Hi all -
I just came across this list and recognize some names from
other lists, but I'm trying to improve my hard-boiled IQ, so
I thought I'd join this one.
Currently, I'm reading "The Cracked Earth" by John Shannon,
which I'm really enjoying. It's a very nice blend of noir
sensibility with contemporary L.A.
- high tech gadgets and a more up-to-date view of the L.A.
economy and entertainment industry than you often see in
crime fiction.
I'm currently a big fan of Lehane, Pelecanos, Connelly, and
Crais [though I'm not nuts about the direction the latter two
seem to be going with their most recent books, saying this
without having read the new Crais] ; I've read a little bit
of Hammett and Chandler, and I'm just discovering Block and
Westlake.
Mark Sullivan wrote:
>The Dortmunder books just don't do it for me. I far
prefer Westlake's
>darker work.
I started Westlake with "Drowned Hopes," which I thought was
terrific. It's quite long for what is essentially a comic
caper, but I was really impressed that he kept my interest
and kept the plot going for the entire thing. I've got a very
strong vision of Dennis Leary as Dortmunder (probably because
of
"The Ref," an underrated flick with a certain Westlake-ian
feel). Right now, I've got the audio of "Trust me on this"
which is (I think) a standalone about tabloid journalism, and
is quite lively so far.
I got off to a bad start with Block, trying "Burglar in the
Rye," which I had to abandon due to excessive cuteness.
Sometime later, I tried "Hit Man," which worked much better
for me - though it sort of peters out after the first few
episodes, which started out as independent short stories. I
particularly liked "Keller's Therapy," and I'm wondering if
this was the first appearance of the "bad guy and shrink"
motif that seems to be everywhere now. I first remember
seeing this device in "Grosse Pointe Blank," which I think
came out in '97, and which - to put it kindly, at the very
least - seemed *influenced* by the Keller stories. Since then
you have
"Analyze This" and "The sopranos" and now every baddy seems
to have an analyst on speed dial (nothing against the
Sopranos, which uses the device very well).
Since then, I've read "Hit List" - which, though it
ostensibly has an over arching plot, is really just more
variations on the same theme. Still has some brilliant bits.
I love Keller, and I would have read this book just for the
"Homicide" references. After that, I read "sins of the
Fathers". The psychology seems a little dated or else just
plain out there, but great characters, great tone, nice
streamlined plot, and he does New York very well. (though I
just had to sob at the references to the victims
"expensive"
$400/mo Manhattan apartment. And yeah, I know bucks were a
lot harder to come by back then, but still!)
Carrie
*****************
"Is that what you do for a living?" she asked. "Find
folks?"
"Sometimes," I said. "Other times I just look."
-James Crumley, "The Last Good Kiss"
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