Posts tagged CFL reviews

Robert B. Parker revitalized private eye fiction in the 1970s, and this new anthology pays tribute to the modern master of the genre.  And what do you know, I was lucky enough to get a chance to review it for Crime Fiction Lover.  The contributors in this book include new Spenser author Ace Atkins, Dennis Lehane, Lawrence Block, Ed Gorman and other crime fiction titans. But don’t just take my word for it. Go read the review, then take my word for it.

Robert B. Parker revitalized private eye fiction in the 1970s, and this new anthology pays tribute to the modern master of the genre.  And what do you know, I was lucky enough to get a chance to review it for Crime Fiction Lover.  The contributors in this book include new Spenser author Ace Atkins, Dennis Lehane, Lawrence Block, Ed Gorman and other crime fiction titans.

But don’t just take my word for it. Go read the review, then take my word for it.

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It’s no secret that John D. MacDonald is one of my hardboiled favorites.  Random House is reprinting his Travis McGee novels, and I thought I’d take the opportunity to talk about McGee’s (and MacDonald’s) place in hardboiled literature.  So head on over to CFL for a “review” (such as it is) of The Deep Blue Good-by and a discussion of McGee—a beach bum and rather unqiue hardboiled hero.

Also, before you rush over to CFL, take a moment to admire the pulp art of Robert McGinnis, who illustrated a great many John D. MacDonald covers (both McGee books and standalones).  McGinnis was every bit the master that MacDonald was, and the pairing is inspired.  It’s like a pulpy seal of quality if I find an old paperback with John D. MacDonald’s name on it and cover art by Robert McGinnis.

But don’t just take my word for it. Go read the review, then take my word for it.

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This slim volume was haunting, thought-provoking and brutal.  It’s also my latest review on Crime Fiction Lover.  Helmick skillfully serves up noir fatalism and stifling frustration on the Georgia blacktop.  If Rod Serling were alive, he’d be jealous he didn’t think of this plot for The Twilight Zone. But don’t just take my word for it. Go read the review, then take my word for it.

This slim volume was haunting, thought-provoking and brutal.  It’s also my latest review on Crime Fiction Lover.  Helmick skillfully serves up noir fatalism and stifling frustration on the Georgia blacktop.  If Rod Serling were alive, he’d be jealous he didn’t think of this plot for The Twilight Zone.

But don’t just take my word for it. Go read the review, then take my word for it.

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As promised, my review of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl is now posted over at Crime Fiction Lover.  Gone Girl has certainly been a runaway success—but is it any good?  Check out my review and find out why I think it’s a pretty darn good thriller.  If any of you have read it, I am (as always) curious to hear your reactions. But don’t just take my word for it. Go read the review, then take my word for it.

As promised, my review of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl is now posted over at Crime Fiction Lover.  Gone Girl has certainly been a runaway success—but is it any good?  Check out my review and find out why I think it’s a pretty darn good thriller.  If any of you have read it, I am (as always) curious to hear your reactions.

But don’t just take my word for it. Go read the review, then take my word for it.

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Happy New Year, tumblchums! I hope your holiday season has been joyous, and that your favorite college football team wins its bowl game (unless they are playing a team I like better).  Here’s to a happy, noir-filled 2013 for all of you.  That might seem contradictory, but noir always makes me happy.  If it doesn’t make you happy, too, well…what’s wrong with you?  And why are you reading this blog, you goddamn masochist?   But before we change the calendars, allow me to share my favorite crime fiction from 2012.  My “Top Five” list is up over at Crime Fiction Lover.  Check it out and let me know what you think!  Feel free (as always) to comment there or here.  Also  note the #bestcrime2012 hashtag on the tweetybot—chime in with your picks there, too. Also, if you want to read more extensive reviews of the top crime reads for the past year, you can find my reviews of Outerborough Blues and Easy Money at CFL.  My review of Gone Girl will be up on CFL in the next day or so, too.  And I reviewed False Negative as a freelancer for Grift Magazine. So that sums up 2012.  What are you looking forward to in 2013?

Happy New Year, tumblchums! I hope your holiday season has been joyous, and that your favorite college football team wins its bowl game (unless they are playing a team I like better).  Here’s to a happy, noir-filled 2013 for all of you.  That might seem contradictory, but noir always makes me happy.  If it doesn’t make you happy, too, well…what’s wrong with you?  And why are you reading this blog, you goddamn masochist?  

But before we change the calendars, allow me to share my favorite crime fiction from 2012.  My “Top Five” list is up over at Crime Fiction Lover.  Check it out and let me know what you think!  Feel free (as always) to comment there or here.  Also  note the #bestcrime2012 hashtag on the tweetybot—chime in with your picks there, too.

Also, if you want to read more extensive reviews of the top crime reads for the past year, you can find my reviews of Outerborough Blues and Easy Money at CFL.  My review of Gone Girl will be up on CFL in the next day or so, too.  And I reviewed False Negative as a freelancer for Grift Magazine.

So that sums up 2012.  What are you looking forward to in 2013?

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Classics in September continues apace over at Crime Fiction Lover.  In my new feature piece, I discuss Deadly Image and the pulp fiction of George Harmon Coxe.  Coxe is hardly a literary high point of hardboiled crime fiction, but he is a solid and enjoyable author.  

Unfortunately, Coxe is out of print these days.  Fortunately, MysteriousPress.com and Open Road Media (full disclosure: the latter is sponsoring Classics in September at CFL) are reviving Coxe and other classic crime authors via newfangled e-books.

Even more fortunately, you have a chance to win a MysteriousPress.com e-book of your choice.  Yes, any George Harmon Coxe book.  Perhaps you prefer Rex Stout or  Mignor Eberhart?  Or maybe James Ellroy?  It doesn’t matter which—you can win any MysteriousPress.com title you wish.  Just high-tail it over to CFL’s contest page and leave a comment there.

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Classics in September is ongoing at Crime Fiction Lover, and readers may be interested in my first CIS piece: The Top 5 Women of Noir.  This is a companion to my earlier piece listing five of the top hardboiled writers.  As before, I’m very interested to see if you would add anyone to the list (too many writers, too few spots!).  So feel free to leave a comment here or there.  And keep an eye on Classics in September at CFL.

Classics in September is ongoing at Crime Fiction Lover, and readers may be interested in my first CIS piece: The Top 5 Women of Noir.  This is a companion to my earlier piece listing five of the top hardboiled writers.  As before, I’m very interested to see if you would add anyone to the list (too many writers, too few spots!).  So feel free to leave a comment here or there.  And keep an eye on Classics in September at CFL.

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Recently I reviewed John Gurney’s Let the Devil Sleep for Crime Fiction Lover.  It’s an intricately-plotted thriller if you like that sort of pageturner.   But don’t just take my word for it. Go read the review, then take my word for it.

Recently I reviewed John Gurney’s Let the Devil Sleep for Crime Fiction Lover.  It’s an intricately-plotted thriller if you like that sort of pageturner.  

But don’t just take my word for it. Go read the review, then take my word for it.

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The plot is reminiscent of The Big Sleep, and Duca is a Chandleresque figure: unafraid on mean streets, but not himself mean. If you’ve been following me on twitter, you may have seen my enthusiasm for A Private Venus. I think fans of hardboiled crime fiction, international crime fiction or both will certainly enjoy the new reprint of Giorgio Scerbanenco’s A Private Venus.  I not only reviewed the book for Crime Fiction Lover, I also enjoyed it thoroughly.  But don’t just take my word for it. Go read the review, then take my word for it.

The plot is reminiscent of The Big Sleep, and Duca is a Chandleresque figure: unafraid on mean streets, but not himself mean.

If you’ve been following me on twitter, you may have seen my enthusiasm for A Private Venus. I think fans of hardboiled crime fiction, international crime fiction or both will certainly enjoy the new reprint of Giorgio Scerbanenco’s A Private Venus.  I not only reviewed the book for Crime Fiction Lover, I also enjoyed it thoroughly. 

But don’t just take my word for it. Go read the review, then take my word for it.

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My most recent review for Crime Fiction Lover was R.D. Ronald’s The Zombie Room.  I thought it was kind of a mixed bag, but crying to be made into an action film. But don’t just take my word for it. Go read the review, then take my word for it.

My most recent review for Crime Fiction Lover was R.D. Ronald’s The Zombie Room.  I thought it was kind of a mixed bag, but crying to be made into an action film.

But don’t just take my word for it. Go read the review, then take my word for it.

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