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[Paul]

I'm half way through Who is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa?

[Rory]

Paul wrote: "I'm half way through Who is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa?"

I have that on my Kindle, but yet to read it.

[Bran]

Just started . Has anybody else read this one? It was made into a Bogart movie called They Drive By Night, which I haven't seen yet.

I discovered A.I. Bezzerides after seeing Thieves Highway. Bezzerides wrote the screenplay based on his novel

Both novels are about truckers, which leads me to the question: are there enough books and movies about truckers for there to be a "trucker noir" subgenre? I've seen several B noir movies from the '50s about truckers, but I've never found a definitive list of these types of stories.

[Nancy]

Trucker noir? Someday someone's going to label cat mysteries as kitty noir. Or historical mysteries about monks Franciscan noir. Where does it end??

:)

[Jay]

Thieves Market is a great social novel, and says a lot about working class people and their struggles. The hero's father was a trucker and worn down to a cynical, resigned bitterness by trying so hard for just enough to keep his family alive. The son has pride and determination, and is forced to repeat his father's struggles.

[Bran]

Haven't actually read Thieves Market yet, but I'm enjoying Long Haul so far.

[Paul]

Rory wrote: "Paul wrote: "I'm half way through Who is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa?"

I have that on my Kindle, but yet to read..."

My review is here if you're interested Rory:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


Started The Long Goodbye

[Paul]

Started Motherless Brooklyn . Was tossing up between this &

[Paul]

Reading Right as Rain

[Simon]

Last night I finished reading The Black Dahlia, my thoughts on it will as usual for James Ellroy take a lengthy review to really summarize.

Suffice to say it's a much more mature work than Clandestine, which I enjoyed but had some major issues with. As usual, Ellroy really represents the detective novel as high-minded literature on a level beyond what even Raymond Chandler and Ross Macdonald aspired to.

You really get the sense of how both the plot and the characters' internal emotional lives represent the microcosm of an entire society's zeitgeist, in this case post-WW2 Los Angeles, that again I do with very few other crime novelists.

Though maybe it helps Ellroy that he's usually writing in historical hindsight...

[Bran]

Simon wrote: "Last night I finished reading The Black Dahlia, my thoughts on it will as usual for James Ellroy take a lengthy review to really summarize.

Suffice to say it's a much mo..."

I dig The Black Dahlia and most of Ellroy's work, though I'll have to say that his work gets better as you go along in order of publication. His newest Perfidia was fantastic. LA Confidential is another of my favorites...

[Simon]

I'm kinda burnt out on the crime genre right now, though, the next novel I'll read will probably be Foucault's Pendulum, when Umberto Eco passed I realized that I'm only familiar with his non-fiction work which I however quite enjoy.

I wager that "Foucault's Pendulum" is kind of in the same ballpark, though... being largely a satire of conspiracy thriller fiction along the similar lines of The Illuminatus! Trilogy, though nowhere as goofy.

[Nancy]

Actually, it is not a satire on conspiracy thrillers at all. If, as you say, you're familiar with and enjoy his nonfiction work, especially if you've read his theories on semiotics, then you'll easily recognize what he's doing in Foucault's Pendulum.

[Simon]

Yeah, I remember several of his essays on that subject being on the curriculae in both philosophy and art history back in college.

[Nancy]

Simon wrote: "Yeah, I remember several of his essays on that subject being on the curriculae in both philosophy and art history back in college."

Most history profs love Eco. I did history, and one of my historiography professors insisted we read his work on semiotics. It was so hard, but it made so much sense. That's how I came to him.

[Frank]

I can get alot of ebooks of Joe R Lansdale's Hap and Leonard series, anyone know if thats worth checking out? Getting a more gruesome Jim Thompson vibe from it? I hope I'm not wrong hehe

[Tom]

Frank wrote: "I can get alot of ebooks of Joe R Lansdale's Hap and Leonard series, anyone know if thats worth checking out? Getting a more gruesome Jim Thompson vibe from it? I hope I'm not wrong hehe"

I'm a big fan of Joe Lansdale and am looking forward to watching Hap and Leonard which premiers tomorrow on the Sundance Channel. I just finished The Bottoms last month and gave it five stars. I've only read one H&L but am looking forward to reading the series from the beginning.

[Frank]

From the creator of Cold in July I see. I keep forgetting bout that movie, need to see still. Also Michael K. Williams <3 and Pollyanna McIntosh who was great/kinda noirish in Filth. So as for the tv-show, I'm in I guess. Will try the books too, thanks!

[Paul]

Frank wrote: "I can get alot of ebooks of Joe R Lansdale's Hap and Leonard series, anyone know if thats worth checking out? Getting a more gruesome Jim Thompson vibe from it? I hope I'm not wrong hehe"

Worth checking out Frank. I've read the first 2 in the series as well as several of Lansdale's stand-alone. Excellent writer.

[Algernon (Darth Anyan), Hard-Boiled]

I Loved "The Bottoms" and I hear good things about Hap and Leonard. I hope to read the books before checking out the TV series

[Tim]

"Plunder of the Sun" by David Dodge, am working my way through the "Hard Case Crime" books in order, late to the party so lots of catching up to do. Next is "Home is the Sailor", just arrived in the mail so will backtrack & read that before moving on to "Dutch Uncle" by Peter Pavia. I've read others ahead of these, and am reading several books at once, mostly books in other series as well since I'm pretty much a series binge reader, like my Netflix & amazon prime habits.

[Jason]

I started my foray into pulp fiction with Dan J. Marlow's "The Name of the Game is Death," and followed it with Chandler's "The Big Sleep." I recently completed "Descending Memphis" by Robert Moss, which satiated both my new found love of noir/crime fiction with my life-long love of music. I have a stack of recently-purchased Dashiell Hammet novels sitting on my night stand waiting to be read, and I'm looking forward to this group's book for April '16. Cheers!

[Ladiibbug]

Just finished rereading Charlie Huston's Hank Thompson trilogy Caught Stealing Six Bad Things A Dangerous Man. Five stars on first read 2009, same now. Noir, very violent (but works in context, all 3 books a wild ride of surprises).

I rarely reread due to huge TBR, but Huston is well worth it. In 2017 I'll reread his Joe Pitt, Vampire PI series (5 books). #1 is Already Dead.

Any Ken Bruen, with co-author Jason Starr, Max & Angela series fans?

News of a #4 Pimp published in paperback (rel. date 3/15/16) by Hard Case Crime was a big surprise. Books 1-3 were all 5 star books for me:

Max & Angela series - Hard Case Crime

https://www.goodreads.com/series/5949...

Regretting not keeping the Joe Pitt (Charlie Huston) and Max & Angela books. Oh well, that's what money is for ...

https://www.goodreads.com/series/5949...

[Nancy]

Yesterday I finished She Who Was No More by Boileau and Narcejac -- the basis of the movie "Diabolique." It's way more of a internalized, existentialist what's-going-on-in-the-head sort of novel (the ones I like best), and very different from the film.

[Rod]

Picked up a new one tonight, Pimp by Ken Bruen and Jason Starr. It's published by Hard Case Crime.
Also bought The Drop by Dennis Lehane. Loved the movie, and I am sure I will like the book. It just felt good in my hand walking around Barnes & Noble.

[Frank]

Just finished reading Savage Season, the first Hap and Leonard book. It was fun. Main attraction was the hilariously dry, sarcastic banter between Hap and Leonard. There's some cool violence there and a real sense of place and time; describing the weather, the surroundings etc etc.

Started a bit too slow, with nothing really happening. The main plot was a bit too simple and it didn't seem to really matter. Didn't care for the (anti)political bullcrap, I guess I'm like Leonard that way. Trudy was a great Femme Fatale.

So, it was a good first book. Hope it gets a bit faster and just a better plot in general. I heard this book was the main plot in the tv show, so I guess the show isn't starting out GREAT either. Maybe they are expecting to make many more seasons after this one?

[Nancy]

Starting Bunny Lake is Missing.

[Algernon (Darth Anyan), Hard-Boiled]

started the third Cliff Janeway mystery by John Dunning The Bookman's Promise

like the previous two, this one is a crime novel set in the cutthroat world of book collectors, book sellers and very rare first editions. Early days yet, but the central puzzle seems to be about the life and works of a Victorian gentleman adventurer and libertine named Richard Burton (not the actor, the translator of "Arabian Nights")

[AndrewP]

Just read books 3 and 4 of Ed McBain 87th Precinct novels back to back. The Pusher and The Con Man.

These are all around 200 pages and reading them is more like watching episodes of a TV crime drama than anything else. There's a case, or cases, to be solved in each one and then an overall story arc where the main characters are gradually fleshed out.

[Franky]

I'm finishing up The New York Trilogy and am really enjoying it. I'm trying to decipher all the symbolism and meta-things that are going on.

I managed to find a copy of a Woolrich novel at the library, Might take it on if I get time, Fright

[Nancy]

Franky wrote: "I'm finishing up The New York Trilogy and am really enjoying it. I'm trying to decipher all the symbolism and meta-things that are going on.

I managed to find a copy of a Woolrich nove..."

Auster is good, isn't he? I love his work. Tough, but so satisfying.

[Tom]

Nancy wrote: "Auster is good, isn't he? I love his work. Tough, but so satisfying. "

That's a totally new name for me.

[Melki, Femme fatale]

It only took, oh, a couple of decades, but I finally finished Andrew Vachss' Burke series. While the last book, Another Life, only deserves three stars, I rate the series as a whole at four. And extra points awarded to Vachss for using a fictional character to expose the dark world of child abuse.

[Nancy]

I finished No Orchids for Miss Blandish last night. Yow, was that raw! Then, because I never read introductions before reading a novel, I discovered it was a version updated for the modern reader. So I bought the original The Villain and the Virgin from 1948.

[Edwin]

Ozark Nurse (1965) by Fern Shepard, great title, reviewed on this wonderful site - http://vintagenurseromancenovels.blog...

[Melki, Femme fatale]

Edwin wrote: "Ozark Nurse (1965) by Fern Shepard, great title, reviewed on this wonderful site - http://vintagenurseromancenovels.blog..."

What an absolute trip - a website devoted to nurse romance novels! How I love you, internet!

[Melki, Femme fatale]

I'm enjoying Swamp Sister, a title that was suggested to me by Amazon when I went looking for Carny Kill.
Sometimes, their recommendations are right on the money.

[Algernon (Darth Anyan), Hard-Boiled]

I am happy to hear your endorsement, Melki, as I already ordered both books online.

[Lasa]

Finished Man on the Run by Charles Williams. It's a middle of the pack kind of book but still fun. Hard to put down. Worth the read for Suzy Patton, an author who helps out the hero. And the very end of the book bumped it up a star.

[Olivia "So many books--so little time.""]

Right now I'm reading Evil, Inc. by Glenn Kaplan. It's about a man who loses his wife and daughter in a plant explosion and fire that was no accident. So he wants to bring to justice the man who he knows was behind the disaster,

[Steven]

Right now I'm in the middle of Borderline

[Algernon (Darth Anyan), Hard-Boiled]

I'm reading by Tana French, and I have a feeling it will be one of my favorites of 2016. The style reminds me of Dennis Lehane in Mystic River and the humorous exchanges between the two principal investigators of Ben Aaronovich.

[Paul]

Been in Quartet mode for the last month or so. Just finished the D.C. Quartet by George Pelecanos & the Red Riding Quartet by David Peace. Both brilliant.

[Nancy]

Red Riding is beyond brilliant. It is satisfyingly genius.

[Frank]

Pick-Up by Charles Willeford. Its written in a pulp noir style, but the plot really isn't. It's a bit like if Jim Thompson wrote a Bukowski novel; very bleak, almost without any hope at all, still there's alot of humour.

[Algernon (Darth Anyan), Hard-Boiled]

Frank wrote: "Pick-Up by Charles Willeford. Its written in a pulp noir style, but the plot really isn't. It's a bit like if Jim Thompson wrote a Bukowski novel; very bleak, almost without any hope at all, still ..."

I'm still undecided between "Pick-Up" and "Cockfighter" for my next Willeford.
I guess I will end up reading both.

[Frank]

It's my first, will probably read his Moseley books too. I know the Miami Blues movie, it's fun.

[Algernon (Darth Anyan), Hard-Boiled]

Miami Blues was chosen as one of our monthly reads, so I am already familiar with it.

[William]

Paul wrote: "Been in Quartet mode for the last month or so. Just finished the D.C. Quartet by George Pelecanos & the Red Riding Quartet by David Peace. Both brilliant." Try the LA Quartet by Ellroy: The Black Dahlia, The Big Nowhere, L.A. Confidential and White Jazz. Throw in Clandestine just for grins. In my opinion, these were the last good novels James Ellroy wrote. I think he has just been coasting in the Underworld USA series. . .

[Richard]

Algernon wrote: "Frank wrote: "Pick-Up by Charles Willeford. Its written in a pulp noir style, but the plot really isn't. It's a bit like if Jim Thompson wrote a Bukowski novel; very bleak, almost without any hope ..."

Both are good. But Pick-up is levels above Cockfighter in my opinion! And to disagree, I think Pick-up is total noir.