Doug recently read:
ACT OF LOVE -- I had heard a lot about this book, also (I now
believe it was due to lack of availability at the time). I
had gotten the impression that it was a hardboiled classic
which "got deep into a psycho killer's head," like Ellroy's
Killer on the Road. I finally found a copy. I was greatly
disappointed. The plotting seemed stilted as did some of the
characterisation. Also, it seemed the killer didn't quite
ring right, seemed more driven by plot need than internal
compulsion. It was the first Lansdale I read, so it took me a
while to try another. I'm very glad I did. I'm now a big fan
of Hap and Leonard. I haven't read any of his other crime
novels, which are recommended?
DEAD CITY -- I have this, By Reason of Insanity and Rat Pack
by Shane Stevens, but haven't read any of them. Do others
agree with Doug's reservations about the first? How about the
others? Which is the best of these three?
WALK A BLACK WIND -- You know, I've read all of the Dan
Fortunes, but I don't really remember the plots, although I
remember beign caught up in them at the time. It's the
character of Dan Fortune that got me going through this
series, in order (although it's not really necessary), at a
very steady pace.
FINAL NOTICE -- the early DKAs are more procedural than the
later ones, which go deeper and deeper into the various
characters and in the case of 32 Cadillacs, at least, a lot
of humor. I liked them all, though must admit that Gores got
to be a more fluid writer as his career progressed. And I
second the endorsement of Gores's story in the first Black
Lizard Anthology about the two guys who sign up to witness an
execution.
TOLL CALL -- I'm also a big fan of Greenleaf, but agree this
one falls apart a little bit near the end, but Greenleaf at
his not best is still pretty damn good. How are his
non-series books? I haven't read any of those.
Mark
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