Book Review: David Putnam’s 'The Scorned' - 27 East

Arts & Living

Arts & Living / 2152201

Book Review: David Putnam’s 'The Scorned'

icon 1 Photo
David Putnam's book

David Putnam's book "The Scorned."

authorJoan Baum on Apr 27, 2023

“The Scorned,” the tenth in David Putnam’s Bruno Johnson murder series (rarely is the crime a mystery), is so over the top that it warrants attention because, despite the implausible concentration of so much brutality and violence, Putnam pulls off an engaging first-person narrative. It’s nice at times to be immersed briefly in a wild, action-packed story that’s full of good and bad guys, and know that the good guys will win and be back. Hardly so-called real life.

Bruno, an ex-cop, is hiding out from law enforcement in Costa Rica (don’t ask) with his pregnant wife, Marie (who refers to their unborn child as Alfred E. Newman) and the 10 kids they rescued from dangerous lives in southern Los Angeles. Bruno is Black, though racial conflict has no major part in the plot, which has to do with kidnapping, drugs, gambling, child abuse, gangs and corruption.

Never mind the innocuous title, “The Scorned” — other (equally vague) titles from the series could do as well — “The Disposables,” “The Replacements,” “The Squandered,” “The Vanquished,” “The Innocents,” “The Restless,” “The Heartless,” “The Ruthless,” “The Sinister.” In Bruno’s world, all the nouns find their way in. Bruno lives on the edge, but has a buddy of sorts who has his back, a character who proves to be even more frightening to the underworld than Bruno seems to be, at least to those who realize he isn’t dead. Enter the huge, overweight Karl Drago, whose terror-inducing presence is augmented by his vicious dog, Waldo, a snarling unkempt beast with halitosis who obeys only Drago but tolerates Bruno who talks to him. Waldo eats almost as much as Drago — multiple hamburgers (paper and all) and strawberry milkshakes, and takes his orders in German.

As if these oddballs were not enough, the reader is reintroduced to Bruno’s parents — his adored, advice-giving, dying father who still carries the torch for Bruno’s mother, whom Bruno hasn’t seen for about 40 years because she’s in and out of prison (Bruno is 49). A feisty, shrewd gambler, Mom’s back with a vengeance, courting money, but proves to be a somewhat repentant figure, eventually helping Bruno and Drago get rid of the bad guys. She tools around in a wheelchair which she doesn’t need, and knows how to work the system. Any system. She’s a far cry, however, from the punks and thugs loaded with firearms and bad intent, especially the notorious Johnny F who rules the L.A. crime syndicate, and has duped Layla, a young woman with a baby, who is the daughter of a friend of Bruno’s father back in Costa Rica. And so it begins: “I turned to check behind me for the hundredth time since my bartending shift started — something fugitives do out of instinct.” But Bruno won’t let fear rule his life. He recalls working once with three deputies, two of whom gave up their badges out of fear. “The third one couldn’t do that — instead, he was fitted for a coffin and carried by six of his peers out to a vast lawn to start the beginning of a long dirt nap.”

Layla, it turns out, was a nice university student who met Johnny F in a club on Sunset, one of the Hollywood joints “that rose and fell as often as some people changed their underwear.” To get her back, Bruno gets embroiled in the seedy underworld, including a run in with a nasty under lord with a long beard who doesn’t even know black widow spiders are living in it. Were “The Scorned” ever to find an outlet as a movie, the scenes would go by fast and furious with blood and body parts, vomiting and screaming tortured victims. But also, it would be hoped, with some of the humor Putnam gives Bruno to assure the reader of his humanity.

In an end-of-the-book Author’s Note, Putnam notes that he came from a large but impoverished family that largely lived on welfare, along with whatever his mom could supplement with side jobs that included watching extra children while their parents worked — at times making for 18 kids in the house. Putnam became “the sheepherder and the sheepdog,” helping out. It’s why he relates “so well with Bruno and his mob of children down in Costa Rica,” whom he and Marie saved from poverty and exploitation in the states.

Men certainly are more likely to warm to Bruno’s world than beach-reading women and recognize the authenticity of Putnam’s creds: His previous career was in law enforcement, and he’s seen it all. At one point, he has Bruno musing on being a cop again, missing “the comradery, the brotherhood … the hunt and the satisfaction of coloring within the lines while putting away bad guys.” Well, yeah, but it’s when Bruno goes outside the lines that he becomes memorable.

You May Also Like:

HamptonsFilm Appoints Richard N. Gladstein Executive Director; David Nugent Promoted to Chief Creative Officer

HamptonsFilm has appointed two-time Academy Award-nominated producer Richard N. Gladstein as its new executive director. David Nugent, who has led programming at the organization since 2007, has been promoted to chief creative officer. Gladstein will report to HamptonsFilm co-chairs Alec Baldwin and Randy Mastro, while Nugent will report to Gladstein. Gladstein, a veteran producer and educator, will oversee all strategic planning and year-round programming for HamptonsFilm and its annual Hamptons International Film Festival. His role will focus on enhancing community engagement, expanding industry partnerships and increasing the festival’s national and international visibility. “We are delighted to welcome Richard as our ... 17 Jul 2025 by Staff Writer

Round and About for July 17, 2025

Music & Nightlife Mysteries, Deceptions and Illusions Allan Zola Kronzek, a sleight-of-hand artist, will perform ... by Staff Writer

Pop Art Star Nelson De La Nuez Headlines ‘Red Carpet’ Exhibition at East Hampton’s White Room Gallery

The White Room Gallery will present its latest exhibition, “Red Carpet,” from July 16 through ... by Staff Writer

Accordion Meets Improv: Sam Reider and the Human Hands To Perform on Shelter Island

Shelter Island Friends of Music continues its 2025 season with a free concert by composer, ... by Staff Writer

Artist Sean Scully Speaks at the Parrish Art Museum in Conjunction With 'Sean Scully: The Albee Barn, Montauk'

The Parrish Art Museum will present a special artist talk with internationally acclaimed painter Sean ... by Staff Writer

Let's Get Down to Business!

Get the back-history of East Hampton Village’s commercial district presented by East Hampton historian Hugh King and The Anchor Society founder Bess Rattray in a talk at East Hampton Library on Friday, July 18, at 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. What kinds of colorful, quirky, practical, and whimsical shops could be found “upstreet” in the decades before Prada, Vuitton and Valentino arrived? What was the business district’s retail culture like for shoppers 50 or 100 years ago? Travel back in time for a fun and informative virtual “walking tour” — with archival images, personal recollections, and video — ... by Staff Writer

At the Galleries for July 17, 2025

Montauk The Depot Art Gallery, at the Montauk railroad station at the corner of Flamingo ... by Staff Writer

Christopher Engel's First Exhibition Since Cancer Diagnosis: Radiance — The Light Within

Sitting in his East Hampton office at the Ross School last week, Christopher Engel reflected ... by Hope Hamilton

Hampton Theatre Company Launches Season 41 in October

The Hampton Theatre Company will kick off its 41st season this fall with a lineup of four productions, continuing the momentum from a landmark anniversary year. All performances will take place at the company’s longtime home at Quogue Community Hall. The 2025 to 2026 season includes “The Thanksgiving Play” (October 16 to November 2), “A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play” (December 12 to 14), the musical “I Do! I Do!” (March 12 to 29), and the fast-paced comic thriller “The 39 Steps” (May 21 to June 7). The season opens with “The Thanksgiving Play” by Larissa FastHorse, a satirical ... 15 Jul 2025 by Staff Writer

Animated by Art: Marionette-Making Workshop Series at the Leiber Collection

In the weeks ahead, the Leiber Collection will host “Animated by Art,” a marionette-making workshop ... by Staff Writer