Dirty Little War: A Crime Novel

“Kalteis is a sharp observer who delivers history with a wallop and brings the past back to bloody life.” — Emily Schultz, author of Sleeping with Friends and The Blondes

“Kalteis’s punchy, hard-boiled prose vividly captures the brutality behind the glitz of the Jazz Age.” — firstCLUE

For readers of Elmore Leonard comes a riveting, fast-paced ride through 1920s Prohibition-era Chicago, the epicenter of crime, corruption, and commerce

Trouble has a way of following Huckabee Waller like a shadow. Involved in the death of a gangster in his hometown of New Orleans, Huckabee hops a northbound freight and heads for the promise of Chicago. Tough times force him to make his way bare-knuckle fighting and running booze, and before long he finds himself entangled in the escalating tension between notorious rival gangs and the city’s deadly taxis wars. Caught up in vice and violence, Huckabee lands in the crosshairs of Al Capone.

The smart thing to do would be to get out of Chicago — fast — that is if the life he wants to leave behind doesn’t kill him first.

Dietrich Kalteis won the 2022 Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence for Best Crime Novel for Under an Outlaw Moon. He is a critically acclaimed author of 12 novels, two of which won Independent Publisher Awards. He enjoys life with his family in West Vancouver.

ISBN: 9781770417960
Format: Paperback
Pages: 488
Publisher: ECW Press
Published: March 18, 2025

“Kalteis has written a tough, epic, historical noir that covers the most tumultuous decade in Chicago's mob history. ... As the body count rises, Kalteis's punchy, hard-boiled prose vividly captures the brutality behind the glitz of the Jazz Age.” — firstCLUE“Dirty Little War has moments that encourage quick reading and fast page turning, and pending violence at the hands of erratic and mercurial characters can keep you guessing about who is on whose side.” — New York Journal Review of Books“I was immediately swept up in the gutsy, from-the-hip language and the potential for violence to erupt in any given situation ... Dirty Little War is a five-star read.” — The Seaboard Review“Dirty Little War is Dietrich Kalteis’s most ambitious book — an epic that is equal parts Fat City and Scarface. Kalteis is a sharp observer who delivers history with a wallop and brings the past back to bloody life.” — Emily Schultz, author of Sleeping with Friends and The Blondes“Starting in the register of Walter Hill’s Hard Times, Dirty Little War evolves into an ambitious historical gangster epic rich with kinetic action, keen historical details and unforgettable characters.” — Naben Ruthnum, author of Helpmeet and Find You in the Dark“The works of west coast crime writer Dietrich Kalteis are an acquired taste. Fortunately, I have acquired it and have come to admire his ability to capture the gritty dialogue that qualifies him for comparison with a favourite of mine, the late Elmore Leonard.” — The BC Review“This book offers a well-written and interesting look at Chicago during the 1920s.” — Crime Fiction Lover“Dirty Little War roars through The Roaring Twenties. Not only does it portray the times, Dietrich Kalteis taps into the style of the writers of the time from Fitzgerald to Hammett. After putting it down, you'll feel like pouring a stiff drink and putting on some hot jazz. Just don't pick up a Tommy gun.” — The Hard Word“If you're looking for some fast-paced, gritty, boisterous booze-and-goon addled 1920s-era entertainment, then here you have it! Dirty Little War is a solid piece of just that.” — Scout Book Club