Up Jumped the Devil
Published on 26. July 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
300 pages
978-1-935597-60-5 (ISBN)
Description
A five-year veteran of the Baltimore Herald's police beat, Darryl Billups is one of the paper's top reporters. He earned the distinction the hard way, combining a nose for news, innate writing ability, and the timeless art of persuasion. Never one to shy away from the dangers of the job, he has chronicled the trajectories of some of Baltimore's most compelling-and lethal-characters. So when an anonymous source tips him off to a domestic terrorist plot to bomb the NAACP's national headquarters, Darryl knows this story could be the biggest of his career. But what he soon comes to realize is that though his dogged pursuit of the truth may make his name, it could also cost him his life. Complicating matters is Darryl's deepening affection for Yolanda and Jamal, a young mother and son he has taken under his wing to shield them from domestic abuse. As a veteran journalist, he knows better than to insert himself into a story, but sometimes it just can't be helped. Up Jumped the Devil weaves a thrilling mixture of suspense, romance, and comedy, expertly juggled by a memorable new hero for fans of contemporary detective fiction.
A five-year veteran of the Baltimore Herald's police beat, Darryl Billups is one of the paper's top reporters. He earned the distinction the hard way, combining a nose for news, innate writing ability, and the timeless art of persuasion. Never one to shy away from the dangers of the job, he has chronicled the trajectories of some of Baltimore's most compelling-and lethal-characters. So when an anonymous source tips him off to a domestic terrorist plot to bomb the NAACP's national headquarters, Darryl knows this story could be the biggest of his career. But what he soon comes to realize is that though his dogged pursuit of the truth may make his name, it could also cost him his life. Complicating matters is Darryl's deepening affection for Yolanda and Jamal, a young mother and son he has taken under his wing to shield them from domestic abuse. As a veteran journalist, he knows better than to insert himself into a story, but sometimes it just can't be helped. Up Jumped the Devil weaves a thrilling mixture of suspense, romance, and comedy, expertly juggled by a memorable new hero for fans of contemporary detective fiction.
A five-year veteran of the Baltimore Herald's police beat, Darryl Billups is one of the paper's top reporters. He earned the distinction the hard way, combining a nose for news, innate writing ability, and the timeless art of persuasion. Never one to shy away from the dangers of the job, he has chronicled the trajectories of some of Baltimore's most compelling-and lethal-characters. So when an anonymous source tips him off to a domestic terrorist plot to bomb the NAACP's national headquarters, Darryl knows this story could be the biggest of his career. But what he soon comes to realize is that though his dogged pursuit of the truth may make his name, it could also cost him his life. Complicating matters is Darryl's deepening affection for Yolanda and Jamal, a young mother and son he has taken under his wing to shield them from domestic abuse. As a veteran journalist, he knows better than to insert himself into a story, but sometimes it just can't be helped. Up Jumped the Devil weaves a thrilling mixture of suspense, romance, and comedy, expertly juggled by a memorable new hero for fans of contemporary detective fiction.
Reviews / Votes
"Darryl Billups is a news reporter with wit enough to fashion his own escape-and solve a shocking hate crime in the process." -David Simon, creator of The Wire"With a distinct and soulful voice, Blair Walker has woven an intricate web of drama, conspiracy, and homeboy humor into this gem of a book." -Keith T. Clinkscales, President & CEO, Vibe Magazine
"Fast-paced...Intriguing...Entertaining...Witty and believable...A likeable hero and a deft plot." -USA Today
"Humor...Excitement...A debut that promises more good things to come." -Washington Times
"Full of raucous good humor, tragedy, suspense, flashy bad guys and flashier ladies and one brave, big-hearted, upstanding larger-than-life hero, Walker's debut mystery makes fine entertainment." -Booklist
"Kudos to Walker...for creating a character who is realistic and entertaining-and who challenges the reader's sensibilities...Walker is very good." -Washington Post Book World
"Darryl Billups is a news reporter with wit enough to fashion his own escape-and solve a shocking hate crime in the process." -David Simon, creator of The Wire
"With a distinct and soulful voice, Blair Walker has woven an intricate web of drama, conspiracy, and homeboy humor into this gem of a book." -Keith T. Clinkscales, President & CEO, Vibe Magazine
"Fast-paced...Intriguing...Entertaining...Witty and believable...A likeable hero and a deft plot." -USA Today
"Humor...Excitement...A debut that promises more good things to come." -Washington Times
"Full of raucous good humor, tragedy, suspense, flashy bad guys and flashier ladies and one brave, big-hearted, upstanding larger-than-life hero, Walker's debut mystery makes fine entertainment." -Booklist
"Kudos to Walker...for creating a character who is realistic and entertaining-and who challenges the reader's sensibilities...Walker is very good." -Washington Post Book World
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Seattle
United States
Publishing group
Amazon Publishing
Edition type
Unabridged edition
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 208 mm
Width: 139 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
388 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-935597-60-5 (9781935597605)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
The son of two Baltimore public school teachers, Blair S. Walker used to entertain himself in elementary school by writing short stories. The practice was frowned upon by instructors who wanted Walker to pay attention in class, not secretly heed his muse. After serving in the Army as a Korean linguist, Walker attended the University of Maryland and worked as an intern reporter with the Baltimore Sun. Hired by the Orlando Sentinel after college, Walker was fired after six months by an editor who disparagingly noted that Walker's writing ability was marginal at best! A former financial writer with USA Today, Walker has been an editor with New York Newsday and the Washington Post, and a newsman with the Associated Press. The author of three novels featuring investigative reporter Darryl Billups, Walker holds a University of Maryland J.D. degree and currently lives in South Florida, where he's pursuing a lifelong dream of learning to fly helicopters.
The son of two Baltimore public school teachers, Blair S. Walker used to entertain himself in elementary school by writing short stories. The practice was frowned upon by instructors who wanted Walker to pay attention in class, not secretly heed his muse. After serving in the Army as a Korean linguist, Walker attended the University of Maryland and worked as an intern reporter with the Baltimore Sun. Hired by the Orlando Sentinel after college, Walker was fired after six months by an editor who disparagingly noted that Walker's writing ability was marginal at best! A former financial writer with USA Today, Walker has been an editor with New York Newsday and the Washington Post, and a newsman with the Associated Press. The author of three novels featuring investigative reporter Darryl Billups, Walker holds a University of Maryland J.D. degree and currently lives in South Florida, where he's pursuing a lifelong dream of learning to fly helicopters.
The son of two Baltimore public school teachers, Blair S. Walker used to entertain himself in elementary school by writing short stories. The practice was frowned upon by instructors who wanted Walker to pay attention in class, not secretly heed his muse. After serving in the Army as a Korean linguist, Walker attended the University of Maryland and worked as an intern reporter with the Baltimore Sun. Hired by the Orlando Sentinel after college, Walker was fired after six months by an editor who disparagingly noted that Walker's writing ability was marginal at best! A former financial writer with USA Today, Walker has been an editor with New York Newsday and the Washington Post, and a newsman with the Associated Press. The author of three novels featuring investigative reporter Darryl Billups, Walker holds a University of Maryland J.D. degree and currently lives in South Florida, where he's pursuing a lifelong dream of learning to fly helicopters.