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Ben Crandel #1
Tough Luck L.A.
Book by Sinclair, Murray
212 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1981
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47 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 19, 2023
Black Lizard in the 1980’s was known for reprinting lost classics of crime fiction and not known so much for original material. The three Ben Crandell novels by Murray Sinclair — Tough Luck L.A. (1982), Only in L.A. (1982), and Goodbye L.A. (1988), a crime fiction writer that appeared on the Black Lizard roster for these three novels and then disappeared in a labyrinth of law practice for the next thirty years, were an exception to this rule. These novels are filled with the flavor of late 1970’s and early 1980’s flavor of sun-drenched Los Angeles and anyone who was here during that time period remembers the haunts and byways described in these books.
The first of three in the series is Tough Luck L.A., which stars aspiring writer Ben Crandel as an amateur detective out to solve a murder for which he himself is the prime suspect. Crandel came to Los Angeles to be a screenwriter, but like many dreams that blew up in smoke. Now he is a reluctant porn novel writer, although he is hesitant to pen the steamy libido-busting scenes his publisher wants. But it is still better than a 9-5 office job, so apparently Crandel perseveres.
His friends are primarily hookers and ex-hookers, including his ex-girlfriend Vicky, whose corpse is the central focus of the novel. Like many of his peers in detective fiction, Crandel is blamed for her murder though he is not permitted near her bloody corpse. Indeed, in most of these stories, the hero wakes up with a beautiful corpse in bed with them and no idea how they got there or what happened. Not so here. Crandel is only blamed because the crotchedy landlady saw him hanging around Vicky’s apartment the night she died. Nevertheless, the police don’t like his attitude and book him for murder, although he is promptly released. There is not too much in here about Crandel fleeing from the law to prove his innocence although he does disappear for a lost 24 hours in Las Vegas, leaving behind a trail of more death in his wake.
Crandel is a compelling figure in this novel although, as a reader, you never fully get the sense he is in that much trouble. Like all good amateur detectives, Crandel eventually stumbles on the solution to the mystery. Nevertheless, the solution and how to get there are a bit convoluted.
The first of three in the series is Tough Luck L.A., which stars aspiring writer Ben Crandel as an amateur detective out to solve a murder for which he himself is the prime suspect. Crandel came to Los Angeles to be a screenwriter, but like many dreams that blew up in smoke. Now he is a reluctant porn novel writer, although he is hesitant to pen the steamy libido-busting scenes his publisher wants. But it is still better than a 9-5 office job, so apparently Crandel perseveres.
His friends are primarily hookers and ex-hookers, including his ex-girlfriend Vicky, whose corpse is the central focus of the novel. Like many of his peers in detective fiction, Crandel is blamed for her murder though he is not permitted near her bloody corpse. Indeed, in most of these stories, the hero wakes up with a beautiful corpse in bed with them and no idea how they got there or what happened. Not so here. Crandel is only blamed because the crotchedy landlady saw him hanging around Vicky’s apartment the night she died. Nevertheless, the police don’t like his attitude and book him for murder, although he is promptly released. There is not too much in here about Crandel fleeing from the law to prove his innocence although he does disappear for a lost 24 hours in Las Vegas, leaving behind a trail of more death in his wake.
Crandel is a compelling figure in this novel although, as a reader, you never fully get the sense he is in that much trouble. Like all good amateur detectives, Crandel eventually stumbles on the solution to the mystery. Nevertheless, the solution and how to get there are a bit convoluted.
November 9, 2019
I really like the author's general writing style, and the story was interesting, but the flow was a little off for me at times. Would like to see how the author's writing evolves in the next books.
Want to read
November 27, 2019Synopsis: Crandel, a half-successful porn novelist, has come to LA where, in short order, his girl friend gets murdered and he gets arrested.
August 19, 2023
Black Lizard in the 1980’s was known for reprinting lost classics of crime fiction and not known so much for original material. The three Ben Crandell novels by Murray Sinclair — Tough Luck L.A. (1982), Only in L.A. (1982), and Goodbye L.A. (1988), a crime fiction writer that appeared on the Black Lizard roster for these three novels and then disappeared in a labyrinth of law practice for the next thirty years, were an exception to this rule. These novels are filled with the flavor of late 1970’s and early 1980’s flavor of sun-drenched Los Angeles and anyone who was here during that time period remembers the haunts and byways described in these books.
The first of three in the series is Tough Luck L.A., which stars aspiring writer Ben Crandel as an amateur detective out to solve a murder for which he himself is the prime suspect. Crandel came to Los Angeles to be a screenwriter, but like many dreams that blew up in smoke. Now he is a reluctant porn novel writer, although he is hesitant to pen the steamy libido-busting scenes his publisher wants. But it is still better than a 9-5 office job, so apparently Crandel perseveres.
His friends are primarily hookers and ex-hookers, including his ex-girlfriend Vicky, whose corpse is the central focus of the novel. Like many of his peers in detective fiction, Crandel is blamed for her murder though he is not permitted near her bloody corpse. Indeed, in most of these stories, the hero wakes up with a beautiful corpse in bed with them and no idea how they got there or what happened. Not so here. Crandel is only blamed because the crotchedy landlady saw him hanging around Vicky’s apartment the night she died. Nevertheless, the police don’t like his attitude and book him for murder, although he is promptly released. There is not too much in here about Crandel fleeing from the law to prove his innocence although he does disappear for a lost 24 hours in Las Vegas, leaving behind a trail of more death in his wake.
Crandel is a compelling figure in this novel although, as a reader, you never fully get the sense he is in that much trouble. Like all good amateur detectives, Crandel eventually stumbles on the solution to the mystery. Nevertheless, the solution and how to get there are a bit convoluted.
The first of three in the series is Tough Luck L.A., which stars aspiring writer Ben Crandel as an amateur detective out to solve a murder for which he himself is the prime suspect. Crandel came to Los Angeles to be a screenwriter, but like many dreams that blew up in smoke. Now he is a reluctant porn novel writer, although he is hesitant to pen the steamy libido-busting scenes his publisher wants. But it is still better than a 9-5 office job, so apparently Crandel perseveres.
His friends are primarily hookers and ex-hookers, including his ex-girlfriend Vicky, whose corpse is the central focus of the novel. Like many of his peers in detective fiction, Crandel is blamed for her murder though he is not permitted near her bloody corpse. Indeed, in most of these stories, the hero wakes up with a beautiful corpse in bed with them and no idea how they got there or what happened. Not so here. Crandel is only blamed because the crotchedy landlady saw him hanging around Vicky’s apartment the night she died. Nevertheless, the police don’t like his attitude and book him for murder, although he is promptly released. There is not too much in here about Crandel fleeing from the law to prove his innocence although he does disappear for a lost 24 hours in Las Vegas, leaving behind a trail of more death in his wake.
Crandel is a compelling figure in this novel although, as a reader, you never fully get the sense he is in that much trouble. Like all good amateur detectives, Crandel eventually stumbles on the solution to the mystery. Nevertheless, the solution and how to get there are a bit convoluted.
October 28, 2022
the first-person narration is amusing and most of the snooping and action satisfies. more of an 80s detective-series-boom novel at heart, at least compared to some of the more black-hearted black lizard books. orphan plot line was very schmaltzy but maybe the author was angling for a television series
March 8, 2023
Not bad for a first novel, but certainly not good enough for a "special award from the MWA." I really can't imagine.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews