Harry Dolan Books In Order

Publication Order of David Loogan Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Harry Dolan grew up in Rome, New York, and currently resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He writes the critically acclaimed David Loogan series, a mystery/thriller series. He graduated from Colgate University, majoring in philosophy and he studied fiction-writing under the tutelage of Frederick Busch, a novelist.

“Bad Things Happen” is the first book in the David Loogan series by Harry Dolan. David Loogan is trying to get away from his violent past and does so by living an anonymous life in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The reader does not know anything that happened in his past at the start of the book. He tries to write a story that he plans on submitting to Gray Streets, but quickly abandons the project. His new life is threatened when he meets Tom Kristoll, who publishes Gray Streets, a magazine that publishes mystery stories. He winds up sleeping with Tom’s wife, Laura, and gets offered a job by Tom as an editor, which David accepts. The stories that Gray Streets publishes all seem to follow the same pattern; people make plans that wind up failing, usually badly, bad things happen, and people wind up dying. He quickly ends up being implicated in the death of someone close to him, and it leads the detective (Elizabeth Waishkey) investigating the case to be confused about him. More people end up dead and in ways similar to the Gray Streets stories. Only Elizabeth can figure out what is going on, both in this odd case and with David.

Stephen King has called this book “a great f-ing book”. Other authors (all of these authors write mystery/thriller novels as well) have praised the book as well. These authors include: Karin Slaughter, Nelson DeMille, Douglas Preston, and James Patterson.

Fans have praised the book for the fast paced plot, a terrific twist in the book, and does a good job of making the reader laugh. Fans of this book find the first line of the book to be a great hook, that grabs them and does not let go until they have finished the book. Readers of the book have found the book to be more exhausting than exhilarating, especially the part where the author tries to tell the readers who the good guys are and who the bad ones are. They say that this is due to all the explaining of certain things in the book. Some feel that the book was going pretty good, right up until the cop shows up, after this, it just gets silly they say. Other readers think that the characters falls apart because of the shifting plot, and a lot of Dolan’s work early on in the book is ruined because of his shifting perspective.

“Very Bad Men” is the second book in the David Loogan series by Harry Dolan. A man named Anthony Lark has a list of names that pop off the page for him. He is hunting men that were once part of a robbery that took place seventeen years ago, and he is going to kill every single one of them. David Loogan is now living with Elizabeth and her daughter, who is sixteen years old. He also tracks down criminals where he continues to learn on the job; David continues to edit for Gray Streets and also writes stories for the magazine. He is not a master sleuth, and constantly comes up with ideas when trying to piece together clues that are usually wrong. It is not long before Lark draws them into his world after sending David a manuscript where he confesses that he killed someone and he will kill again. Lucy Navarro, a woman that David becomes friends with and tabloid reporter, has an odd theory about the case that is sure to implicate powerful people. At first, neither David or Elizabeth take it very seriously, until she disappears.

Fans of the book have said that it is entertaining enough to hold their interest and that the author is great with details (how to kill someone who is in prison, what someone’s life is like that has constant horrible migraines, etc). They have also said that Dolan is good at digging into the darker side of human nature. Readers liked that Loogan was wrong about things in the case as it gives him credibility as a detective compared to some of the other detectives who seem to know everything and are able to figure out who the killer is halfway through. Fans say that Dolan is able to keep the reader guessing; you are right along side Loogan as he tires to solve this case and find answers. They also liked Anthony Lark, the villain; some say that he is the best character that the book has to offer. Dolan is great at keeping the reader on edge.

People who did not like the book said that the book is largely convoluted and is not all that believable. Some readers did not like how the book ends; they do think that it is the epitome of an anti-climax. They also did not think that the book developed the characters at all and none of them seem very real. The book, some feel, should have been much better, but does not live up to its potential. Some did not like the fact that Lark seems to be more developed than Elizabeth or even David. Not much of David’s past life is not explored, which is a shame because he seems to have something very important and dark in his past, if he is trying so hard to turn his life around and do good things, solving crimes. Readers of this book also did not like that there are so many twists towards the end that it is hard to follow all of them, which slows the book down, and that there are so many characters in the book that it makes it hard to keep track of them all.

One Response to “Harry Dolan”

1. Conrad Williams: 10 months ago

   I’ve tried writing, and got a few stories to share with friends. Found ancient myths and Characters that seemed out of time, their stories still untold. But alas, I’m too old to have the time to put their names into history.
   I’m enjoying finding good writing at the library. Your series have got me reading and having fun the way you let the characters tell the story. Thank you.

   Reply