Review: Everybody's Watching Me

Everybody's Watching Me by Mickey Spillane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Originally serialized in the first four issues of Manhunt Magazine, this novella by one of the world's most popular writers at the time, gave the fledgling magazine instant credibility and the ability to attract some of the best crime writers of the day. It helps that it's a terrific story that I found more appealing than his "Mike Hammer" novels. Probably the best Spillane that I've read.

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Review: Shame Dame

Shame Dame by John Dexter
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Contrary to rumor, I am doubtful that this one was written by Lawrence Block. "Shame Dame" tells the story of Frank Fisher, a newly published writer, who kills his unfaithful wife's lover in a fit of rage and then skips town to Florida to avoid being arrested. Flat broke and on the run, Frank is forced into the unsavory machinations of the wife of an old rich guy, and his oversexed teenage daughter. Sexual encounters are described in the toned-down terms used by softcore writers of this era. It's a quick read and fairly well plotted. OK for vintage sleaze.

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Convention report - Classicon

Book Review: "Ozark Nurse" by Fern Shepard

Ozark Nurse by Fern Shepard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I came across a few Vintage Nurse Romance eBooks recently, and started with this one, and it turned out to be a good book. One thing that strikes me is that regardless of how unworthy or forgotten a book may seem, it may still provide significant reading value. This novel was written in the early 1960's during a time of vast social change, especially in regards to the role of women, so it was very interesting from an historical perspective. Having read some modern romance novels that contain a lot of graphic sex, I was surprised to find that there was zero references to sex in this book at all. How things have changed.

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Book review: "Junkie!" by Jonathan Craig

Junkie! by Jonathan Craig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A cool and smoky noir with trumpet player Steve, former prostitute and junkie girlfriend Kathy, the Boogie piano playing ex-girlfriend Lois, and the nymphomaniac Donna cranking out murders and double-crosses against the backdrop of 1950's Washington DC Jazz clubs. Not nearly as sleazy as it sounds, I found the story compelling, and really dug the whole Jazz musician vibe.

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Book review: "Black Wings Has My Angel" by Eliott Chaze

Black Wings Has My Angel by Elliott Chaze
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Black Wings Has My Angel" is a top notch 1950s noir propelled by the compelling relationship between Tim the narrator, the the femme fatale Virginia, who is surprisingly well realized for a female character from this era and genre. Essential reading for fans of noir fiction.

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Book review: "The Cheaters" by Orrie Hitt

The Cheaters by Orrie Hitt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"The Cheaters" is an entertaining and fast paced noir about a loser that finds a job in a seedy bar in a grimy town and becomes sexually obsessed with the owners wife. The sexuality was probably fairly salacious for 1960, but is very tame in comparison to modern erotica/romance novels.

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Book review: "The Lesbian Pulp MEGAPACK: Three Complete Novels" by Fletcher Flora

The Lesbian Pulp MEGAPACK TM: Three Complete Novels by Fletcher Flora
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

All three novels are worth reading. The first two are hindered by unsympathetic lesbian characters, which was probably typical for lesbian pulp novels of that time period. The third was the best, with likable characters, engaging plot, and crackling smart dialog. None of the novels offer graphic depictions of sexuality, or sleaze, and the lesbianism is mostly implied. Mr. Flora is clearly a talented author. Not sure how he ended up writing lesbian pulp fiction.

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"Verdict" Pulp magazine from July, 1953

Includes stories from several pulp-noir writers including Cornell Woolrich, Dorothy B. Hughes, Bruno Fischer, and Henry Kane. Verdict - July, 1953

 

Book review: "Draw the Curtain Close" by Thomas B. Dewey

Draw the Curtain Close: Mac Detective Series #1 by Thomas B. Dewey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hard boiled detective "Mac" gets himself involved in a murder mystery. This is a very encouraging start to Dewey's "Mac" Detective Series of books. I intend to read more of them.

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