking point.

Lyle’s background is fleshed out as a good detective crazy for not complying with unlawful orders. Kate is a 6’ 2½” former basketball player who can hold her own physically. The two have an easy your-place-or-mine relationship. Dialogue is crisp, laden with a gently-acidic humor. It’s like a better-looking Sam Spade, a more-sober Nick and Nora Charles, an up-to-date All the King’s Men.

Bacon hasn’t shied away from serious issues in the Nostalgia City series. He has dealt with industrial espionage, marijuana trafficking and legalization, and now, homophobia. For books that make the reader thrill, laugh, and think, go to Nostalgia City. The place is an E-ticket.

To enter to win a copy of The Woke and the Dead, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "the woke,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen March 22, 2025. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! 

 You can click here to purchase this book.

 

Terrance V. Mc Arthur is newly retired as a Librarian in Fresno County, California. He is also a storyteller, puppeteer, magician, and maker of pine needle baskets. On top of that he writes stories that range from rhymed children's tales to splatterpunk horror. He's an odd bird, but he's nice to have around.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.