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Aug 10, 2011

Dan rated it:

After eleven years in the clink, Joe Kurtz, eager to get back on his feet, signs on with the mob to investigate who is highjacking their trucks. But can Joe figure out who's stealing from the mob before someone from his past guns him down?

Wow. Dan Simmons knows how to spin a yarn. Hardcase is an homage to the Parker books for Richard Stark but manages to steer clear of ripoff territory.

Joe Kurtz is a former PI that winds up working for the mob and gets caught in the More...

7 comments like (24 people liked it)

Jan 07, 2011

Kemper rated it:

If you have any doubts that this one was inspired by the Parker novels, just check out the dedication: “This book is for Richard Stark, who sometimes writes under the wussy pseudonym of Donald Westlake.”

Joe Kurtz may be a private detective instead of a professional thief, but he can match Parker for sheer ruthlessness and poor social skills. In the first six pages of this book he sticks a guy's hand into a garbage disposal and chucks him out a window. For that little temper tantru More...

9 comments like (7 people liked it)

Sep 19, 2007

LJ rated it:

Hardcase - Ex
Dan Simmons
When ex-PI Joe Kurtz emerges from Attica after an 11-year-stretch, he is still being sought by the brother of a man he iced for murdering his partner, as well as by disciples of a Black Muslim group whose leader he killed in stir. Not the most obedient parolee, Joe clandestinely resumes detective work, tracing a vanished mob accountant for aging don Byron Farino much to the aggravation of the don's family and associates, who are secretly double-crossing one an More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Dec 29, 2011

Aaron rated it:

My love for Dan Simmons has no boundary. Everyone knows this.

That love is the largest reason why I found this novel to be utterly disappointing for the first hundred pages or so. It's written in such a truncated style that it doesn't read like a Dan Simmons novel.

I'll give you an example--

Normal Dan Simmons sentence: Kurtz swung his elbow backward with brute force, connecting just under his would-be assailant's chin with such power that it knocked him backward, re More...

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Jan 24, 2010

Rosina rated it:

There are three novels in this ultra-hardboiled (thriller/detective/ough guy) series. (The genre is in flux, and at present there isn't really a term for it that I like.) The hero is Joe Kurtz, and he's is the hardest fictional case I've run into who still comes across as three dimensional and interesting in a variety of ways. The third in the series (Hard as Nails) is just out. I haven't read it yet, but I will soon.

Genres are genres specifically because there are conventions asso More...

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May 19, 2011

Dirk rated it:

Dan Simmons can write. He starts this book with a dedication “To Richard Stark, who sometimes writes under the wussy pseudonym of Donald Westlake”. Richard Stark is, of course, the pseudonym that Westlake uses to write his gritty crime books starring ‘Parker’ and Hardcase seems to be Simmons’ homage to those books.

Simmons’ hard ass character is Joe Kurtz, a private investigator who starts the book killing the scumbag that raped and killed his former partner. He goes to prison for 11 More...

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Feb 01, 2011

Brandon rated it:

Over the past 2 years, I’ve discovered that my favorite books to read are crime fiction. I fell for the genre when I picked up my first Charlie Parker novel and have never looked back – reading stuff by Stieg Larsson, Connolly, Koontz and Jeff Lindsay. With those authors, I have yet to even crack open the proverbial briefcase of crime fiction but hey, you got to start somewhere.

When perusing good reads one evening, I noticed a few reviews for the Dan Simmon’s series about hard boil More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Feb 06, 2010

Rosina rated it:

There are three novels in this ultra-hardboiled (thriller/detective/ough guy) series. (The genre is in flux, and at present there isn’t really a term for it that I like.)

The hero is Joe Kurtz, and he’s is the hardest fictional case I’ve run into who still comes across as three dimensional and interesting in a variety of ways.

Genres are genres specifically because there are conventions associated with them. Romance novels (whether or not they are marketed that way) are l More...

0 comments like

Jun 26, 2009

Robert rated it:

This entire book is a cliche, but that doesn't stop it being entertaining from the first to the last page. The protagonist (he's not really a hero when one takes an objective view, yet he gains the reader's sympathy very quickly) is not hard-boiled, he's grilled on the forge Sauron used to make the One Ring. I'm surprised there hasn't been a film adaptation, since the book has the tone and plot of a crime-revenge-thriller-action movie. Looked at another way, it's Dashiell Hammett for the curr More...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Jun 08, 2011

Angela rated it:

Dan Simmons is a multi-talented author who writes in so many genres he defies categorization. Horror, science fiction, espionage, and now this novel: a hard-boiled action thriller with an "anti-hero" protagonist. Lots of violence, which is typical for this genre, and one fairly graphic sex scene. It's a fast, fun read, and I highly recommend it. Hardcase is the first novel in a series. Try any other Dan Simmons novel you come across as well. Regardless of category, they are uniformly w More...

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Dec 17, 2009

Matthew rated it:

Dan Simmons dumbs it down! Way down! Who cares? Not me! Kikk assss!

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 28, 2009

Sheree rated it:

3.5 stars
Think Pulp Fiction with Roid Rage and you'll have a taste of what's in store for you with Hardcase.
This is one action-packed, graphically violent, pared down to a bare minimum, hard-boiled suspense novel.

Former Private Investigator and ex-con Joe Kurtz spends 11 years in prison after avenging the death of his partner and lover Samantha Fielding. While in jail, Kurtz protects & befriends Steve Farino, the son of New York mob boss. Don Farino becomes Joe's first cl More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Aug 26, 2008

Kellie rated it:

"Joe Kurtz has no intention of giving up his chosen profession of private investigator, even though he's just spent 12 years in jail. He believes it's only a matter of finding the right case. But that case will never come to him, so he pays a call on Byron Tatick Farino, mob boss, and suggests that for $400 a day plus expenses, he'll try to find the Family's missing accountant and also figure out who's hijacking the Family's trucks. Farino is inclined to let him do this since he has nothing More...

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Apr 24, 2011

Mike rated it:

Hard Case Hardcase by Dan Simmons is a definitely a favorite, Five Stars. “Kurtz sighed, forearmed the thug in the throat, bent him back over the sink, and jammed Eddie’s right hand down deep into the garbage disposal. Eddie Falco was screaming even before Kurtz reached over and turned on the switch.” That was page 3. What else can we expect from Joe Kurtz? Joe Kurtz is one tough cookie and you do not want to mess with this guy. I read the three Joe Kurtz novels in reverse sequence. Doesn’t m More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Oct 02, 2011

Matt rated it:

The dedication to “Richard Stark, who sometimes writes under the wussy pseudonym of Donald Westlake” sets out Dan Simmons intent to deliver ultra hardboiled noir.

Ex-private eye Joe Kurtz has just been released from prison after serving 11 years for a revenge killing.

Unable to obtain a PI license he goes to work investigating truck hijackings impacting a small time organised crime families smuggling operation.

What follows is very readable mayhem, violence and More...

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Mar 29, 2009

Commodore Tiberius Q. Handsome rated it:

"Dynomite Dan" Simmons one day said "hey i rule and already wrote the best sf novel maybe ever and then killed it with a combo historical-fiction/espionage joint so what genre is next to get wrecked" and PIZZOW he dropped this on the crime fiction genre and cracked their hardboiled domes. this is the kind of book you pick up, go "wow this is both hard and boiled. hmm. whoa! hmm. BLAOW!!!" and then you put it down cuz you finished it. a very fun read. about as More...

1 comment like

Feb 01, 2011

Alejandro rated it:

This was a no-holds-barred crime novel. Unlicensed P.I. Joe Kurtz is probably the grittiest, most bad-ass genre hero this side of Lee Child's Jack Reacher. Simmons' prose is strangely beautiful, accurately and thought-provokingly describing various horrendous sights, from a bandaged and burned assassin's frenzy in a porn shop to the sound of a 300 pound white supremacist falling seven stories. This is a fantastic, fast-paced read and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

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Jan 28, 2012

Del rated it:

In the same way that Allston's X-Wing novels fill my "junk food for the brain" need, Simmons' Joe Kurtz is plain having more fun than anyone else in the crime genre. All three 'Hard' novels are great, but the first one - Hardcase - is definitely the most fun. A classic for the ages? Not at all. But a great cloudy Saturday afternoon read? One of the best.

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Feb 04, 2011

Tal rated it:

i didn't know what to think about this book before i got it or even when i was first reading it. if they language was taken out, i would have loved the book. well, maybe i still would have given it 4 stars, i'm not sure. anyways, the twists and turns caught me off guard and so that was awesome. someone killing someone, but was supposed to be killing someone before killing someone, but then killed someone else. yes, it had a lot of twists and turns. i enjoyed it though and will definitely finish More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 22, 2010

Chris rated it:

I'm a big Dan Simmons fan. The guy writes across genres and delivers the goods every time. Thing is, I didn't even know he had written this "Joe Kurtz" stuff until David @ Busted Flush Press hipped me to it. This is just a violent, pistol-fisted crime story with a couple twists and some wry humor. Can't wait to read the next one.

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Feb 03, 2010

Johnny rated it:

Pitch perfect homage to Stark's (Westlake's) Parker novels. Maintains its own voice while embracing the violent, hard romps of its inspiration.

It really feels like Simmons read all the Parker novels, then decided that there needed to be another one, so he wrote it.

Great, quick read. Great momentum, plenty of violence, and some nice twists.

1 comment like

Jan 26, 2011

Leif rated it:

This book kicked a lot of ass, right from page one. There was so much action, so many double crosses, and just the right amount of sex, too. It was almost a parody of a mystery/thriller, and I could imagine a lot of people rolling their eyes as they read it. As for myself, I was amazed by how much I liked it.

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Aug 13, 2011

Ken rated it:

There are elements of Spencer and Sam Spade in the book with a story line that could be from the God Father. Butt the main charter is darker and Buffalo is meaner The story moves at break neck speed and there are plenty of trust so that you will not put it down. Enjoyable read and well written.

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Aug 19, 2011

Michael rated it:

I have never read a P.I. / thriller / mob / gangster power struggle style book, and I really liked this book. It was short and sweet, kept me interested, and definitely kept me guessing. I won't spoil the ending because there are enough spoiler reviews, but I must say, just when you think it's all over, the last 10-15 pages throw you for another loop. Great book! Great read!

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Feb 16, 2012

Jeff rated it:

Case study in character as revealed through action alone. I'm not into hard boiled detective books, but wanted to give this a try. I wasn't disappointed and would definitely recommend it for those who like their characters hard boiled.

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Nov 25, 2011

james rated it:

This is a hard-hitting book with plenty of mayhem, as the main character takes an assignment for an aging Mafia don on my old stomping grounds, Buffalo, NY. Plenty of action and suspense condensed into fewer pages than usual.

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Jul 06, 2010

Tamahome rated it:

Page 109: Apparently a salute to the Richard Stark (Donald Westlake) noir books. Pretty violent. Moves along quickly for a Dan Simmons book. Reminds me of Frank Miller's Sin City.

All done. It would probably be a 5 hour audiobook.

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Jul 19, 2010

Rich rated it:

The first of three Joe Kurtz books offers a great beginning to a series you will not be able to put down. Three books in all comprise this too short series. You will love the action, the characters, and Joe.

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Oct 12, 2010

Joe rated it:

Great, super fast, hard boiled crime novel. Simmons is a master of genre fiction. In many genres! This isn't literature, but it's not supposed to be.

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Mar 03, 2011

Laurie rated it:

I don't really remember this book very well. Apparently it didn't leave a lasting impression on me.

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