Jerry Chase, new reporter for sensationalist rag, Smear, finds himself surrounded by four warm bodies turned cold - all on the first week of the job. Jerry Chase, new reporter for sensationalist rag, Smear, finds himself surrounded by four warm bodies turned cold - all on the first week of the job. How did it come to this? A fatal assignment to Happy Honeymoons Incorporated; Chase's first job seems shady from the outset; however, a blonde beauty named Delilah with more curves than angles embraces him in her oh so lovely arms and all thoughts of 'shady' turn hazy! It doesn't take much to know where this one-time Carter Brown protagonist is thinking from...
NO FUTURE FAIR LADY, despite being published nearly 70 years ago holds up remarkably well as a crime-comedy centered around a quasi private eye in newspaperman Jerry Chase, who somehow finds himself in embroiled in serious situations turned satire by author Carter Brown. Chase is a perfect 'protagonist' in this plot; well written, hot-blooded and tough - only when he needs to be. Al Wheeler he is not. Think Danny Boyd with a hint of Larry Baker and you'll get a real feel for Chase (Carter Brown enthusiasts will relate). ...more
Similar style to Orrie Hitt but with more violence. Plot was complex but not without cause. A character glossary proved useful in keeping track of theSimilar style to Orrie Hitt but with more violence. Plot was complex but not without cause. A character glossary proved useful in keeping track of the players and their plight....more
"You know why Carl couldn't get a really first-class driver for love nor money?" "You tell me," I said. "It's his cars," she said softly. "The Hauptman
"You know why Carl couldn't get a really first-class driver for love nor money?" "You tell me," I said. "It's his cars," she said softly. "The Hauptman Specials - they aren't quite right somehow. They kill people!"
Published five years after the first James Bond novel, Casino Royale, Carter Brown's ICE COLD IN ERMINE attempts to leverage the spy bandwagon, rather than sticking to the tried and true private eye formula the author was know for, this foray into unchartered water delivers a mixed bag of candy, some sweet and sugar-loaded, others sour and hard to swallow.
Barney Blain is an American secret agent (this we only know because it's painstakingly played out in the opening stanza) who doubles as a world renowned racing car driver (what a combo!). Just so happens his boss (with whom we know very little about) has the perfect mission for Blain; infiltrate a racing team to find out why their cars are blowing up and killing the drivers. Luckily, there's not a whole lot needed to do to infiltrate, as Blain's legend is known across the globe and he's automatically thrust into the world of motor sport faster than you can say Hauptman Special!
No sooner had Blain landed in Europe, he's already on the lookout for some female attention, exploding death cars be damned! But, oh, who should he happen to run into? None other than the beautiful Julie Adams, also an American secret agent, also an expert racing car driver! Who knew?
I looked at Julie Adams standing there beside me. "I'll let you into a secret." I told her. "There are other types of chassis that appeal besides those belonging to an automobile!" "You amaze me!" she said coldly.
Fair to say the feeling isn't mutual. Never mind as Julie is promptly murdered, much to Blain's annoyance, I mean, how can he focus on winning a race with the distraction of murder! While there's not a lot of investigating into Julie's untimely death, the private eye formula rears its head a little here in-between hot laps and brawling pit crew members.
The actual plot, however, the core premise of the book; those exploding death machines, isn't really explored any further. It's a means to an end, that being, the author seemingly decided to give up on one thread in favor of something new; cross continent trafficking (trafficking of what? not sure, we don't delve that deep).
This new plot, Blain gives just as much attention as the last. None. But it's still entertaining nonetheless; if anything, the lack of a consistent plot gives the book a little extra charm.
I'm not sure if there are other Barney Blain books by Carter Brown out there, if so, I'll definitely hunt them down. Bond this isn't, but that's ok. ...more
"He killed my father!" She said tautly. "He wanted me to get his money! The he was going to get rid of me, wasn't he?"
Martin Bern is a private detecti
"He killed my father!" She said tautly. "He wanted me to get his money! The he was going to get rid of me, wasn't he?"
Martin Bern is a private detective taking a well earned vacation when he stumbles upon a horrific car crash at the bottom of an embankment. What had been s nice drive on route to his hotel turned into a murder mystery involving more shady characters than you could point a finger at.
Published in 1958, SO LOVELY SHE LIES predates the series protagonists' Carter Brown is so well known for (Al Wheeler, Danny Boyd, Rick Holman, Mavis Seidlitz etc.). Martin Bern, is a stock standard run of the mill private eye who, aside from having an easy way with the women, doesn't have one iota of personality, nor is there any character depth. Insert generic gun toting hero here.
Despite the lack of any character to Bern, the story is entertaining enough and has a nice twist at the end. I got the sense that Carter Brown was just starting to find his groove with SO LOVELY SHE LIES but was a pains to rush through all conceivable twists and turns, as bodies dropped quicker than the wanton women's under garments leaving loads of loose threads as if murder didn't really matter.
...he was holding the girl in his arms, holding her face hard against his shoulder, feeling the great sobs shaking her. But he, curiously, in the face
...he was holding the girl in his arms, holding her face hard against his shoulder, feeling the great sobs shaking her. But he, curiously, in the face of this ugly death, he felt in himself even more strongly that bright surging of life.
It had begun with Gabriella, hadn't it, her urchin cut hair and those deep dark -sunk eyes?
Noir, this is not. Despite the tantalizing synopsis and equally stunning cover art, the title is very much misleading. THE MAN WHO CHOSE DEATH, published in 1960 is dated, slow paced and often confusing (at least at the beginning). Turns out the story is about an art heist... and not multiple murders...(prominent in the early portion of the book before that part of the plot floats off in the ether) and the protagonist isn't a private eye, police officer, security guard, or art enthusiast, rather a draftsman holidaying in Florence who happens to be in the wrong place at the right time..
'I'll give you your money...when you've told me what I want to know.' 'And what's that? What do you want to know?' 'I want to know where the painting is.' He laughed. 'You're crazy. I don't know where it is.'
The heist, is a complex piece of conspiracy, little method to the madness is provided until the prize is ripped off the wrapping paper in one swift chapter completely randomly.
The girl spoke softly...in Italian. 'I have come to warn you, Signora Rawlinson. I know about you, and what you have done. Of that I do not say anything to you, of your wickedness, I only say to you this, that I know. Ans I warn you that if you try again to do me harm, then others also will know.'
There are better pulps out there. Sadly the one of the best things about this lovely 1960's Corgi edition, cover aside, is the advertisement for MY GUN IS QUICK by Mickey Spillane....more
Dated adventure, pulp. Doc Savage is more akin to modern day Marcel superhero spliced with Tarzan, as opposed to an adventurer , accompanied by a bandDated adventure, pulp. Doc Savage is more akin to modern day Marcel superhero spliced with Tarzan, as opposed to an adventurer , accompanied by a band of academics. Zero plausibility, but that adds to the charm of this tail. Whilst generally okay, I found the book somewhat average in its execution. There are better pulps out there....more
Though misleading at first, Kelly is quite the noire tale promised by the alluring artwork, albeit in atypical fashion. Minus the implied sleaze KellyThough misleading at first, Kelly is quite the noire tale promised by the alluring artwork, albeit in atypical fashion. Minus the implied sleaze Kelly does include a series of crime vinaigrettes which keep the narrative dark and ever brooding. As for the titular character herself, she’s not the femme fatale one might expect rather a wholesome character who too often is taken for a ride by men and women alike all too keen to exploit her generosity. ...more
The last Monty Nash thriller is the first I've read and last of the series and I've got to say my thoughts on this probably reflect that of the publisThe last Monty Nash thriller is the first I've read and last of the series and I've got to say my thoughts on this probably reflect that of the publisher (circa 1962) given the series ended at the conclusion of THE SLAVERS.
While Nash is oozing pulp goodness (I love the cheesy protagonists of the pulp era and Gold Medal Book published more than most others) the story was flawed, mired in inconsistency and strange happenstance, with all directions pointing to Nash coming out on top, when, really, he didn't do all that much (aside from adding a few ladies to the proverbial notch on his belt).
THE SLAVERS could've been something great. The premise, synopsis and all pre-read material points to a dangerous tussle in the African jungle in search of slavers to free their prisoners. Unfortunately, two thirds of the book is focused on Nash and his fellow British Intelligence agents on-route to the jungle and while this would ultimately play out quite nicely in the end (think Jill Strong) this approach didn't deliver what the cover promised.
Mony Nash, as a character, isn't portrayed as his best here. A budget Bond probably best depicts this installment. The theme of a block buster hero is more accidental than A-grade. The cover is great, the story is so-so. 2.5 stars.
BARE BONES is a great resource for pulp enthusiasts; in this issue (Winter 2023), I discovered a bunch of new-to-me books, series, and authors which IBARE BONES is a great resource for pulp enthusiasts; in this issue (Winter 2023), I discovered a bunch of new-to-me books, series, and authors which I'd love to add to the collection. The downside? Most of the books featured in this particular issue are extremely expensive and out of reach of most who'd want to read more of the fiction reviewed here.
Highlights include: - The Agent 008 series by Clyde Allison; the books sound pure pulp cheese, combing a heady mix of soft core, crime, and action-orientated story telling akin to Bond. There are 20 books in the series, most with fantastic covers and short, sharp, entertaining stories (at least from what I was able to gleam from the reviews!) - Sleaze Alley; a review section dedicated to reviewing, well, sleaze pulps of course! Wanton D.O.A by Andrew Shay and The Orgy Inspector by Alan Marshall piqued my interest. This really is a great part of the magazine. - Duane Swierczynski's article focusing on Goodis's days of couch hopping on a virtual tour of his stomping grounds was great to get insight into one of my Favorite authors written by one of my favorite authors! - Get Me Lou Largo!; much like the Agent 008 series review, the features a review of the six books in the Lou Largo pulp private eye series from the 1960's and some of these sound great! It's a shame the series didn't continue past the last published installment, Give Me This Woman by William Ard given that looked to have been the best in the series. Another one to add to my list! ...more
Sex, lies, and a Hollywood Private Eye; THE NEVER WAS GIRL is the standard smoke and mirrors murder mystery which leverages off the traditional whodunSex, lies, and a Hollywood Private Eye; THE NEVER WAS GIRL is the standard smoke and mirrors murder mystery which leverages off the traditional whodunit formula commonplace with lone wolf detective stories.
Published in 1964, THE NEVER WAS GIRL is a clever and surprisingly complex piece of pulp fiction centered around a missing bombshell presumed dead and protagonist, Rick Holman, the private eye to the stars and well renowned Hollywood Fixer who must solve the case before he either ends up as another murder statistic or his libero is drained forever... safe to say there's a lot of sex and all too wanton women eager to please Holman for, really, no reason at all. It adds to the cheesy charm of these books.
As to be expected, the narrative generally follows a question and answer routine as Holman delves into the group of suspects, all known to each other and all equally as shifty as the next. Author Carter Brown manages to weave some tantalizing tidbits of information and backstory into these dialogue heavy sequences which progresses the plot nicely; a common method the author uses more broadly than just the Holman mysteries.
While the ending was predictable, I had a great time reading Holman's steady progression into solving the case. True, the powers of deductive reasoning are far from being on par with Sherlock but the methods Holman uses sure are fun to read. ...more
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