Fast Copy

Fast Copy follows Ben Bradlee III, a wealthy newspaper reporter in 1930s Texas who investigates decades-old murders in the small town of Claybelle. His main source is Edna Ferber, a retired schoolteacher who knows the town's history and scandals. Two plot threads run through the story: Ben's investigation into the historic crimes and his budding romance with Sally Spade, a fellow reporter from New York. The book alternates between the murder mystery and scenes of their relationship developing against the backdrop of Depression-era Fort Worth. The narrative captures both the newspaper culture of the 1930s and the rough-and-tumble history of Texas in the early 20th century. Ben's investigation connects events from Texas' wilder frontier days to their reverberations in the more settled 1930s. The book explores themes of truth, justice, and how the past shapes the present - both for individuals and communities. Through its parallel storylines, it examines how personal relationships intersect with professional ambitions.

Readers note Fast Copy delivers Jenkins' trademark Texas humor and newspaper industry insights from his decades as a sportswriter. Many highlight the witty dialogue and chemistry between main characters Betsy and Danny. Readers liked: - Authentic 1930s small-town Texas atmosphere - Inside look at old-school journalism practices - Quick pacing and snappy conversations - Historical details about Depression-era life Common criticisms: - Plot meanders at times - Some find the ending unsatisfying - Too much sports talk for non-fans - Period-specific language can be jarring Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (42 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (16 ratings) "Takes you right back to a bygone era of Texas journalism" - Amazon reviewer "The newsroom scenes ring absolutely true" - Goodreads reviewer "Needed tighter editing but the characters won me over" - Goodreads reviewer

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📚 Dan Jenkins drew from his own experience as a newspaperman in Fort Worth, Texas to create the authentic newsroom atmosphere in Fast Copy 🗞️ The novel's title refers to the journalistic practice of writing quickly and accurately under deadline pressure, a skill highly prized in 1930s newsrooms 🤠 Set in a fictional Texas town called Claybelle, the book captures the transition period of Texas from its wild frontier days to a more modern era in the 1930s ✍️ Jenkins incorporated real historical events and figures into the novel, including references to Bonnie and Clyde, who were active in Texas during the story's time period 🏆 The author was primarily known for his sports writing before Fast Copy, having worked for Sports Illustrated and written several acclaimed books about golf and football