Once again I got out my invaluable copy of HARD-BOILED,
edited by Pronzini and Adrian (the introductions in this book
are worth whatever I paid for it). The section devoted to the
thirties includes 8 stories. Here are the ones I read:
"Mistral" by Raoul Whitfield, "Trouble-Chaser" by Paul Cain,
"Fruit Tramp" by Daniel Mainwaring (Geoffrey Homes),
"Brush Fire" by James M. Cain, "Human Interest Stuff" by
Brett Halliday, and "Waiting for Rusty" by William Cole. The
latter writer is one I know nothing about, but then neither
does anyone else. This is "Cole's" only published story. All
the stories are distinguished by their clean, spare prose,
their color and movement. Current writers could learn a lot
from them. I knew where the Halliday story was going long
before it got there, but I still enjoyed it. The Paul Cain
story is the only one with a conventional whodunit plot, and
that one is also easy to figure. Didn't detract from my
enjoyment a bit, however.
Bill Crider
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