| |
|
The Maltese Falcon
Dashiell Hammett
Vintage, 1989
You'll Read It, Like It, and Ask for Another!
+ Sam Spade is the man!
+ "Falcon" lays an egg...
+ Do You Really Need a Review of This Book?
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Straight Cut (Hard Case Crime)
Madison Smartt Bell
Hard Case Crime, 2006
a cult classic among fans of noir crime fiction
+ Straight Cut - page turning
+ Unexpectedly rewarding
At first blush STRAIGHT CUT is a bit of an enigma within the context of the Hard Case Crime list. Madison Smartt Bell doesn't ordinarily work within the suspense genre in general or hard-boiled crime fiction in particular, though certainly his talent is such that he is capable of writing, and ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Fade To Blonde (Hard Case Crime)
Max Phillips
Hard Case Crime, 2004
A slow slug fest.
+ homage to a lost genre (and time)
+ Solid story and writing
We have Ray Corson, ex-boxer, a collection of women and thugs, and reliable friends. After being hired to make someone `go away' preferably using a permanent solution, Ray plugs along learning more about the woman who hired him and the men who want to hurt him.
The built up-moving through ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Queenpin: A Novel
Megan Abbott
Simon & Schuster, 2007
Superb revival of a gritty genre
+ Femmes Fatale galore
+ Noir Has A New Fan!
I've read all three of Ms Abbott's novels now. She is a quick read and will not strain your brain. However, her recollection of the time about which she writes is a delight. She also writes in a manner tough enough to invoke early Spillane and his peers (if he has any). The switch to dangerous ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Rhythm Section
Mark Burnell
Avon, 2000
Rhythm Section Is Awesome
+ A pretty good thriller
I started to read this book taking a chance on it. Let me tell you that it had me grasped and wanting more. I got into the storyline and really felt feeelings for a character I knew wasn't real. As great as this book was the next one has me grasped even more in Chameleon. I am beginning to ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Diamonds Are Forever (James Bond Novels)
Ian Fleming
Penguin (Non-Classics), 2002
Bond does Vegas
+ Super Reader
One of the big movies of recent times was Blood Diamonds, a grim action movie dealing with conflict diamonds, those mined in certain African countries in states of civil war. A few years before that, the final Pierce-Brosnan-as-James-Bond movie, Die Another Day also dealt with these diamonds. Ian ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Double Indemnity
James M. Cain
Vintage, 1989
excellent -- a definite no miss
+ It Always A "Dame", Right?
+ A KILLER PLOT...
+ A Step Up From "Postman" -- Plot and Writing are Improved
+ Classic Noir From a Master
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
A Taste for Death (Modesty Blaise series)
Peter O'Donnell
Souvenir Press, 2006
The best of the best!
+ Super Reader
+ The Best
+ Best of the Series.
+ "Well ... you'll have to win now, Willie love."
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Song Is You: A Novel
Megan Abbott
Simon & Schuster, 2008
Quite different from her first book
+ Sleazy and grimy but I loved it
+ Not Free SF Reader
+ Hard Words in a Velvet Sheen
+ Tinseltown Noir
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Modesty Blaise (Modesty Blaise series)
Peter O'Donnell
Souvenir Press, 2005
Modesty Blaise is one of the most delightful characters in adventure fiction.
+ Fun and action
+ Super Reader
+ Long live Modesty and Willie!
+ Outstanding caper novel
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Doctor No (James Bond Novels)
Ian Fleming
Penguin (Non-Classics), 2002
Fleming's most dangerous game
+ A Great Summer Read
+ Slow Start But Great Ending
Doctor No starts off weakly but finishes strong. Picking up a few weeks after the conclusion of From Russia with Love, Doctor No finds Bond just returning from a long stay in hospital after being poisoned. M is determined to keep Bond out of strenuous duty, so he sends him on a presumably easy ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Rain Fall
Barry Eisler
Signet, 2003
Discovering Rain Fall
+ Good Thriller
+ Awesome Assassin!
+ Move Over Double 07
+ Great action thriller
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
One Shot (Jack Reacher, No. 9)
Lee Child
Dell, 2006
Another Reacher thriller!
+ SEXY, THRILLING, SEXY, THRILLING, SEXY, THRILLING
+ One Shot
+ Really Good
+ Very Good!
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Robbie's Wife
Russell Hill
Hard Crime Case, 2007
Several nice surprises
+ Crime of Passion
+ SIMPLY TERRIFIC!!
+ deja vu!
+ A new take on "The Postman Always Rings Twice"
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
Walker & Company, 2005
The perfect novel for a 3 day weekend
+ Intrigue, Intense character development, Spies as they are meant to be
+ Cold Reality
+ Great Spy Novel
|
|
|
|
|
|
