Picture a storyteller who spun the sultry, jazz-soaked streets of New Orleans into gripping crime fiction—meet Tony Dunbar! Born in Atlanta, this novelist and lawyer has captivated readers with his Tubby Dubonnet series, blending sharp wit, colorful characters, and the Big Easy’s vibrant culture. With a knack for crafting mysteries that feel like a spicy gumbo, Dunbar’s work is a love letter to New Orleans and a testament to his unique journey.
The Making of Tony Dunbar
Born on June 11, 1949, in Atlanta, Tony Dunbar knew early on he wanted to write. By age 12, he was telling folks he’d be a writer, inspired by mystery giants like Dashiell Hammett and Mickey Spillane. His passion for storytelling took root during the Civil Rights Movement, where he worked as a community organizer in the Mississippi Delta. At 19, he published Our Land Too, a powerful reflection of those turbulent times. After earning a law degree from Tulane, Dunbar settled in New Orleans, where his legal career and love for the city’s chaos shaped his fiction.
Tony Dunbar’s Unforgettable Stories
Dunbar’s Tubby Dubonnet series, starting with Crooked Man (1994), introduces a laid-back New Orleans lawyer who’d rather savor crab étouffée than chase cases. Tubby, a divorced dad and former jock, stumbles into sleuthing, tackling cases from drug deals to mob schemes with a moral code that’s just flexible enough. The series, spanning ten books, including City of Beads and Tubby Meets Katrina, paints New Orleans as a character—its food, music, and menace alive in every page. Dunbar’s style mixes hard-boiled grit with humor, earning nominations for the Edgar and Anthony Awards. His Florida Fables series, set in Sarasota, dives into frontier-era crimes, showcasing his versatility. Tubby Meets Katrina, written after Hurricane Katrina disrupted his law practice, is a raw, firsthand account of the city’s post-storm chaos, blending fiction with real emotion.
Dunbar’s writing shines for its local color—think Mardi Gras parades, smoky jazz joints, and ethical dilemmas that mirror his legal world. His characters, from quirky clients to vengeful crooks, feel like they could stroll out of a French Quarter bar. Critics praise his ability to weave New Orleans’ fragile ecosystem into fast-paced plots, making readers root for both Tubby and the city.
Why Tony Dunbar Matters
Tony Dunbar’s impact lies in his ability to bottle New Orleans’ soul—its resilience, flaws, and flavor—while spinning yarns that thrill and amuse. His Tubby series, lauded by outlets like The Baltimore Sun, offers a fresh take on crime fiction, distinct from darker noir or formulaic whodunits. Beyond entertainment, his early nonfiction, like Our Land Too, earned a Lillian Smith Book Award, cementing his voice in Southern history and civil rights. Now living in Southwest Florida, Dunbar’s storytelling continues to bridge cultures, from the Mississippi Delta to the Gulf Coast, inspiring readers to see the South through a sharper lens.
- Birth Date: June 11, 1949
- Key Works: Tubby Dubonnet series, Our Land Too, Florida Fables series
- Awards: Lillian Smith Book Award, nominations for Edgar and Anthony Awards
Ready to taste the Big Easy’s wild side? Snag Crooked Man and dive into Tony Dunbar’s deliciously witty crime world!