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Interface
Neil Fargo is a San Francisco private investigator hired by the wealthy Maxwell Stayton to find his missing daughter. His search takes him into the very heart of the city's ugly underbelly. And Fargo makes the move into the drug business at just about the same time as Docker, a Vietnam veteran with close links to Fargo, is storming through San Francisco's criminal underworld on a murderous campaign of revenge.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
About the author
Joe Gores
80 books33 followersJoe Gores (1931-2011) was the author of the acclaimed DKA series of street-level crime and detection, as well as the stunning suspense novels Dead Man and Menaced Assassin.
He served in the U.S. Army - writing biographies of generals at the Pentagon - was educated at the University of Notre Dame and Stanford, and spent twelve years as a San Francisco private investigator. The author of dozens of novels, screenplays, and television scripts, he won three Edgar Allan Poe Awards and Japan's Maltese Falcon Award.
He served in the U.S. Army - writing biographies of generals at the Pentagon - was educated at the University of Notre Dame and Stanford, and spent twelve years as a San Francisco private investigator. The author of dozens of novels, screenplays, and television scripts, he won three Edgar Allan Poe Awards and Japan's Maltese Falcon Award.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 9, 2017
I picked the big twist prior to the end, but enjoyed it nonetheless!
Picture this: a hard-boiled San Franciscan private dick (one time pro-footballer and not long returned from two stints in 'nam), gets caught up in a drug importation business involving a multitude of shady characters.
Starts with a bang, doesn't let up.
Hardcore action.
Picture this: a hard-boiled San Franciscan private dick (one time pro-footballer and not long returned from two stints in 'nam), gets caught up in a drug importation business involving a multitude of shady characters.
Starts with a bang, doesn't let up.
Hardcore action.
December 10, 2014
Donald E. Westlake was right. This is a great crime novel. The first clue to what you can look forward to, comes from the dedication:
"For that Stark villain,
Parker --
because he's such
a beautiful human being"
That is a great sign (and a terrible sign for anyone who has to try to live through the book).
Also: The book publishers were wrong. The book jacket summary is terrible and could potential ruin the story. Dive right in past the jacket. Go. Go. Go.
Welcome to the ugly, terrible side of San Francisco in the early 1970s. You start in a room in the midst of the action, in the company of a bagman who is grabbing the stash and the money. Go. That's all you need to know.
(Yes, there are some terrible people who brutalize others with some terrible language, weapons and fists. )
"For that Stark villain,
Parker --
because he's such
a beautiful human being"
That is a great sign (and a terrible sign for anyone who has to try to live through the book).
Also: The book publishers were wrong. The book jacket summary is terrible and could potential ruin the story. Dive right in past the jacket. Go. Go. Go.
Welcome to the ugly, terrible side of San Francisco in the early 1970s. You start in a room in the midst of the action, in the company of a bagman who is grabbing the stash and the money. Go. That's all you need to know.
(Yes, there are some terrible people who brutalize others with some terrible language, weapons and fists. )
January 29, 2024
“Interface: the common boundary between two systems.”
“In this underbelly San Francisco they get rolled, or get ripped off, or get a dose of, or maybe even get unlucky and so get dead.”
“Therefore, this alternate San Francisco to the city where the little cable cars reach halfway to the stars is also the cops’ San Francisco.”
I loved Docker! He was like a dark, dark version of Jack Reacher, and an even crazier Anton Chigurh! The story itself, set in San Francisco as it is, feels like a dark version of a Dashiell Hammett novel, and the city itself reads like a dark version of The City! All positives for me! I really enjoyed this book, and I loved the twist at the end! Bravo!
“In this underbelly San Francisco they get rolled, or get ripped off, or get a dose of, or maybe even get unlucky and so get dead.”
“Therefore, this alternate San Francisco to the city where the little cable cars reach halfway to the stars is also the cops’ San Francisco.”
I loved Docker! He was like a dark, dark version of Jack Reacher, and an even crazier Anton Chigurh! The story itself, set in San Francisco as it is, feels like a dark version of a Dashiell Hammett novel, and the city itself reads like a dark version of The City! All positives for me! I really enjoyed this book, and I loved the twist at the end! Bravo!
December 22, 2017
This is a cracking crime novel, about as hard-boiled as they come; superbly paced and brimming with danger. It also includes the best car chase I think I've ever read in a novel - and considering I'm not even a fan of such in movies that's really saying something. Involving, frenetic, and clever, I loved this book, especially the totally left-of-centre perfect ending.
August 30, 2023
Lots of action with an ending I didn't see coming at all. The last page I had to read twice since I couldn't believe it. It was written in 1974 and sure felt like it while reading the action, dialogue and events taking place among the criminals.
September 8, 2020
5 stars in all regards. Strong characters and plot, a realistic hard-boiled investigation that keeps you entranced and compelled to decipher the mystery posed. A thoroughbred puzzler, not some cheap trick. The car chase through the Presidio is a pure gem on adrenaline and tour of San Francisco. Even though this Presidio was from its military days, it still translates...e.g. speeding by the military cemetery to the left and up the slope from Lincoln.... Fantastic read and endorsed by Stanley Ellington, whose The Eighty Circle is a novel I highly endorse. Addendum: The story takes place in the span of 24 hours and has overtones of Cornell Wallace’s visceral Night of 1,000 Eyes or Deadline at Dawn.
February 15, 2009
Very fun pulp fiction. Reminiscent in tone to Richard Stark's "Parker" series, to the point that the book is dedicated to the character, Parker: "For that Stark villain, Parker - Because he's such a beautiful human being."
The writing is terse and a little clumsy, but the content, momentum and atmosphere is electric. An unfortunate title, as it has little relation to the story.
Very different from the detective procedural "DKA Files" series by Gores (also very good), but deserves to be rediscovered.
The writing is terse and a little clumsy, but the content, momentum and atmosphere is electric. An unfortunate title, as it has little relation to the story.
Very different from the detective procedural "DKA Files" series by Gores (also very good), but deserves to be rediscovered.
Want to Read
April 27, 2019Synopsis: a former football player and Viet Nam vet, now a PI, runs through the seedy underbelly of San Fran's drug trade. Action galore.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews