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Reviews January 5, 2024

Freak Show by Jacquin Sanders

A deep-dive character study of a roughneck outsider and his serial attempts to find his place in a fickle world. As Jacquin Sanders’ (1922–2001) first novel begins, Bat Fidler drifts into a traveling carnival and takes a job as a wrestler. His size and build make him a natural for a rousing performance in his predetermined bouts with Frankie Peranzo, his rowdy opponent.

As Bat tries to find a niche in his new home, he hooks up with Emmy Claus, a pretty young stripper with few inhibitions and fewer morals. Their relationship-of-convenience places Bat near the Fish Girl, for whom he is struck with an inexplicable fascination upon first sight.

“She was wearing a yellow sun-suit, and her body was nearly perfect. She had smooth, slender legs; her back was slim and straight, her waist small. Her breasts were full and high, curving beautifully into rounded, shapely shoulders where heartbreakingly the symmetry stopped. Her arms and hands were tiny, babylike, they had not developed with the rest of her body. They were as soft and short and minutely formed as those of a two-year-old child.”

It’s an enigma. Bat is both drawn to, and repelled by, the Fish Girl. Attempting to dissuade his fixation, Bat cozies up to Emmy, going as far as contemplating marriage. But when Emmy’s lust for partying surfaces, Bat is drawn into a deadly battle with a pseudo-rival and ends up facing a murder rap.

The trial and his subsequent prison bit thrust him into another world, where he again attempts to find his place. The confinement triggers a change that only plays out after his release, when he again wrestles with conformity versus identity—external versus internal accord.

Freak Show is a beguiling plot of deceit, murder, and lust. Its story is an exploration of desire and attraction through the mind of a rugged outsider with little understanding of his true self or how to access it.

Freak Show is Black Gat Book No. 54, released on January 12, 2024. ARC provided by Stark House Press in exchange for an independent review.

Reviews November 17, 2023

The Trailer Park Girls by Glenn Canary

Army veterans Burt, Al, and Jack find themselves sharing a trailer and working temporary jobs until something more interesting comes along. If the trio have a leader, it’s Burt who aspires to attend medical school and become a doctor. Unfortunately, his ten grand inheritance earmarked to pay for his education was pilfered away by his brother, while Burt was in service. Burt’s bro promises to make it up, but seemingly has no means of fulfilling his debt.

Now what? In the wisdom of classic paperback logic, Burt decides he’ll knock over a department store and reclaim his next egg in one easy haul. He reveals this stunt to his army pals—who figure what the hell—and all the ducks align. As the three fledgling felons scrutinize their target and noodle every nuance, Al—the bad boy of the trio—chances upon the Black Gat cover girl—and invites her and her two roommates over for a little soiree.

When Burt finds out, he’s furious. He knows full well that one thing will lead to another and soon his criminal caper will be compromised or undermined all together. Despite his protests, the soiree ensues and his predictions of leakage begin trickling out. What he doesn’t expect is that he himself will fall for one of the trailer park babes, a nurse, and the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen.

Canary seeds his crime caper with plenty of softcore scenes of connubial bliss with each of the three couples until their flesh is spent and the escalating tension between the would-be crooks explodes in a frenzy of ego over intelligence. Despite its predictable elements, Canary weaves a compelling web and balances what could have been pure sleaze with an actual plot and some action to deliver an entertaining, quick-reading crime novel.

Due out in Dec. 2023 from Black Gat Books, an imprint of Stark House Press

Reviews September 2, 2023

BG50: Any Man’s Girl by Basil Heatter

Written during the middle of Basil Heatter’s (1918–2009) crime fiction career, Any Man’s Girl follows, in hindsight, the curse of a gorgeous fatale unable to find her place in the world. The cover image of Lucinda Perky is as close as readers will ever get to meeting her, because she never appears alive in her story, which begins with the number one suspect of her murder—her husband, Russ—already incarcerated, awaiting trial.

The novel story takes place in Florida, rich in the southern racism of its barely 1960s era, but also with sections of remarkably progressive views. Dan and Marty Waxman have transported themselves from New York to Florida, chasing Dan’s dream of perfecting hydroponic farming. He’s the homebody when wife Marty sets out to refresh her career in law, at his uninhibited encouragement. Her case? Prove Russ Perky did not murder his wife, Lucinda, despite substantial circumstantial evidence and local political powers that want nothing better than to wrap this nasty thing up as quick as possible.

Heatter does a solid job maintaining momentum as Marty spins her wheels at every turn and manages to slip in some biting social commentary on prejudice and corruption along the journey.

“Governor Harwood felt a distinct sense of relief when Judge Grady failed to show up for his appointment. It was always a chore, being with Grady. His immense vitality was overwhelming, and those small piggish eyes concealed a cruel and vengeful intelligence.The political woods were full of Gradys, and as a matter of survival, the governor had long since learned to deal with them; but still, particularly in the case of the judge, it went against his grain.

“At what point, he wondered, did a man rise above this sort of thing, free himself of these political vultures? The answer, of course, was never. Right on up to the White House, he felt sure, it must be the same—a never ending procession of men to whom you owned favors—men who could swing votes—men who were important cogs in the party machine. People really imagined that when they elected a governor, they were electing one man to an important office. What they didn’t know was that they were electing a thousand-and-one Gradys at the same time, and that it was the Gradys who made the governor, and that without them, he would vanish into political limbo.”

Heatter does fine work with characterization, dialogue, setting, and plotting his story. Any Man’s Girl is a great read, worthy of celebrating Black Gat’s 50th classic-size paperback. Here’s hoping their are 50 more!

Black Gat Books No. 50 published September 18, 2023

Reviews August 13, 2023

BG49: Off Duty by Andrew Coburn

Layered, noirish tale exposing the tangled pasts of two dirty cops from Beantown. One, the big shot, is entrenched in corruption and the abuse of power. The other, with a more centered compass, only dripped his toe in once—but it followed him to his attempt at a new life up Andover way. as a real estate salesman, threatening his life and family.

Frank Chase, the hero of this yarn, married the ex of Rupert Goetz and is raising Goetz’s son. An uncomfortable state of affairs, but they try to make it something better than work. Goetz continues to mete out abuse in Boston pulling the strings on his home turf and keeping tentacles wrapped around his “second family” up north.

This is a more contemporary book than most of the Black Gat series, first published in hardcover in 1981. As such, the sex is more nuanced, as is the violence. The book went on to earn a CWA Silver Dagger Nominee that same year. It’s easy to understand why. Coburn is a terrific writer, and I’m grateful Stark House has reissued this title. Coburn unfurls the history of his two main characters and their orbits seamlessly while moving the narrative forward in satisfying strides. There is never a dull moment. The story is told largely by its strong characters spouting frank dialogue, revealing the roots of their perspectives and how it guides their present slant. Even the secondary cast is well-drawn and engaging, from the local (Andover) cop to the top-dog antagonist who ultimately is forced out of the shadows to pull a few string of his own.

Although Coburn was a bestselling author during his peak crime fiction writing years, his books have largely gone out of print. If the others were as well-conceived and delivered as this one, let’s hope Stark House will keep ‘em coming.

Reviews July 19, 2023

The Fifth Grave by Jonathan Latimer

Latimer wrote five detective novels about PI William Crane in the 1930s, prior to this standalone novel that was originally released in 1941 as Solomon’s Vineyard in the UK. Judged too graphic for the American market, it didn’t appear stateside until 1950 as The Fifth Grave. Stark House went back to the original for their reprint, hence “the unexpurgated text” notation on the front cover.

The expulsions were violence and sex, both deemed too graphic for the 1940s US market. Indeed, the book opens with this provocation:

“From the way her buttocks looked under the black silk dress, I knew she’d be good in bed. The silk was tight and under it the muscles worked slow and easy. I saw weight there, and control, and, brother, those are things I like in a woman. I put down my bags and went after her along the station platform.”

It might’ve still been expunged today, but for slightly different offenses. On the violent side of things, the offense is violence against a woman, but it this case she’s asking for it:

“I put my arm around her and tried to kiss her lips. She wouldn’t let me. Anywhere else, but not her lips. It was damn queer. I tried again, and we struggled. She began to pant.

“‘Hit me,’ she said. ‘Hit me!’”

Karl Craven and Oke Johnson are PIs—partners—that is, until Johnson gets himself killed working a case that Craven is now compelled to resolve. “Penelope Grayson was thin and blonde and almost beautiful.” Johnson was hired by Grayson’s uncle to rescue her from a religious cult, now Craven’s problem. And he’d like to settle the score on who murdered his partner as well.

“It all came back to something I’d figured out about the detective business. There were two ways to go along: underground or on top. I never found out which was best. Underground you had the element of surprise on your side, but it was harder to move around. On top you went everywhere, taking cracks at everybody, and everybody taking cracks at you. You had to be tough to play it that way. Well, I was tough.”

So Craven plays it tough, nosing in where he isn’t wanted; making enemies of most of the men he encounters, and impressing the women along his way with his bravado and sometimes overconfidence. He takes the bumps and bruises in stride and keeps pushing against any resistance until he finally shakes loose the answers he wants.

Latimer rewards fans of hardboiled diction with scintillating prose, gripping mysteries, and stimulating action. A first-rate, five-star adventure!

Vault June 23, 2023

Blonde Bait by Stephen Marlowe

Black Gat 47

Chuck Odlum has less excuse than many of his ilk for falling head-over-heels into the irresistible pull of the black hole that is noir. He married money, Inez Cameron, owner of the flourishing Whiteface Hotel/ski resort in New York state; valued at a cool million in 1959-dollars. An era when big, strong men like Chuck can’t embrace the sting of a woman calling the shots and claiming the breadwinner crown. Not that Inez is a bitch about it. She’s a benevolent magnate—beautiful, and gives Chuck the run of the mountain and his choice of plum jobs. In this case, ski instructor; a job Chuck loves.

Sound good? Well, in Chuck’s view it was all right until Bunny Kemp—blonde bait of the first degree—dawned on his doldrums and wiggled her way into his bruised primal brain. Bunny’s hubby, Orin Kemp, drove a cab for a living, and one day happened on a rich couple who hired him for a whole night’s shift. As they drank their way across town they let slip more than a tanked couple ought, and Orin wound up with a suitcase full of ransom money—purportedly in small, unmarked bills.

Unfortunately, Orin is making a history of abuse with Bunny. He still loves her big time, but the feeling ain’t mutual no more. So when Bunny and Chuck lock their steely blue googly eyes, their animal instincts overwhelm reason, and willpowers wither. One guilty measure leads to another and in a few short chapters, the two partner in crime as co-conspirators and murderers, one step ahead of Joe Law and cosmic karma.

There’s little doubt where things are headed, but here the journey really is the destination. It’s a bumpy joy ride up and down noir alley, littered with vibrant characters, lousy prospects, dumb luck, and spiraling terminus. A top-drawer noir revival courtesy Stark House and Black Gat Books.

News June 9, 2023

Three Aces from Stark House

Stark House Press’ first foray into the library of Ace PBOs is their latest collection: Three Aces. It includes the following novels: The Gilded Hideaway by Peter Twist, In at the Kill by Emmett McDowell, and Heat Lightning by Wilene Shaw. I am honored to have penned the introduction to this volume with the able assists of James Reasoner, George Kelley, and Gary Lovisi.

It’s available now from Stark House Press.

Reviews May 20, 2023

Take Me as I Am by Darwin Teilhet is Black Gat 46

The latest Gold Medal reprint from Black Gat Books opens with a bang. In this case, a bazooka wielded by Monk Anzeiger, a dead-stop can opener against an armored truck hauling dough destined for a branch bank in Boone. An easy-money assault devised by the bossman, Gramma, who’d get half the take for his impeccable scheme. Only things don’t pan out as per the blueprint. The half-a-million payload tip fell way short of its promises, and Monk and his crony Pinkie have to settle for a measly cut of a hundred grand. A high price for what was now a multiple murder scene. The two crooks split with Monk headed for a rendezvous with Alma, his blonde bombshell, who’s brought a change of clothes and a blue Plymouth.

While the couple drives away, a radio newsflash reports the fourth guard didn’t die at the scene. He survived long enough to get to the hospital where he told the cops he’d heard the name Monk yelled out during the robbery. The cops quickly identify a known gangster named Monk Anzeiger, often seen lately with a blonde woman driving a blue Plymouth. Now too hot to be seen in public, Monk bails to hoof it into the wilderness, instructing Alma to take the loot to Gramma in Atlanta. He promises she’ll be less likely stopped if she’s driving alone.

Nervous as hell, Alma decides to pick-up a young hitchhiker on her route, figuring she’s less likely to be stopped with a companion who in no way matches the description of Monk. She even gets the eighteen-year-old Bill Evans to claim she’s his sister when they run into a roadblock a few miles down the road. Luckily, the cop in charge remembers Bill from high school football and lets them pass without a care.

Ever the manipulator, Alma gets Bill to scope out the shabby grocery store where she’s to hand off the loot to Gramma. Bill enters the place behind a young blonde girl and looks around for Alma’s ploy, her grandmother. He’s about to leave when some guy in a blue suit whips out a pistol and threatens the blonde girl. Acting on pure adrenaline, Bill whacks the guy who is finished off with the blunt end of meat cleaver swung by the girl’s father, who also happens to be the butcher working the meat counter. Bill hightails it back to Alma who recognizes trouble even if she can’t fully understand what went wrong based on Bill’s recount of events.

Now she’s on the lam with a satchel of hot money and an innocent bystander; and isn’t quite sure what’s coming next or what happened to Monk. Over the course of the novel, Alma and Bill slowly get to know each other better, and a romance blooms. But trouble hangs continuously in the background, and is slowly revealed to Bill, either through his own deductions or in confidence as Alma slowly opens up to him.

Darwin Teilhet, who wrote as William H. Fielding, delivers a tense, defective romance driven by dread and pursuit from every glimpse into the light. A top-flight noir, with brilliant character depth and clever plotting.

Reviews April 2, 2023

Murders in Silk by Asa Bordages

Murders in Silk boasts an intricate plot, masterfully meted out by a terrific author. In a short bio at the rear of the volume we learn the author wrote only four novels; two under his real name and a second pair under the pseudonym Mike Teagle. This one is so good, it’d be worth searching out the others—or maybe we’ll get lucky and Stark House will reprint them a little farther down the road.

The opening pages of the novel catapult us into a murder mystery when our protagonist Tiberius Bixby (aka Tie) observes a alluring fellow traveler who proceeds to stumble upon a man with his throat cut in the women’s rest room. The cops rush to the scene and question everyone in the vicinity of the murder, but unfortunately don’t learning much.

Tie however, learns the name of the femme fatale, Gretchen Jones, who discovered the body. He’s so smitten with her, he irrationally wants to minimize any exposure she has—he saw her and the victim together earlier on the train. Thus, he plays things cagey with the lead investigating officer of the murder, detective Rafe Conner, whom he knows from their days growing up.

The story takes place in 1948, and it those days, believe it or not, the train toilets flushed out onto the tracks. Obviously, there were enough issues with this practice that as trains became more common in urban areas, a containment solution was implemented. But in terms of our story, detective Conner is savvy enough to search the tracks for the murder weapon in case the killer had flushed it. And sure enough they had. It’s a unique knife that Tie fails to mention looks familiar.

As the initial investigation begins, it isn’t long until a second murder breaks and leaves Conner with more questions than he started with. Tie is a clever amateur, who is drawn into the case due to his infatuation with Gretchen. But as good as he his, his sleuthing skills pale in comparison to his old man, Zeb Bixby.

The first 170 pages are told first person by Tie, but when the case finally beats him, and he’s forced to the sidelines, papa takes over the proceedings—and the narrative—to wrap things up in a bow.

One quirk of Teagle/Bordages storytelling. He loves to give his characters multiple monikers. Most times it’s only two, like Zebediah and Zeb, but in some cases it’s more, like with Rat Face aka Salvatore Fiore aka Sal aka Sally. I guess it’s intended to add character depth, but it sometimes gave me pause to wonder who he’s talking about.

The novel includes two love-at-first-sight romances. Tie and Gretchen (mutual), and Tie and the daughter of the second murdered man, Paula Wannerman (one-sided). This second infatuation isn’t really developed, and seems to exist only as motivation for her character to protect Tie from danger.

Despite these minor ticks, the narrative is rich, steeped in period phrases and practices that make the mystery a joy to read. Both thumbs up on this one!

Reviews March 5, 2023

Dr. Gatskill’s Blue Shoes by Paul Conant

Soon to be reprinted as Black Gat Book No. 44 by Stark House Press.

Paul Eugene Conant (1906–1968) wrote only three novels. This was the lone entry under his real name, the other two were as by Gene Paul. Gatskill’s presents a swell premise: Lieutenant Peter Hanley finds himself at the Whitman-Bourne Clinic, unable to remember how beautiful Narcissa Maidstone was killed. Did he do it, as several of the higher-ups in the force believe, or is he innocent as his boss, Inspector Battle, presumes?

Dr. Gatskill, her boss, Dr. Holmka, and a few nurses are tasked with prompting Hanley’s memory for the truth. Hanley was at the murder scene, he either did it himself or witnessed who did. Gatskill administer’s successively larger doses of sodium amytal that leave Hanley sedate and dreamy. Sometimes he’s talking to the docs, sometimes he thinks he’s talking aloud, but it’s all internal narrative. Conant handles the transitions in and out of Hanley’s dazed consciousness with aplomb. The Lieutenant’s memories creep slowly back from his subconscious mind as he relives snippets of the past; the big mystery and the reader’s need to know driving the story forward. The struggle inches ahead over the first 100 pages or so. Some of it is a bit repetitive, but Conant does a good job of keeping things as fresh as possible. As Hanley’s memories return, the pace quickens, the twists turn, and the final chapters bring a satisfying wind-up to an unusual mystery story.