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williamc's review
3.0
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.
ericwelch's review
5.0
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.
manuel_d78's review against another edition
2.0
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
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