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Give Us a Kiss
Daniel Woodrell
Savage Night
Jim Thompson
The Buntline Special
Mike Resnick
Time Traders Omnibus: The Time Traders / The Defiant Agents / Key Out of Time - Andre Norton Dated and extremely YA, the first half was pretty boring and the second half picked up well, seemed like a couple of long short stories sewn together to make a novel. Norton has skill to be sure, I would like to read something more adult from her.
Pushing Ice - Alastair Reynolds I am torn between three and four stars for this one, I lean toward three I suppose. This was not my favorite Reynolds novel by any stretch. I thought the science and science fictional ideas were brilliant as always. I found the characters and dialogue to be a bit too by-the-numbers for my taste. Oddly, the ending was excellent, vastly better than the majority of Reynolds' endings, and perhaps a harbinger or future improvement in the only area Reynolds consistently lacks in.

I didn't enjoy this as much as the brilliant Revelation Space series or even standalones like House of Suns or Terminal World. That said, Alistair Reynolds' books are consistently at the top of new science fiction. This one is not quite as good as is usual for Reynolds, but still well above the average for the genre.
The Devil All the Time - Donald Ray Pollock Great, unforgettable hillbilly noir. Review soon
Beard on Food: The Best Recipes and Kitchen Wisdom from the Dean of American Cooking - James Beard One of the best of the food writers. The information is dated but the recipes certainly still work.
Mr. Paradise - Elmore Leonard Kelly and Chloe are roommates. Kelly is a model and Chloe was a hooker until she gave it all up to become the "girlfriend" of Anthony Paradiso Sr. an 85 year old retired lawyer and extremely wealthy man. Chloe talks Kelly into helping out with a cheerleader thing (don't ask). Unfortunately during the festivities, "Mr Paradise" and one of the girls are murdered and it falls to Detroit Homicide investigator Frank Delsa to unravel the mystery and find the killers.

If you have ever read any of my Elmore Leonard reviews then you already know this; Leonard is one of the best at dialogue I hae ever read. Right up there with George Higgins. Leonard's dialogue is so good that the plot is almost immaterial. In the case of Mr Paradise, the plot was more simple than I am used to from Leonard. His characters were not as amazing as they usually are, though they are still damned good. Overall this is a solid, workmanlike novel with Leonard's characteristic excellent dialogue.

I love Elmore Leonard and I will read anything he writes. This is still a good book but it does not reach the high levels of other Leonard offerings.

The Ax

The Ax - Donald E Westlake This book is about a dark time in American history. A large financial bubble had burst, corporations were laying off people in droves in a valiant effort to protect the lavish lifestyles of corporate leaders, jobs were hard to come by for the recently displaced and, as unemployment benefits started to run out, these displaced workers felt increasing, massive pressure to find a new job soon, or risk losing everything they have worked for their whole lives. So nothing like today *cough.

Anyway, it is in these difficult times that our "hero" Burke Devore finds himself at the end of his string and without prospects. He finds a job he would be perfect for, the only problem being the guy who currently holds that job. Devore decides to do the only thing that makes any sense. He decides to kill him. To ensure he gets the job, he decides to also kill other recently displaced workers who would be rivals for this job. Hijinks ensue.

This is a very good Westlake book. Not nearly as funny as much of his fiction and much darker. there are still some funny parts but the overall theme is very much of despair and hopelessness. Devore's transformation from his first, bumbling, efforts is fascinating to read and very well done. Somehow Devore remains an appealing and sympathetic figure despite his horrific acts. He is a well drawn character and frighteningly believable.

I would very much recommend this book in general. Westlake fans who have not read it yet should do so next.
Pronto - Elmore Leonard I liked this one quite a bit but I like Raylan Givens a lot. This is the first book starring the throwback Deputy Marshall and it is pretty much what you would expect. The characters are excellent, the dialog pops, the story move right along to a satisfying ending. Elmore Leonard is a goddamned genius and that is that.
March Violets - Philip Kerr Good, old fashioned Weimar Republic noir. This was the first book in a remarkably original noir series. I liked it...a lot...a whole lot. I don't know if I quite loved it but I can definitely see how this series could grow Ito something outstanding. Noir set in 1930's Germany, and done so well. I look forward to the next few.
Stick - Elmore Leonard A good enough book, not a great one but it is an Elmore Leonard book. The characters and dialog are outstanding, the plot is good, it just didn't have that extra bit pushing it over the top.
Flashfire (Parker Novels) - Richard Stark (pseud. Donald E Westlake) When he heard the new Parker movie was based on this book, Ed thought he should read it again.

After a re-read, I still find this to be a middle of the road Parker book. Not bad, there is no "bad" Parker book, but not his best by some distance.
The Cut (Trade Paperback) - George Pelecanos Review coming soon
The Heroes - Joe Abercrombie This was a really, really good book. It is my favorite from Abercrombie so far and I have pretty much loved everything he has done. The Heroes is the story of a three day battle between the Union and the Northmen of the Black Dow. As always, the characters were excellently drawn and the dialog was witty and rang true. I loved the more intimate feel of the plot, and some of the interesting POV switching. What I didn't love so much was some of the more obvious nudge, nudge, wink, wink moments, with Whirrin inventing the sandwich and Bayaz considering naming his newest invention the "fire engine". Some of that took me out of the story, and I really wanted to stay in the story. Despite these minor quibbles, this was the most effective and engaging story from Abercrombie so far. I look forward fondly to A Red Country.

As an aside, I would not recommend anyone make this thier first Abercrombie. Some of the character development relies on a familiarity with First Law and to a lesser degree Best Served Cold.
Sheepfarmer's Daughter - Elizabeth Moon Pretty mediocre first novel in the series. I was a little disappointed as I expected much more based on reputation.

Falling Glass

Falling Glass - Adrian McKinty Not bad but I think I need a break from Irish crime fiction for a bit. I hope to read much more from McKinty in the future. The future is, however, most decidedly not now. I will try to regroup and give this a proper review in the near future. For now, t is a good Irish crime novel. It is similar to other Irish crime novels I have read lately but it is mighty. In an aside, I believe "peelers" is the single greatest slang term for cops that I have ever heard.
Blood of Ambrose - James Enge This book has some pretty significant problems with pacing and characterization. Despite all that it was quite enjoyable in part, especially the end. This is Enge's first novel and it is very u even. Where it is bad it is pedestrian. Where it is good it is amazing. I will absolutely read on in this series but only in expectation of great things in the future from this author. Very raw talent but very talented author.
Double Indemnity - James M. Cain An insurance agent falls for another man's wife and they end up plotting to kill him for insurance money. Short, sparse and tightly written, this book is everything I love about noir fiction; loser protagonist, femme fatale, "perfect"plots, double, triple, quadruple etc crosses.

Best line of the book, possibly any book,

"I had killed a man, for money and a woman. I didn't have the money and I didn't have the woman."

Nice, if ever noir fiction could be summed up in two sentences it would be these two.

A great movie but an even better book 5*