The story opens as Ray Corson, former boxer, aspiring screenwriter, sometimes private investigator, currently roofer, meets Rebecca LaFontaine. Rebecca LaFontaine (stage name) came to Hollywood from somewhere in the Midwest with dreams of stardom.

She hires Corson to be her bodyguard, to protect her from Lance Halliday (stage name), a former aspirin actor who turned to making blue movies and is connected with the mob. She wants Corson to somehow keep Halliday from causing her irreparable bodily harm, either by somehow scaring him off or by getting rid of him altogether.

Corson first tries to figure a way to get Halliday to leave Rebecca alone. He investigates Rebecca’s past history with Halliday in order to try and find a way to scare him off. Rebecca is not altogether forthcoming with her own story as he retraces some of her past odd jobs, held under other aliases.

He finds that Halliday is connected with the mob, and has some physical contact with a couple of his henchmen. Corson first falls afoul of, and then signs on with, the mob as he continues his investigation. He learns that Halliday, with his blue movies, is a minor player in the mob hierarchy, which focuses on controlling the cocaine traffic to the Hollywood elite.

Corson’s continuing investigation proves that neither Rebecca nor Halliday are exactly whom or what they purport to be. Corson allows Rebecca to play out her story until he has all his facts in place. Although I had some of the story figured out as I read, the ending was a surprise to me.

If you remember reading hard-boiled pulp fiction detective stories as a kid, this book is for you. If you don’t remember them, but want to get into a good period piece mystery, this book is for you.

This story is a return to the noir private investigators of the past. A thoroughly enjoyable mystery, with well-drawn characers, good clues that lead to, but didn't give away, the solution.

This is the third Hard Case Crime story I’ve read and enjoyed. If you like a well-plotted mystery, some good related subplots, and a surprise ending or two, I recommend this series. In addition to new works by current authors, the editors are also resurrecting some books by classic noir authors.

read another like it.

like I was a part of the story, shadowing the protagonist as he worked his way through layers of subterfuge and misdirection.

pays attention to the details, and told a good story; held my interest from beginning to end.

it's a well-crafted, well-plotted mystery.

This is the third Hard Case Crime story I’ve read and enjoyed. If you like a well-plotted mystery, some good related subplots, and a surprise ending or two, I recommend this series.

In addition to new works by current authors, the editors are also resurrecting some books by classic noir pi authors. Also great cover art redolent of the pulp noir issues of the past.

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Created Jan 29, 2006 at 1:37am • Submit your own review...