hard case crime – Page 7 – Cannonball Read 17

Lost It At the Movies

Double Feature by Donald Westlake

March 20, 2020 by Jake Leave a Comment

I was fortunate to snag one of the new Hard Case Crime releases just before everything shut down. And it’s a good thing too because Donald Westlake is one of my favorite writers. I love how versatile he is, doing everything from mysteries to broad noir tales to geopolitical thrillers to biting satire works. When I saw that this would be a re-release of two movie-based novellas, I got excited. This is probably the most eager I’ve been for a new HCC in a while. […]

Two Duds

The Wounded and the Slain by David Goodis

Doctor Lovebeads by Gary Reilly

January 21, 2020 by Jake Leave a Comment

How much does it suck when you read two books concurrent with one another by authors you normally like…and they turn out to be complete duds? I took time to write this review after finishing both books to wonder if it was just me. Nope. Both were not good and very close to bad. The Wounded and the Slain There are good ideas in this David Goodis noir tale: ideas about marriage, accountability, colonialism, loss, sense of place and justice. But they’re buried underneath Goodis’ […]

Deck the Halls

Easy Death by Daniel Boyd

December 10, 2019 by Jake Leave a Comment

One of the smartest reading decisions I’ve made in a long time is my commitment to reading at least one Hard Case Crime novel per month. I’ve collected them for the last 7-8 years or so but typically, I only read one or two a year. It makes no sense given that I love the imprint, love crime fiction, and am usually entertained by the stories. I think I take for granted that these books will always be there or that I’ll be around to […]

Back to the Beginning

Grifter's Game by Lawrence Block

October 18, 2019 by Jake Leave a Comment

I continue to collect Hard Case Crime novels, even though I barely buy the new ones anymore. I worry sometimes about the spirit of the product but I know Charles Ardai and the folks there do good work to keep the imprint alive. Because I have a backlog of HCC books, I’ve made a commitment to read once at least once a month. This month, I decided to start where it all began: Grifter’s Game, book #1 in the series. Originally published as Mona, it was one […]

On The Avenue

Losers Live Longer by Russell Atwood

September 8, 2019 by Jake Leave a Comment

Starting in September, I’ve resolved to read at least one Hard Case Crime novel per month. I collect Hard Case Crime books as a hobby, though there are getting harder and harder to find in used book stores. I always enjoy reading them but I sort of take it for granted that I can do so at anytime; knowing they’ll always be there. I had to force myself to read Casino Moon last month in order to check off a library bingo square. It wound up being […]

Boardwalk Empire

Casino Moon by Peter Blauner

August 14, 2019 by Jake Leave a Comment

I collect Hard Case Crime books as a hobby. I love crime novels and I love the simplicity of HCC works: nothing pretentious, just good ol’ fashioned pulp fiction. However, I’m really bad at reading what I collect. I think I take it for granted that these books may be around for awhile and that, unlike most books I purchase, I’m not giving them up. So I only read about two a year in a collection of sixty or so. One of the great things […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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