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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
Pretty much the same as all the Quarry’s but it loses a star because if this really was his first job there’s no way he’d have been hired for a second one.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the first book in the Quarry series that
I've read, but seeing as it is a prequel to all
the others it seemed like a good place to start.
Typical pulpy story but I still found it amusing
as Quarry takes on an assignment and -- as
expected -- things do not go according to plan.
Quarry has integrity despite being a hitman so
the reader will tend to find him very likeable.
I know I did, and now I'll probably read more
of this series to see if others are as interesting
or whether the author fell into some kind of
formulaic trap with the character.
But if you only read this one, you should at
least have an entertaining time of it.
I've read, but seeing as it is a prequel to all
the others it seemed like a good place to start.
Typical pulpy story but I still found it amusing
as Quarry takes on an assignment and -- as
expected -- things do not go according to plan.
Quarry has integrity despite being a hitman so
the reader will tend to find him very likeable.
I know I did, and now I'll probably read more
of this series to see if others are as interesting
or whether the author fell into some kind of
formulaic trap with the character.
But if you only read this one, you should at
least have an entertaining time of it.
I have been a fan of Collins for many years. I read this while riding my stationary bike because it is a fun, quick read. I have not read any of the other Quarry novels, but enjoyed the Nathan Heller novels. Being a bit OCD, I had to start with this title even though it was written almost 25 years after the first Quarry book. It was an added plus that it was set in Iowa City and threw in a few references to places that I remember from growing up but that are no longer there.
Collins does an excellent job of describing the scene and transporting you back to shortly after Quarry's return from Vietnam and how he got into the murder for hire business. Very good neo-noir.
Collins does an excellent job of describing the scene and transporting you back to shortly after Quarry's return from Vietnam and how he got into the murder for hire business. Very good neo-noir.
This sexually charged thriller, written in 2008 but set in 1970 as the prelude to Collins' Quarry series, reads like classic noir taken to the academic neighborhoods of Iowa City. Characters fulfill their crime novel archetypes well, giving the story a familiar feel while allowing for a few unexpected twists in the plot line. An enjoyable, sexy distraction, and a good introduction to the series as a whole.
What is the appeal of "hit-man" books? Perhaps it's just me, but I like the ones I have read. Lawrence Block has his Keller series (excellent) and Max Allan Collins has his "Quarry" series. I look forward to breezing through them with relish. Perhaps it's some inherent genetic flaw in me, but they are great escapism.
Less than the middle-three of five, yet I might possible read another
It did not hit very favorably with me.
A big part of the reason for that I attribute that the crime fiction sub-genre of hard boiled/pulp is new to me.
The back cover praises mention "The Maltese Faclon". Now I read that many moons back, so memory might not serve well, but I could not say this is in the same category.
What I understand that this author has a very active 40+ years career, with multiple series, collaborations and film/tv novelizations.
This is not even the first book in the series, while it is the origin story in a way, so it is certainly not that he had to find his voice and style, yet I hope other books of that series work a bit smoother in telling the story, or I acquire more experience with the narrative tradition of that genre.
This is why I have only 2 stars to give, yet think there is a chance I will revisit the series
It did not hit very favorably with me.
A big part of the reason for that I attribute that the crime fiction sub-genre of hard boiled/pulp is new to me.
The back cover praises mention "The Maltese Faclon". Now I read that many moons back, so memory might not serve well, but I could not say this is in the same category.
What I understand that this author has a very active 40+ years career, with multiple series, collaborations and film/tv novelizations.
This is not even the first book in the series, while it is the origin story in a way, so it is certainly not that he had to find his voice and style, yet I hope other books of that series work a bit smoother in telling the story, or I acquire more experience with the narrative tradition of that genre.
This is why I have only 2 stars to give, yet think there is a chance I will revisit the series