TRUE CRIME

I read very little true crime. I prefer fictional crime even if it's based on real crimes. I am not sure why but I think it's because a fiction writer leaves out the boring parts. Or at least a good one does. And the story also seems more remote, less scary.

Megan and Phil and even Josh read a ton of true crime though. Phil just read SAVAGE HARVEST about the gory details of Michael Rockefeller in New Guinea with a tribe of cannibals. Ugh!

I have read a few good ones though and I would chose IN COLD BLOOD as my  favorite. Capote changed the notion of reportage with this one and the Clutter family will always haunt me. 

What is your favorite true crime book. 

Sunday Writing Advice: Martin Amis

Neil Young Week: Red Hot Chile Peppers, EVERYONE KNOWS THIS IS NOWHERE

FEMALE PROFS

IN UPDIKE, John Updike reports that in his four years at Harvard, he never had a female professor. What about you? I went back to college in the nineties and had many female professors. In the late sixties, none. But Updike was at Harvard in the fifties. What was your situation?

Short Story Saturday: Mother Darkness from SCREAM QUEEN AND OTHER STORIES, Ed Gorman

"Mother Darkness" is the third story in Ed Gorman's new collection, SCREAM QUEEN and other STORIES. These are dark stories, maybe the darkest stories I have read by Ed. And each one takes you by surprise because his writing makes things feel ordinary right up until the moment they're not. The fluid writing and perfect amount of detail help to catapult you right into the action.

This one concerns a woman who checks out families getting government assistance. She is not a social worker--just there to monitor potential cases of fraud. But she hears a lot of sad stories, sees a lot of scary stuff and teeters between loathing the government who tries to deny the poor relief and the occasional cheating she sees going on. 

But, unmarried and childless herself, she feels bad for the kids. And does something about it. Great story, great collection.

Neil Young Week: ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD

Friday's Forgotten Books: SPECIAL: Crime Fiction of the 1950s

The 1950s was a rich era for crime fiction. Edgars were given for best first novel beginning in 1946. It was not until 1954 that the best novel category began. And look at the first selections! At least four of these first five are considered classics of the genre 60 years later.
And I am happy that right from the start, women writers were recognized in this field. 

1950s

1955 Raymond Chandler, The Long Goodbye

1956 Margaret Millar, Beast in View 

1957 Charlotte Armstrong, A Dram of Poison

1958 Ed Lacy, Room to Swing

1959 Stanley Ellin, The Eighth Circle

And today many of our reviewers have chose a book from the fifties to review. 

 In 1953 Ira Levin won best first novel for A KISS BEFORE DYING.(Patti Abbott)

(MASSIVE SPOILER ALERTS)

Bud Corliss, like many protagonists in books such as this one, yearns for the good life that his blue-collar origin seems to prohibit. He possesses good looks and the skills of a sociopath. In the war, he also learns he has the ability to murder with no regrets.

Using the GI Bill, he returns home and enrolls in college where he meets the daughter of a tycoon and impregnates her. Believing this will sully him with her rich father, he murders her after tricking her into writing a suicide note.

Next Corliss pursues Dorothy's sister, Ellen. The romance goes well until Ellen begins to probe into Dorothy's death, convinced her sister did not kill herself.  Ellen uncovers the truth and confronts him. Corliss confesses to the crime and kills Ellen. Unfazed by this setback, Corliss courts the last remaining Kingship daughter, Marion. This affair is the most successful; Corliss sweeps her off her feet and charms her father, and soon he and Marion are engaged.

Local college DJ Gordon Gant begins investigating the case, and is immediately suspicious of Corliss. He breaks into Corliss' childhood home and steals a written plan for meeting and seducing Marion to get her family's money, as well as news clippings about Dorothy's and Ellen's deaths. Days before the wedding, he shows up at the Kingship family home and presents Marion and her father with the evidence of Corliss' deception.

On a trip to one of the family's copper manufacturing plants, Marion, her father and Gant all corner Corliss while he is standing over a vat of molten copper and threaten to expose him. Corliss frantically pleads his innocence, but his accusers are unmoved. Realizing his luck has finally run out, Corliss panics and wets his pants — just as the Japanese soldier, his symbol of pathetic cowardice, had done. Delirious with fear and shame, Corliss stumbles and falls to his death into the vat below.

There is a touch of AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY in this book, of course, but Levin, by taking it farther in audacity, is able to overcome the familiarity of the story of a poor boy yearning for marriage to a rich girl. Corliss is less redeemable and the plot is twistier.  

As a huge Ira Levin fan I read this probably in the early seventies. I put off seeing the film with Richard Wagner for years, feeling he could not bring justice to the role.I was wrong. When I finally saw it, he was perfect as a sociopath. I won't give my thoughts on why that may have been. The next film, with Matt Dillon, was good enough too.The source material is strong enough for any number of remakes. But the novel itself is best of all.

Levin went on to write several great novels. Truly one of my favorite novelists-especially in ROSEMARY'S BABY and THIS PERFECT DAY. But all of his books are terrific. And this is such a worthy Edgar win.

REDHEADS DIE QUICKLY AND OTHER STORIES, Gil Brewer (1951-59)

I know the date on this is 2012 but this collection of 25 very noir stories all date in their original publication from 1951-1959.  They are dark and bleak, stories of weak men and adulterous women in steamy Florida.  Stories like "It's Always Too Late" and "My Lady is a Tramp" tell you almost all you need to know about them in the title.  The story that blew my mind (to use a phrase from my own youth) was "Moonshine" (originally published in Manhunt in 1955).  (SPOILER ALERT FOR PLOT HERE)  A guy comes home and catches his wife with her boyfriend and has to decide which one of them to kill.  After following the boyfriend and disposing of him he returns home only to find his wife with another guy.  The ending of this one absolutely floored me.  (END WARNING)

Despite how the review sounds, the book is definitely worth your time.  If you like noir I'd recommend it.

                                                                                                     Jeff Meyerson

The Killer by Wade Miller (1951) (Ed Gorman)
 

Wade Miller was of course Bob Wade and Bill Miller. They collaborated on a few dozen novels until Miller died of a heart attack in the office they shared. He was forty-one.

Much of their best work was done for Gold Medal. The Killer is a fine example. A rich man named Stennis owns a number of banks. His son works in one of them. During a robbery his son is killed. Stennis hires a big game hunter named Farrow to find the notorious bank robber Clel Bocock and his gang. When Farrow locates them he is to call Stennis who wants to be there to watch them die. Farrow is a unique character and not just because of the big game angle. He's middle-aged and feeling it, something rare in that era of crime fiction.

The search for Stennis--and the love story that involves Bocock's wife--takes Farrow from the swamps to Iowa (including, yes, Cedar Rapids) to Wisconsin to Colorado. The place description is extraordinary. Probably too much for today's readers but the Miller books are filled with strong cunning writing. Same for twists and turns. For the length of the first act you can never be sure who anybody is. They're all traveling under assumed names and with shadowy motives. The only thing that binds them is Clel Bocock.

For anybody who thinks that Gold Medals were largely routine crime stories, this is the noel you should pick up. Stark House published this a few years back (still available) along with Devil On Two Sticks, one of the most original mob novels I've ever read. There's also an excellent David Laurence Wilson introduction on the careers of the two writers.

Wade Miller got lost in the shuffle of bringing back the writers of the fifties and sixties. This book, so strong on character and place and plot turns, will demonstrate why more of their books should be in print. 

Sergio Angelini, THE SAINT IN EUROPE, Leslie Charteris (1953)
Brian Busby, PURE SWEET HELL Malcolm Douglas, (1957)
Bill Crider, JUVENILE JUNGLE, James Farrell et all, 1957)
Curt Evans, DEATH TIME THREE, Rex Stout 
Rick Horton, THE APRIL ROBIN MURDERS, Craig Rice and Ed McBain (1958)
Jerry House, MASK OF GLASS, Holly Roth (1954)
Randy Johnson, THE CASE OF THE VIOLENT VIRGIN, Michael Avallone (1956)
Nick Jones, A KISS BEFORE DYING, Ira Levin, (1953)
George Kelley, AMERICAN NOIR OF THE 1950s
B.V. Lawson, NINE COACHES WAITING, Mary Stewart
Steve Lewis, DEATH CAME UNINVITED, Elizabeth Backhouse, 1957
Todd Mason, BEST OF THE BEST DETECTIVE STORIES,David Cooke (1950s)
Neer, NATURAL CAUSES and ACCORDING TO THE EVIDENCE, Henry Cecil,(1953-54)
J.F. Norris. MISS FENNY, Charity Blackstock (1957)
James Reasoner, THE BRASS MONKEY, Harry Whittington, 1951
Richard Robinson, THE MAN IN MY GRAVE, Wilson Tucker (1956)
Ron Scheer, THE LONG GOODBYE, Raymond Chandler (1953)
Kevin Tipple/Barry Ergang, THE BRAT, Gil Brewer, 1957

Prashant Trikannad, LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER, Roald Dahl (1953), and LOVE STORY, Irving Cox 1956


And other reviews
Joe Barone, BLEEDING HEARTS, Jane Haddam
Martin Edwards, THE GREAT ORME TERROR, Garnett Radcliffe
Kate Laity, MAD WORLD, Paula Byrne
Evan Lewis, "Over the Wall" John Butler
TomCAt, THE SECRET OF THE TEMPLE RUIN, C.W. Wormser

Neil Young Week: Ray LaMontange, OUT ON THE WEEKEND

Neil Young Week: OLD MAN

Chemistry

We were hardpressed the other night to think of too many TV couples that had great chemistry. The discussion usually demands that the couple be in the pre-marital stage of their relationship because the writing usually doesn't emphasize romance after that. The Taylors on FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS had a great marriage but we didn't get excited about it.

We could really only come up with three: Ross and Rachel on FRIENDS and Sam and Diane on CHEERS and Jim and Pam on THE OFFICE. The only married couple we came up with predates most of you-Paula Prentiss and Richard Benjamin in HE AND SHE.

And I have never seen a homosexual couple with chemistry on any show--that's too bad.

What other TV couples were believable as lovers? Doesn't have to be a sitcom. Extra points if it isn't? Dramas seem to have more trouble cultivating romance than sitcoms.

RE: Friday's FFB theme on crime novels of the 1950s. To save me from checking out the date of your selection, could you indicate the year it was published in the heading. Thanks!! 

Neil Young Week: Norah Jones, TELL ME WHY

Forgotten TV: JUDD FOR THE DEFENSE

This was a show about a defense attorney that was on from 1967-69 and put together by Paul Monash.

Judd was a Houston attorney who traveled across the country defending liberal causes such as the attempt to jail draft evaders. Carl Betz, coming off his Milquetoast role on THE DONNA REED SHOW, was fierce and sympathetic. The times were right, we loved this show. Probably would seem overly dramatic and hyperbolic today.The show channeled the careers of Percy Foreman and F. Lee Bailey and Foreman actually threatened a suit.

Neil Young Week: Harvest Moon: Pearl Jam

Runs on Authors

In UPDIKE, the new biography of John Updike by Adam Begley, he quotes Updike as saying, "A real reader, reading to escape his own life thoroughly, tends to have runs on authors." Updike goes on to say he read Gardner, Queen, Carr, Christie, Marsh, Thurber, Benchley, and Wodehouse in this manner (among others).

What writer to you remember reading like this first?

In the summer of '68, on vacation with my parents, I began the journey through Agatha Christie. I could not buy them fast enough. Who lured you in once discovered?

Neil Young Week: HEART OF GOLD

On Writing: John Updike

Short Story Saturday: Angels by Jen Conley NEEDLE MAGAZINE, Spring 2014

Jen Conley is an editor at SHOTGUN HONEY and her stories have appeared in venues such as NEEDLE, THUGLIT, BEAT TO A PULP, LITERARY ORPHANS and YELLOW MAMA. She lives in New Jersey.

"Angel" is the traditional cop story we see too little of lately. It manages through excellent writing, atmosphere, and character to invigorate the genre.

A seasoned female cop gets the call to investigate an accusation of rape. The call has come in from a young boy, who is hesitant to provide the details necessary. The girl herself also has some doubts about reporting the crime and can't identify her assailant. The story does a great job of showing the reader why such a crime can be difficult to solve and prosecute. Conley also has a lot to say about grief. I hope Officer Andrea Vogel gets another case. She's a great protagonist.

This story appears in NEEDLE MAGAZINE, Spring 2014.

UNDER THE SKIN

My review of UNDER THE SKIN is up on CRIMESPREE MAGAZINE.

Friday's Forgotten Books, Friday, May 9, 2014

Some of links won't go up till late in the day because I have to leave the house at 7:30 to go to Grandparents Day at Kevin's school. The ones that show up were from yesterday. Sorry!!

Next week, crime fiction from the fifties. Be there or be square. 

From the archive:

Ball Four, Jim Bouton
This was a book that was read and reread at our house thirty years ago. My son adored it and so did I. It was the first book about baseball that gave an accurate depiction of what went on in the clubhouse, what the players' lives were like, the finances of the game, the pressures put on players, the drugs, the womanizing.

Bouton recounted his year as a pitcher on the Seattle Pilots in 1969--the team's only year of play. It was a tumultuous year for the country as well and Bouton doesn't hesitate to give his views on everything.

Bowie Kuhn called the book detrimental to the game because it blew the fairy dust off. He tried to force Bouton to sign a statement saying the book was fictional, a baseball version of M*A*S*H.

Baseball players also came down hard on him. Pete Rose, that noble player, swore at him whenever he took the mound.

It was not a good year for Bouton on the field, and he is honest about that too. This was one of the great books about sports. That dogeared copy is one book I won't give away.



Sergio Angelini, THE THIRD MAN, Graham Greene
Brian Busby, THE WINDOW GAZER,Isobel Ecclestone Mackay
Bill Crider, SCREAM FACTORY, Spring 92: Suspense Issue
Martin Edwards, DEATH OF HERON'S MARE, MARY FITT
Curt Evans, THE HANGING WOMAN, John Rhode
Ray Garraty, ACT OF FEAR, Michael Collins
Rick Horton, BEAU SABREUR, P.C. Wren
Jerry House, THE PRIDE OF BEAR CREEK by Robert E. Howard.
Randy Johnson, MEET THE TIGER! Leslie Charteris
Nick Jones, A HIVE OF GLASS, P,M. Hubbard
George Kelley, LOVE'S SWEET SONG/WHOM GODS DESTROY, Clifton Adams
Margot Kinberg, A NAIL THROUGH THE HEART, Timothy Hallinan
Tracy K, THE NIGHT THE GODS SMILED, Eric Wright
B.V. Lawson, MISS PINK AT THE END OF THE WORLD, Gwen Moffat
Evan Lewis, THE GODWULF MANUSCRIPT, Robert B. Parker
Steve Lewis/L.J. Roberts. THE GRAY GHOST MURDERS, Keith McCafferty
Todd Mason, A Few Words About Older Books About Television
Neer, CAT OF MANY TAILS, Ellery Queen
J.F. Norris, FOAM OF THE DAZE, Boris Vian
James Reasoner, SHADOW OF THE LARIAT, Jon Tuska. ed.
Richard Robinson, THE GANYMEDE CLUB, Charles Sheffield
Gerard Saylor, CLANDESTINE, James Ellroy
Ron Scheer, THE CRIME OF COY BELL, Sam Brown
Kevin Tipple, THE UGLY PRINCESS, Elizabeth Burton
TomCat, HOT RED MONEY, Bayard Kendrick

What Megan Did on Her Year in Oxford, MS (Borrowed from the blog of her great friend, Jack Pendarvis)

Blog "trospective 13: When Megan Lived Here

Well, it really happened. Megan Abbott moved back to New York. Now what are we supposed to do? Besides vomit and weep I mean. I guess we will attempt to cope by constructing a "blog"trospective of everything Megan did while she lived here (this is not everything Megan did while she lived here): arrived at the record store just as David was putting up the new sign---attended a party where a little girl did that thing where you rapidly stab a knife between your splayed fingers---brought up Sigmund Freud a lot---by example, had me drinking negronis for a spell---called BUFFALO '66 "a child's fantasy" (not in a bad way!)---compared me to Cathy in WUTHERING HEIGHTS---considered a dance called "the mumbly peg"---contemplated the travails of Lucille Ball as a woman in Hollywood---defined wildness---discussed Philip Roth a lot---displayed a cheery and tasteful novelty item---drank moonshine (twice... that I know of!)---during a visit by Kent Osborne she witnessed Kent eating chicken wings, which failed to be noted at the time---emailed me about Hank Worden---emailed me about orgone boxes---expressed a correct opinion about THE GLASS KEY that I undermined with ignorant hyperbole---found a lone pom-pom (this happened more than once)---got scared by a creepy tree---had her first belt of rye---helped Dr. Theresa and me avoid trick-or-treaters---hosted a Jerry Lewis double feature---likened something to Poe---loaned me a pen---looked up "querulous" in her dictionary---participated in an ecstatic roar---pointed a gun at me---professed a generalized affection for wax museums---read Claudia Roth Pierpont's book about Philip Roth---read my tarot cards via cell phone---received a visit from her parents---reminded me of an anecdote about Billy Wilder---researched "friendship clubs"---said something about Mary Steenburgen's accordion---sent me a picture of Bob Hope and Doris Day and Santa---sent me Dick Shawn's obituary---shared her knowledge about an illustrator who drew women with "impossibly long feet"---spent the last warm evening of the year on the balcony of the City Grocery Bar---spoiled a bat attack---strolled past Robert Mitchum's house from HOME FROM THE HILL---studied the racy cover of UNCLE GOOD'S WEEK-END PARTY, a novel by Faulkner's brother---told a story I misheard about a Depression-era Shirley Temple cream pitcher (and she actually gave us a Depression-era Shirley Temple cream pitcher last night as a goodbye present)---took a picture of a bubble house---took a walk with me while I was wearing a hat (and bedroom slippers, not pictured)---used the old-fashioned term "smoker" to refer to a gathering of rowdy males (she was talking about Bill and Jimmy and me)---visited Elvis's birthplace---visited Faulkner's house with Laraine Newman---was followed on twitter by the manufacturers of a gross-sounding vodka---was harassed by an inflated Batman---was supposed to be on a panel with Adrienne Barbeau (the panel happened but Barbeau canceled)---watched a Norman Mailer movie---went to a hobo festival---wondered about tight pants---wowed 'em at "Noir at the Bar."

 

Thanks for sharing Megan's ten months with me, Jack.

Knowing she had such good friends nearby was wonderful. Cheers to you and Theresa. To Bill and Ace too.