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The Street Martyr Paperback – January 1, 2015

by T. Fox Dunham (Author)

4.3 20 ratings

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Vincent Grant lives on the edge. He gets by pushing stolen prescription drugs to high school kids, his mother is dying of cancer, and his business partner, the diminutive "King Louie," may up and kill him, or anyone else, at any moment. When Vincent is enlisted to throw a scare into a deviant priest, he does it dutifully, leaving the man bleeding on the floor of a seedy apartment. But when the priest is found brutally murdered, life as Vincent knew it ends and he has to flee as killers on both sides of the law make him the target of a city-wide manhunt. In an increasingly desperate struggle against increasingly long odds, Vincent begins to think his only hope lies not in fighting to live, but in resigning himself to dying—and killing—for a cause.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gutter Books (January 1, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 196 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1939751160
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1939751164
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.49 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #10,079,377 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #188,004 in Crime Thrillers (Books)
- #3,185,612 in Literature & Fiction (Books)

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4.3 20 ratings

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T. Fox Dunham

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T. Fox Dunham is an American writer and author of three novels: The Street Martyr, Mercy and Destroying the Tangible Illusion of Reality, or Searching for Andy Kaufman. He’s a cancer survivor, editor and host/producer of What Are You Afraid Of? Horror & Paranormal Show.

At the age of 17, oncologists at the University of the Hospital of Pennsylvania diagnosed Fox with a rare type of blood cancer: composite lymphoma. He was treated with an aggressive regiment of chemotherapy and radiation. The treatment crippled him for life, and the constant pain plus the violation of the treatment inspired his horror medical thriller, Mercy.

"Dunham has channeled his many brushes with the other side into the exquisitely rendered, lyrical supernatural hospital thriller MERCY. 3.5 out of 4 Skulls." - FANGORIA

Fox is creator, producer & co-host of What Are You Afraid Of? Horror & Paranormal Show—a dark audio magazine in its fifth season on PARA-X Radio with 200,000 direct downloads on most major podcast services. The show plays narrated ghost stories, dark fiction, and Fox interviews such guests as Travel Channel’s Katrina Weidman, Heather Taddy, authors like Joe R Lansdale and filmmakers like Lloyd Kaufman. Find every episode and more at www.whatareyouafraidofpodcast.com.

Fox is the author of three novels and many published short stories featured in magazines and anthologies. Throughline Films is developing his first book The Street Martyr into a series.

Fox is an accomplished baker, cook, gardener, herbalist and angler. He’s editing a new charity anthology, Coming Through in Wave, based on the music of Pink Floyd for Gutter Books. Proceeds will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

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Benji the Truth

Goes for the jugular, then rips it out!

Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2014

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Sometimes not killing can be a sin too...those words were never more true. From the very first page, T. Fox Dunham wraps his literary hands around your neck and demands your complete attention. I felt as though I were a passenger in Fox's high speed train ride through the gritty underworld streets of Philadelphia, and the surrounding neighborhoods. We follow two best friends named Vincent and King Louis as they attempt to etch out a living in the City of Brotherly Love, but when an innocent mistake leads both men on the run and fighting for their lives, they will have to do everything necessary to survive...or die trying. This is the kind of book that doesn't come along very often. The pacing is flawless and the plot extremely effective, harnessing relatable characters and sharp street smart dialog. I highly recommend.
Philly may have F**ked the Robin, but you'll only f**k yourself if you don't read this novel.

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Mets6986

Takes chances, and most of them pay off

Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2015

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T. Fox Dunham takes chances with this story, which is good, and most of them pay off, which is better. His protagonists, Vincent and Louie, are a very odd couple indeed -- but the back story that Dunham gives them really makes you understand what forged their friendship. The unusual use of religion and the church here also infuses the story with a different dimension.

Dunham is a very stylish writer, and his depiction of the grim wintry atmosphere and scary underbelly of Philadelphia is one of his book's big assets. Over the past year or so, I've read a couple of other books set in Philly that are spiritual kin to this one: "Dark as Night" by Mark Conard and "The Science of Paul" by Aaron Philip Clark.

At times I thought Dunham's plot stretched credulity. Vincent's motivation (especially with women) was where I felt this most. I wasn't altogether satisfied with the resolution either. But this was an entertaining and memorable book. I'll remember Louie in particular.

One person found this helpful

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John Birkenmeier

Modern and Gritty

Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2014

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The Street Martyr by T. Fox Dunham is modern thrill ride on our urban streets through the eyes of a young man who is both saint and sinner. What starts off with what seems like two-low life street thugs working towards their next meal and fix, quickly turns into a murder-mystery that propels these two friends into our hearts, and a bloody adventure they may not survive.

The Street Martyr is full of intrigue, grit, conspiracy, and crime. It gives us a realistic look into the heart and soul of the street.

One person found this helpful

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Rob S

Great book

Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2015

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I don't usually read fiction, but I really liked The Street Martyr. Could not put it down. Hope there is a sequel.

Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2015

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Just loved the book from the first pages. Truthful, heartbreaking but still makes you want to go further...

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Will Viharo

One From (and To) the Heart

Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2013

Anyone who is fortunate enough to have met author T. Fox Dunham in person and hear him read from his work understands first hand the stylish strength not only of his voice and talent, but of his will to endure and thrive against all odds. That rather supernatural combination of determination and desperation is on gut-wrenching display in his first full length published novel, "The Street Martyr." Hailing from the ironically dubbed City of Brotherly Love, Dunham is the David Goodis of the 21st Century, Philly's newly anointed archangel of angst, hard-boiled bard and prince of pulp. Like Goodis, Dunham vividly paints literary portraits of people, situations and scenarios that chill the blood while warming the heart, the despondent denizens of his dark, urban world redeemed more by the poetic power of the narrative than their own avaricious acts of violence in service of basic survival, seeking out both revenge and redemption in the cold streets of an old, tired, grittily beautiful but apathetic city. T. Fox Dunham's tormented yet triumphant spirit will haunt you forever, and you will be very grateful for the creatively compelling, combustible company.

5 people found this helpful

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Mark C. O'Connor

Lyrical noir

Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2013

T. Fox Dunham writes of the side streets and dark alleys of Philadelphia as if he prowled them himself, all night every night. He might at that, but it wouldn't leave much time for writing. "The Street Martyr" grew out of a short-short story called 'Kid Louie' that first appeared in the pulp zine Out of the Gutter (issue number 8). Two memorable characters from that piece, Louie and Vincent, fight for survival in the crime and poverty-ridden city. They take on not only rival punks and the law, but those in the highest corridors of power, and other forces more evil than they had imagined. Mr. Dunham, an accomplished horror writer, infuses his novel with the same sort of dread and menace one finds in those stories. But the best part is the haunting and lyrical prose, which makes even the dingiest and scariest of places seem beautiful. "The Street Martyr" is deft, articulate crime writing that leaves you wanting more. Highly recommended.

4 people found this helpful

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Bill Baber

Literary Crime Fiction at its best.

Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2013

The Street Martyr is Fox's first novel and he bursts onto the scene like automatic weapons fire in mid-afternoon. Set in Philly, it makes the grit of that city we know from Rocky look like Sunday Afternoon at Disneyland.
In a genre that is sometimes predictable and cliché, Fox brings us Vincent and King Louie. Those familiar with his short fiction are all ready well aware of these two unforgettable and totally original characters. The story takes us through the Philly underworld inhabited by mobsters and the underground inhabited by homeless monsters and victims. The story is an adrenaline fueled rush and the pace never slows. The characters, even the seemingly good guy priest, are all intent on their own survival and will use anyone and any means to achieve it. Both Fox's narrative and dialogue is sheer street poetry. I haven' read a debut novel this good in a long while. Heck, I haven't read a book this good this year. The Street Martyr is literary crime fiction at its best. Don't miss it.

2 people found this helpful

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Karen

Down and dirty and gritty, a real heartstopper

Reviewed in Canada on December 6, 2020

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Philadelphia may be known as the city of brotherly love but in this heart-stopping thriller, love is hard to come by. Plot points, dialogue, narrative and setting are as real as they get. You'll find yourself scrambling to get under the covers in order to feel safe. Keep the flashlight handy, you'll need the light to keep reading long into the night.

Jarrak

Dark and Entertaining

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 24, 2019

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The Street Martyr is the second novel I have read by T. Fox Dunham and unlike Mercy moves the darkness and depravity away from the more supernatural influence to that derived from power and money and everything which goes hand in hand with individuals who believe they are untouchable. Vincent Grant is a low level drug dealer partnered with Louie (friends from being boys) doing their business in the employee of the local crime boss in and around Philadelphia. A request from Vincent's priest (and friend) has him paying a visit to another priest who has been abusing children, a beat down by Vincent was delivered by the next day the priest is found beheaded and brutally disfigured in the local park. Pursued by the police and organised crime Vincent has few friends and forced to merge himself into the remnants of humanity he used to exploit reveals some startling truths.
The Street Martyr was an entertaining crime drama, the world that was painted was sufficiently bleak and realistic to understand the choices made by many of the main characters and the ultimate choice to embrace the darkness or the light was well paced and followed a logical if brutal path. A well written story showing us the depths the human soul can fall through both by circumstance and by choice.

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