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Nathan Heller #7
Blood and Thunder
Attempting to deliver a bullet-proof vest to a volatile Louisiana senator who is planning a presidential campaign, Nathan Heller of the A-1 Detective Agency is unable to prevent the senator's death and must ferret out the killer. By the author of Carnal Hours.
Hardcover
First published August 1, 1995
About the author
Max Allan Collins
828 books1,364 followersReceived the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) in 2006.
He has also published under the name Patrick Culhane. He and his wife, Barbara Collins, have written several books together. Some of them are published under the name Barbara Allan.
Book Awards
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1984) : True Detective
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1992) : Stolen Away
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1995) : Carnal Hours
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) : Damned in Paradise
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1999) : Flying Blind: A Novel about Amelia Earhart
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (2002) : Angel in Black
Japanese: マックス・アラン・コリンズ
or マックス・アラン コリンズ
He has also published under the name Patrick Culhane. He and his wife, Barbara Collins, have written several books together. Some of them are published under the name Barbara Allan.
Book Awards
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1984) : True Detective
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1992) : Stolen Away
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1995) : Carnal Hours
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) : Damned in Paradise
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1999) : Flying Blind: A Novel about Amelia Earhart
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (2002) : Angel in Black
Japanese: マックス・アラン・コリンズ
or マックス・アラン コリンズ
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 5, 2008
Collins has created a series of mysteries that take place in the midst of real historical events. He does considerable historical research and then places his character, Nate Heller, a Chicago-based private detective, as a composite or semi-fictional participant. Writing a novel around real events can be tricky and, for me, always problematic because I then get a compulsion to read more about what actually occurred. Fortunately, the good historical novelists will always provide an epilogue or foreword that lays out the sources and defines the historical reality. Collins has done his research, and I tracked through much of it to verify what appears at first to be speculation. The story he lays out is more than plausible.
Nate is hired to deliver a package to Huey Long, now a senator, but still a powerhouse in Louisiana. The present is sent by Seymour Weiss, a longtime Long confidant, and it contains a bullet-proof vest. Rumors are rapidly traversing Baton Rouge suggesting that Long will be assassinated. Huey has chosen to take these rumors seriously, and he hires Nate to join his bodyguard squad. Collins uses Nate's investigation into the rumors to set the stage. History records that Long was shot and killed by a deranged physician, Carl Weiss (no relation to Seymour), upset because the Long machine was spreading rumors that the Weiss family had black blood, a cardinal sin in the south of the thirties. Even at the time, there were doubts as to the veracity of this story. Weiss was killed in a hail of gunfire from the bodyguards and persistent gossip suggested that Long was killed not by Weiss but from stray bodyguard shots. In 1992, Long's body was exhumed and a well-known forensic scientist performed an autopsy should have been done at the time of his death. The result was inconclusive that Weiss had shot him. The Mutual Insurance Company released its files around the same time.
Apparently, Long had a life insurance policy with them and his wife filed a double-indemnity claim that Long had been killed by accident. They sent an investigator (played by Heller in Collins' book) and the report confirmed that Long died from bullets fired by the bodyguards. Without giving too much of the plot away, let me say that Collins presents a credible case that Long was shot deliberately by his bodyguards, that Weiss was a patsy, and the reason was that Long was opposing taking money from the New Deal government of FDR (whom Long hated). This might cut off the flow of federal funds that were being channeled into the pockets of corrupt politicians, something Long's cronies could not tolerate.
T Harry Williams's biography of Huey Long is a great biography for those who long for the facts.
Nate is hired to deliver a package to Huey Long, now a senator, but still a powerhouse in Louisiana. The present is sent by Seymour Weiss, a longtime Long confidant, and it contains a bullet-proof vest. Rumors are rapidly traversing Baton Rouge suggesting that Long will be assassinated. Huey has chosen to take these rumors seriously, and he hires Nate to join his bodyguard squad. Collins uses Nate's investigation into the rumors to set the stage. History records that Long was shot and killed by a deranged physician, Carl Weiss (no relation to Seymour), upset because the Long machine was spreading rumors that the Weiss family had black blood, a cardinal sin in the south of the thirties. Even at the time, there were doubts as to the veracity of this story. Weiss was killed in a hail of gunfire from the bodyguards and persistent gossip suggested that Long was killed not by Weiss but from stray bodyguard shots. In 1992, Long's body was exhumed and a well-known forensic scientist performed an autopsy should have been done at the time of his death. The result was inconclusive that Weiss had shot him. The Mutual Insurance Company released its files around the same time.
Apparently, Long had a life insurance policy with them and his wife filed a double-indemnity claim that Long had been killed by accident. They sent an investigator (played by Heller in Collins' book) and the report confirmed that Long died from bullets fired by the bodyguards. Without giving too much of the plot away, let me say that Collins presents a credible case that Long was shot deliberately by his bodyguards, that Weiss was a patsy, and the reason was that Long was opposing taking money from the New Deal government of FDR (whom Long hated). This might cut off the flow of federal funds that were being channeled into the pockets of corrupt politicians, something Long's cronies could not tolerate.
T Harry Williams's biography of Huey Long is a great biography for those who long for the facts.
January 14, 2025
Wer denkt, vor Donald Trump hätte es keine äußerst problematischen US-Politiker gegeben, der wird hier in die 1930er geführt, zu Huey Long, Gouverneur von Louisiana, der in seinem Staat wie ein Sonnenkönig herrscht. Nun fordert er sogar Roosevelt heraus und plant einen Präsidentschaftswahlkampf. Doch er hat auch Feinde und engagiert deshalb den Privatdetektiv Nathan Heller aus Chicago, um ein mögliches Mordkomplott aufzudecken.
Ein interessanter Kriminalroman mit einer Mischung aus Fakten und Fiktion. Autor Max Allan Collins versucht, die damaligen Ereignisse akkurat abzubilden und eigene Interpretationen einzubringen. Der Roman ist in zwei Teile geteilt, zunächst tritt Heller eher wie ein Leibwächter und Beobachter auf, danach betreibt er echte Nachforschungen. Heller ist dabei ein typischer Hardboiled Detective. Hat mir insgesamt ganz gut gefallen.
Ein interessanter Kriminalroman mit einer Mischung aus Fakten und Fiktion. Autor Max Allan Collins versucht, die damaligen Ereignisse akkurat abzubilden und eigene Interpretationen einzubringen. Der Roman ist in zwei Teile geteilt, zunächst tritt Heller eher wie ein Leibwächter und Beobachter auf, danach betreibt er echte Nachforschungen. Heller ist dabei ein typischer Hardboiled Detective. Hat mir insgesamt ganz gut gefallen.
August 23, 2018
The Nathan Heller series is anything but chronological - we now jump back to 1935 and the death of Louisiana politician Huey Long. Heller gets drawn into a 2 week protection assignment but Long is killed on his penultimate day of duty. the second phase of the book is Heller's insurance investigation which allows the author to get embroiled in the long-standing controversy as to whether the doctor who was also killed was an assassin or just a protestor - the bodyguard fired more than 60 shots and Long may have been killed by one of them. This was interesting and written in typical Heller style, but lacked a bit of spark for me compared with some of the earlier books.
February 23, 2026
Very procedural
March 14, 2019
forgot to post.
We have Nate Heller working for Huey 'Kingfish' Long. They first met in Chicago when Heller was still a cop. Now as private eye he is brought in as an outsider to help Long survive yet another assassination attempt. He is led around by the nose all over the place and Long gets capped anyway.
So after awhile, Long's wife calls him back to the Big Easy to help her get her right full benefits from an insurance policy. Almost half of this tale therefore centers on Heller learning where Long's millions in graft went and why. In the end the wife gets her fair hearing and Heller learns a truth.
Collns specializes in taking these real events, placing Heller into the action as the substitute for real investigators or many such, digging into the events and presenting alternate solutions or slightly modified ones from the real results as passed down in history. The death of Huey Long has always been one of those questionable events where so many conflicting and ever changing versions have abounded that this tale has as good as any chance of being the correct solution.
We have Nate Heller working for Huey 'Kingfish' Long. They first met in Chicago when Heller was still a cop. Now as private eye he is brought in as an outsider to help Long survive yet another assassination attempt. He is led around by the nose all over the place and Long gets capped anyway.
So after awhile, Long's wife calls him back to the Big Easy to help her get her right full benefits from an insurance policy. Almost half of this tale therefore centers on Heller learning where Long's millions in graft went and why. In the end the wife gets her fair hearing and Heller learns a truth.
Collns specializes in taking these real events, placing Heller into the action as the substitute for real investigators or many such, digging into the events and presenting alternate solutions or slightly modified ones from the real results as passed down in history. The death of Huey Long has always been one of those questionable events where so many conflicting and ever changing versions have abounded that this tale has as good as any chance of being the correct solution.
February 17, 2024
But what about the Cigar?
Detective Heller goes undercover for Huey Long with another romance and SMA frightening episodes. Huey Long BEARS A DISTURBING RESEMBLANCE to one of today’s political candidates.
Detective Heller goes undercover for Huey Long with another romance and SMA frightening episodes. Huey Long BEARS A DISTURBING RESEMBLANCE to one of today’s political candidates.
December 11, 2019
An auspicious start, with Heller in character and the central figure energetically introduced.
Didn't realize this was split into two segments, reached the end of the first, reminded of Stolen Away.
Second part starts off intriguingly enough, problem with the date on its header page.
Amusing as the investigation gets under way.
All done, one of the best-written in the series thus far.
Next: Damned in Paradise (lengthily previewed in my Signet paperback copy.)
Didn't realize this was split into two segments, reached the end of the first, reminded of Stolen Away.
Second part starts off intriguingly enough, problem with the date on its header page.
Amusing as the investigation gets under way.
All done, one of the best-written in the series thus far.
Next: Damned in Paradise (lengthily previewed in my Signet paperback copy.)
July 3, 2013
Another excellent Nate Heller historical mystery. I wouldn't say I was longing to read a novel about the death of Huey Long, but Collins brings this larger-than-life character to life and makes me actually mourn the crooked bastard. Quite a trick.
It should be noted that this Kindle version (published by Amazon itself) is sorely in need of a good proofreader. I don't know if a physical copy of the book was scanned and OCRed to created the e-book version, but it sure looks that way. The book is full of typos and errors that should have been caught prior to publication.
It should be noted that this Kindle version (published by Amazon itself) is sorely in need of a good proofreader. I don't know if a physical copy of the book was scanned and OCRed to created the e-book version, but it sure looks that way. The book is full of typos and errors that should have been caught prior to publication.
September 2, 2013
Having read All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren, this was an interesting speculative slant on the person and political career of Huey "Kingfish" Long. Nathan Heller is as usual, a great, world weary, smart ass foil to this famous personality and the story as a whole is highly readable. Heller's ability to seduce every dame he sees kinda makes me roll my eyes, but otherwise I like him a lot.
January 14, 2019
Nathan Heller strikes again in Blood and Thunder, the Chicago-based private eye’s encounter with populist, share-the-wealth politician, Huey Long. Max Allan Collins’ rare blend of history, fiction, and hard-boiled detective fiction is fascinating, as usual. Unlike some protagonists, Nathan Heller is far from the omnipotent hero. Indeed, Heller is so patently mercenary that he borders on the anti-hero. But he always seems to do the right thing, even if it isn’t always the legal thing.
At first, I was hesitant to pick up Blood and Thunder because Heller was supposed to be a bodyguard during Huey Long’s ill-fated campaign for the presidency versus FDR. Since Heller had been “on the job” during the assassination of two different Chicago politicians (in Collins’ other novels), and since I knew that Huey Long was assassinated in real-life, I figured I knew the ending as well as the ending of Robert Penn Warren’s All the King’s Men, another slightly fictionalized view of the “Kingfish” (as Long, sometimes considered the dictator of Louisiana, was called), so I wasn’t expecting any surprises. Well, I was wrong.
In my reading of Blood and Thunder, I was pulled along for the ride by confusing mechanism with cause. I pretty well knew who was going to be ultimately responsible for Huey’s death, but I was somewhat confused as to the instrument. Heller seemed to accept the “majority report” much like the Warren Commission would do in the case of the JFK assassination. And, as confusing as it was, the story seemed to be over halfway through the book. Then, Heller gets hired as an insurance investigator, the insurance company trying to get out of paying the double indemnity involved in an accidental death. You see, lots of folks were blaming ricocheting bullets from Huey’s gang of thugs…er…band of bodyguards instead of the purported assassin.
Of course, there is nothing like reopening an investigation that everyone assumes is settled to rip open the sutures of those who thought things were sewed up. Heller is working as an investigator acting as arbiter between the insurance company and Long’s widow. But, while the assassin’s widow and family seem pleased that Heller is investigating, not everyone is pleased. And, while there was more than one betrayal involved in this story, it didn’t include the one I was most expecting.
Readers should be warned that the pacing in Blood and Thunder is slower than that in most of the Heller novels. Nonetheless, people like me will love all of those subtle flavors of mid-20th century, pre-war Louisiana. Those details were the lagniappe that kept me going.
At first, I was hesitant to pick up Blood and Thunder because Heller was supposed to be a bodyguard during Huey Long’s ill-fated campaign for the presidency versus FDR. Since Heller had been “on the job” during the assassination of two different Chicago politicians (in Collins’ other novels), and since I knew that Huey Long was assassinated in real-life, I figured I knew the ending as well as the ending of Robert Penn Warren’s All the King’s Men, another slightly fictionalized view of the “Kingfish” (as Long, sometimes considered the dictator of Louisiana, was called), so I wasn’t expecting any surprises. Well, I was wrong.
In my reading of Blood and Thunder, I was pulled along for the ride by confusing mechanism with cause. I pretty well knew who was going to be ultimately responsible for Huey’s death, but I was somewhat confused as to the instrument. Heller seemed to accept the “majority report” much like the Warren Commission would do in the case of the JFK assassination. And, as confusing as it was, the story seemed to be over halfway through the book. Then, Heller gets hired as an insurance investigator, the insurance company trying to get out of paying the double indemnity involved in an accidental death. You see, lots of folks were blaming ricocheting bullets from Huey’s gang of thugs…er…band of bodyguards instead of the purported assassin.
Of course, there is nothing like reopening an investigation that everyone assumes is settled to rip open the sutures of those who thought things were sewed up. Heller is working as an investigator acting as arbiter between the insurance company and Long’s widow. But, while the assassin’s widow and family seem pleased that Heller is investigating, not everyone is pleased. And, while there was more than one betrayal involved in this story, it didn’t include the one I was most expecting.
Readers should be warned that the pacing in Blood and Thunder is slower than that in most of the Heller novels. Nonetheless, people like me will love all of those subtle flavors of mid-20th century, pre-war Louisiana. Those details were the lagniappe that kept me going.
December 13, 2020
Collins has Nate Heller take on the Huey Long assassination. Heller is hired to deliver a birthday present to Long. It's a bulletproof vest offered because of credible death threats against Long. But the Kingfish is having none of it. He does, however, hire Heller to investigate the threats and to add to his squad of bodyguards because Long took a shining to Heller when he was in Chicago a few years prior and Heller gave him police protection.
Of course Heller looks in to the threats which gives us a look into Long, his Louisiana and his enemies. And of course, Long is assassinated while Heller is a few floors below in the Louisiana capitol building. That would seem to end the matter, but Heller is contacted months later by Long's widow, Senator Rose Long. Huey had an insurance policy with a double-indemnity clause and Rose and the insurance company agree on Heller as a neutral arbitrator/investigator to determine if the Kingfish was assassinated or if the death was accidental. This leads Heller back in to the underworld of Long's Louisiana to poke in to a case that most people don't think needs poking.
This one was a bit different than the average Heller for me. Still a fun read. But, usually I find the first half a slow burn and Collins really turns it up in the second half. This time I was enthralled by the first half and the second drug a bit. Also, in this one, Collins invents his own outcome/conspiracy for the Long assassination. Not that there haven't been alternative explanations to Carl Weiss assassinating Long, mostly hinging on him dying from friendly fire from his many bodyguards. And there's a bit of that, but Collins puts a much deeper conspiracy than that.
Another good entry in an always fun series.
Of course Heller looks in to the threats which gives us a look into Long, his Louisiana and his enemies. And of course, Long is assassinated while Heller is a few floors below in the Louisiana capitol building. That would seem to end the matter, but Heller is contacted months later by Long's widow, Senator Rose Long. Huey had an insurance policy with a double-indemnity clause and Rose and the insurance company agree on Heller as a neutral arbitrator/investigator to determine if the Kingfish was assassinated or if the death was accidental. This leads Heller back in to the underworld of Long's Louisiana to poke in to a case that most people don't think needs poking.
This one was a bit different than the average Heller for me. Still a fun read. But, usually I find the first half a slow burn and Collins really turns it up in the second half. This time I was enthralled by the first half and the second drug a bit. Also, in this one, Collins invents his own outcome/conspiracy for the Long assassination. Not that there haven't been alternative explanations to Carl Weiss assassinating Long, mostly hinging on him dying from friendly fire from his many bodyguards. And there's a bit of that, but Collins puts a much deeper conspiracy than that.
Another good entry in an always fun series.
October 7, 2017
Long Shot
This Heller history noir is a relatively tepid affair, charting the assassination of Huey P. Long and our man's role in failing to protect the Kingfish and then solving the crime, of course. This tale benefits from the relatively few famous names dropped (except of course, the Kingfish and his nefarious associates) and swims pretty close to the facts. On the downside, the tale never quite has the grip or bite of other entries. You never get the feeling Heller cares too much about the Kingfish or the mystery.
That being said, it is well written, scrupulously researched and very readable. All MAC Heller books are at least a good read, but some are much better than others. Though respectable, this is in the lower echelon of the Heller canon.
Not the best place to start reading Heller books.
This Heller history noir is a relatively tepid affair, charting the assassination of Huey P. Long and our man's role in failing to protect the Kingfish and then solving the crime, of course. This tale benefits from the relatively few famous names dropped (except of course, the Kingfish and his nefarious associates) and swims pretty close to the facts. On the downside, the tale never quite has the grip or bite of other entries. You never get the feeling Heller cares too much about the Kingfish or the mystery.
That being said, it is well written, scrupulously researched and very readable. All MAC Heller books are at least a good read, but some are much better than others. Though respectable, this is in the lower echelon of the Heller canon.
Not the best place to start reading Heller books.
March 22, 2018
I really admire Max Allan Collins. Writing a historical mystery is complicated when you include actual personages. Collins takes it one step further by having his series character, Nathan Heller, investigate the most notorious crimes of the 20th century, in this case the assassination of Huey Long. I really appreciate the afterword, in which Collins separates fact from fiction and details his research. Recommended!
October 23, 2024
A great read about Huey Long
This enjoyable Nathan Heller novel will take
you back to a strange and murderous part of U.S. history, when graft was King of Louisiana. Don't miss an opportunity to enjoy this book!
This enjoyable Nathan Heller novel will take
you back to a strange and murderous part of U.S. history, when graft was King of Louisiana. Don't miss an opportunity to enjoy this book!
June 28, 2026
A good historic crime from a different view with a different outcome. Nate Heller is still as tough as ever with his Chicago toughness. As always with Collins stories there is enough facts that makes you say, yea I can see that. Recommended.
June 5, 2024
Lesser entry into the series. Still worth a read, definitely had some good parts. Just didn't draw me in as much as some of the other entries I've read so far.
March 24, 2026
A well written marathon. Just too much.
July 13, 2026
3.0, went into thinking it was the famous blood and thunder. It was not, but still an entertaining enough historical sort of fiction about an assassination I had not heard of before.
December 13, 2013
As much or more than his other Nate Heller books, Blood and Thunder, showcases the sheer strength of Collins' approach to a historical incident. Few of us living (not me, thank you) go back far enough to remember Huey Long. His brand of populism, in a country devastated by economic depression, could have brought a con-artist into the White House.
Collins gives us Nate Heller on the scene as Huey's bodyguard to report what was going on in those days leading up to Long's death on the floor of the Louisiana legislature. History books have abandoned Long in recent years. Even the best are a bit dry and analytical. Collins' writing is visceral and his dialogue blends Long's actual quotes with what he might have said.
Nate Heller owes something to Hammett's Sam Spade, the prototype for the "hard-boiled" detective. For instance, Spade says, "Don't be too sure I'm as crooked as I'm supposed to be. That sort of reputation might be good business, bringing high-priced jobs and making it easier to deal with the enemy..." Heller is also cut from this mold. Here, he is offered employment by Huey Long to keep the demagogue from being assassinated. From that point the action builds to a frenzy in the first part of the story.
The second part begins with a related, follow-up assignment which has more twists and turns than most yarns. I enjoyed it all: from the palpable and scary look at demagoguery, to the CSI details. This is a brilliant study in how dreams are sold down the river and the corruption that often goes hand in hand with political power. Not sure why I have held back a fifth star for this exceptional noir.
Collins gives us Nate Heller on the scene as Huey's bodyguard to report what was going on in those days leading up to Long's death on the floor of the Louisiana legislature. History books have abandoned Long in recent years. Even the best are a bit dry and analytical. Collins' writing is visceral and his dialogue blends Long's actual quotes with what he might have said.
Nate Heller owes something to Hammett's Sam Spade, the prototype for the "hard-boiled" detective. For instance, Spade says, "Don't be too sure I'm as crooked as I'm supposed to be. That sort of reputation might be good business, bringing high-priced jobs and making it easier to deal with the enemy..." Heller is also cut from this mold. Here, he is offered employment by Huey Long to keep the demagogue from being assassinated. From that point the action builds to a frenzy in the first part of the story.
The second part begins with a related, follow-up assignment which has more twists and turns than most yarns. I enjoyed it all: from the palpable and scary look at demagoguery, to the CSI details. This is a brilliant study in how dreams are sold down the river and the corruption that often goes hand in hand with political power. Not sure why I have held back a fifth star for this exceptional noir.
February 16, 2014
Another good, quick read in the Nate Heller series. Clearly Collins had some characters and cases he wanted to spend some time with so we continue the travel back in time in the series. Just as Heller was getting past his WWII experiences and moving into the new Mob and the West Coast, we have now dropped back several years to the mid 1930s to encounter first Charles Lindberg and now Huey Long. It's a little off-putting if you want to see character development in Heller. But some things are constants: he always gets the girl (everyone from Sally Rand to Marilyn Monroe); he never fails to crack wise (even when he's being beaten with a rubber hose); and, trust me, you do not want to hire him as a body guard (he's now lost three clients he was hired to protect). But the research and alternate history back-stories Collins creates for Heller are enjoyable, readable and, somewhat educational. A good read on a winter afternoon or a day at the beach.
January 28, 2015
I have long been a fan of Max Allen Collins' Historical detective novels featuring the hero P. I. Nate Heller.
This one published about 1996, Was one that I missed until now.
It is another enjoyable crime detective novel, this one in which Heller is hired as a special bodyguard by the famous and notorious Louisana politician Huey " Kingfish" Long. Long fears that there is a plot against his life and hires Heller because has a reputation of cool- headend ness and discretion that would help in getting to the bottom of any assination plot. The problem is one, there are more than one plots and two, Heller has a none too good record as a bodyguard.
Plenty of interested period flavor, scenery and intrigue. Some nice sex, not too gory violence. Hard boiled story, but not gruesome. Well written and always interesting, with May be a tale of thereal people behind Long's murder.
A solid four stars
This one published about 1996, Was one that I missed until now.
It is another enjoyable crime detective novel, this one in which Heller is hired as a special bodyguard by the famous and notorious Louisana politician Huey " Kingfish" Long. Long fears that there is a plot against his life and hires Heller because has a reputation of cool- headend ness and discretion that would help in getting to the bottom of any assination plot. The problem is one, there are more than one plots and two, Heller has a none too good record as a bodyguard.
Plenty of interested period flavor, scenery and intrigue. Some nice sex, not too gory violence. Hard boiled story, but not gruesome. Well written and always interesting, with May be a tale of thereal people behind Long's murder.
A solid four stars
April 1, 2013
Nate Heller takes on another bodyguard job. This time he works for Huey P. Long. Heller is not the best guard out there. In seven novels he loses three clients to an assassin. He is good at locating the hidden truth though. This novel about the death of Louisiana's most colorful politician is a lot of fun. Collins captures the feel of the period like few writers. I lived in Baton Rouge as a kid and I've taken many trips to see the holes in the marble walls where Long's bodyguards killed Weiss. Many older people I've known in this state believe in Weiss' innocence. Growing up I've heard many conspiracies. Most have to do with Roosevelt. All the players are here: Seymour Weiss, the thug bodyguards, even Earl Long makes a cameo, even Carlos Marcellos shows up as a young and upcoming gangster. I assume that we will see Mr. Marcellos again in the book on the assassination of JFK.
February 14, 2014
Nate Heller again finds himself in the midsts of a mid 20th century historical event. Collins brings to life a looking glass view into a major crime with true life people places and events. As Heller interacts with the Kingfish himself he discovers there is as much corruption and greed in "loosianna" as there is in mob controlled Chicago. From Standard oil, to the mob to his most trusted advisors it seems as if Long can trust no-one but a private detective that walks a very fine ethical line. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction and historical fiction with a dash of sex and intrigue will certainly enjoy the Nate Heller series and Blood and Thunder certainly doesn't disappoint.
August 7, 2011
The backdrop is Huey Long's Louisiana of 1935 as P.I. Nathan Heller is charged to protect the Kingfish. Collins weaves historical setting and facts into a tight story that entertains. A classic P.I. cut from the cloth of the moral loner, Heller does all he can to unravel the corruption surrounding the Louisiana senator and ex-governor. Based on thorough research and a nice explanation of the facts in the notes, the novel is great marriage of the speculative and the noir.
August 6, 2013
I have been reading all the Nathan Heller books, in sequence, and this one, #8, is one of my favorite. It reminded me of the original trilogy which were also my favorites. The story is about the assassination of Huey Long. It had a good mix of history, conspiracy theory, mystery and just plain fun. A very enjoyable read. I would highly recommend it to all who like the genre, and definitely to those who like the Nathan Heller series.
December 30, 2008
As with other Nate Hellar books, Collins again has done exhaustive historical research and created a very real image of not only Huey Long but also 30's Louisiana politics and also an alternate theory to an infamous crime.
August 10, 2013
What you see is what you get with the Nate Heller books. Snappy dialogue that isn't contrived, a solid, historically based plot and entertaining wise guy genre fiction. No suprises here but a well written mystery that is fun.
July 17, 2012
Good summer read...
July 25, 2012
Loving every minute of this series
September 3, 2012
Louisiana and Huey Long. Mafia and murder. American dictator.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews