David Thompson, manager, Murder by the Book, Houston
There aren't many books I'd want to read in unbound manuscript form, but when Charles Ardai announced the completion of his new book, Fifty-to-One [Hard Case Crime, Nov.], I immediately pleaded for a copy. Ardai has earned awards and accolades for his writing (two novels as Richard Aleas and numerous short stories), but he's probably best known for forming the publishing company Hard Case Crime. Fifty-to-One is an homage to the noir/pulp fiction genre, with cameos by crime luminaries like Mickey Spillane, Donald Westlake, Lawrence Block and more. The plot is vintage pulp: it's 1958, and smalltown dancer Tricia and New York hustler/publisher Charley find themselves wanted by mobsters when a writing project goes awry. Ardai writes scenes that are at turns humorous and suspenseful, and the dialogue is punchy.This book should appeal to the fans of the authors that are reprinted by Hard Case Crime.
