Review: Black Hat Jack

Black Hat Jack by Joe R. Lansdale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An outstanding novella with breakneck pacing and a linear plot that brims with profane and colorful dialogue, and some thought-provoking ruminations on racism. A very fun and entertaining read from start to finish.

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Review: The Polar Treasure

The Polar Treasure by Kenneth Robeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Solidly and somewhat insanely plotted classic Pulp story with Doc Savage and his team competing with two rival gangs of thugs to locate a treasure that is lost in the Arctic from a map invisibly tattooed on a blind violinists back. The novel picks up speed in the last third after Doc loses his team and is forced to fend for himself against violent criminals, drugged Eskimos, and barehanded against a polar bear. Great stuff.

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Review: Outrage at Blanco

Outrage at Blanco by Bill Crider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A paging turning gem masterfully paced and plotted with several memorable characters and dialog that rings true throughout. Loved the unlikely alliance between the victimized woman and the dying old man, a relationship that spoke to the times and events in life that motivate us to do what we feel are the right things, as a matter of justice, or maybe vengeance, or as a last hurrah before heading to that big corral in the sky. A highly satisfying story that grabs you early and never lets go. Highly recommended for crime and/or western readers that don't mind adult themes and violence.

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Review: Nightfall

Nightfall by David Goodis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An exceptional psychological thriller told from the perspectives of an innocent man accused of robbery and murder, and the sympathetic detective obsessed with finding out the truth. More than a typical crime thriller, the novel is essentially a character study of an emotionally damaged man on the run, pursued by both criminals and police, looking for redemption but without a clear path, alone and without hope. Goodis pulls off the dual narratives with great aplomb. His lean prose and colorful dialogue propel the tight plot to a very satisfying conclusion.

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Review: Guild

Guild by Ed Gorman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gorman is a terrific writer and Guild does not disappoint. This short novel, the first in a four book series telling the tales of hard-boiled bounty hunter Leo Guild, is fast paced and brimming with memorable characters and dialogue. Gorman's descriptive prose resides in that sweet spot between terse and tedious, telling the reader just what you need to know without dragging down the snappy pacing. I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series.

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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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