Sharky's Machine by William Diehl

Like nearly every thriller lover in Atlanta at the time, I read "Sharky's Machine" when it was first published in the 1970s and have fond memories of both the book and the underrated Burt Reynolds movie of the same title. "Sharky's Machine" was the first major contemporary thriller I can recall with an Atlanta setting, and both the book and the movie captured the feel of the city at that time. When it was recently offered for free on Amazon, I decided to reread it some 30 years later, to see if it held up. Despite some preposterous plotting (of the James Bond movie variety), it does.

Sharky, the title character, is a top Atlanta undercover cop who runs afoul of the brass when an attempted drug buy goes bad, resulting in a shootout on a crowded city bus. Even though no one but the drug dealer was hurt, the press has a field day with the event, and Sharky winds up being sent to the Vice Squad, a dumping ground for similar cops who have had a falling out with the powers that be. Sharky discovers that he's working with some good, experienced detectives who are tired of busting streetwalkers and flashers and want some real action. They soon get their wish.

"Sharky's Machine" takes place in 1975, and the major storyline revolves around a Southern politician who, like the real life Jimmy Carter at that time, is planning to run for President. He's got big bucks behind him as well, in the person of Victor DeLaroza, a shady businessman who seemed to appear from nowhere after World War II and later became a tycoon. As readers gradually learn throughout the course of the book, DeLaroza's fortune had its origins in an American gold shipment that disappeared in Italy in World War II following a botched intelligence operation. Since then, DeLaroza has been gradually eliminating anyone who might be able to tie him to the missing gold, with the help of a top notch hitman who also had ties to the gold shipment. The last potential witness is a high end call girl named Domino who has been very friendly with both Victor and the politician in the past. After one last romp in the hay with Domino, Victor dispatches the hitman to eliminate her.

Unfortunately for them, Sharky and his pals had been staking out Domino's apartment on an unrelated case and arrive on the scene just after the killer escapes. They decide to pursue the investigation into her murder on their own without involving Homicide, especially since Sharky by now has a personal motive, since he had met Domino and fallen for her hard. Thanks to some shrewd detective work (including some 1970s era forensic work by a couple of Sharky's buddies in the crime lab and M.E.'s office), they soon put the pieces together, leading to a highly suspenseful final confrontation with DeLaroza at the grand opening of a lavish indoor amusement park the businessman had recently built (based on an actual park built in Atlanta at that time).

The main action of the book, from Sharky's drug bust gone bad to the final confrontation, takes place in less than a week, and Diehl stretches credibility considerably to have so much happen in such a short period of time. However, this accelerated timeline makes for a very fast paced read, and readers will find themselves easily getting swept up in the case. Sharky and his fellow cops make for scruffy, likable underdogs, and they have a knack for astute observation and clever deduction, asking the right questions, and knowing the right people to lean on. They aren't as fully developed as they might have been, but Diehl provides as much detail as he can without harming the narrative pace. Frankly, Diehl could easily have written a long running series about these characters, gradually filling in the character details. The most interesting aspect of the investigation is the period forensics work, with modern day readers sure to get a kick out of the "primitive" methods the cops had to rely on back then.

Diehl was quite well versed on a number of topics, including Oriental culture, and, since DeLaRoza is a big admirer of that culture, Diehl could showcase his knowledge at length without really interfering with the flow of the story. He also describes in considerable detail and considerable length some rather graphic sexual scenes involving Domino and DeLaRoza. The language is quite explicit in these scenes, albeit quite erotic as well. Readers who don't care for that sort of material should be advised accordingly.

There are a few things to quibble about in "Sharky's Machine," including some rather incredible coincidences that move the plot along. Similarly, Diehl finds the "mystery" of DeLaroza's origins and how they tie into the missing gold shipment far more interesting than I did. Some judicious editing of this material would have allowed more time with Sharky and the cops. However, there's no denying that the book has everything you'd want in a thriller: often clever dialogue, a major plot twist, a couple of exciting action set pieces, and a suspenseful finale. If anything, the story's more entertaining today than when it was written because of the historical perspective we now have of what was then contemporary. "Sharky's Machine" remains what it was then: a fast paced thrill ride with an authentic Atlanta setting. I'd rate it 4 1/2 stars, rounded up to five based on the setting (I've always got a soft spot for local literature).

...this is not a good book. I was very excited to find a first edition and being a big fan of the Burt-helmed film, I dove right in and let me tell you folks, it's a shallow pool. Some good points but a fairly meandering story and if you watch the movie you'll see the good parts made it and the rest is still right there on those pages. I did not finish it.

Okay - this novel...is AWESOME! If you are a fan of the motion picture, you will get a kick out of the comparisons and contrasts. If you are a resident of Metro Atlanta, you will appreciate the work. William Diehl's first novel is a swift read, and an engrossing tale that was truly made for a major movie script.
The tale follows Detective Sharky, who after a controversial shooting, is demoted from Homicide to Vice in the Atlanta Police Department. But it is in vice, wherein Sharky uncovers the biggest crime caper of his career, and finds a femme fatale in the form of Domino. Domino works for - and runs afoul of - a criminal mastermind, whose biggest score stems from World War II. He also has two vanity projects going: one is the potential presidential candidate; the other is a lavish theme park (YES - a THEME PARK), which plays a major role in the book's climax.
Although the story is set in 1975, with flashbacks to World War II and 1959 Hong Kong, the tale itself is suitable as a modern crime drama, and there's been talk of a remake. William Diehl's Sharky was tailored for Burt Reynolds. And it is a tragedy that he didn't do anymore sequels with the character. Is it an East Coast, Southern version of Dirty Harry? It's in the same ballpark, but the characters and setting make the tale stand alone, as Atlanta makes for a more diverse spot. If they ever do more with Sharky - be it follow-up novels or another film - there are several bad guys he could tangle with: pornographers, characters based on real life Southern rogues like Michael Thevis, The Dixie Mafia/State Line Mob, Carlos Marcello and Santos Trafficante, even the more up-to-date Black Mafia Family......
One thing about Pachinko: the theme park in the novel is based on an actual pinball ride that was part of the extremely short-lived World of Sid and Marty Krofft theme park that was in Downtown Atlanta in 1976. The climax in the book is bizarre, but it is indeed based on something that existed in real life. The real life theme park existed in what is now CNN Center.
Another thing: in the movie, Henry Silva's portrayal of Billy Score is that of a cocaine-laced, pill-popping nutjob who is out of his mind. But the character of William Scardi is a homicidal maniac, complete with a clown suit!! In his last act, he's akin to The Joker, well-before BATMAN and THE DARK KNIGHT. As indelible as the film is, one wonders if a verbatim screenplay would have been just as satisfying.

I remember when this book came out in a movie starring Burt Renolds. I was too young to go see the movie so I never saw the movie so years later when I saw this book I said ok why not. Now I wanna see the movie. The story was very good right from the beginning I really enjoyed it.

Even though this book has great action scenes, it isn't all mindless action. Nor are the characters merely stick figures. This is a well-rounded mystery/thriller crafted by a mature gifted author. I've been reading quite a few indie writers in the past couple of months. Some of them are pretty good and show lots of potential. Yet I leave those books yearning for more. Treat yourself to this novel and you will finish it wonderfully satisfied with your reading experience. It's a seven course meal with desert, an after dinner brandy and cigar!

This really is a page-turning action thriller with everything - WWII ambush, gold theft, drug and vice squad, a Mafia assassin, reasonably steamy sex and even a Presidential candidate! What more could be included in one thriller.

Even though the book was written in the late 1970's (the cops have to stop to find a phone box) the action is not out of date. Some may remember a film version with Burt Reynolds, Brian Keith and Rachel Ward.

Once you start reading this book you will want to read straight through to the action packed conclusion.