Helpful Score: 1
GRIFTERS GAME by Lawrence Block: As a first entry in the Hardcase Crime Series, it would have been hard to pick a better story. Blocks Joe Marlin is a grifter who spends his days skipping out on hotel bills and double-crossing gold-diggers. He makes a practice of stealing checked luggage to use to check into his next hotel (after all we must look respectable), but this bag contains a huge cache of heroin. Later that same night he meets Mona Brassard and to his chagrin eventually finds that Mona and the heroin are connected, in a way than spells danger to Marlin. Classic writing, a good story, and an awesome cover. Anyone who cut their teeth on pulps should love this series.
I recently discovered Lawrence Block and can't wait to read more. This is the second book of his I've read. I thought I had the ending figured out, but it's unexpected and shocking, yet believable.
The story was pretty good. I enjoyed.
Hard-boiled detective novel by one of the genre's finest.
A terrific 'pulp fiction' read orig published in 1961 [and put out again under the Hard Case Crime banner in 2004] -- has all the elements: obsession, murder, betrayal, revenge! Snappy dialogue, a great plot, lots of fun!
one of my favorites. early block. noir. great.
Con man Joe Marlin was used to scoring easy cash off gullible women. But that was before he met Mona Brassard - and found himself holding a stolen stash of raw heroin. Now Joe's got to pull off the most dangerous con of his career. One that will leave him either a killer - or a corpse. From the Hard Case Crime Series
Lawrence Block is always an interesting writer. His books deal with grifters and conmen, always entertaining and suspenseful. I enjoyed this one very much.
