RARA-AVIS: Hell Can Wait

From: Jeff Vorzimmer (jvorzimmer@austin.rr.com)
Date: 01 Sep 2008

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    I was in the mood for some good Gold Medal faire for the Labor Day weekend and I noticed an unread copy of Hell Can Wait by Harry Whittington on my shelf. So I grabbed it and couldn't put it down all weekend. It was exactly what I was in the mood for. What a great book. One of the best of his I've read. It's right up there with Web of Murder and Backwoods Tramp. It's one of those quick reads that keeps you guessing right to the end. As you reach the end, the whole earlier part of the book becomes illuminated--"like a flood light on a dark space" to quote Whittington. Kind of an "Oh, Wow" revelation. Whittington is always pretty consistent like JDM and Charles Williams.

    I also had a copy of James McKimmey's Squeeze Play to read--because I loved The Long Ride and because, if there's anything as good as a Gold Medal PBO, it's a Dell PBO. After reading the first chapter, I know I won't be disappointed. It's starts with a guy waking up hungover in a strange motel room, unable to recall what he'd done the night before. He get's into his car and heads for home, turns on the radio only to hear that his wife and another man have been brutally slain and he's the main suspect. Just as he hears this on the radio, he sees a revolving light in his rearview mirror.

    Jeff



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