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Nameless Detective #36
Hellbox
Bill, the "Nameless Detective," and his wife Kerry were in the Sierra foothills, just outside of Six Pines, falling in love with a cabin. It was all perfect, until Kerry went missing.
They'd seen Balfour at breakfast at the diner and Kerry remembered his name…PR people are like that. Which was unfortunate, because when she ran into him along the trail on that sunny afternoon and called him by name, he panicked. And that's when Bill's nightmare began.
In a small town with limited resources, where a major case was keeping everyone busy, a private investigator demanding action wasn't very popular. They were doing all they could, Bill was told. But it wasn't enough.
With the help of his longtime associate Jake Runyon, Bill begins a search that uncovers just what price the citizens in a town without pity might have to pay. Bill and Jake follow the few leads they have, and come face to face with the Hellbox.
The Nameless Detective series is the longest-running series of its kind, and Bill Pronzini only gets better with each new Nameless title.
They'd seen Balfour at breakfast at the diner and Kerry remembered his name…PR people are like that. Which was unfortunate, because when she ran into him along the trail on that sunny afternoon and called him by name, he panicked. And that's when Bill's nightmare began.
In a small town with limited resources, where a major case was keeping everyone busy, a private investigator demanding action wasn't very popular. They were doing all they could, Bill was told. But it wasn't enough.
With the help of his longtime associate Jake Runyon, Bill begins a search that uncovers just what price the citizens in a town without pity might have to pay. Bill and Jake follow the few leads they have, and come face to face with the Hellbox.
The Nameless Detective series is the longest-running series of its kind, and Bill Pronzini only gets better with each new Nameless title.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published July 3, 2012
7 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Bill Pronzini
625 books235 followersMystery Writers of America Awards "Grand Master" 2008
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1999) for Boobytrap
Edgar Awards Best Novel nominee (1998) for A Wasteland of Strangers
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) for Sentinels
Shamus Awards "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) 1987
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1982) for Hoodwink
Married to author Marcia Muller.
Pseudonyms:
Robert Hart Davis (collaboration with Jeffrey M. Wallmann)
Jack Foxx
William Jeffrey (collaboration with Jeffrey M. Wallmann)
Alex Saxon
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1999) for Boobytrap
Edgar Awards Best Novel nominee (1998) for A Wasteland of Strangers
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) for Sentinels
Shamus Awards "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) 1987
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1982) for Hoodwink
Married to author Marcia Muller.
Pseudonyms:
Robert Hart Davis (collaboration with Jeffrey M. Wallmann)
Jack Foxx
William Jeffrey (collaboration with Jeffrey M. Wallmann)
Alex Saxon
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
March 4, 2019
There aren’t any more accolades I can think of for Bill Pronzini’s writing. It is smooth, realistic, and fits the place and characters. I have listened to many of his books, but this was only available in print from my library. I chose to try the large print version. Yesterday I sat own to read a chapter or two, but couldn’t stop until I finished the book. The plot completely held me. It was so exciting. And now I am encouraged to try reading some other books in large print.
October 1, 2012
I like this series, but don't see much future in it if Bill and Kerry keep being held hostage. That's hard on any marriage!
November 18, 2020
Leave it to me to pickup #39 in a long running series. I had never heard of the author or the Nameless Detective series when I picked Hellbox off the shelf at my local library in Mont Tremblant, Quebec. Suffice it to say, the English book section is understandably dwarfed by French selections.
Do not get me wrong, they do a great job and I am grateful for all efforts. Plus, the folks in the library are wonderful but, usually I research a book before buying or until recently, checking out (I have just gotten back to visiting the library after years of Amazon purchasing). On this particular day, I was rushed and boxed in by fellow Covid mask-wearing patrons. Being a marketing guy, I was drawn to the book jacket design so selected it and two others before yielding the aisle to fellow patrons.
It turns out Pronzini has been prolific and is a Mystery Writers of America Grand Master. His first in this series came out in 1971. Hellbox was published in 2012 and the last, so far, in 2017. I was able to read it as a standalone as there was context and relevant bits of background provided. It also proved to be the right one for me to select as it involved a cabin in the woods, hiking and one character who works at an ad agency (all near and dear).
I read it over two days. It was a tidy tale with decent pacing and action. The author provides, 'just enough', of everything to suffice. Plot, locales, characters, twists...were decently entertaining but felt formulaic and predictable like a dinner at Chili's, Olive Garden, or Applebee's. At one point, I considered the idea of reading the whole series but, once I finished the book, any impact began to instantly wane. Still, I am in awe of such a long-standing series.
Do not get me wrong, they do a great job and I am grateful for all efforts. Plus, the folks in the library are wonderful but, usually I research a book before buying or until recently, checking out (I have just gotten back to visiting the library after years of Amazon purchasing). On this particular day, I was rushed and boxed in by fellow Covid mask-wearing patrons. Being a marketing guy, I was drawn to the book jacket design so selected it and two others before yielding the aisle to fellow patrons.
It turns out Pronzini has been prolific and is a Mystery Writers of America Grand Master. His first in this series came out in 1971. Hellbox was published in 2012 and the last, so far, in 2017. I was able to read it as a standalone as there was context and relevant bits of background provided. It also proved to be the right one for me to select as it involved a cabin in the woods, hiking and one character who works at an ad agency (all near and dear).
I read it over two days. It was a tidy tale with decent pacing and action. The author provides, 'just enough', of everything to suffice. Plot, locales, characters, twists...were decently entertaining but felt formulaic and predictable like a dinner at Chili's, Olive Garden, or Applebee's. At one point, I considered the idea of reading the whole series but, once I finished the book, any impact began to instantly wane. Still, I am in awe of such a long-standing series.
August 21, 2018
#36 in the Nameless Detective series. This 2012 series entry from author Pronzini is average as 64 year old Nameless and 55 year old wife Kerry decide to look for a second home suitable for long weekends appropriate to Nameless semi-retired status. In #25 Boobytrap (1998), Nameless was referred to as Bill (page 118), since then his partner Tamara has occasionally referred to him as Bill as has Pronzini's wife Marcia Muller's PI Sharon McCone (after she stopped calling him Wolf). This time around, it looks like he is officially "Bill", as not only Tamara, but operative Jake Runyon and even wife, Kerry, refer to him as Bill. For a while, it has been revealed that his last name is Italian and ends in a vowel; one wonders, if it could be Pronzini. I wonder if series entries will become known as 'A Named Detective Novel'. Quick, enjoyable read.
Nameless (now tagged Bill), semi-retired again from his agency, and his wife, Kerry, are considering a country home. They are visiting a cabin in the Sierra foothills, which seems to offer all they need. There's a trout stream for Bill and hiking paths for Kerry and a small town fairly close with its share of small-townie festivals. A local woman was killed when a gas leak at her home ignited and exploded. The police are concentrating on the investigation, so when Kerry goes missing while hiking on her own, a frantic Bill can't rouse anyone to action. Bill calls on trusted operative, Jake Runyon, to help after a frustratingly delayed search by local volunteers fails to find Kerry. Bill's experience screams foul play, and Jake, as skeptical of coincidence as Bill, agrees.
Nameless (now tagged Bill), semi-retired again from his agency, and his wife, Kerry, are considering a country home. They are visiting a cabin in the Sierra foothills, which seems to offer all they need. There's a trout stream for Bill and hiking paths for Kerry and a small town fairly close with its share of small-townie festivals. A local woman was killed when a gas leak at her home ignited and exploded. The police are concentrating on the investigation, so when Kerry goes missing while hiking on her own, a frantic Bill can't rouse anyone to action. Bill calls on trusted operative, Jake Runyon, to help after a frustratingly delayed search by local volunteers fails to find Kerry. Bill's experience screams foul play, and Jake, as skeptical of coincidence as Bill, agrees.
August 26, 2024
It was ok, but too predictable. I think Pronzini's earlier books were better.
August 12, 2020
A good quick thriller for an evening read. Didn't pick up my phone once.
November 23, 2013
Hellbox is another great book in this long running series that has been one of my favorites. I was fortunate to have stumbled onto Bill Pronzini's first book, The Stalker, as a young teenager and I've been a fan ever since. I've never been disappointed by any of the books in this series.
While the "Nameless Detective" and his wife Kerry are vacationing in the small town of Six Pines looking for a possible vacation home, Kerry goes missing while taking a walk by herself. Nameless, now called Bill in the more recent books, was out checking the nearby fishing areas.
During her walk, Kerry finds a truck on one of the hiking trails. While Kerry is looking at the truck, the owner, Pete Balfour finds Kerry and decides to abduct her. Balfour had been setting a trap for a man who had insulted him by saying Balfour should be the mayor of fictional Asshole Valley since he was the biggest asshole of all. The constant "Mayor" reminder had set Balfour off and he was seeking his revenge and he was afraid Kerry would know what he us up to and he'd get caught.
Most of the novel concerns Nameless' search for Kerry, ultimately with the help of his firm's associate Jake Runyon. Runyon is an important character in the book, but really this book is all about Nameless and his struggles to find his wife without losing it. Some fans of this series that have been disappointed by the reduced role of Nameless will be pleased by the major role he has in this book. Really, everyone should enjoy this one.
While the "Nameless Detective" and his wife Kerry are vacationing in the small town of Six Pines looking for a possible vacation home, Kerry goes missing while taking a walk by herself. Nameless, now called Bill in the more recent books, was out checking the nearby fishing areas.
During her walk, Kerry finds a truck on one of the hiking trails. While Kerry is looking at the truck, the owner, Pete Balfour finds Kerry and decides to abduct her. Balfour had been setting a trap for a man who had insulted him by saying Balfour should be the mayor of fictional Asshole Valley since he was the biggest asshole of all. The constant "Mayor" reminder had set Balfour off and he was seeking his revenge and he was afraid Kerry would know what he us up to and he'd get caught.
Most of the novel concerns Nameless' search for Kerry, ultimately with the help of his firm's associate Jake Runyon. Runyon is an important character in the book, but really this book is all about Nameless and his struggles to find his wife without losing it. Some fans of this series that have been disappointed by the reduced role of Nameless will be pleased by the major role he has in this book. Really, everyone should enjoy this one.
March 24, 2016
HELLBOX
Quando si cerca una seconda casa bisogna fare davvero molta attenzione a chi si incontra nel vicinato. BILL PRONZINI in L'INFERNO ALLE PORTE ci avvisa con decisione e ci narra una storia thriller che non manca di metterci in allarme. L'avviso è sempre lo stesso, quello che si dà ai bambini, ma che è utile ricordare anche per gli adulti: "Mai parlare con gli sconosciuti".
Bill è quasi pronto per la pensione quando sceglie, come seconda casa, una baita a Six Pines, una piccola città sulle colline della Sierra californiana. Ci andrà a vivere con la moglie, Kerry. Passeggiando lei incontra uno strano uomo, un individuo pieno di rancore, per presunti torti subiti, e pronto a vendicarsi. È così che Kerry scompare: viene rapita. Per Bill inizia un incubo.
BILL PRONZINI è uno scrittore che sa il fatto suo: è esperto e sa come intrappolare l'attenzione del lettore e tenerlo legato alle pagine, mentre si sviluppa la narrazione serrata di una storia intricata, creando un romanzo inquietante ed avvincente.
November 10, 2021
This is my second book by Bill Pronzini. He does refer to Nameless' imprisonment in Book 16, Shackles. He certainly has not forgotten this miserable life changing experience. Since I have not been able to read his books in order it was kind of weird that his wife Kerry is abducted after accidentally witnessing a crime. Mr. Pronzini does not duplicate the imprisonment in Shackles but makes it a complete different scenario. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time and pays a high price for it.
Although her husband Nameless (I now know that he name is Bill) has no idea what is going on, he asks his partner, Tamara, and his operative, Jake, for help and they come through for him. Tamara and Jake are good secondary characters and I am especially fond of Jake who has a tragic past. I am looking forward to reading more about all these characters even if it is out of sequence.
Although her husband Nameless (I now know that he name is Bill) has no idea what is going on, he asks his partner, Tamara, and his operative, Jake, for help and they come through for him. Tamara and Jake are good secondary characters and I am especially fond of Jake who has a tragic past. I am looking forward to reading more about all these characters even if it is out of sequence.
December 25, 2021
Another solid effort by Bill Prozini, #36 in the Nameless Detective series. These read like police procedurals but are PI based. The main character talks to the reader about all he's doing and why, but does so in a way that is almost conversational. I like him as well as his partner Jake Runyon.
Bill's wife is kidnapped while they're away from home up in the mountain semi-wilderness looking for a second home. He has a tough time getting the police interested and so investigates himself with a hand from Jake.
It's a good story, mostly believable, that gets going quickly and keeps you reading eagerly right up to the end. This series, along with the 87th precinct books by Ed McBain and the Spenser books by Robert B Parker are three of the longest running series that continue to keep the quality at a very high level for (nearly) every book. You just can't go wrong with any of them, though none will knock your socks off or vie for best book of the year.
Bill's wife is kidnapped while they're away from home up in the mountain semi-wilderness looking for a second home. He has a tough time getting the police interested and so investigates himself with a hand from Jake.
It's a good story, mostly believable, that gets going quickly and keeps you reading eagerly right up to the end. This series, along with the 87th precinct books by Ed McBain and the Spenser books by Robert B Parker are three of the longest running series that continue to keep the quality at a very high level for (nearly) every book. You just can't go wrong with any of them, though none will knock your socks off or vie for best book of the year.
April 21, 2018
Not sure if there is anyone that can fit so much into such a short book. This one starts off with Kerr and Bill trying out a cabin in the woods that could be their second home. Picked up right as the last one ended. But when a lazy Sunday turns into Kerry's abduction by a crazy local things get tense. With Bill beating his head against the wall with the local law, he has to reach out to Jake. But the clock is ticking.
I think I liked this one also, because it wasn't a multi character perspective type story. There were differing perspectives, but at least the all followed the same path. Very good!
I think I liked this one also, because it wasn't a multi character perspective type story. There were differing perspectives, but at least the all followed the same path. Very good!
July 27, 2017
PROTAGONIST: PI Bill (Nameless)
SETTING: Sierra Foothills
SERIES: #40
RATING: 4.0
WHY:
Bill and Kerry are vacationing in a cabin that they are considering as a second home located in the Sierra foothills. While Bill is out fishing, Kerry decides to take a hike and is abducted by a local man, Pete Balfour, who just committed a horrific crime. Bill, of course, is totally frantic. When the authorities don't offer much help, he seeks the aid of one of his operatives, Jake Runyon. Balfour is despicable. Bill is atypically but understandably out of control. Suspenseful.
SETTING: Sierra Foothills
SERIES: #40
RATING: 4.0
WHY:
Bill and Kerry are vacationing in a cabin that they are considering as a second home located in the Sierra foothills. While Bill is out fishing, Kerry decides to take a hike and is abducted by a local man, Pete Balfour, who just committed a horrific crime. Bill, of course, is totally frantic. When the authorities don't offer much help, he seeks the aid of one of his operatives, Jake Runyon. Balfour is despicable. Bill is atypically but understandably out of control. Suspenseful.
Read
August 28, 2024I don't want to do a bad rating so I will just say that I love this author but this book was probably the most predictable book I ever read in my life. It left me wondering what the point was. I literally predicted everything that was going to happen from the first chapter on and I was correct because nothing was left to the imagination. Why didn't the author obscure SOMETHING? Because there isn't much point to a mystery if none of it is a mystery.
August 3, 2019
Almost unbearably suspenseful, I wondered for most of the book if Pronzini was going to do the unthinkable
I listened to the audiobook, was impressed by the voice actor's versatility.
Some surprises as the book reaches the meat of the story, expecting them to be dealt with at length in the subsequent series entries.
I listened to the audiobook, was impressed by the voice actor's versatility.
Some surprises as the book reaches the meat of the story, expecting them to be dealt with at length in the subsequent series entries.
December 16, 2018
Formula
The pat format. The only thing that would have resuscitated the mystery was for Kerry to die. Dragged on and on. The loser was barely human. So one sided I doubt if I can face number40 in this series.
The pat format. The only thing that would have resuscitated the mystery was for Kerry to die. Dragged on and on. The loser was barely human. So one sided I doubt if I can face number40 in this series.
November 22, 2021
Scary similar to a book I love called "The missing" by Chris Mooney... He must have read it because the whole time I was reading the story I was thinking to myself "I have read this before". All together though a great book and kept me on my toes the whole time.
December 16, 2021
I usually like the nameless detective series but this one felt phoned in. The plot was overly predictable and at times I felt bored reading it. There was an attempt to create tension but it was obvious how it was going to turn out.
I suspect this would have made a much better short story.
I suspect this would have made a much better short story.
Read
February 7, 2022Sometimes I read too many nonfiction and/or 'heavy' books.
Stumbled across this large series of detective novels that aren't (too) cheesy.
I'll probably read a few more to balance my reading list out.
Stumbled across this large series of detective novels that aren't (too) cheesy.
I'll probably read a few more to balance my reading list out.
April 23, 2019
Read 2013
February 10, 2020
This one is more suspenseful than some of the previous ones. Loved it!
December 10, 2020
Not sure what to make of this. Good story but the conclusion seemed obvious for at least half the book.
May 2, 2021
Found this thriller ok with great characters and quite suspenseful but a little dragged out
August 4, 2024
Really well written.
May 31, 2014
After 37 Nameless detective novels, a much-needed departure from the usual police procedural is justified.
Strong characterizations of setting and its inhabitants, tightly woven prose, heart-thumping suspense, Pronzini, the master of the detective story, proves why he is still at the top of his game. His newest Nameless novel is no exception.
Drawing on suspense more than mystery for this new outing, Pronzini dumps his readers into a fishbowl town known as Six Pines, inhabited with backwoods crazies and dark secrets, a small town south of Green Valley, where Bill and his wife Kerry are vacationing, taking a breather from their regular busy lives in San Francisco. Their daughter is missing in action, thankfully, spending time with her glee club friends back home.
Suspense builds in the prologue, at Green Valley Café, where an odd man known to the locals as Pete Balfour, or as some wiseass would snicker, "Mayor of A-hole Valley", makes a grave appearance. From the get-go, the endless slurs and askew side-glances put Balfour on edge, propelling him too far to the dark side, as innocent Kerry, hiking through the dark, deep woods by their soon-to-be second home, will soon discover.
As Nameless riles up Six Pines' lax deputy, Greg Broxmeyer, to search the grounds for Kerry, the story builds to a fever pitch for a grief-stricken Nameless. Summoning his friend and co-worker, Jake Runyon (who does not make an appearance in the story until chapter thirteen), only adds to the riveting, tireless hunt for Kerry's whereabouts. The investigation is a diversion from Pronzini's usual police procedurals and mystery, but the story kept me riveted, along with the author's deft hand at creating suspense, until the final page. I especially enjoyed seeing the introduction of a handful of new creepy characters. A bunch of delinquents is an understatement to describe the denizens of Six Pines.
As usual, gripping, top-notch storytelling, even amid the slight, but pleasant departure of Pronzini's police procedural (reason for my enthusiasm), makes Hellbox a consistently enjoyable escape, highlighting a skilled writer who knows how to keep pages turning with this deliciously creepy novel. Rated: A
Strong characterizations of setting and its inhabitants, tightly woven prose, heart-thumping suspense, Pronzini, the master of the detective story, proves why he is still at the top of his game. His newest Nameless novel is no exception.
Drawing on suspense more than mystery for this new outing, Pronzini dumps his readers into a fishbowl town known as Six Pines, inhabited with backwoods crazies and dark secrets, a small town south of Green Valley, where Bill and his wife Kerry are vacationing, taking a breather from their regular busy lives in San Francisco. Their daughter is missing in action, thankfully, spending time with her glee club friends back home.
Suspense builds in the prologue, at Green Valley Café, where an odd man known to the locals as Pete Balfour, or as some wiseass would snicker, "Mayor of A-hole Valley", makes a grave appearance. From the get-go, the endless slurs and askew side-glances put Balfour on edge, propelling him too far to the dark side, as innocent Kerry, hiking through the dark, deep woods by their soon-to-be second home, will soon discover.
As Nameless riles up Six Pines' lax deputy, Greg Broxmeyer, to search the grounds for Kerry, the story builds to a fever pitch for a grief-stricken Nameless. Summoning his friend and co-worker, Jake Runyon (who does not make an appearance in the story until chapter thirteen), only adds to the riveting, tireless hunt for Kerry's whereabouts. The investigation is a diversion from Pronzini's usual police procedurals and mystery, but the story kept me riveted, along with the author's deft hand at creating suspense, until the final page. I especially enjoyed seeing the introduction of a handful of new creepy characters. A bunch of delinquents is an understatement to describe the denizens of Six Pines.
As usual, gripping, top-notch storytelling, even amid the slight, but pleasant departure of Pronzini's police procedural (reason for my enthusiasm), makes Hellbox a consistently enjoyable escape, highlighting a skilled writer who knows how to keep pages turning with this deliciously creepy novel. Rated: A
September 12, 2013
Here is a list of all the books (in order) Happy Reading.
1971 The Snatch Random House
1973 The Vanished Random House
1973 Undercurrents Random House
1977 Blowback Ramdom House
1978 Twospot Putman
1980 Laybrinth St. Martin's Press
1980 A Killing In Xanadu Waves Press
1981 Hoodwinked St. Martin's Press
1982 Scattershot St. Martin's Press
1982 Dragonfire St. Martin's Press
1983 Bindlestiff St. Martin's Press
1983 Casefile St. Martin's Press
1984 Quicksilver St. Martin's Press
1984 Nightshades St. Martin's Press
1984 Double St. Martin's Press
1985 Bones St. Martin's Press
1985 Grave Yard Plots St. Martin's Press
1886 Dreadfall St. Martin's Press
1988 Shackles St. Martin's Press
1988 Small Fellonies St. Martin's Press
1990 Jackpot Delacorte
1991 Breakdown Delacorte
1992 Quarry Delacorte
1992 Epitaths Delacorte
1993 Demons Delacorte
1995 Hardcase Delacorte
1996 Spadework Crippen & Landru
1996 Sentinels Carroll & Graf
1997 Illusions Carroll & Graf
1998 Boobytrap Carroll & Graf
1999 Sluths Five Star
1999 Duo Five Star
2000 Crazybones Carroll & Graf
2002 Bleeders Carroll & Graf
2003 Spook Carroll & Graf
2003 Scenarios Five Star
2005 Nightcrawlers Forge
2006 Mourners Forge
2007 Savages Forge
2008 Feaver Forge
2009 Schemers Forge
2010 Betrayers Forge
2011 Camouflage Forge
2012 Hellbox Forge
2012 Kinsmen Cemetery Dance
2012 Femme Cemetery Dance
2013 Nemesis Forge
1971 The Snatch Random House
1973 The Vanished Random House
1973 Undercurrents Random House
1977 Blowback Ramdom House
1978 Twospot Putman
1980 Laybrinth St. Martin's Press
1980 A Killing In Xanadu Waves Press
1981 Hoodwinked St. Martin's Press
1982 Scattershot St. Martin's Press
1982 Dragonfire St. Martin's Press
1983 Bindlestiff St. Martin's Press
1983 Casefile St. Martin's Press
1984 Quicksilver St. Martin's Press
1984 Nightshades St. Martin's Press
1984 Double St. Martin's Press
1985 Bones St. Martin's Press
1985 Grave Yard Plots St. Martin's Press
1886 Dreadfall St. Martin's Press
1988 Shackles St. Martin's Press
1988 Small Fellonies St. Martin's Press
1990 Jackpot Delacorte
1991 Breakdown Delacorte
1992 Quarry Delacorte
1992 Epitaths Delacorte
1993 Demons Delacorte
1995 Hardcase Delacorte
1996 Spadework Crippen & Landru
1996 Sentinels Carroll & Graf
1997 Illusions Carroll & Graf
1998 Boobytrap Carroll & Graf
1999 Sluths Five Star
1999 Duo Five Star
2000 Crazybones Carroll & Graf
2002 Bleeders Carroll & Graf
2003 Spook Carroll & Graf
2003 Scenarios Five Star
2005 Nightcrawlers Forge
2006 Mourners Forge
2007 Savages Forge
2008 Feaver Forge
2009 Schemers Forge
2010 Betrayers Forge
2011 Camouflage Forge
2012 Hellbox Forge
2012 Kinsmen Cemetery Dance
2012 Femme Cemetery Dance
2013 Nemesis Forge
October 14, 2012
This novel, the latest in a long list in the Nameless Detective series, finds the protagonist with a name, Bill, along with his wife Kerry, in the foothills of the Sierras looking for a vacation home. Reference is made to an earlier entry in the series when Bill was chained to a wall and kept captive for three months. In the current book, Kerry is kidnapped by a completely unappealing character named Pete Balfour and kept bound and locked up in a shed while Bill, with the help of his employee Runyon, searches frantically for her.
It is an uncomplicated plot, unlike other novels in the series which are pretty much basic police procedurals. There is little character development, although we get a good look into Bill’s psyche and his emotional attachment to Kerry. As far as the other major character, Balfour, he appears as just a wooden portrait, and any description of him as a personality is merely to provide information that he’s just an evil person.
Readers have become accustomed to hard-boiled detective stories, with mysteries that are to be solved by hard slogging, research and deep undercover work by Nameless and his team. Obviously, “Hellbox” is an exception, although the intensity of the writing remains at the same high level of the author’s previous efforts. But it just ain’t the same, even though it is a fairly good read, and one can recommend it on that basis.
It is an uncomplicated plot, unlike other novels in the series which are pretty much basic police procedurals. There is little character development, although we get a good look into Bill’s psyche and his emotional attachment to Kerry. As far as the other major character, Balfour, he appears as just a wooden portrait, and any description of him as a personality is merely to provide information that he’s just an evil person.
Readers have become accustomed to hard-boiled detective stories, with mysteries that are to be solved by hard slogging, research and deep undercover work by Nameless and his team. Obviously, “Hellbox” is an exception, although the intensity of the writing remains at the same high level of the author’s previous efforts. But it just ain’t the same, even though it is a fairly good read, and one can recommend it on that basis.
September 27, 2016
During a weekend trip, Bill's wife Kerry disappears, leaving him frantically using all his sleuthing abilities to discover what befell his wife. Little does he know is that Kerry has been abducted by Balfour, a local resident who is plotting revenge against the inhabitants of his town and Kerry just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The novel oscillates between Bill, Kerry, Balfour and Bill's ally, Jake Runyon, point of view. Personally, it was weird mixing in the villain's perspective with the protagonists' perspectives, turning the book into an odd game of cat and mouse. The reader knows exactly what the characters are doing, the real question is can the sleuths actually discover the villain in time. Really, the novel creates suspense through the main characters' narratives eliding key details to their plans towards the end, which works to amplify the work's tension. Still, I'm left wondering if the novel could have been written in a way that greatly diminished its reliance on Balfour's narrative, as his character, written deliberately repulsive to good effect, did detract from the uncertainty in the book's resolution.
July 20, 2012
Nameless' significant other, Kerry, has had a rough time lately. She's fought cancer and if that wasn't enough was almost killed by a guy going after Nameless. In yet a familiar theme Nameless and Kerry take off for the Sierras for a summer 4th of July weekend to decide if they want to buy this pastoral cabin with beautiful views and solitude as a second home. Nameless goes fishing and Kerry goes for a walk, only she never returns. Pronzini is effective as ever at communicating the frustration and patience Nameless has for the local police. Nor does Nameless draw an obvious angle on the case together until he calls for help from one of his investigators-Nameless isn't himself in this one. This time it's being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A good thriller here. It's almost like Beauty and the Beast with the beast being a real asshole-that's his unofficial moniker in the small town too. Wondering how many more adventures Nameless can endure. He's 64 and working less but this one I would think would tell a normal person to retire and not take any more vacations.
March 4, 2013
Hellbox for me was a good read, but one that left a bitter taste in my mouth.
I enjoyed the story and I thought the plot was well constructed but there were just to many thing that did not sit well with mo.
The story is told in multi-point-of-view which in itself is OK, but when told from the main character’s POV the story is told in 1st person, but when inside the head of other characters 3rd person is adopted. On top of that there are some chapter where you would expect to be told from the main character’s point of view but instead narrators voice it used so it is in the 3rd person. Added all together this is just a bit annoying.
The second are that did not sit well with me, was that as a reader you are told a lot of things rather than shown. Granted this is in the form of internal dialogue (which I like) but I feel this was a bit over used.
So all in all quite enjoyable but could have been more so.
I enjoyed the story and I thought the plot was well constructed but there were just to many thing that did not sit well with mo.
The story is told in multi-point-of-view which in itself is OK, but when told from the main character’s POV the story is told in 1st person, but when inside the head of other characters 3rd person is adopted. On top of that there are some chapter where you would expect to be told from the main character’s point of view but instead narrators voice it used so it is in the 3rd person. Added all together this is just a bit annoying.
The second are that did not sit well with me, was that as a reader you are told a lot of things rather than shown. Granted this is in the form of internal dialogue (which I like) but I feel this was a bit over used.
So all in all quite enjoyable but could have been more so.
July 10, 2012
I have always enjoyed Bill Pronzini. His Nameless Detective series is a sure thing in terms of an enjoyable read, and this new one does not disappoint. In the early books, Nameless did not even have a first name. But now, the reader knows him as Bill (no last name). Bill's chapters in the novel are told in the first person, and the others are in the third person. This has always worked well and continues to do so.
Bill and Kerry are looking at different areas for a second home. They have settled on a place that they think might be perfect, but Kerry goes missing while on a hike by herself. Bill gets nowhere with the local police, and calls in his longtime associate, Jake Runyon, to help him find Kerry. Bill is certain that Kerry is still alive. There are no great surprises here, but Pronzini is very successful in mixing PI work with honest human emotion.
Bill and Kerry are looking at different areas for a second home. They have settled on a place that they think might be perfect, but Kerry goes missing while on a hike by herself. Bill gets nowhere with the local police, and calls in his longtime associate, Jake Runyon, to help him find Kerry. Bill is certain that Kerry is still alive. There are no great surprises here, but Pronzini is very successful in mixing PI work with honest human emotion.
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