Dek Elstrom Books In Order

Publication Order of Dek Elstrom Books

The writer Jack Fredrickson is well known for his popular pot-boilers, combining both action and excitement, bringing them both together in one intoxicating and compelling concoction. This has lead to him reaching even higher heights of success, allowing him to take his career forwards, as he reaches readers on a global scale. Writing both long and short-form fiction, he has a way with word quite unlike any other within his field, enabling him to speak on a universal level. Showing a predilection for suspense and action too, his character driven dramas really bring their readers in, giving them an insight into an otherwise unseen life. Prior to writing he worked in productivity consulting, allowing him to make his income, along with managing his very own design and commercial furnishings firm, all of which allowed him to work for himself. Taking to writing full-time though, he would find his true vocation in life and, along with that, his audience, which soon began to swell on an unprecedented level. Moving his career forwards he would create characters that would engage, along with stories that he really wanted to tell, allowing him to move to the forefront of his genre, that being the thriller and mystery novel. Creating a number of series too, he would keep readers continually coming back for more, as they would find a sense of familiarity and understanding with his characters. A particular example of this would be that of his much love ‘Dek Elstrom’ series of novels, all of which are set firmly within the mystery mold. Taking place within and around the city of Chicago, they focus upon the investigations of one Dek Elstrom, a private investigator who works there solving various cases. Having previously lived a rich life with his wife in the wealthy enclave of Crystal Waters, he has now found himself living day-to-day trying desperately to make ends meet.

A dry and witty collection of books, this series takes place over the course of six novels so far and counting, running from 2006 to 2017. Incorporating a whole range of different elements into its narrative arc, it really manages to bring its story to life, as each title is its own stand-alone mystery. This isn’t to say that characters aren’t developed, as it rewards returning readers, a group that are steadily building as the franchise goes on, something which will continue for quite some time to come.

A Safe Place for Dying

Brought out through the ‘St. Martin’s Minotaur’ publishing label, this was to be the first book in the ongoing ‘Dek Elstrom’ series of novels. Setting up the main premise and the central characters, it would introduce Dek Elstrom as its leading protagonist for the first time too, laying out his goals and intentions. With his backstory firmly established it would also work at setting up the world itself, giving readers a clear idea of what to expect along with their first mystery.

A classic mystery novel, this particular title is elevated through its dry sense of wit, a factor which really brings its story to life for the reader. The character of Dek Elstrom himself is a particularly nuanced one, allowing the reader to form a specific attachment to him as a leading protagonist, something which will develop over the course of the series to follow. Using Chicago as its setting too, it really manages to bring the city to life, almost turning it into a character in of itself.

With an extortion letter arriving through the gates of Crystal Lakes, one of the most wealthy gated communities in Chicago, it would seem that there’s a mentally unstable individual on the loose, as they’re demanding $50,000. Whilst this may appear as nothing for the residents there, with it being an extremely small amount, this would be followed by a mansion exploding. Hiring Dek Elstrom to investigate the case he must get to the bottom of what’s happening, all whilst dealing with his ex-wife living there. Will he find out what’s really going on? Can he patch things up with his ex-wife? Is it really a safe place for dying?

Honestly Dearest, You’re Dead

Released through the ‘Minotaur Books’ publishing outlet once more, this would carry on directly from where the last book left off. Providing another mystery, it would be the second book in the ongoing ‘Dek Elstrom’ franchise, taking the series even further, developing the characters even more. It would also branch out, whilst still using the area surrounding Chicago as its main backdrop, giving it its foundation as well.

Once again turning to Dek Elstrom as its leading protagonist, this title takes a deeper look into his backstory as a character. Using another mystery to drive the story forwards too, it brings back similar ideas as before. With the city of Chicago returning once again too, it really takes the series up a level.

Called upon to execute the will of a recently deceased woman, Dek Elstrom is asked to manage a seeminly routine handling of an estate. It would seem that what little of worth there is in the estate is falling apart though, as he gets out of there before the whole thing comes crashing down. That’s when he finds that there is now a killer on the loose and the supposedly dead woman could potentially be killed again. Will he find this killer before it’s too late? Can he stop them from striking again? What will happen when someone states ‘honestly dearest, you’re dead’?

The Dek Elstrom Series

A creative, fun and witty series, this manages to build a sense of suspense and tension, all whilst underpinning it with a sense-of-humor that is distinctive to Jack Fredrickson as an author. For fans of the writer they will not be disappointed, and for fans of the genre, they will also get a lot out of it, as it really understands its format well, playing with it and transforming it into something that’s new and interesting. With a lot more room to expand and grow this doesn’t look like it’s stopping any time soon either, as the series continues on into the foreseeable future.