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Hardman #8
The Deadly Cotton Heart
"Exceptional characterization, strong and vigorous prose, and a glimpse into a place and time that has long since disappeared." Mystery Scene Magazine
"Dennis may not have made literature of Hardman, but he damn sure touched on it more than a time or two," Joe R. Lansdale, author of the Hap & Leonard series
The eighth novel in the legendary Hardman series. Ex-cop Jim Hardman and ex-NFL player Hump Evans will do anything for a buck, short of murder. But this time, that's exactly the service that Hardman is offering. He's posing as a hitman in a sting being run by his only friend left on the Atlanta PD. The scam goes fatally wrong and Hardman becomes the guy with the target on his back...
"A lightning-paced crime story packed with irreverence and loads of action.“ Publishers Weekly
"Among the best series books around. The dialogue is marvelously realistic.” Philadelphia Daily News
“Ralph Dennis has mastered the genre and supplied top entertainment.” The New York Times
"Hardman is not your typical PI. He is not that good looking; a bit on the pudgy side in fact. His methods are unorthodox, and he often plays both sides of the law when working a case. But these and other genre-defying characteristics are what captures and holds our fascination." Bookgasm
This new edition includes an Afterword from author Robert J. Randisi, founder of the Private Eye Writers of America
"Dennis may not have made literature of Hardman, but he damn sure touched on it more than a time or two," Joe R. Lansdale, author of the Hap & Leonard series
The eighth novel in the legendary Hardman series. Ex-cop Jim Hardman and ex-NFL player Hump Evans will do anything for a buck, short of murder. But this time, that's exactly the service that Hardman is offering. He's posing as a hitman in a sting being run by his only friend left on the Atlanta PD. The scam goes fatally wrong and Hardman becomes the guy with the target on his back...
"A lightning-paced crime story packed with irreverence and loads of action.“ Publishers Weekly
"Among the best series books around. The dialogue is marvelously realistic.” Philadelphia Daily News
“Ralph Dennis has mastered the genre and supplied top entertainment.” The New York Times
"Hardman is not your typical PI. He is not that good looking; a bit on the pudgy side in fact. His methods are unorthodox, and he often plays both sides of the law when working a case. But these and other genre-defying characteristics are what captures and holds our fascination." Bookgasm
This new edition includes an Afterword from author Robert J. Randisi, founder of the Private Eye Writers of America
155 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 1976
About the author
Ralph Dennis
57 books46 followersRalph Dennis was born in South Carolina and had a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina, where he also taught. For mystery fans, Dennis will always be associated with the City of Atlanta, the locale for the twelve novel series about Jim Hardman, former cop and unofficial private eye, all published by Popular Library between 1974 and 1977.
At the time of his death in 1988, he was working at a bookstore in Atlanta and had a file cabinet full of unpublished novels.
At the time of his death in 1988, he was working at a bookstore in Atlanta and had a file cabinet full of unpublished novels.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 9, 2019
4 stars for a well done mystery that I read in 2 days.
Ralph Dennis is an overlooked hard boiled mystery writer in the tradition of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. This is book 8 in the series and I have read books 1-4 in the series, but this one would work fine as a stand alone.
Jim Hardman is an ex Atlanta cop who works as an unlicensed PI. He "does favors" for people who want something off the books. He has a partner, African American Hump Evans, a former NFL football player, 6'7" and happy to help Jim for money. Jim and Hump split 50/50.
Art Maloney, Atlanta PD detective and friend of Hardman's since their days as partners as APD cops, comes to Jim for a favor. He needs someone to pose as a killer for hire in a sting operation. Jim reluctantly agrees, realizing that this could go seriously wrong. Indeed, Jim is attacked and knocked unconscious.
This is the start of the unraveling of an unsolved murder involving all sorts of shady characters--prostitutes, questionable cops, and rich and powerful people. Hardman, Hump and Maloney do solve the case, but there are numerous twists and turns, making it a fast paced mystery. I recommend it to Chandler fans.
There is a disclaimer at the beginning of the book stating that the book was originally published in 1976 and reflected the cultural and sexual attitudes of the time.
Thanks to Brash Books for sending me this eBook.
Ralph Dennis is an overlooked hard boiled mystery writer in the tradition of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. This is book 8 in the series and I have read books 1-4 in the series, but this one would work fine as a stand alone.
Jim Hardman is an ex Atlanta cop who works as an unlicensed PI. He "does favors" for people who want something off the books. He has a partner, African American Hump Evans, a former NFL football player, 6'7" and happy to help Jim for money. Jim and Hump split 50/50.
Art Maloney, Atlanta PD detective and friend of Hardman's since their days as partners as APD cops, comes to Jim for a favor. He needs someone to pose as a killer for hire in a sting operation. Jim reluctantly agrees, realizing that this could go seriously wrong. Indeed, Jim is attacked and knocked unconscious.
This is the start of the unraveling of an unsolved murder involving all sorts of shady characters--prostitutes, questionable cops, and rich and powerful people. Hardman, Hump and Maloney do solve the case, but there are numerous twists and turns, making it a fast paced mystery. I recommend it to Chandler fans.
There is a disclaimer at the beginning of the book stating that the book was originally published in 1976 and reflected the cultural and sexual attitudes of the time.
Thanks to Brash Books for sending me this eBook.
April 8, 2019
Past Secrets
Ralph Dennis’ Hardman Detective Series was a lost paperback classic of the early seventies that has now been republished and reissued to a new audience. This is the eighth book in the series which features a tubby aging ex-cop Jim Hardman and his buddy ex football great Hump Evans, a Black and White Starsky and Hutch tag team who did “favors” in Atlanta. Trim, sharp, hard-edged, no-nonsense gritty crime fiction in quick-reading short novels (before 500-page volumes became all the rage). Here, Hardman poses as a hit man as a favor to Atlanta Police Detective Art and before Hardman knows it he’s on the trail of past secrets that probably should have stayed buried and a missing femme fatale who resembles nothing so much as a chameleon. As always, these novels are great fun.
Ralph Dennis’ Hardman Detective Series was a lost paperback classic of the early seventies that has now been republished and reissued to a new audience. This is the eighth book in the series which features a tubby aging ex-cop Jim Hardman and his buddy ex football great Hump Evans, a Black and White Starsky and Hutch tag team who did “favors” in Atlanta. Trim, sharp, hard-edged, no-nonsense gritty crime fiction in quick-reading short novels (before 500-page volumes became all the rage). Here, Hardman poses as a hit man as a favor to Atlanta Police Detective Art and before Hardman knows it he’s on the trail of past secrets that probably should have stayed buried and a missing femme fatale who resembles nothing so much as a chameleon. As always, these novels are great fun.
April 1, 2025
Hard man series continues to sizzle
With book 8 out of 12 this series continues at a high level. The stories do not e repeat. The writing is spare and direct. Clearly, I have 4 more to read. If you want a plot summary, check Amazon or Goodreads.
With book 8 out of 12 this series continues at a high level. The stories do not e repeat. The writing is spare and direct. Clearly, I have 4 more to read. If you want a plot summary, check Amazon or Goodreads.
September 26, 2019
Short, fast read. Again, the ability of Ralph Dennis to tell his tale in a manner that keeps the reader's interest throughout comes to the top. Usual players, Hardman, Hump, Marcy, and Art Malone.
Can be read as a stand alone other than the relationship backstory of all of the characters.
Can be read as a stand alone other than the relationship backstory of all of the characters.
December 11, 2020
Brash Books took the Hardman series written by Ralph Dennis in the 70’s and is republishing them with the brouhaha they deserve. They are pulp fiction and the PI. tales that came out from the 40s through the 70s. Think Spillane, Chandler, McDonald and all the others. Dennis deserves to be recognized with them.
In this story a man asks Hardman and his cohort, Hump, to look for his missing wife. They do not have licenses, merely do ‘favors’ for friends. Their investigation leads them from Atlanta to small town Tennessee where they run into the local Police Chief (a former pro football player who was on Hump’s team), an old unsolved murder, a Madam and lots of information about the missing wife’s past. Mix it all up, add some smarts and attitude and you have a fun filled day with The Deadly Cotton Heart! Thanks to Brash Books for an e-galley for an honest review.
In this story a man asks Hardman and his cohort, Hump, to look for his missing wife. They do not have licenses, merely do ‘favors’ for friends. Their investigation leads them from Atlanta to small town Tennessee where they run into the local Police Chief (a former pro football player who was on Hump’s team), an old unsolved murder, a Madam and lots of information about the missing wife’s past. Mix it all up, add some smarts and attitude and you have a fun filled day with The Deadly Cotton Heart! Thanks to Brash Books for an e-galley for an honest review.
January 9, 2026
Another great read in the Hardman series. Every time you pick up a Hardman book, it's like hanging out with old friends again. Maybe friends you wouldn't want to hang out with all the time--they'd land you in far too much trouble--but it is certainly enjoyable. The mystery here was maybe a little too easy to solve (if I could solve it, it was), but you don't read the Hardman series for the mystery. You read them for the wonderful characters, the great dialogue, and the spare prose.
April 2, 2019
A really good book
If you like detective books with a lot of action and no sex you will love these can't wait till the next one
If you like detective books with a lot of action and no sex you will love these can't wait till the next one
March 16, 2019
Brash Books is republishing this amazing series by Ralph Dennis, who many believe set the standard for the noir PI genre. In this episode, Jim Hardman and his buddy, Hump, look for a missing wife. Their search brings them into a long ago murder and the many actions it set off. The action is gritty and dark. The characters are realistic and true to the genre. The story is as good today as it was in the 70s. I will look forward to more Hardman adventures.
November 25, 2022
The Hardman novels are a gem. I bought a complete set of the original novels on EBay about ten years ago. They have become my "go to" for well-done, hardboiled fiction.
The 8th novel in the series - the Deadly Cotton Heart - is one of the best. In the novel, Hardman is drafted by his ex-colleagues in the Atlanta PD to go undercover in a murder-for-hire scheme. Hardman ends up badly beaten. The case involves some of Atlanta's wealthy and it eventually takes Hardman and his buddy Hump Evans into the hills of eastern Tennessee.
Author Ralph Dennis had great talents both for crafting quality prose and for entertaining his readers. The Hardman series isn't great literature, but it's very entertaining. Do yourself a favor and track down some of these books.
The 8th novel in the series - the Deadly Cotton Heart - is one of the best. In the novel, Hardman is drafted by his ex-colleagues in the Atlanta PD to go undercover in a murder-for-hire scheme. Hardman ends up badly beaten. The case involves some of Atlanta's wealthy and it eventually takes Hardman and his buddy Hump Evans into the hills of eastern Tennessee.
Author Ralph Dennis had great talents both for crafting quality prose and for entertaining his readers. The Hardman series isn't great literature, but it's very entertaining. Do yourself a favor and track down some of these books.
May 26, 2020
Hardman #8 Very Good Read
Hardman episode #8: In tonight's episode Hardman is hired by the Atlanta Police Department+ his detective friend Art, to pose as a hit man to catch some bad guys. It does not go well for Hardman. He loses his police backup and gets beaten up bad. This is just the first 2 chapters.
Hardman episode #8: In tonight's episode Hardman is hired by the Atlanta Police Department+ his detective friend Art, to pose as a hit man to catch some bad guys. It does not go well for Hardman. He loses his police backup and gets beaten up bad. This is just the first 2 chapters.
March 18, 2020
Another stellar entry in an excellent series. Hump and Hardman make an excellent pair. Tough guy bravado all over the place.
June 19, 2022
Spring in Atlanta is just around the corner and the duo of Jim Hardman and Hump Evans are as busy as a dead cat down a storm drain when Art Maloney, the only friend Hardman has in the force that he had had to quit a few years ago, comes looking for a favour. There is a man in town apparently looking for a contract killer and Maloney wants Hardman to pose as one and help the police prevent the contemplated crime. Hardman accepts reluctantly but gets solidly whacked on his face before he could uncover the identity of the prime conspirator. Just when it seems that the case is finished prematurely, Hardman receives a visitor - the very man he was supposed to kill had he been a real contract killer - who wants Hardman to find his wife who's been missing. Naturally, Hardman accepts the case and the investigation takes him and Hump through a variety of situations and characters that invariably prove injurious to their health.
Eighth in the underrated series of crime thrillers set in the seventies Atlanta, The Deadly Cotton Heart is as crisp, as exciting and as entertaining as the previous seven. Once again, Ralph Dennis manages to stuff excellent characters, an engaging plot and crackling dialogues into such a small package and it is to be devoured in a single bite!
Eighth in the underrated series of crime thrillers set in the seventies Atlanta, The Deadly Cotton Heart is as crisp, as exciting and as entertaining as the previous seven. Once again, Ralph Dennis manages to stuff excellent characters, an engaging plot and crackling dialogues into such a small package and it is to be devoured in a single bite!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews