The Long-Legged Fly - Book Review

I reviewed James Sallis' The Long-Legged Fly for Crime Fiction Lover way back in September, but totally forgot to update it on me ol' bloggy blog with it. Follow the link below for my full 'A Classic Revisited' review of this sparse but mesmerising debut from the guy who gave us Drive.

Read my full review of The Long-Legged Fly, over on Crime Fiction Lover.

Savage Lane Book Review

Jason Starr taps into the domestic thriller market with his own unique style in the blackly comic Savage Lane. Karen Daily is a happy divorcee. Mark Berman is not. He's trapped in a loveless marriage, living in the leafy NY suburb of Westchester and is one of Karen's close neighbours. But, like most of the residents of Savage Lane, Mark has something to hide.

Read my full review on Crime Fiction Lover. 

Jason Starr's Cold Caller - Book Review

I'm so fickin' happy to have discovered Jason Starr. Cold Caller was his first novel, published way back in '97. It's a blackly comic tale of white collar noir and a middle-class Manhattanite's quarter-life crisis that brings new meaning to the term 'dead end job.'

You can read the full review over on Crime Fiction Lover. And hold tight for my review of his new book Savage Lane, coming soon from the sexy proof copy that's sitting on my bedside table. I say 'bedside table' I mean 'upturned box'.

Crime Fiction: My 5 Favourite Books

When the cruel mistress of time permits I write book reviews and babble on about film noir for Crime Fiction Lover. The editor asked me to write about the five books that got me hooked on the genre, a bloody excellent question when I got to thinking about it. Find out which titles I chose over here. Little clue for you down there.

Heed the Thunder - Book Review

Jim Thompson's second novel is a sprawling, multi-generational epic following the descent of the Fargo clan at the turn of the 19th Century. Although not a noir in the strictest sense, its ominous style and cruel but sympathetic characters show clear signs of the pessimistic pulp fiction Thompson was later known for.

Read the full review on Crime Fiction Lover.

Pulp Fiction poster

Amon over at Pieces of Paint has designed this awesome Pulp Fiction poster in the style of the old pulp fiction crime novels from which Tarantino got the film's title, and Amon's totally nailed the aesthetic. Not only the creases of wear and tear but the editorial graphics like 'A Jules and Vincent Adventure' and 'Roger Avery Crime Drama' as well as the colour palette and 99p sticker really give it the feel of a dime store story from the early 1900s.

The main graphic is obviously based on the adrenaline shot scene after Mia Wallace accidentally snorts Vincent Vega's potent heroine and he has to get the mob doll to his dealer Lance's house in the hope of saving her life. Spoiler - they do. But it's an incredibly tense scene with Vincent and Lance arguing over who has to give her the shot. "You brought her here, and that means you're gonna give her the shot. The day that I bring an ODing bitch to your house then I give her the shot. Give her the shot."

If I ever finish a God damn story or that stupid novel I'm apparently writing, I'm definitely commissioning Amon to design the front cover, not only can he clearly invoke the old school crime noir vibes, but his minimal movie posters are also on point.

Elmore Leonard