Grifter's Game (Hard Case Crime #1)
by Lawrence Block
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 105)
Read in July, 2008
Its definitely disturbing towards the end.
Written in 1961, it seems to be near the end of that '50's hard-boiled style. Writing economically, Block moves his story along at a fast pace. Ultimately, there is nothing particularly memorable about the characters or the story which would make this book more than just a good example of the genre. One jarring note--the narrator quotes Kipling and Shakespeare, which certainly seems out of character.
We forget how the world once revolved around...more
Written in 1961, it seems to be near the end of that '50's hard-boiled style. Writing economically, Block moves his story along at a fast pace. Ultimately, there is nothing particularly memorable about the characters or the story which would make this book more than just a good example of the genre. One jarring note--the narrator quotes Kipling and Shakespeare, which certainly seems out of character.
We forget how the world once revolved around...more
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Read in December, 2006
recommends it for:
heroin, drug dealers, junksploitation
Kick-ass drug dealer noir from Lawrence Block from way back in 1961 when such things were still scary. Get this instead of the awful write-for-the-rent "A Diet of Treacle" that Hard Case just released. This is da shit.
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
Hard crime, noir, and mystery fans
Five stars if you are a hard crime or noir fan. Four if you prefer mysteries. Probably three if you read mostly mainstream. I read it in one sitting. Clear and compelling prose and storyline, and a powerfully dark ending. One of the best I've read by Block, and reminiscent of some of the best of Jim Thompson.
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Read in March, 2008
Grifter's Game, which was originally published as Mona in 1961, was the first novel by Lawrence Block I've read. It was really good, so I'm sure it won't be the last. The doomed characters and the protagonist's fatalistic point of view reminded me of everything I like about Jim Thompson's best novels.
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Read in August, 2007
Nasty, brutish and short, with visions of grandeur that kick in about halfway through. Notable is the "honest" approach to male sexuality, which comes across more like James Bond on Horny Goat Weed.
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Read in July, 2008
I thought it would be fun to read this old mystery. I expected to just breeze along, knowing how it would all come out. Surprise! The ending is not what I expected at all.
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Read in November, 2007
I like Lawrence Block so I gave this a try. Not bad...interesting ending. Dark. Reminds me of the pulp fiction crime from 50's...probably supposed to.
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Read in January, 2006
This book is the definition of hard-boiled, in my opinion. Double crossing is the name of the game here. One of my favorite endings ever.
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Read in January, 2006
I love this kind of hard-boiled writing. The ending was bit darker than I expected, but it was a fun weekend read!
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Hard Case Crime is great, simple as that. This one's surprisingly disturbing later on.
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