02/01/20: Lawrence Block – The Thief Who Couldn’t Sleep (1966)

Slightly underwhelming thriller about a man’s quest to retrieve a stash of hidden gold. Evan Michael Tanner travels through many countries and encounters many characters, even getting mixed up in a revolution in Macedonia.

It’s fast-paced and fun, but unusually “thin” on tension and credibility for Lawrence Block. I was left unsatisfied and happy to make it to the end.

The character’s most remarkable feature – the fact that he “hasn’t slept a wink since a piece of shrapnel destroyed the sleep centre in his brain during the Korean War” – is oddly underplayed.

The cover image of a sexy girl leaning on an American car has absolutely nothing to do with the story.

08/09/19: Lawrence Block – A Stab in the Dark (1981)

Matt Scudder is a troubled ex-cop with a drink problem. He’s hired to find out more about a murder that took place nine years ago, previously thought to have been the work of the “ice-pick killer” but now suspected to be from a different killer entirely, despite similarities in the crime.

The novel is well-plotted, but the character development gripped me far more that the investigation trail and the whodunnit aspects. Scudder’s losing battle with drink makes for fascinating reading, as does his new relationship with fellow boozer Jan.

This is the fourth novel in the Scudder series. (I also have the fifth and sixth included in the same anthology, which I bought in a St. Andrews charity shop in August.)

14/06/19: David Quantick – Go West (2018)

This short novel is an entertaining romp that deals with the world of forged antiques. The plot escalates into something fairly involved and ends excitingly. For me, though, the best sections are those in which the hero, Charlie Bread, drives west across Britain listening to tapes of John Peel radio shows with his glamorous new friend Penelope.

The most amusing moment is when he pretends to be tour guide and bluffs an entire bus tour of Exeter.

Go West is that rare thing: a road-movie-type narrative successfully set in the UK.

22/11/18: Vera Caspary – Laura (1943)

A hardboiled, noir-ish thriller. Detective Mark McPherson investigates what he considers to be the murder of Laura Hunt by looking into the motivations of the various men who loved her. But inevitably, nothing is as it seems and a major plot twist turns this into a different kind of crime. Interesting shifts of narration keep you guessing as three different men in love with Laura all reveal hidden secrets. It’s difficult to say more without giving away what happens. This is a highly readable novel, with emotional insights and a depth of character that isn’t always found in this kind of fiction. It’s very clever the way the story is told from different perspectives, allowing the reader to accumulate knowledge without ever quite piecing it all together. Laura was made into a film in 1944 starring Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb and Vincent Price.

19/06/18: Lawrence Block – Small Town (2003)

A New York crime thriller that cleverly assembles a group of loosely connected people and explores the threads that increasingly tie them together. There’s a crime writer accused of murder, a former police commissioner who somehow can’t get the case out of his mind, a gallery owner exploring the outer extremes of her sexuality and a serial killer driven insane by the grief of losing his family because of September 11th. In fact, the destruction of the twin towers is at the heart of this story. It’s very much a New York novel, with a love for the city infusing even the more disturbing elements.

If there’s one criticism it’s that – after a long build up – matters seem wrapped up a little too quickly and conveniently at the end. As usual, Block’s prose is dynamic enough that you’d be happy for the whole thing to have continued for a few more hundred pages.

29/04/18: Lawrence Block – The Burglar Who Studied Spinoza (1980)

Another in the series of novels about a bookseller who has a rather more lucrative second profession as a thief. Gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr acquires a valuable rare coin, only to find out that the fence he hopes can sell it for him is murdered. As usual, Bernie is accompanied by his wisecracking best friend Carolyn Kaiser. And as usual, the dialogue is crisp and witty.

But while it’s a thoroughly readable novel, the plot was more flimsy and less believable than usual. So it works for Block fans who just love the amiable rhythms of his sentences, but it will be less satisfying to those craving a genuinely compelling "whodunnit".

29/11/17: Kingsley Amis – Colonel Sun (1968)

Originally published under the pseudonym “Robert Markham", Colonel Sun was the very first "James Bond continuation novel". Ian Fleming died in 1964, but his character was popular enough that 007 would outlast him. Amis offers a more human Bond, prone to anger and weakness, with some suspiciously Amis-like opinions. For example, he notices: “the new, hateful London of steel-and-glass matchbox architecture, flyovers and underpasses, and the endless hysterical clamour of pneumatic drills". Occasionally, Amis offers a curious insight, such as when he observes “that indifference to food and drink which so often accompanies interest in power”.

By today's standards this book could be considered sexist, racist and homophobic. The Chinese strategy is described by one character as “the Chink plan of attack”. Then there are statements such as: “Bond watched her lovely profile, very Greek yet totally unlike the overrated, beaky, 'classical' look one associates with old coins”. You could argue that the prejudices are Bond's, not Amis's, except that all of the characters seem to share similar opinions.

It’s a consciously low-tech Bond, avoiding gadgets and gimmicks: “In similar adventures in the past Bond had had a luxurious armoury of devices to choose from. This time, he realized without dismay, it had been and was going to go on being a matter of improvisation, guts and what physical skills he could command." Elsewhere, Amis writes: "the tools he basically had to depend on were invisible, intangible, within himself”. This aspect of the novel works well, with the drama emerging from plot and dialogue rather than technological add-ons. In fact, its knifings and torture scenes are fairly brutal – a lot more intimate and believable than the “clean”, almost cartoonish violence of the screen versions of Ian Fleming’s books.

While this is no masterpiece, the plot rattles along energetically and the sadistic villain (a “yellow” Chinaman) is suitably cruel and terrifying. The book gets more exciting as it gathers pace. It’s an ideal read for a long train journey or a wet Sunday afternoon.

17/08/17: Patricia Highsmith – Strangers on a Train (1950)

Two men meet on a train and start talking. Unfortunately, one of them is an alcoholic psychopath who proposes a double murder that each could commit on behalf of the other. They would have the perfect alibi of being strangers with no real motivation to perform such a crime. Highsmith expertly ramps up the tension as the two men become progressively more tangled up in each other's lives and the unthinkable becomes reality. It's an intense psychological study that digs into the nitty-gritty of the human soul – examining fear, morality, identity – and you can see why it appealed to Hitchcock enough to make a film of it (in 1951).

I saw an astounding theatrical production of this at the Gieldgud Theatre in London in November 2013 – twice. The set utilised shades of grey in keeping with the noir-ish style, while the highly creative use of film projections over the stage backdrops added depth, motion and flair. The super-dramatic merry-go-round scene will stay with me for a long time.

This original novel ends differently from the play, but the premise is so strong that both versions work equally well.

20/06/17: Patricia Highsmith – The Two Faces of January (1964)

Borrowed from East Barnet Library.

A brilliantly plotted thriller detailing an obsessive love triangle. (Is there any other kind?) Con artist and Scotch-sipping alcoholic Chester MacFarland and his pretty young wife Colette are travelling in Greece when Chester is tracked down by the police. In a confrontation at his Athens hotel, he accidentally kills a detective. He covers up the incident and escapes to Crete with the help of Rydal Keener, another American traveller, seeking adventure and powerfully drawn to the couple (Chester reminds him of his father; Colette reminds him of his cousin). The three are now tied together by the act – and by colluding in covering up for it. They become increasingly dependent on one another as they take flight. Chester resents the hold that Rydal has over him. Colette is attracted to the young man, who treats her more respectfully than her own husband does. Rydal wrestles with his strange attachment to each of them. This tense triangular relationship drives all of the drama that follows...

It's a dynamic, exciting read that expertly sustains the tension across 300 pages. Highsmith lets you understand the motivations, fears and desires of the three characters in such a way that you can relate to all of them, however desperate their situation becomes. She explores what that desperation does to human relationships and what happens to morality and rationality when people find themselves under extreme pressure. Heady stuff, and I didn't want it to end.

Note: The Two Faces of January was made into a 2014 film directed by Hossein Amini, which is just as compelling.

01/01/17: Lawrence Block – Sinner Man (2016)

Borrowed from Barnet Libraries. This was Lawrence Block's first crime novel, somehow lost for 50 years and only published again at the end of 2016. There's an interesting afterword about its tangled history by the author, who himself never saw a copy of the original book. As for the novel itself, it's a fast-paced thriller about a man whose wife dies after he hits her. Rather than own up to the police, he takes off and begins a new life working with the Mafia. Initially, everything goes to plan, but of course it can't stay that way... This is an entertaining read. Not up there with the best of Block, but an enjoyable romp nonetheless.

12/09/16: Lawrence Block – The Affairs of Chip Harrison Omnibus (2001)

In the 1970s, Lawrence Block wrote four novels under the name Chip Harrison. They are compiled here in one 640-page volume: 1. No Score (1970); 2. Chip Harrison Scores Again (1971); 3. Make Out With Murder (a.k.a. The Five Little Rich Girls) (1974); 4. The Topless Tulip Caper (1975). You can also buy these separately. An unusual series indeed, Lawrence Block described them as: "a tricky marketing proposition in that the first two titles... are lighthearted romps with an erotic element, while the later books... are classic-style puzzle mysteries with an erotic element." If you like L.B.'s style and wit, you will enjoy these short novels. Just a shame there's no author introduction.

1. No Score (1970): A farce about the narrator, Chip Harrison, trying to lose his virginity in a series of increasingly unlikely situations. It's highly readable, with Lawrence Block’s usual wit and insight. Plot-wise it’s a shaggy-dog story that doesn’t really “go" anywhere, but if you enjoy the way he writes it doesn’t matter.

2. Chip Harrison Scores Again (1971): Part two of Harrison's life story, this continues the "shaggy dog story" element of the first book but is somewhat darker in tone. This time around, Chip's restless wanderings lead him through situations in which he feels lonely and out of place. The most interesting section of the book details his time living in Bordentown, South Carolina – which, with typical Chip randomness, he is inspired to travel to after finding a Greyhound bus ticket in a discarded wallet. There, he begins to fit in with locals – such as the Sheriff and the preacher's daughter – and integrate into their way of life. But, of course, it isn't as simple as him settling down and living under false pretences that he cannot sustain. Life quickly becomes more complicated. While the first book sees Chip leaping from one bawdy scene to the next, this one weaves a few intimate interludes (see the bus scene with Willamina Emily Weeks) into a more serious narrative detailing his emotions for the women he begins to care for. There's also more character development. A very satisfying novel.

3. Make Out With Murder (a.k.a. The Five Little Rich Girls) (1974): Chip ends his former restless roaming and finds himself resident in New York, working as an assistant to the detective Leo Haig. The latter is a fan of Nero Wolfe, to whom this book pays tribute. The plot? Five beautiful sisters in the Trelawney family are being murdered and Chip has to identify the killer before it's too late. Being Chip, he has various adventures with these highly alluring females as part of his 'investigations'. Unlike No Score and Chip Harrison Scores Again, which detailed the wanderings of our young narrator, this third book works as a regular crime novel. It has the wit and stylistic touches that make Lawrence Block such a delight to read.

4. The Topless Tulip Caper (1975): The fourth and final Chip Harrison novel sees young Chip investigating multiple murder – of some exotic fish. In fact, this crime relates to the killing of a dancer in a dodgy New York club. He's still working for the maddening Leo Haig and still getting into trouble. It's another witty, clever, fast-paced mystery with colourful characters and a series of unlikely intimate encounters.

14/04/16: Dorothy L. Hughes – In a Lonely Place (1947)

Absolutely wonderful. A hardboiled crime novel written from an unusual perspective. It's hard to say much about it without giving away the plot, but the author sustains the tension brilliantly across 186 pages. Hughes makes you empathise closely with the characters, so this ends up being as much a tragedy as a mystery. It has much of the atmosphere of Raymond Chandler, etc, but with an additional emotional quality.

05/04/16: Lawrence Block – Hit Me (2012)

Five unrelated stories presented as a novel. Some reviewers disliked that approach, but I'm not sure it matters: each story quickly hooks you in and it's all written beautifully.

Much of the brilliance of this book comes from the juxtaposition of a ruthless killer also being a stamp collector – the two aspects of Keller's life somehow working together. There are funny and disturbing moments: just as you think it's about to get cosy, the book shocks you again. Block is excellent at moral ambiguity, making you somehow sympathise with Keller the hired killer.

If there's a flaw it's that Keller's wife (Julia) seems too good to be true: not only does she tolerate his "work", but she also finds it makes him more attractive, which doesn't quite ring true. Other than that, Hit Me is hard to fault.

02/03/16: Lawrence Block – The Burglar Who Counted the Spoons (2013)

This 11th Bernie Rhodenbarr novel is a joy. The unlikely plot deals with spoons and buttons, theft and murder, but the main reason to read it is for the extremely dry, very funny dialogue. Block really has an ear for the way people talk. The gentleman burglar's conversations are full of literary references, little linguistic puns and hilarious observations. It's such a rich mix that you can just sit back and enjoy the way the sentences unfold.

It's also recommended to anyone who loves old bookshops and who despairs of the day when there are no more. I now want to read the previous 10 volumes...

21/02/16: Lawrence Block – The Girl with the Deep Blue Eyes (2015)

"Murder was easy. The tricky part was getting away with it."

The first Lawrence Block I have read, and I am hugely impressed. This is a disturbing tale that is absolutely riveting. It's dry, wry and funny in places, and heart-stopping in others. Private eye Doak Miller plots with Lisa (the blue-eyed girl of the title) to murder her wealthy, violent husband. It's morally all over the place, so that you don't know the good guys from the bad guys – or even if there are any good guys. It asks some fairly sinister questions about human behaviour as the plot takes the main character – and the reader – to some dark places. Be prepared to be shocked. A cliché, I know, but it's genuinely hard to put down. I had to keep on reading, hooked and horrified, to learn how this novel panned out.

18/02/16: Gore Vidal – Thieves Fall Out by Gore Vidal (1953)

Hugely enjoyable crime thriller set in Egypt at the time of the 1952 revolution and published under the pseudonym Cameron Kay. This is a quick read and certainly not intended to be a "great work of literature". It does not need to be: as a hardboiled pulp novel, it's brilliantly done. The plot races along. You get mysterious, glamorous women, dangerous gangsters, smuggling and political intrigue. As other reviewers have pointed out, there's rather too much attention to racial attributes when describing characters. That gripe aside, this is a fun, dynamic romp of a tale that you can devour in a couple of sittings.

28/12/14: Susanna Moore – In the Cut (1995)

A short, intense thriller: Frannie teaches linguistics in New York. She encounters a series of men, all of them potentially dangerous and one of them a brutal murderer. She becomes involved in an ambiguous relationship with the detective investigating the case and things start hotting up . . . An intelligent crime novel that quickly hooks you in. I am new to the author, but may well read more of her books based on the strength of this novel.