Tim Dorsey is a deft hand at comedy, which I think may be the hardest genre to write in. Dorsey is consistently funny, but he really outdoes himself wTim Dorsey is a deft hand at comedy, which I think may be the hardest genre to write in. Dorsey is consistently funny, but he really outdoes himself with The Pope of Palm Beach. I have been on the fence regarding this series (featuring semi-demented serial killer and Floridaphile Serge A Storms) but this book has convinced me to stick around. The scene in which Pharmabro Martin Shkreli (or at least a suitable doppelganger) is dealt with is priceless. Yes, certainly, this is some dark humor and so not for necessarily for everyone. But I think most of us want to see justice done and have entertained some type of revenge fantasy in our lives. Serge is like a vast and devious force of nature who descends upon the various morons we all have to deal with and...punishes the guilty.
Merged review:
Tim Dorsey is a deft hand at comedy, which I think may be the hardest genre to write in. Dorsey is consistently funny, but he really outdoes himself with The Pope of Palm Beach. I have been on the fence regarding this series (featuring semi-demented serial killer and Floridaphile Serge A Storms) but this book has convinced me to stick around. The scene in which Pharmabro Martin Shkreli (or at least a suitable doppelganger) is dealt with is priceless. Yes, certainly, this is some dark humor and so not for necessarily for everyone. But I think most of us want to see justice done and have entertained some type of revenge fantasy in our lives. Serge is like a vast and devious force of nature who descends upon the various morons we all have to deal with and...punishes the guilty....more
Joe Combs wrote a number of articles for my hometown newspaper. This was back in the 60s; lots of them are connected by topic. Legends of the Pineys iJoe Combs wrote a number of articles for my hometown newspaper. This was back in the 60s; lots of them are connected by topic. Legends of the Pineys is exactly what it sounds like-a collection of regional legends many which I was not even aware of. Fun to read. Four stars. ...more
I have been waiting a long time to read Lost and Gone Forever. In Alex Grecian I鈥檝e discovered the mystery genre鈥檚 equivalent of George RR Martin. (GrI have been waiting a long time to read Lost and Gone Forever. In Alex Grecian I鈥檝e discovered the mystery genre鈥檚 equivalent of George RR Martin. (Grecian: 鈥淪orry I can鈥檛 hear you over the sound of my characters screaming.鈥�) A great climax to a five part series. Hunt these down folks they are worth reading. Four stars....more
I have been looking for a copy of Alex Grecian鈥檚 The Harvest Man 鈥渋n the wild鈥� for years but I鈥檝e never found one. I finally broke down and bought a cI have been looking for a copy of Alex Grecian鈥檚 The Harvest Man 鈥渋n the wild鈥� for years but I鈥檝e never found one. I finally broke down and bought a copy and I鈥檓 glad I did. I really enjoy Grecian鈥檚 novels about Scotland Yard鈥檚 Murder Squad, of which this is the fourth-they are suspenseful and sinister, and feature a memorable cast of characters. It has been years since I read the third installment but I was able to pick things up as if I just saw it yesterday. The action takes place in post-Ripper London. Scotland Yard has gotten a large black eye for failing to catch Jack the Ripper. But is Jack really gone? And he is not the only killer out there鈥our stars. ...more
Parker is the creation of Richard Stark a.k.a. Donald Westlake. If I remember correctly I once described this character as having nails for eyes. He iParker is the creation of Richard Stark a.k.a. Donald Westlake. If I remember correctly I once described this character as having nails for eyes. He is unrepentantly a criminal with a very practical streak-if it is easier for him to kill you to solve a problem he will. In The Man With the Getaway Face he has run afoul of The Outfit (organized crime syndicate) and been forced to have plastic surgery to avoid a nasty end. Parker soon gets back to 鈥渨ork鈥� planning a heist while protecting his new identity. Complications ensue. A quick enjoyable crime novel. I can read one of these a day and be delighted. Four stars....more
To think that The House on the Borderland was written in 1907! This is a terrifying tale, full of wonder, and one of the best examples of 鈥渨eird鈥� fictTo think that The House on the Borderland was written in 1907! This is a terrifying tale, full of wonder, and one of the best examples of 鈥渨eird鈥� fiction I have ever read. William Hope Hodgson was a favorite of HP Lovecraft鈥檚 and I can see why-the influence is easy to discern. Reading this late at night in a hospital room was a chilling experience. Five stars and this joins my list of favorite books....more
Human traffickers and slavers are the modern equivalent of Nazis, which is to say they are perfect villains. Barry Eisler really makes them suffer in Human traffickers and slavers are the modern equivalent of Nazis, which is to say they are perfect villains. Barry Eisler really makes them suffer in the second Livia Lone novel, The Night Trade. The author is a former intelligence officer, and he writes very convincingly about the dark world of covert operations. This is a hard book to read because of the subject matter, but Eisler is a good author. Plus this book features a second character I really love, some great action sequences, and a resolution to the questions raised in Book One. Four stars....more
A very solid four stars for Peter Robinson鈥檚 Strange Affair. Very little about this book that was not to my liking. There鈥檚 a good set of mysteries toA very solid four stars for Peter Robinson鈥檚 Strange Affair. Very little about this book that was not to my liking. There鈥檚 a good set of mysteries to solve and we get to spend a little time getting to know DCI Banks鈥� family. Which in turn teaches us more about Banks himself. There is a small fly in the ointment at the very end of the book (you will know when you see it) but it is not enough to keep you from enjoying the book Constant Reader. ...more
Fallout was just what I needed-an enjoyable, fast moving mystery/police procedural. Mike Lupica does a great job of channeling the late Robert B ParkeFallout was just what I needed-an enjoyable, fast moving mystery/police procedural. Mike Lupica does a great job of channeling the late Robert B Parker. I enjoyed this outing with Jesse Stone and Company. These novels consist of a lot of dialogue or as we like to call it snappy patter, mixed in with small bits of description. It makes for an entertaining and quick moving read. Four stars....more
I loved Peter Robinson鈥檚 Children of the Revolution. It is a well written mystery featuring DCI Banks, a character I am coming to really like. UnfortuI loved Peter Robinson鈥檚 Children of the Revolution. It is a well written mystery featuring DCI Banks, a character I am coming to really like. Unfortunately, I have no more Peter Robinson books in the house. Sounds like a trip to the library may be an order. This proved to be a very nice police procedural slash whodunnit. Four stars. ...more
I am so delighted to have finally finished The Mammoth Book of Private Eye Stories. I have been whittling away at this thing for far too long-much lonI am so delighted to have finally finished The Mammoth Book of Private Eye Stories. I have been whittling away at this thing for far too long-much longer than a week-as I am extremely stubborn. And there are some good stories here: a Lew Archer tale from Ross Macdonald, for instance. There is a Lawrence Block story featuring Matthew Scudder, plus the compulsively readable Max Allen Collins. And some guy named Raymond Chandler. Well for every treat there seemed to be two stinkers. Editor Bill Pronzini managed to include a story by himself as well as a story by his spouse Marcia Muller. Surely this was a statistical coincidence. Plus, they鈥檙e not very good stories. A lot of these tales just were not stand outs. There is enough entertainment value here to garner a grudging three stars....more
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