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The Delta Star
A cheap hooker named Missy Moonbeam takes a fatal dive from the roof of a sleazy hotel. But what's a Caltech phone number doing in her trick book? And how does that connect to a dead private eye and a useless credit card? And what does all that have to do with a Whisky-class Russian sub and the Nobel Prize?
291 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1983
About the author
Joseph Wambaugh
59 books708 followersJoseph Wambaugh, a former LAPD detective sergeant (1960-1974), is the bestselling author of twenty-one prior works of fiction and nonfiction, including The Choirboys and The Onion Field. Wambaugh joined the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in 1960. He served 14 years, rising to detective sergeant. He also attended California State University, Los Angeles, where he earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees.
In 2004, he was named Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. He lives in southern California.
In 2004, he was named Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. He lives in southern California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
July 21, 2017
The Delta Star is one of Joseph Wambaugh's earlier books. Dead private eyes and murdered hookers are the center of this entertaining crime novel. His humor is raw and gritty, but the characters (who are all flawed in some way or another) are the best part. There is never a dull moment, or shall I say page, in a Wambaugh book. I have so enjoyed reading these books that I might just do something I rarely do--reread his first three novels. It's been a long time and I think I will enjoy them all over again.
February 19, 2019
A Wambaugh fiction book is like a fine wine, it just gets better with age. One time this was a relevant contemporary book but now it’s more like historical fiction. Either way it’s still an enjoyable read!
July 26, 2019
Wow, another great Joseph Wambaugh book! Great characters. flaws...dogs...and all :) I like it when a book runs your gamut of emotions which this book surely did.
October 14, 2017
I first read this book when it came out thirty-something years ago. I had forgotten how much I appreciated Wambaugh's work. It is my intention to revisit all his books, because I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
March 20, 2019
Another solid Wambaugh book. Sardonic and bare-knuckled.
Suicide and alcoholism and a finale that made me actually place the book aside so I could really laugh. Until my stomach hurt.
It's good Wambaugh.
Suicide and alcoholism and a finale that made me actually place the book aside so I could really laugh. Until my stomach hurt.
It's good Wambaugh.
January 11, 2015
Oldie but goodie.
July 19, 2021
This one is hard to rate because overall I did enjoy the story and the mystery of the case. Even the ending was satisfying in a way. I even liked somewhat the cast of misfit cops that litter the story, at least there was some entertainment there. But really most of that was filler, just too much absurd comedy from the misfits. Each comedic incident for the most part was amusing but there was just too much of it. Also a lot of it was pretty grade school type of stuff which again in small doses is fine but not this much. I think it was an easy 4 star if it just took out a few of the sophomoric high jink moments, therefore tightening up the narrative.
Recommended for the overall story but I will admit I was getting bored with all of the grade school humor.
Recommended for the overall story but I will admit I was getting bored with all of the grade school humor.
April 18, 2024
Entertaining read
I’ve read a lot of Joe Wambaugh. This one is an earlier effort that I must’ve missed. This isn’t his best but it’s entertaining. It takes place in the early 80s so some of the cultural references are dated unless you’re old like me. Some of the character development of the cops dragged on a little in the beginning. The plot was more complicated than Wambaugh’s usual fare which made it a brain teaser and a good ‘who dunit’ but not as compelling as some of his others.
However, near the end of the book, the party/reception at Cal Tech has good stuff mixing humor and police work rather adeptly.
Good beach/summer read.
I’ve read a lot of Joe Wambaugh. This one is an earlier effort that I must’ve missed. This isn’t his best but it’s entertaining. It takes place in the early 80s so some of the cultural references are dated unless you’re old like me. Some of the character development of the cops dragged on a little in the beginning. The plot was more complicated than Wambaugh’s usual fare which made it a brain teaser and a good ‘who dunit’ but not as compelling as some of his others.
However, near the end of the book, the party/reception at Cal Tech has good stuff mixing humor and police work rather adeptly.
Good beach/summer read.
December 18, 2020
This is a book where very little of substance happens. It focuses on cops and detectives from Los Angeles' Rampart Division. While is does have some limited beat cop action and detective investigation, it mostly takes place in a bar nicknamed "The House of Misery" where they all go to get drunk and talk about cases, politics and life in general. The characters are not changed by the story. They are the same from beginning to end. The characters are also mostly unlikable. I found it to be a pointless waste of time.
February 16, 2018
Ludwig jizzed on the new pool table.
Never run over a Mexican on a bicycle because its probably your bicycle. Learn more helpful hints on racial interaction and quantum physics with the master of cop stories.
Never run over a Mexican on a bicycle because its probably your bicycle. Learn more helpful hints on racial interaction and quantum physics with the master of cop stories.
July 17, 2019
Gritty novel about Los Angeles cops who like to hang out at a bar after hours.
A hooker is dead after being pushed off a building. A PI is dead, apparent heart attach. They were in on a scam to embezzle a scientist who like twosomes.
Cops, Caltech, Nobel Prize, YIKES!
A hooker is dead after being pushed off a building. A PI is dead, apparent heart attach. They were in on a scam to embezzle a scientist who like twosomes.
Cops, Caltech, Nobel Prize, YIKES!
March 22, 2023
Visceral, gritty, and some of the blackest comedy I've read so far. But between the very flawed characters and the mystery that opens up into a world outside of the LAPD, The Delta Star is noir done right.
March 30, 2023
This was an off/on affair with my putting it off while going to other books. While some “questionable”
terms and “isms” given the early 80s and a “dead” patch when it seemed to get bogged down near the end, there was a lot of laugh out loud humour.
terms and “isms” given the early 80s and a “dead” patch when it seemed to get bogged down near the end, there was a lot of laugh out loud humour.
January 15, 2024
It seems like Wambaugh was drunk when he wrote this one. There’s not a whole lot going on and the section where the cops go to the college campus is absolutely boring. So boring that I stopped reading it with 20% left to go. Simply terrible.
October 6, 2017
Okay but not great.
Most of the book was about several police officers on the lapd, somewhat of a story but nothing to get excited about, still, Wambaugh does write good novels.
Most of the book was about several police officers on the lapd, somewhat of a story but nothing to get excited about, still, Wambaugh does write good novels.
June 1, 2018
Meandering, less than a compelling plot. Overall characters development is disappointing.
March 14, 2019
Wrong on every level but wickedly funny. Full of boozed up cops you'd expect from a Wambaugh book, all with delightful names. Kept me guessing right to the end.
April 9, 2019
Cosmically over the top characters, lots of action and adventures, and a reasonably good storyline. Not an amazing book, but enjoyable and quite entertaining.
September 28, 2019
It's a good story, thats it.
August 26, 2020
Read in 1983. Solid police procedural.
July 7, 2022
The first paperback book I read. Need to reread it again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2024
I have yet to be disappointed by a Joseph Wambaugh book.
December 19, 2020
Another good read by Joseph Wambaugh
Another convoluted cop story featuring a lot of neurotic cops told only as Wambaugh can. A very enjoyable work, and the only thing I found wrong with it was whoever transcribed it for kindle made a few spelling errors. I ran into a few cops as he described in this book over my career. Loved everyone of them!
Another convoluted cop story featuring a lot of neurotic cops told only as Wambaugh can. A very enjoyable work, and the only thing I found wrong with it was whoever transcribed it for kindle made a few spelling errors. I ran into a few cops as he described in this book over my career. Loved everyone of them!
April 17, 2021
Raw, chaotic, confusing. Typical of Joseph Wambaugh police novels. He tells it like it is - raw, chaotic and confusing; all with a very human touch.
Have looked for this book for a few years along with some of his other first writings. Every story he writes is virtually the same feeling, reality. There is a coarseness about his stories but they are filled with suffering humanity. He lets us look into the souls of those who put their lives on the line for the rest of us every day. There is not making them god like, super human or even very special. His characters are people doing a very difficult somewhat hazardous job. So often, the way Wambaugh writes, you can feel the stress and how a person can be overwhelmed by what they see every day that most of us cannot imagine. In some way this is one of the more candid stories. The characters do their job the best they can and cope with their stress the best they can.
This is a good book, well written with a good story. I liked it but there are others by Joseph Wambaugh that I personally found much more satisfying. That being said, if you enjoy a good well written police crime story that feels read this should be on your reading list.
Have looked for this book for a few years along with some of his other first writings. Every story he writes is virtually the same feeling, reality. There is a coarseness about his stories but they are filled with suffering humanity. He lets us look into the souls of those who put their lives on the line for the rest of us every day. There is not making them god like, super human or even very special. His characters are people doing a very difficult somewhat hazardous job. So often, the way Wambaugh writes, you can feel the stress and how a person can be overwhelmed by what they see every day that most of us cannot imagine. In some way this is one of the more candid stories. The characters do their job the best they can and cope with their stress the best they can.
This is a good book, well written with a good story. I liked it but there are others by Joseph Wambaugh that I personally found much more satisfying. That being said, if you enjoy a good well written police crime story that feels read this should be on your reading list.
February 10, 2017
Author Wambaugh continues his string of LAPD based best sellers with his sixth novel, this time featuring the cops of Rampart Station.
Police Novels - A cheap hooker named Missy Moonbeam takes a fatal dive from the roof of a sleazy hotel. But what’s a Caltech phone number doing in her trick book? And how does that connect to a dead private eye and a useless credit card? And what does all that have to do with a Whisky-class Russian sub and the Nobel Prize? The cops of Rampart Station follow a trail of corruption from the world of pimps and crazies to the think-tank labs of the country’s top chemistry wizards—where genius and greed mix to create an award-winning case of murder.
Police Novels - A cheap hooker named Missy Moonbeam takes a fatal dive from the roof of a sleazy hotel. But what’s a Caltech phone number doing in her trick book? And how does that connect to a dead private eye and a useless credit card? And what does all that have to do with a Whisky-class Russian sub and the Nobel Prize? The cops of Rampart Station follow a trail of corruption from the world of pimps and crazies to the think-tank labs of the country’s top chemistry wizards—where genius and greed mix to create an award-winning case of murder.
April 26, 2019
Still an ok book but I enjoyed it more when I read it 30 years ago.
May 8, 2015
Colorful satisfying mystery
At first the racist characters got in the way of my enjoyment of this well written novel, but I recognized their banter as in good fun for bonding between cops. I don't like drunks spouting racist viewpoints jokingly in real life, but it's a good way for the author to quickly introduce the characters. I like the use of colorful nick names and repeating distinguishing characteristics that help to keep everything clear. I live in Kansas City, but happened to be visiting my mother in Pasadena. I have also attended some Caltech lectures that were open to the public, so I was pleasantly surprised this was the setting for this mystery. It's a good mystery too, with a very satisfying conclusion. Interesting from the beginning and not at all easy to solve, but makes sense.
At first the racist characters got in the way of my enjoyment of this well written novel, but I recognized their banter as in good fun for bonding between cops. I don't like drunks spouting racist viewpoints jokingly in real life, but it's a good way for the author to quickly introduce the characters. I like the use of colorful nick names and repeating distinguishing characteristics that help to keep everything clear. I live in Kansas City, but happened to be visiting my mother in Pasadena. I have also attended some Caltech lectures that were open to the public, so I was pleasantly surprised this was the setting for this mystery. It's a good mystery too, with a very satisfying conclusion. Interesting from the beginning and not at all easy to solve, but makes sense.
November 18, 2013
I really don't know how to describe this book...it started out seemingly trying to be the most crude and offensive book it could possibly be. Either that, or that was really how the LAPD was back when this book was written. It also started out as a mish mosh of characters and introductions and randomness, then, it feels like, the actual true plot of the book came through halfway to three quarters of the way through the book. But, luckily for me, I embrace the crude and enjoy it, so this book was an interesting trip through the wild and wacky world of Wambaugh for me. If you are easily offended, this one isn't for you, but if you enjoy it, this could be a definitely interesting one for you.
October 9, 2012
Having only read one other Joseph Wambaugh novel, I thought to give this one a try.
Odd assortment of characters within quite a dysfunctional, drunken Police Division.
Slightly enjoyable, but...
Very much unlike any Police novel I have previously read.
Not exactly good and not exactly bad. It's also quite sexist and racist.
If looking to read more good adventure, mystery and fast paced — this isn't it.
I was expecting a serious Police drama, but got a comedy.
Odd assortment of characters within quite a dysfunctional, drunken Police Division.
Slightly enjoyable, but...
Very much unlike any Police novel I have previously read.
Not exactly good and not exactly bad. It's also quite sexist and racist.
If looking to read more good adventure, mystery and fast paced — this isn't it.
I was expecting a serious Police drama, but got a comedy.
March 22, 2013
Not my kind of book and was so unhappy when i first found what kind of a book it was going to be. I never read the dust cover info on a book as i like to be suprised. Well it was a cops and bad guys ,loco guys, and so on. LA in modern times 1980s I think. Any thing after the 1930s does not interest me unless it is military stuff. But just because of the unusual characters in this story , it was worth reading. Everything was told between the lines.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews