Just got through Hit List, by Lawrence Block. It was all
right, but not great. The light banter between Keller and Dot
was fun, although a little strained at times. Keller
definitely has a workmanlike attitude towards his job. He has
no trouble doing a hit while on his weekend off from jury
duty in a case of a stolen VCR. I remember reading a few of
the Burglar books years ago. I should give some of this other
series a go.
I got hold of Sidetracked, by Henning Mankell, which I
thought was very good. One of the themes is the trafficking
of women from developing countries in Western Europe. Just
last week in Toronto there was a similar case, not of murder,
but of trafficking of unwitting young women. The Sweden found
in police novels -- the gaps between rich and poor, the
political corruption, and all that sort of stuff -- is
different from the Sweden of my family's reminiscences.
I read one Richard Prather novel, The Amber Effect. The plot
was science fiction, and the feel was very sixties. The
central female character was Miss Nude Somewhere-or-Other. It
was his first Shell Scott in twenty years or so. I think
Prather picked up where he left off before. Entertaining, but
not fantastic.
In December I read Donald Westlake's What's the Worst That
Could Happen?, a Dortmunder caper that I quite enjoyed. Right
afterward, I saw a "Coming Soon" poster for the movie,
starring Danny De Vito and I forget who else.
I also read three by Charles Willeford. I'd read Miami Vice
years ago, and really liked it. But you know how it is,
sometimes you forget the author's name. Saw the video and
liked it. In my view Alec Baldwin and Jennifer Jason Leigh
were excellent in their parts. I couldn't say how faithful
the adaptation was. Anyway, with Rara Avis urging me on, I
rediscovered Charles Willeford and am very glad I did.
Interesting characters, great plots, excellent sense of
humour … What more could you want? I've got my library on red
alert for the Shark-Infested Custard, which is supposed to be
on the shelf, but is probably missing in action.
I recently read Nightmare, a collection of stories by Cornell
Woolrich. Strong atmosphere, interesting plot twists. A
little old-fashioned perhaps, but they have aged pretty
well.
Karin Montin
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