Man With an Axe

'Man with an Axe' is, on one level, the ultimate Jimmy Hoffa story. Hoffa's rise to power and his complete and mysterious disappearance are the quintessential Detroit story. The stuff of which urban legends are made. Jackson does a creditable job or creating the legend anew, told from the view point of Mulheisen's old partner, Grootka. The story is in layers, first the tale of Hoffa, then the tale of Grootka himself, and finally Mulheisen's own story in present day Detroit. Each tale contains its share of things larger than life; and all seem orchestrated posthumously by Grootka's ghost.

The story spans many of Detroit's subcultures, from Mafia to up-scale black. There is a persistent jazz theme that runs through it, and, in many cases, the rhythms of improvisation unfold in the text. It is tempting for a reviewer to overuse the jazz metaphor, for it is inescapable. Mulheisen's task at hand is to discover why there has been a sudden increase in curiosity about Hoffa's death. To do that he must discover what really happened in the first place. Hoffa's story starts out with a chance meeting with a talented saxophone player and ends in a cabin up north. But, Grootka realized that it wouldn't end there and laid out a plan that will bring it to closure years later. If Fang Mulheisen can get far enough into Grootka's head to figure it out without getting shot himself.

I found the characters interesting and whimsical, from gangsters to jazzmen. To be honest, the story has many echoes of Detroit as it is and was, but Mulheisen's town is still a city of the imagination rather than reality. I don't think that is a flaw, for this Detroit is far more interesting than the one in which I work. Jackson gives it a spooky glamour that is hard to pin down. In evidence is the skill of a sharp storyteller who deserves far more critical notice than he has gotten. My feeling is that I would have benefited from reading a few stories from earlier in the series, simply for more familiarity with the characters. Otherwise, it stands quite well on its own.


Boppin' With Cool Jazz   December 3, 2001
 12 out of 12 found this review helpful

"Max With An Axe" is Mr. Jackson's 7th "Fang" Mulheisen's novel. The story is soaked with music and is pure Detroit. As a first-time reader of Mr. Jackson with no knowledge of Detroit and not near as much jazz intelligence as I thought I had; I felt very much the latecomer to the party. This series is one that definitely should be read in order. However, this may require some perseverance because many of the earlier books are out of print. The endeavor would be worthwhile because Mr. Jackson is a writer with a difference. He has a smoky, almost opaque flavor that is very addictive.

The story has a good hook, i.e., "what really happened to Jimmy Hoffa?" The tale is very plausible; one that getting there is half the fun. The characters are indelible, not a hero in the bunch. "Fang" so-called because of his wolverine smile (?) is an edgy cop, always faintly dissatisfied with himself. He'd like to be totally stone (he loves his nickname), yet be seen as a cultured man. He tries to quickly and subtly convince an educated acquaintance of his equal intellectuality. Unfortunately, subtlety is not Fang's long suit. You need to acquaint yourself quickly with many of the characters, because a goodly number are not going to be around very long. Mr. Jackson doesn't telegraph his punches, and you are as surprised as the victims at their sudden demise. The author has a knack for women characters; he is one of the few who lets them first develop as people, then gradually develops their feminine aspect, first and foremost how it affects themselves and secondly its effect on others. I consider this unusual.

This is an enjoyable multi-layered novel. It requires some thought and insight by the reader and engenders empathy with some fairly low-life types. Recommended.


Man with an Axe   July 5, 2000
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I loved this book, I am originally from Detroit, and I found this to be a very, well written book, the author obviously loves Detroit and does a credible job of describing Detorit in the 1970's.


Why haven't more people discovered Jon Jackson?   March 30, 2000
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Maybe it's something in the water. Detroit (and its suburbs) has produced some terrific writers in this genre. Elmore Leonard, of course, and the criminally (sorry!) undervalued Loren Estleman and Jon Jackson. I think Jackson's smart, tough, Fang Mulheiser series are great. Man With An Axe (no, he's not referring to a hatchet - read it and you'll understand why) is a worthy addition to the oeuvre, but slightly different in that it is based on factual events - the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa. Jackson's 'explanation' for Hoffa's disappearance is completely plausible, and Jackson's wonderful writing, grasp of the Detroitness of his locale, and clear knowledge of modern jazz make this a great book. Please don't let this lead you to believe that the book is all atmospherics and phony noirishness. It's a good story, too. And Fang is one of my all-time favorite characters-Jackson makes him so real, true and alive, I expect to see him when I drive down East Jefferson and pass the fifth precinct police station. Do yourself a favor. Get this book. And all the other Mulheisen novels you can find.