The Complete Cases of Max Latin

by Norbert Davis

Back in print! Enjoy the adventures of Max Latin, the detective who doesn't want to be a detective! Author Norbert Davis mixed the classic hard-boiled style with humor, making Max Latin unique in pulp fiction. Appearing for only five stories in Dime Detective, this new edition includes an authoritative introduction by Bob Byrne.

Genres: Detective, Short Stories

265 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 2, 2013

About the author

Norbert Davis (1909–1949) was studying law at Stanford University when he began selling stories to pulp magazines, where he found enough success that he never bothered taking the bar exam. His best-known characters are Doan and Carstairs—a private eye team made up of a man and a thoroughly clever Great Dane.

Reviews

[James Hold · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't see the humor and could have done w/o Guiterrez. A little of him goes a long way. I've read Davis' Doan & Carstairs series and found it better. Latin to me came across as a jerk.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than the backhanded compliments in John D. McDonald's 'appreciation' of Norbert Davis would lead you to believe. I especially liked how Davis touched on the effect WWII had on the folks back home. I'm just sorry there weren't more than five stories written about Latin, Guiterrez, and Inspector Walters - each is memorable in his own way, the latter two hotheads being ideal foils for Max Latin's laid back demeanor.

I couldn't leave without adding this extended quotation that perfectly illustrates the author's ability at writing humor while showing our hero at his very finest:

“You wanted to consult me?” Latin said to Mrs. Farmer.
She nodded eagerly. “Yes, Mr. Latin, you wouldn’t hesitate to kill a person, would you?”
“Depends on who he is,” said Latin, “and on how long you want me to hesitate.”
“But that’s so wrong! Oh, that’s a terrible attitude for you to take!”
“Nope,” said Latin. “I know lots of people who need killing.”
“Oh, but think of the suffering you inflict. And think of the moral side of the question! Wouldn’t you much rather do good than evil?”
“No,” said Latin.
Mrs. Farmer looked hurt and really incredulous. “You—you like to act in an unlawful way?”
“Sure,” said Latin.
“But suppose someone came in and offered you a chance to do something fine and noble and honest. What would you do, then?”
“Throw them out,” said Latin. “And go on eating this omelette.”
“Oh!” said Mrs. Farmer breathlessly. “But—but I’m willing to pay you.”
“That’s a horse of another color,” said Latin. “I’ll even be honest for pay—if it’s enough. What do you want me to do?”
“Well—if there were a person—a horrible, unscrupulous person—who was menacing the happiness and the very life of a person you loved, what would you do?”
Latin pointed an imaginary gun and said: “Bing.”
“Shoot them?” Mrs. Farmer gasped, horrified. “Oh, but no! You couldn’t!”
“Oh, yes I could. What’s his name and where does he live and what’s he worth to you dead?”
“It—it’s a woman!”
Latin shrugged. “Then the price is much cheaper. If he was a guy, he might shoot back at me.”

[L J Field · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pulps gave us only five Max Latin stories. They are all present in this book, and they’re pretty ingenious crime tales. For many critics these works by Norbert Davis belong on the same tier as Hammett and Chandler. I think that’s a stretch, but given more stories, they might have matched up.

These stories were written right as World War Two was starting up and in the fourth story Latin joins the service, but is kicked out in short order. He does seem to be a patriot. Around his city he is looked upon as a rather sinister Private Detective. The newspapers have had many tales of his arrests for just about any crime, including murder. Yet he has never been convicted. Max likes that he’s been taken in, feeling that it hypes his reputation to the right people.

There is quite a bit of snark as you get through the pages and a small circle of friends who are quite memorable.

[Joel Borden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short stories. Well defined characters, good action, and fun.

[Tomq · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book you can judge by its cover: it's good clean old-fashioned fun.

The characters are memorable (especially Guitterez), the stories are fast-paced. The writing is not always perfect, but it is at times extraordinarily witty and funny, and it is never pretentious or irritating. The whole thing reads effortlessly.

[Jon Sheppard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great series of stories about a restaurant owner, small-time con artist and reluctant detective named Max Latin. The man keeps finding himself in trouble. He's a rogue, but a likeable one. The snarky chef who runs his restaurant for him, Gutierrez, is very amusing. Stories are serious hard-boiled stuff, but there are some very funny moments as well.

[John McDonnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simpler times. An enjoyable read. The style of English and writing is a nice change of pace.

[Moe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could just keep on reading these!

[Julie Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are hilarious in the offbeat way that Norbert Davis's "Doan and Carstairs" novels are. Instead of a short, round detective who looks nice but is not, we have Max Latin who is long, lean, and has cold, green eyes. Instead of a gigantic Great Dane partner, there is a lunatic, brilliant chef who owns a dingy diner because the thronging customers drive him insane so he's always trying to drive them away with bad service and surroundings. Max Latin's office is a booth at the back of this diner and the give-and-take between all these elements (don't forget the waiters! or the clients!) is hilarious.

The cases, five in all, are long enough to consist of five or six chapters and gives a wonderful depth which allows satisfying mysteries to play out.

Definitely recommended.

[Jeff Hobbs]

Read so far:

*Watch me kill you!
Don't give your right name
*You can die any day
*Give the devil his due
*Charity begins at homicide
***
Other pulp stories:
Come up and kill me some time
Don't you cry for me
Holocaust house --3
Kansas City flash
Never say die
The price of a dime --3
Public defender
Red goose --2
Something for the sweeper --3
Take it from me
Walk across my grave
Who said I was dead?
You'll die laughing --3

[Jan Moens · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10