Review: 13 French Street

13 French Street by Gil Brewer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Brewer clearly had higher designs for his career in this early novel. The prose is tight and literary, brimming with impressive descriptions and similes. Brewer was no hack. Sexual obsession drives the plot, a topic that Brewer does as well, or better than most. What’s missing here is the insane plot twists that Brewer employed so well in his later novels. For example, I was expecting the narrators fiancé to show up at the worst possible time, but she never did. I’ve read better plotted Brewer, but never better written Brewer.

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Review: Passion Flayed

Passion Flayed by J.X. Williams
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

High literature it ain’t, but for a ‘60s sleaze book it’s pretty good. Sharp tongued Rita finds that she is only sexually attracted to men that she isn’t married to - not a good thing for her husband Brad, who struggles to save their marriage as Rita piles up the extramarital affairs. Rita’s lovers include a gruff construction boss, a sleazy psychiatrist, and a door-to-door salesman who all find her charms completely captivating, and who Rita fights off, but ultimately finds impossible to resist. The books strengths are the well written dialogue, and it’s weakness the lack of plot, and it’s forehead-slapping conclusion. This is one of Harry Whittington’s “missing 38” sleaze books that he wrote monthly in the mid 1960s.

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Review: Nightmare in New York

Nightmare in New York by Don Pendleton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mack Bolan is immediately wounded in a gunfight with Mafia assassins upon arrival in NYC and is rescued by three hippie-type chicks who nurse him back to health, unfortunately putting themselves into deep danger. Typical action book heroics ensue with Bolan making a series of assaults on the five mob families of NYC. The scene with Sam the Bomber and his wife was a nice touch, showing some of Bolan’s humanity and compassion. The final assault with Bolan infiltrating then destroying the mob compound on Long Island was a satisfying climax. In general a good entry in the series.

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