The Good Neighbor Policy: A Double-Cross in Double Dactyls

by Charles Ardai

Poetry, Mystery, Humor. THE GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY, by Charles Aradai brings new meaning to "poetic justice" in his latest foray into crime writing. For crippled octogenarian Perseus Algernon, his binoculars let him escape from his own home-and thrust him into a deadly game of lust and greed. When a violent murder takes place next door, only Algermon's word can confirm the innocence of a beautiful young woman. Reliable authorities corroborate the details, but Deputy Hennessy has his doubts about the story this Good Samaritan tells. Does being neighborly extend to covering up the truth about murder?

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2007

About the author

Charles Ardai is a founder of Hard Case Crime, a pulp crime novel publisher, as well as an editor and author. In 1991 he received the Pearlman Prize for his fiction. He also writes under the pen name Richard Aleas.

Reviews

[Blair Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Double-cross, double dactyls, and double the deaths! This is a twist on Cornell Woolrich’s Rear Window but with Charles Ardai’s flair.

Octogenarian
Algernon’s home is on
Walker Road—sad, since he’s
lost both his legs.
Sits in his window seat
watching the neighborhood
through his binoculars,
spies on the Greggs.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book, which is a narrative rhyming poem on a murder-mystery theme. But if you're thinking of buying it, you should probably be warned, it's a small-format book and 28 pages of verse -- shorter than a typical chapbook, and takes about ten minutes to read. At $6.95 it's a bit of a cha-ching experience if you part with your hard-earned.

That said, it's a clever genre-bending piece.

[Cassio Moreno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, short story that can be read in 50 minutes.
It is such a nice description of the trial in verses and words.
Very much enjoyed.