Hunter Thompson as a private investigator

books:


	• The Last Good Kiss James Crumley Vintage, 1988 - 244 pages average customer review:based on 41 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Hunter Thompson as a private investigator

After I read interviews with two of my favorite crime fiction authors (Dennis Lehane and Michael Connelly) who both said that this book was excellent hardboiled crime fiction and a major influence on their work, I had to find a copy and read for myself. It's quirky and unusual, and it's not your stereotypical hardboiled crime ripoff by an author trying to copy Raymond Chandler, but I didn't impress me that much.

Maybe if I had never read Hunter Thompson, the godfather of gonzo journalism, I would have been more impressed. But after reading this, what I was left with was the feeling that Crumley had taken Hunter Thompson's style and bizarro characters and plugged them into a crime novel. Interesting, but not as groundbreaking as I was expecting after hearing Lehane and Connelly rave about this guy.

One Crumley novel was OK, but I have no compulsion to seek out more.

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Intricate mystery

I just finished John Gierach's marvelous book, "Fool's Paradise". He devotes one chapter to books he brings with him when going on a long-distance fishing trip---books that can help fill the time when stuck in the airport or at a motel when the weather precludes going outside. He mentioned reading books by James Crumley---an author I had not previously known. So, I grabbed this book, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The book has that hard-boiled, Raymmond Chandler tenor about it---alot of cursing and "tough talk", but the story was surprisingly (to me) and interestingly involved. It was a good read that kept me turning the pages at a rapid rate. I'll certainly pick up some more of Crumley's stuff. One note: Until I bought the book, I didn't realize that it was written in the late 70's, and you pick up on that as you proceed. But, I didn't find it distracting.

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Great Read

This book is amazing. It kept me turning the pages. Great summer read with lots of twists and surprizes. Enjoy!

'Ol School Style

This reminded me of those old movies and novels from the 50's, 60's and 70's. The hard drinking...womanizing...private dick.When I heard about Crumley's style, I found the whole Sughrue series, and just loved them. If this is your type PI novel,find ya a copy, you won't regret it!!!

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

An unforgettable detective story starring C.W. Sughrue, a Montana investigator who kills time by working at a topless bar.

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