One of the darkest books I've ever read. I'd rank it right up next to Lawrence Block's Grifter's Game as far as a release from Hardcase Crime that lefOne of the darkest books I've ever read. I'd rank it right up next to Lawrence Block's Grifter's Game as far as a release from Hardcase Crime that left me staring off into space questioning the worth of humanity.
Bonus points for taking place between Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve....more
It’s 1961 and Fidel Castro, having recently gained power, is a polarizing figure to say the least. A handful of Americans has been hired to sneak intoIt’s 1961 and Fidel Castro, having recently gained power, is a polarizing figure to say the least. A handful of Americans has been hired to sneak into the island nation and assassinate Castro in exchange for a small fortune.
Published by Hard Case Crime in 2008, Killing Castro had originally been written under a pseudonym (Lee Duncan) in an era when Lawrence Block had been churning out books on a monthly, sometimes weekly basis.
While I’m a big fan of Hard Case Crime and the work they do, not everything they put out knocks my socks off. This one from early in Block’s career is about as forgettable as it gets. The book definitely has its fair share of sex and violence, like you expect from Hard Case, but Killing Castro really shows how far Block has come as a writer.
That being said, this book isn’t pretending to be anything it’s not. Block wasn’t looking to tackle communism in the form of a drug store paperback. If you’re looking for a quick and violent read, this should do the trick....more
Aging comedian Koo Davis is taken captive by a collective known as People’s Revolution Army. Their demands? Have the US Government release ten inmatesAging comedian Koo Davis is taken captive by a collective known as People’s Revolution Army. Their demands? Have the US Government release ten inmates and provide them with safe passage to Algeria. The alternative? Koo dies.
I have a pile of Hard Case Crime novels sitting on my bookcase that I’ve yet to work my my through. With the year winding down and the weather getting chillier, I thought what better time to hunker down inside with a few crime classics than November (or Noir-vember?).
When my partner saw me reading this one, she said, “another Westlake? You must be a big fan of his.” And I thought, “Am I?” I have read quite of bit of his work over the years but I can’t remember going out of my way to get any of his books. Hard Case Crime has published a lot of his lost work, so I just happen to end up with a few Westlake books in my hands a few times a year.
The Comedy Is Finished was an alright read. It didn’t blow me away but given that Westlake had shelved it himself and did not get around to publishing it, maybe that makes sense. There are a few gruesome, blood-splattered pages and a fair amount of smut, so it fits right in with Hard Case’s “strict” criteria.
I will say that Westlake kept me guessing up to the end as to just how the criminals would either get away with it or if Koo Davis would escape with his life. There were a lot of twists and turns that helped keep me up late for a few nights (just one more chapter, etc). However, this one pretty much left my mind as quickly as it entered.
Not much stuck and maybe that’s because, aside from Koo Davis, many of these characters felt flat. I didn’t get the sense the kidnappers had ever really gotten along at any point given that there had been infighting from the beginning of the novel, and Koo Davis, the guy that the government has been trying to rescue, came across as a real prick.
Even an “OK” experience with a Hard Case Crime novel is better than most non-series whodunnits. 3 stars....more
When noted junkie Billy-Billy Cantell arrives at the door of career criminal Clay alleging he’s being framed for murder, Clay begrudgingly agrees to tWhen noted junkie Billy-Billy Cantell arrives at the door of career criminal Clay alleging he’s being framed for murder, Clay begrudgingly agrees to take him in. After the police arrive and interview Clay on Billy-Billy’s whereabouts, Clay discovers Billy-Billy is nowhere to be found. Clay reaches out to his employer for direction and is told to do everything within his power to keep Billy-Billy safe. Knowing Billy-Billy couldn’t hurt a fly, can Clay track him down and clear his name?
After having finished Adam Higginbotham’s MIDNIGHT IN CHERNOBYL, I was looking for something a little less traumatizing. So, a standalone Hardcase Crime novel that clocked in just over two hundred pages seemed like a good idea.
I don’t want this to sound like I’m slagging the book because I did like it, but Donald Westlake’s The Cutie is the perfect forgettable read. This is like grabbing a burger and fries at your favorite fast food joint. It’s quick, satisfying and tasty. But unlike the assembly line nature of the fast food industry, Westlake is putting in the work of a chef with red herrings, misdirection and twists galore.
Donald Westlake’s THE CUTIE is as hard-boiled as they come....more
Kit Toliver spends her days picking up men and promptly murdering them afterwards. While her behavior could likely be traced back to a traumatic evenKit Toliver spends her days picking up men and promptly murdering them afterwards. While her behavior could likely be traced back to a traumatic event in her childhood, she certainly doesn’t hide the fact that she enjoys what she’s doing. One day, when thinking back to all of the men she’s disposed of, she’s reminded of the five that escaped with their lives. She decides to put things right in her mind and go after the ones that got away.
Lawrence Block and Hard Case Crime weren’t kidding when they labeled GETTING OFF “a novel of sex and violence”. In the 1960s and 70s, Block had penned a handful of sexually charged novels under the pseudonym Jill Emmerson. Following a brief hiatus in 2010, Hard Case Crime was looking to relaunch in a big way. What better way than reaching out to Block and having him resurrect an old pen name and style that fits perfectly within the publisher’s wheelhouse?
GETTING OFF is without a doubt one of the most violent and sexually explicit novels I’ve ever read. I’d like to consider myself fairly well-read when it comes to Hard Case Crime’s catalog, but I can’t recall anything quite as dark, brutal or sexual from them as this one from Block. That isn’t meant to be a knock, so don’t take it that way. I definitely knew what I was getting into when I had read a few reviews beforehand. That said, I continued to be shocked on occasion throughout the story as Block seemingly refused to hold anything back when it came to Kit’s adventurous side either in the bedroom or on the other end of a knife.
Even though Kit is reprehensible in her actions, she’s an easy character to get behind (pun intended) as she’s equipped with razor sharp wit leading to a level of charm that’s quite infectious. The relationship she develops with Rita, a woman she rents a room from midway through the novel, is an integral part of the story that allows Kit to grow and develop as a character rather than just a mindless killing machine.
Although Kit’s trauma is probably far worse than many of us will experience in our lives, it’s still something that, throughout the novel, she is constantly coming to terms with. GETTING OFF, while at its core is a story meant to affect the reader in a certain way, is more of a nuanced look at how life molds and shapes us, how we’re sometimes powerless to change our behavior despite knowing that it can often be detrimental to our lives. GETTING OFF is proof that genre fiction has much more to say than just what appears at surface level and it’s why Hard Case Crime is one of the best places for those voices....more
Jamie can see dead people. No, we’re not talking about that Bruce Willis movie (he actually says this in the story). Jamie only sees those who’ve receJamie can see dead people. No, we’re not talking about that Bruce Willis movie (he actually says this in the story). Jamie only sees those who’ve recently died and not for long either. For whatever reason, Jamie has found that the dead are unable to lie and must truthfully answer any question asked of them. But Jamie has to move quickly, because it isn’t long before they begin to fade away and venture onto whatever follows life on Earth.
Following the financial crash of 2008, the literary agency run by Jamie’s mother has hit rock bottom. Their misfortune is compounded by the fact that her agency’s star author whose book she had counted on to carry them through another year, died unexpectedly. In a last ditch effort to right the ship, Jamie is taken to the spot where the author had died so Jamie may get all the details on the book’s story and ending so that Jamie’s mother can finish it and publish it posthumously.
Getting wind of Jamie’s talents, an NYPD detective enlists (or forces) his help to track down an explosive left by a serial bomber after he had committed suicide when his identify had been uncovered by the authorities. Can Jamie find the culprit, locate the device in time, and save the day?
When I heard King had a new book coming in 2021 through Hard Case Crime, I was cautiously optimistic. Not only is Hard Case Crime one of my favorite publishers, King’s last effort through them was 2013’s Joyland; a novel I had loved. When I heard his new book would be under 300 pages, my interest then grew exponentially. Given that King is known for being long-winded and that his new stuff isn’t as good as his earlier work (there are a few exceptions with 11/22/63 and Revival coming to mind), I appreciated the opportunity to get something shorter from Uncle Stevie.
I enjoyed the premise and the novel was paced well. There were some great moments between Jamie and the recently departed. I loved that those who had passed took the form of their selves at the time of passing, so when a guy on a bicycle dies in a horrific traffic accident, Jamie has to see or communicate with a ghastly image. King’s on point here with gory descriptions of some of the specters Jamie comes into contact with.
All that said – and I hate myself for this – I think the premise is a bit wasted on such a short novel. There’s a moment near the middle of the story that left me with chills and although it’s such a short scene, maybe a page, it will stick with me long after I’ve put the book back on the shelf. It’s particularly moving and left me wanting more. I would have loved to have King truly sink his teeth into Jamie Conklin and his uncanny ability to talk to the dead. However, I’m not sure modern King could do that justice. If we could invent time travel, I’d love to head back to the 1970s and plant this idea in King’s head as I think it would fit well right alongside The Dead Zone and The Shining.
I thought that as a narrator, Jaime was pretty lame. I couldn’t help but laugh when he would start chapters with “Now, check this out” or “Dig this”. Who talks like that anymore? I’m also a little bit tired of King’s seemingly immense disgust of overweight people. It’s been a problem throughout all six decades of his work and when you’ve read as many of his stories as I have, it becomes distracting and borderline offensive. It’s always a villain or an unimportant side character he saddles with these deeply descriptive bodies, so never someone good or well-intentioned.
Complaints aside, Later is a good read from King that I devoured in just a few sittings. While I knew ahead of time something was coming, there’s a big connection to one of King’s earlier novels that slots this story into the wider King Universe. I thought this was handled really well. Obviously, I won’t reveal it for fear of spoiling it for others, but constant readers will be rewarded.
Note: I originally rated this one 4 stars, but after thinking about it for a few days and in the course of writing my review, I brought it down to 3....more
In Double Feature, we’re presented with back-to-back stories related to the movie industry. The first, “A Travesty”, follows film reviewer Calvin ThoIn Double Feature, we’re presented with back-to-back stories related to the movie industry. The first, “A Travesty”, follows film reviewer Calvin Thorpe, as he tries to cover up a murder by staying out of the path of a pair of detectives as well as a blackmailer. The second, “Ordo”, focuses on a man who discovers his long-lost wife has become a Hollywood bombshell.
“A Travesty”, the first of the two stories, takes up about three quarters of the book. Westlake produces a bumbling yet seemingly clever protagonist in Carey Thorpe who consistently evades suspicion despite a litany of bad choices. I can’t decide if he’s just cocky or at times completely oblivious to his actions. Maybe it’s a little of both. In fact, there’s a choice he makes mid-way through the story that was so unbelievably stupid and short-sighted that I wanted to cry-out, “OH, COME ON”. What he did was even more mind-boggling considering he showed that he could be a rather brilliant detective as he helped the two detectives assigned to the murder he was involved in solve a handful of other murders! I guess it was a case of “rules for thee, not for me”.
The second story, “Ordo”, is a philosophical look at the idea of identity and how we sometimes have to completely change ourselves in order to get what we want out of life. Despite its much shorter length compared to the first story, I thought it was the stronger of the two. The main character, Ordo, struggles with the thought that the woman he knew sixteen years prior is someone he no longer recognizes whereas he has not changed in the slightest. This story hit me particularly hard given its deeply introspective subject matter and its emotional finale.
Hard Case Crime continues to be one of my favorite publishers going today and I commend them for unearthing and publishing some of the most interesting work from a by-gone era....more
Prescott Marshall is about to tie the knot, but a drunken misadventure shortly before his big day sees him wind up in bed with another woman. It isn’Prescott Marshall is about to tie the knot, but a drunken misadventure shortly before his big day sees him wind up in bed with another woman. It isn’t long before the young woman shows up and begins to blackmail Marshall for money in exchange for keeping her mouth shut. The situation comes to a head when she arrives on his doorstep the day of his wedding. Having hit his limit, Marshall murders her in a fit of rage. Thinking his problem is now in the rear view mirror, his troubles are only just beginning.
Following the murder, Marshall spends the rest of the book dancing on the edge of a razor blade. Woolrich takes the Marshalls out of New York City and ships them to some “faraway town” (it’s literally stated as such) where things really begin to spiral out of control. Woolrich never allows the reader to get too comfortable by constantly providing an enemy for Prescott to focus on. This creates - at most points - a good page turner. That said, the novel does tend to drag in a few places - especially in the moments where Woolrich starts to wax philosophically about the nature of life and death. Don’t get me wrong, the writing is particularly strong but mostly when it comes to the subtle conflict between Prescott and his wife Marjorie building to an intense confrontation.
The ending was definitely on the shocking end of things and not one that I saw coming at all. There’s a brief epilogue, or postscript, that didn’t do a whole lot for me.
This isn’t a boring book by any means, but it’s certainly not the best of the best that I’ve read from their collection. However, Charles Ardai and the folks at Hardcase really know what to look for when selecting a book to publish as this basically ticks all the boxes on the noir checklist....more
Opening to glitz and glamour in the early 20th century, the Charlesgate Hotel was a crown jewel in the city of Boston. By 1946 however, it was home toOpening to glitz and glamour in the early 20th century, the Charlesgate Hotel was a crown jewel in the city of Boston. By 1946 however, it was home to some less than savory characters. When a card game featuring some of Boston’s most notorious criminals gets upended and looted, those responsible find themselves in the unenviable position of having to pay back the man they stole from. Years later, when the hotel had become a dormitory for Emerson College, one of the students working for the school newspaper decides to dig into the building’s past and investigate the aforementioned crime. Jumping ahead nearly thirty years, a detective is tasked with investigating a murder in the Charlesgate, now a suite of high-end luxury condos.
Is that confusing? I hope it isn’t. Scott Von Doviak’s Charlesgate Confidential finds a thread running through nearly seventy years of history weaving it in and out of the lives of those taking residence in the old Boston building. Jumping from era to era to era through concurrent chapters, Von Doviak crafts an intriguing mystery keeping me glued to the pages for long stretches of time. I think I read this one in two days? It definitely lends itself to the definition of a page-turner, which was surprising to me as I’m usually not a big fan of multiple timelines with multiple characters within one narrative.
I will say that I found the present day portion of the book the least interesting of the three plot lines. I understand the need for it to tie everything together, but I didn’t find it quite as interesting as the 40s or 80s eras. Also, with the ’46 and ’86 years, Von Doviak had tied in infamous Boston Red Sox world series appearances as the backdrop, whereas in the 2014 section, the Sox already had a few championships under their belts and the luster had vanished, losing a little bit of that charm.
A modern entry from the publishing house, Charlesgate Confidential is another good bit of pulp from the fine folks at Hard Case Crime and one I hope to revisit someday....more
Business tycoon Richard Curtis, alongside engineer George Manville, develops a new and efficient process of demolition. Using a deserted island as a tBusiness tycoon Richard Curtis, alongside engineer George Manville, develops a new and efficient process of demolition. Using a deserted island as a test subject, complications arise when a diver from a rival environmentalist organization attempting to stop the process is believed to be killed during the explosions. Her body eventually lands on Curtis’ boat, barely clinging to life. Believing that she will cause more trouble than she’s worth should she awake, Curtis orders her to be killed. Manville doesn’t agree with this and the rift between the two sets off a chain reaction that threatens Curtis’ goals of using his new destructive invention for profit and revenge.
In the 1990s, author Donald Westlake was hired by the producers of the James Bond franchise to write a script for the follow-up to the 1995 entry Goldeneye (great N64 game, by the way). Ultimately, the producers decided to go in another direction and rather than let the idea find the bottom of a trash can, Westlake altered it enough so that it would resemble an original story. For whatever reason, Westlake decided not to publish it during his lifetime. About a decade after his death, acclaimed publisher Hard Case Crime unearthed the novel and released it into the wild.
If you didn’t tell me this was a Bond script, I wouldn’t have known. Is that a good thing? I guess so. At least in terms of Hard Case releasing this without studio interference, anyway. For the most part, I found this book painfully dull. I didn’t find any of the characters the slightest bit memorable or interesting as they all seemingly served as exposition to move the plot forward. Speaking of the plot, it definitely fits within a Bond film. I liked Curtis’ evil plan and the way in which he intended to execute it. It’s too bad I didn’t really find him that interesting as a villain.
The novel’s saving grace was the last fifty pages when the action threatens to boil over a simmering pot. I honestly couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. It reads like a pure popcorn action flick featuring gun battles and a race against time. However, it’s hard to recommend a four-hundred plus page book if I’m only going to hype the last fifty pages.
I’ve read my fair share of Hard Case books and this is the one I’ve enjoyed the least, I believe. It is surprising considering I enjoy Westlake’s work as Richard Stark quite a bit through his Parker novels. I think if this had been shorter, it might have scored more points with me. Those first hundred pages were a real slog to get through. They can’t all be winners though....more
Abandoned by his parents and desperate for revenge against those in his town who have made his life a living hell, twenty-something recluse Robbie hasAbandoned by his parents and desperate for revenge against those in his town who have made his life a living hell, twenty-something recluse Robbie has come up with a shameful scheme. On Halloween night, with the assistance of his friends Jody, Dag and Midge, Robbie will give out candy filled with pins and poison. Will he follow through with his despicable plan or will his cohorts stop him before it’s too late?
Blood Sugar is unlike any book I’ve read. Author Daniel Kraus presents Jody, Robbie’s young friend, as the principal narrator. In doing so, Kraus worms his way inside Jody’s brain by writing in Jody’s completely unique voice. In flipping some choice swear words by using phrases like “that’s some serious sharkweek” or “mightyducker” helps to endear him to the reader. Even though I’m not a Lord of the Rings fan, I appreciated his love for the books/movies and the fact that he covers his coat in quotes from the series. Made me laugh out loud on a few occasions.
While Jody is the one who narrates the majority of the book, Kraus allows us to get into the heads of the other main characters through letters they write. I thought this worked really well. We get to see a lot of character development that would otherwise go unnoticed by their brief interactions with Jody. The brightest spotlight shines on Dag who has the biggest evolution from over-achieving, stable teen to something else entirely; something dark and twisted.
Blood Sugar, while ultimately a crime novel, is a very poignant and dark look at life in urban America for those who are struggling both financially and mentally. Robbie’s story is a deeply tragic one and although Jody tries to remain positive for Robbie by putting up a front throughout the novel, it’s clear that he is just a push away from shattering. And he’s not the only one.
Sure, you could probably find scarier books to read this Halloween, but like many of Hardcase Crime’s offerings, Kraus’ Blood Sugar is definitely not to be missed....more
Sinner Man tells the story of small town insurance-peddler Don Barshter, and how after a few too many drinks, inadvertently murders his wife followingSinner Man tells the story of small town insurance-peddler Don Barshter, and how after a few too many drinks, inadvertently murders his wife following an errant strike. Rather than call the police and turn himself in, Don decides to cram his wife’s body into a closet and flee town. It’s during his aimless travels that Don forms a plan - get to Buffalo and join the mob under a new identity. Now known as Nat Crowley, he quickly begins a career in organized crime and subsequently hooks up with a woman who may be more dangerous than she first lets on.
Nat Crowley, while trying his best to frame himself in a positive light, is a despicable, layered character - as all great noir protagonists are. Barshter suffers from the “smartest man in the room” syndrome where his own arrogance and self-perceived intelligence blinds him. How can you blame him? His ramshackle, cartoonish plan actually unfolds as he envisioned but when ripples begin to show, he ignores them thinking he’s infallible. So while it appears at the beginning he’s done a serviceable job replacing the spineless Don Barshter with the cold, callous Nat Crowley, he realizes too late that like leopards, you can’t change your spots (sorry for the overdone expression) and despite his best efforts, history threatens to repeat itself before all is said and done.
Identified as Block’s first ever crime novel, Sinner Man is ripe with noir excellence. You’ve got all the hallmarks of the genre; tough-talking baddies, femme fatales, a plethora of murders and steamy sex scenes. For fans of Hard Case Crime, this is an easy sell - Sinner Man lives up to their publishing standards revealing itself as a hidden gem from Lawrence Block’s vast catalogue of work....more
Doak Miller is a former cop living out his retirement in Florida. Not content to sit on his ass and collect a pension, Doak picks up a P.I. license aDoak Miller is a former cop living out his retirement in Florida. Not content to sit on his ass and collect a pension, Doak picks up a P.I. license and takes the odd job that floats his way. When a local sheriff comes to him with a request to impersonate a hit-man to a housewife looking to knock off her bastard of a husband, Doak takes the assignment. But what happens when Doak falls under the spell of his titillating target?
Seeing as Block cut his teeth writing erotic yarns, it isn’t hard to believe he could write such filthy fiction. The smut in here is about as graphic as can be but the scenes don’t feel like filler. Unlike Pelecanos’ The Double, a novel that soured me with what I perceived as unnecessary sex sessions, Block’s book makes good use of the mature material, tying it into Doak and using it to showcase his aggressive nature and desire for violence.
The plot works well within the Hard Case Crime dynamic. Much of the story is spent inside Doak’s mind from a third party narrator giving insight into his sex-crazed ambitions as well as his plan to try and get away with murder. Given HCC’s tendency to showcase scumbags as their novel’s protagonists, Doak fits the mold. That being said, it’s hard not to root for him after discovering the wife’s motive.
Although it took a few days to get through this one, it felt like a quick read. The Girl with the Deep Blue Eyes is something that could easily be devoured in a few hours. I had a hard time putting this one down. As long as Block feels like writing new novels, I’ll keep reading them....more
The good folks at Hard Case have served up a heaping help of holiday hell in the form of Daniel Boyd’s heist novel, Easy Death. The story follows two The good folks at Hard Case have served up a heaping help of holiday hell in the form of Daniel Boyd’s heist novel, Easy Death. The story follows two hired goons charged with the unenviable task of robbing an armoured truck just days before Christmas. Will they succeed in their mission or will a brutal snowstorm throw their plans awry?
A relatively new name in crime fiction, Daniel Boyd is a pseudonym for a retired police officer and Easy Death is his first novel with renowned publisher Hard Case Crime. Easy Death follows a handful of characters, often switching from first person to third person narration and while the story itself is both solid and plausible, the narration shift is often jarring. Full disclosure: I'm never a fan of this so it’s likely I’ll complain every time I see it.
While I enjoyed the peppering of Christmas songs into the story at first, I felt Boyd went back to the well too often, to the point the lyrics became a distraction (and this is coming from a guy who LOVES Christmas). I felt Ernest Cline did this to great effect when he injected the 80s sound into his novel, Ready Player One whereas this feels like Boyd is hitting you over the head with a giant candy cane.
Despite those complaints, I thought Boyd put forth a good effort in creating a fun story for the holiday season. Is it something I’ll read again? Probably not, but it’s worth a look - it is Hard Case after all.
I wonder if Juarez and El Paso were inspirations for George Lucas when he created the town of Mos Eisley as the two border towns are both wretched hivI wonder if Juarez and El Paso were inspirations for George Lucas when he created the town of Mos Eisley as the two border towns are both wretched hives of scum and villainy.
Seeing the public eye for the first time in over fifty years, and released through renowned publisher Hard Case Crime, Borderline (originally published as Borderlust) is crammed with sex and violence. Block’s dirty and dangerous drama fits well within the publisher's vision of hard-hitting stories and sleazy players.
The main story, Borderline, shifts perspective among five less than admirable characters: a successful gambler, a rich divorcee looking for a good time, a down on her luck drifter, a sex-crazed lesbian and a serial killer. While the story itself is dripping with sexual content, the real fun comes in guessing when and where these five will eventually intersect with one another.
Alongside Borderline, there are three additional short stories that make up the rest of the content. While two of the three stories only share a few dozen pages, the final story is about seventy pages in length and I liked that one the best of the bunch - a classic murder mystery that had me guessing until the end.
Since its launch a few years back, Block has become a staple of the Hard Case Crime brand and with the positive reception for Borderline, Block was inspired to pen another standalone crime novel that publisher will release in late 2015 titled, The Girl with the Deep Blue Eyes. Can’t wait!
After doing a stretch in San Quentin, Johnny Hayden decides to commit to a quiet life in middle management. While saving up to buy a local motel and qAfter doing a stretch in San Quentin, Johnny Hayden decides to commit to a quiet life in middle management. While saving up to buy a local motel and quietly completing a correspondence course in hospitality, Johnny is approached by an old friend with a con to end all cons. Reluctant at first, Johnny eventually caves after careful analysis suggests the plan is a sure thing. The only hiccup? There’s an amateur involved. Will the scheme go off without a hitch or will their accomplice’s inexperience lead to their downfall?
Hard Case Crime has become my go to when I want to relax with a swift read between larger, more demanding novels. This isn't a slight against the quality of work – not at all – I just find the stories read like swift punches to the gut. The writing is very clean and clear and the plots are always interesting. Charles Ardai sure knows what he’s doing when he puts that stamp of approval on a crime novel.
Most of the novel takes place in the Northeast United States as well as Toronto and the scheme itself involves purchasing land in the Canadian Midwest province of Alberta. Knowing what we know now in just how vastly rich that province is, it almost would've have been worth their while to hang onto the land. Johnny and Doug could have been oil tycoons!
Block’s prose is just so easily digestible. I know it’s a short book – only 251 pages (with a very racy cover I might add) – but I flew through this in just two sittings. When it comes to the plot, it’s hard to believe Block hasn't set up one of these cons himself, everything seems so flawless. Well, it’s either that or he was once taken by a smooth-talking grifter himself.
Man, what an ending. I thought I had it all figured out but Block goes and blindsides me like a snow storm in July. It’s everything a Hard Case Crime novel should be, it’s unexpected and brutal. It just goes to show the timeless quality of Block’s work. With the exception of one major difference – lessened security at the airport (no fault of Block’s) – this novel holds up today despite being published nearly 50 years ago....more
William Maynard, a former magician turned card shark, was run out of Chicago following a botched poker scheme. Following a nasty dust up, Bill befrienWilliam Maynard, a former magician turned card shark, was run out of Chicago following a botched poker scheme. Following a nasty dust up, Bill befriends a dentist and finds himself with an invitation to a low stakes card game. It’s there that he meets Joyce, the sultry wife of tax lawyer Murray Rogers. Before long, Bill finds himself tangled up in the sheets with Joyce and the two hatch a plan to frame Murray for murder, eliminating him from the picture. Will their plan succeed or will Bill’s luck run out once again?
While the story progressed swiftly and the twists and turns refused to let up, it’s the banter between the characters as well as Bill’s narration that kept me from putting the book down. Granted, my knowledge isn’t the strongest when it comes to card games – I barely know how to play anything outside of Go Fish – I rarely felt intimidated when Block gave the play-by-play in describing Bill’s cheating methods It’s not like he held my hand or over explained things, Block kept the scenes moving smoothly and was careful not to get bogged down in the technical aspects of it all.
Now that I’ve got a few of these Hardcase Crime novels under my belt, I can easily say that this was the most sex-driven yet. While I’m sure there may be others on the horizon that will give Lucky At Cards a run for its money, this takes the cake for the time being. Hey, don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a complaint, the sex scenes aren’t overly gratuitous by any means nor are they really all that lengthy, they’re just abundant I suppose.
While Bill’s not really that likeable – he’s a card shark who specializes in cheating others – you just can’t help but root for him to succeed. It’s bewildering to say the least. It’s not like Block does him any favors. Even if he shows the smallest glimmer of light escaping from Bill’s criminally hardened facade, he quickly covers him in another layer of scum. This is the great thing about the pulps of this era, the characters are deeply flawed so their decisions aren’t always the right ones, which makes the story wholly unpredictable.
Lucky at Cards is another exceptional release from the folks at Hardcase Crime who continue to strive to keep this genre alive and well....more
An alternate title could have been “Drugs Are Bad” or “Hasty Decisions are not Recommended”. While they’re not as eye catching or as hip as “A Diet ofAn alternate title could have been “Drugs Are Bad” or “Hasty Decisions are not Recommended”. While they’re not as eye catching or as hip as “A Diet of Treacle”, they still sum up the story pretty accurately.
Joe and Shank have a strange living arrangement. Sharing an apartment in the West Village, Shank supports Joe financially by peddling pot to a steady stream of customers. Both are subscribers to the hip lifestyle of the 60s, meaning that they’re not interested in getting a nine to five pencil pushing desk job, instead opting to wax philosophical about life and ridicule the squares that live uptown. All things considered, they had a good thing going until Joe decides to pick up an attractive woman, Anita, on a bet.
While there’s no immediate connection at first, Joe bumps into Anita later on and is shocked to discover that she wants to move in with him. Not really knowing how to take this, Joe tries to push her away, insisting that she’s simply not built for his lifestyle. When she fails to yield her offer, the two end up between the sheets and a domestic relationship follows. While Shank initially insists he’s OK with his new roommate, a darker side has recently begun brewing deep inside him and is threatening to come to the surface.
I never understood Anita’s rationale for moving in with Joe. While it’s made known that she’s uninterested in the whole getting married, having kids and living the life of financially secure housewife, her quick decision to jump into bed with this guy she barely knows – yes, I’m aware that one night stands are a thing – then wanting to live in his rundown, disgusting apartment (roaches literally crawling across the floor) was a bit of stretch considering her upbringing and stance on drug culture. It was too much of a 180, even for someone wanting to dramatically shake up their life.
Shank’s change in attitude, while gradual, did seem rushed, if that makes sense. There are glimmers of violent tendencies early on when he speaks about the power his switchblade carries, how it drops women’s inhibitions, even hinting that he may take some by force. However, there’s not a doubt in my mind that he’s a psychopath. It probably didn't help that he shared a room with Joe and Anita dancing the horizontal mambo. In his twisted world view, Anita was insatiable and it was his turn whether she liked it or not. Whether his progression is rushed or not, Shank’s truly a horrific monster that Block tries his damnedest to make sure the reader doesn't forget.
It’s worth noting that there’s some strong writing here – as if I have to tell you that when it’s a Lawrence Block novel. Joe’s musings about life and his distaste for dropping into the system, becoming a cog in the great wheel of society, were easy to identify with. He almost felt like a more focused, older and wiser Holden Caulfield. I would have probably enjoyed a whole book written in that style alone, tossing out the crime elements that were mixed in.
I’m not sure if this one will stick with me as strongly as my first Block Hardcase Crime book, Grifter's Game, but it’s a short read that you could most likely blast through in one sitting....more
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