What do you think?
Rate this book
Nameless Detective #6
Labyrinth
Without grasping the connection between the murder of a young woman on a deserted road and his new bodyguard assignment, the Nameless Detective follows a trail of corpses unaware of the deadly conspiracy that is engulfing him
186 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1980
1 person is currently reading
107 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
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 14, 2019
This is the “Nameless Detective” novel I have been waiting for, the fulfillment of the promise I could see so clearly in each of the previous five books. Nameless has grown gradually into his history and destiny, and with Labyrinth he enters the ranks of the truly superior private eyes. I’m sure his pulp idols—Race Williams and Michael Shayne, for example—are filled with pride.
The tale begins as two disparate strands. First, the police tell our hero that a young murder victim has been found with a business card of his on her person, and second, soon after he is hired by a rich woman to tail her brother (who has killed a woman accidentally with his car, and whose husband may be out for revenge.) Soon, these two cases seem to draw together, and Nameless has a real puzzler on his hands.
I liked this book quite a bit. The mystery is a good one, the characters kept my interest, and, there are a good number of exciting scenes along the way. But what I particularly enjoyed was Pronzini’s treatment of coincidence. Usually mystery writers take advantage of it, often to the point of abuse, but Pronzini not only makes it a factor in his detective’s deliberations, but also raises questions about the place of coincidence in the mystery genre itself.
For the first time, I could see the complete design of the labyrinth. And it only had three connecting sides. The open end, the missing side, was nothing but coincidence...
November 28, 2022
In the 6th book in the series Bill Pronzini’s Nameless detective is caught up in a murder mystery that starts off as an already slightly unusual surveillance job. It feels as though by this point the series is really starting to find its groove and good, classic detective work is beginning to provide the essential ingredient. On top of that, the persona of the detective is becoming more fully formed as a complete character.
The Nameless Detective is hired by Laura Nichols, a wealthy woman who is concerned that her brother’s life was in danger after he was involved in a car accident. She wants the detective to watch over her brother without approaching him in case he is attacked by the husband of the victim of the car crash.
It seems to be a very strange case from the start but Nameless needs the money and agrees to take it on. Little was he to know that death was just around the corner and not in the manner he was expecting.
There is a second element introduced to the story when a murdered college girl is found to have the detective’s business card on her when she died. Although the two mysteries appear to have no connection to each other, it turns out there is more to the story than first thought.
From this disparate set of circumstances, Nameless sets off on his investigative path as he begins questioning anyone who may have had a connection to the victims. His process is essentially a tree-shaking process in the hopes that something shakes loose. In short, the tactic works and this results in violent confrontations that test the detective so that he has to really ride his luck to survive.
Once again we are reminded in no uncertain terms of Nameless’ love for the old pulp magazines that he collects and consumes with great delight.
“While I waited I sat looking at the poster blow-up of a 1932 Black Mask cover that I had tacked up on one wall. It was not exactly appropriate for a business office, but I liked it and that was what counted. Eberhardt, on one of his infrequent visits here, had said that it made the place look like something out of an old Bogart movie. Me and Bogie and Sam Spade -”
Labyrinth proves to be a solid private detective mystery novel that, while it provides no real surprises in terms of twists, it fills the bill with solid investigative work, logical progression and an exciting ending.
The Nameless Detective is hired by Laura Nichols, a wealthy woman who is concerned that her brother’s life was in danger after he was involved in a car accident. She wants the detective to watch over her brother without approaching him in case he is attacked by the husband of the victim of the car crash.
It seems to be a very strange case from the start but Nameless needs the money and agrees to take it on. Little was he to know that death was just around the corner and not in the manner he was expecting.
There is a second element introduced to the story when a murdered college girl is found to have the detective’s business card on her when she died. Although the two mysteries appear to have no connection to each other, it turns out there is more to the story than first thought.
From this disparate set of circumstances, Nameless sets off on his investigative path as he begins questioning anyone who may have had a connection to the victims. His process is essentially a tree-shaking process in the hopes that something shakes loose. In short, the tactic works and this results in violent confrontations that test the detective so that he has to really ride his luck to survive.
Once again we are reminded in no uncertain terms of Nameless’ love for the old pulp magazines that he collects and consumes with great delight.
“While I waited I sat looking at the poster blow-up of a 1932 Black Mask cover that I had tacked up on one wall. It was not exactly appropriate for a business office, but I liked it and that was what counted. Eberhardt, on one of his infrequent visits here, had said that it made the place look like something out of an old Bogart movie. Me and Bogie and Sam Spade -”
Labyrinth proves to be a solid private detective mystery novel that, while it provides no real surprises in terms of twists, it fills the bill with solid investigative work, logical progression and an exciting ending.
June 14, 2021
Is it impossible to read a bad Nameless Detective story? I'm beginning to feel like it is, and that's the real mystery.
May 15, 2023
From 1980
This one does remind me of Ross Macdonald. Two families with secrets and connections form a wide spanning mystery. Very good but not perfect.
This one does remind me of Ross Macdonald. Two families with secrets and connections form a wide spanning mystery. Very good but not perfect.
January 1, 2021
After reading a few of the nameless detective series, I knew what I was going to get before reading this instalment. A solid but unspectacular mystery with an ending which leaves no loose ends. The best aspect of the series is without doubt the detective itself, who with his mistakes and flaws is very much portrayed a real person which is a refreshing change when compared to the white knight, personality-less robot detectives such as Marlowe in Raymond Chandler’s detective series. (Certainly not an attack on the series which feature that type of detectives, just sometimes it’s good to see a detective act as a human does!)
The Nameless Detective (who from this point on I will refer to as Alan for no reason whatsoever) also shows the most character development throughout the series I’ve seen from a Detective. That being said there is not as much of this in this book as it doesn’t show much more progress in Alan’s personal relationships and health issues which the previous books focused more on.
To focus specifically on this book however the charm of Alan’s character is certainly a positive aspect of the book, in particular how he copes with the ever increasing levels of deceit and death he uncovers through the novel and the toll it takes upon him.
One aspect of the book I wasn’t a fan of was the continued conversation between Alan and his mate in the police whose name escapes me. Every time they meet they have an intense discussion which involves recapping the case and pondering potential solutions which involves an information overload of theories which are instantly believed then dismissed. Having one of these discussions would be fine but it seems like this happens very often, even with Alan just talking through the case to himself which does come across as “padding” and makes it more difficult to follow the novel. I also wasn’t much of a fan of the theme of “coincidence” throughout the story because I saw it as a pretty weak way of connecting some of the elements together in the novel. That being said overall I was happy with the ending and how everything was concluded.
If you are a fan of this series or just want a solid mystery then you can’t go wrong with this instalment. I do think I will give this series a break though, as it doesn’t involve the twist and turns or memorable scenes which the books I enjoy more have, which could be a negative effect of its short length. Sometimes however you do just want a solid no thrills mystery with a great protagonist, and if I do the Nameless Detective series is where I will look.
The Nameless Detective (who from this point on I will refer to as Alan for no reason whatsoever) also shows the most character development throughout the series I’ve seen from a Detective. That being said there is not as much of this in this book as it doesn’t show much more progress in Alan’s personal relationships and health issues which the previous books focused more on.
To focus specifically on this book however the charm of Alan’s character is certainly a positive aspect of the book, in particular how he copes with the ever increasing levels of deceit and death he uncovers through the novel and the toll it takes upon him.
One aspect of the book I wasn’t a fan of was the continued conversation between Alan and his mate in the police whose name escapes me. Every time they meet they have an intense discussion which involves recapping the case and pondering potential solutions which involves an information overload of theories which are instantly believed then dismissed. Having one of these discussions would be fine but it seems like this happens very often, even with Alan just talking through the case to himself which does come across as “padding” and makes it more difficult to follow the novel. I also wasn’t much of a fan of the theme of “coincidence” throughout the story because I saw it as a pretty weak way of connecting some of the elements together in the novel. That being said overall I was happy with the ending and how everything was concluded.
If you are a fan of this series or just want a solid mystery then you can’t go wrong with this instalment. I do think I will give this series a break though, as it doesn’t involve the twist and turns or memorable scenes which the books I enjoy more have, which could be a negative effect of its short length. Sometimes however you do just want a solid no thrills mystery with a great protagonist, and if I do the Nameless Detective series is where I will look.
February 28, 2014
This one holds on to its forth star by the skin of its teeth. The cleanness of Pronzini's complex plotting is mired under a snarl of coincidences that form the overarching theme of the book. It doesn't quite have anywhere to go though and our nameless hero is reluctant to wrestle with the metaphysics of relentless fate so it ends up simply with our hero puzzled and deflected by the coincidences. Nameless is certainly off his game even though he's out from under the shadow of that wracking cough and the incipient threat it promised during the first batch of novels in the series. The tangles in the case he's investigating come unravelled more from the paranoia of the perps than from any real deduction on his part. Major plusses are the locations. San Fran rising up though the fog. Bodega Bay, location of Hitchcock's superbly noirish (screenplay by Evan Hunter) The Birds is easy to call up, even after the woes of rampant commercialism that Nameless/Pronzini rail against having supposedly spoilt the isolated remoteness of the place.
In the end Pronzini has a last attempt to make something of the rash of coincidences but unless you step over the genre boundary into horror à la Final Destination or the Omen and add a supernatural element it's got no real bite. Frankly I was more disturbed by Nameless's seemingly encyclopaedic knowledge of nautical terms.
In the end Pronzini has a last attempt to make something of the rash of coincidences but unless you step over the genre boundary into horror à la Final Destination or the Omen and add a supernatural element it's got no real bite. Frankly I was more disturbed by Nameless's seemingly encyclopaedic knowledge of nautical terms.
September 30, 2017
42 WORD REVIEW:
In some ways it’s nice to return to the days when ‘Nameless’ was more a down-and-out private eye than the upstanding investigator of later books. Bill Pronzini showcases (as always) his gift for exploring the people and place that surround a mystery.
In some ways it’s nice to return to the days when ‘Nameless’ was more a down-and-out private eye than the upstanding investigator of later books. Bill Pronzini showcases (as always) his gift for exploring the people and place that surround a mystery.
January 18, 2020
এভারেজ বই। গোল্ডেন এজ এর ডিটেকটিভদের মধ্যে 'নেমলেস'-এর ব্যাপক সুনাম শোনা যায়। তার কারন কিছুটা বুঝা গেছে এই বইয়ে। কিন্তু, কাহিনীর মধ্যে কাকতাল-এর সংখ্যাটা বেশি হইয়া গেছে। লেখক নিজেও সেইটা বুঝছে ও সাফাই গাইছে। কিন্তু, কাহিনীর ইউনিকনেসটা হারাইয়া গেছে এর ফলে। যাই হোক, চলে।
May 9, 2022
The book was intriguing and well paced. Unfortunately, most of the characters were pretty one dimensional with really only Nameless having any fleshing out. The twists were surprising and well executed; once revealed, I had that "Oh, I should have recognized this" moment.
September 3, 2007
LABYRINTH (Private Investigator-San Francisco-Cont) – Ex
Pronzini, Bill – 6th in series
St. Martin's Press, 1980 – Hardcover
"Nameless" has been called to a murder scene as the body of a young woman has business card in her pocket. Unfortunately, he doesn't know who she is. In the meantime, he is hired by a wealthy woman to follow her distraught father. In so doing, there is a murder, but "Nameless" is convenience the father is innocent in spite of his confession.
*** Pronzini has created the rare detective who is honest, ethical, and actually has excellent relationships with the police as his detective works within those relationships. Pronzini is masterful at setting a scene, whether it be driving through the fog or building suspense. His characters are real, and his dialogue is excellent. In this book, he has taken a plot device which can destroy credibility in other books, and brilliantly made it part of solution. This is a true detective novel in the very best sense and an excellent read.
Pronzini, Bill – 6th in series
St. Martin's Press, 1980 – Hardcover
"Nameless" has been called to a murder scene as the body of a young woman has business card in her pocket. Unfortunately, he doesn't know who she is. In the meantime, he is hired by a wealthy woman to follow her distraught father. In so doing, there is a murder, but "Nameless" is convenience the father is innocent in spite of his confession.
*** Pronzini has created the rare detective who is honest, ethical, and actually has excellent relationships with the police as his detective works within those relationships. Pronzini is masterful at setting a scene, whether it be driving through the fog or building suspense. His characters are real, and his dialogue is excellent. In this book, he has taken a plot device which can destroy credibility in other books, and brilliantly made it part of solution. This is a true detective novel in the very best sense and an excellent read.
October 25, 2017
I've read a couple of Nameless Detective books and thought they were pretty meh--but a Goodreads friend recently alerted me to this one, and I thought it was just as good as he said. Lots of local color around San Francisco and Bodega Bay (where Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds was shot), well-defined characters, and a first-person detective with self-deprecating humor. The investigation spent a long time seeming to get nowhere; but in the process, Pronzini repeatedly used the oldest trick in the genre--having an interviewee know something they couldn't possibly have known if they were who they appeared to be--and he did it at least four times, successfully slipping all of them past me. I tip my hat. I thought I was a pretty good mystery-reader.
Read
April 6, 2014Old style detective series with excellent writing, plots and characters throughout
March 30, 2025
The Nameless Detective is hired by a woman whose brother accidentally killed someone in a traffic accident and is being threatened by the deceased's widower. Nameless is not much for playing bodyguard, especially since the brother is so remorseful and distraught he might not mind being just put out of his misery, but times are tough in 1980 San Francisco and Nameless can use the cash.
Right away two seemingly coincidental murders take place and he is connected to both, so when the woman then pays him more to investigate further, he quickly agrees and gets to work.
The detective's investigation up and down the California coast is immersive and murky, his process makes sense, and we get good clues mixed in with unimportant ones as he moves along, sharing his thoughts and not knowing what the heck is going on that would cause someone to commit either murder.
Verdict: "Labyrinth" (1980) is a classic noir / pulp style murder mystery in San Francisco replete with shady side-eyers, wholesome neighbors, young love triangles, regretful fathers, judgemental mothers, distrusting cops, detailed and frightening descriptions of night time investigations and discoveries, with a relatable and smart private eye protagonist.
Jeff's Rating: 4 / 5 (Very Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG-13
Right away two seemingly coincidental murders take place and he is connected to both, so when the woman then pays him more to investigate further, he quickly agrees and gets to work.
The detective's investigation up and down the California coast is immersive and murky, his process makes sense, and we get good clues mixed in with unimportant ones as he moves along, sharing his thoughts and not knowing what the heck is going on that would cause someone to commit either murder.
Verdict: "Labyrinth" (1980) is a classic noir / pulp style murder mystery in San Francisco replete with shady side-eyers, wholesome neighbors, young love triangles, regretful fathers, judgemental mothers, distrusting cops, detailed and frightening descriptions of night time investigations and discoveries, with a relatable and smart private eye protagonist.
Jeff's Rating: 4 / 5 (Very Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG-13
November 29, 2025
A detective who loves pulps and takes pride in being one of the last lone wolf private eyes in San Fransisco, gets wrapped up in the murder of a young woman and a strange bodyguard assignment, which is designed to keep a rich man from committing suicide. Soon, our nameless hero is wrapped up in a Labyrinth of crime, suicides, murder and death. Coincidence? Fate? Or a careful design? Our hero’s life may depend on finding the answer.
This is good old fashioned private eye fiction that is deliberately a callback to the 40s, though it does a good job of depicting 1980 San Fran. Although the author may not have been aware, it’s also a callback to mystery golden age writer Anthony Berkeley, as it deliberately wrestles with the tropes (and I am not saying which ones) that guide so much mystery fiction.
Fun to read and short enough not to wear out its welcome. Definitely worth finding.
This is good old fashioned private eye fiction that is deliberately a callback to the 40s, though it does a good job of depicting 1980 San Fran. Although the author may not have been aware, it’s also a callback to mystery golden age writer Anthony Berkeley, as it deliberately wrestles with the tropes (and I am not saying which ones) that guide so much mystery fiction.
Fun to read and short enough not to wear out its welcome. Definitely worth finding.
September 20, 2017
Labyrinth by Bill Pronzini (first published in 1980) – I had a very enjoyable experience reading the Kindle edition of Labyrinth, book six of Pronzini’s Nameless Detective series. As usual Pronzini’s nameless private detective character displays plenty of quirky and flawed behaviors, but he also reveals many insightful and endearing behaviors along with a true commitment to helping his clients through difficult situations. Honoring that commitment to his clients entangles him in a life-threatening, and even a near-death struggle to survive. I liked all five of the previous books in this series, but this one really grabbed my attention and retained it through the harrowing conclusion. I highly recommend it, and this Nameless Detective series, to anyone who enjoys detective stories.
October 27, 2018
I really enjoy the early Pronzini...not that I don't like the newest ...but there was just a different tone to it...it was that hard boiled detective story you always heard about...this one has a good story...with a great mystery...I have missed some of the early books so going to try to get them all...especially since it appears "Nameless" is retiring...sigh...still trying to get over that...
May 18, 2023
It's really hard to write a review for this book without spoiling anything, but let's just say that the author leans hard into a mystery trope to prove that it can be pulled off, and actually succeeds to a certain extent.
August 7, 2020
This is my 6th "nameless detective" and I think I like it better than the previous 5.
March 13, 2025
In the context of the Nameless Detective series i would give this a 4 but it’s not as good as other 4 star books so it’s a high 3 - recommended. The complicated connections between characters and crimes make this one very interesting, though it should be longer than 186 pages to really develop out better.
Nameless says he’d like to be like Marlowe, Spade, etc but he’s happy he’s never been bashed on the head or been in a shootout in an alley. But here he does face a dangerous confrontation in the end. It’s unlikely that he would actually survive the ordeal given his age, physical condition, And compromised lungs, but he does (not a spoiler- obviously there are more books in the series).
The things that make Nameless different are his cooperation with the police (in Pronzini’s world the police never just settle on a likely perpetrator and hide out refuse to seek other evidence) and his integrity - refusing to even go over the line as far as Perry Mason does. But here he dies cross the line toward the end and regrets it.
As always, 1980s attitudes prevail as to women, LGBTQ people and minorities. But Nameless (and Pronzini) seem to be progressive for that time.
Nameless says he’d like to be like Marlowe, Spade, etc but he’s happy he’s never been bashed on the head or been in a shootout in an alley. But here he does face a dangerous confrontation in the end. It’s unlikely that he would actually survive the ordeal given his age, physical condition, And compromised lungs, but he does (not a spoiler- obviously there are more books in the series).
The things that make Nameless different are his cooperation with the police (in Pronzini’s world the police never just settle on a likely perpetrator and hide out refuse to seek other evidence) and his integrity - refusing to even go over the line as far as Perry Mason does. But here he dies cross the line toward the end and regrets it.
As always, 1980s attitudes prevail as to women, LGBTQ people and minorities. But Nameless (and Pronzini) seem to be progressive for that time.
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
September 22, 2012
#6 in the Nameless Detective series. After fighting seeming coincidences throughout the book, Nameless finally decides that sometimes seemingly unrelated events are unrelated. Nameless' friend,SFPD Lt. Eberhardt calls him to a crime scene where a dead woman is found with Nameless' card in her purse. Nameless doesn't know the woman. Next he is hired by Laura Nichols, whose brother Martin Talbot has crashed his car into one driven by Victor Carding, killing Carding's wife. She is afraid that Victor will kill Martin, who is plagued with remorse.Nameless follows Martin to Victor's house and then to Victor's garage when he hears a gunshot. He enters to find Victor dead and Martin holding a smoking gun. Nameless suspects suicide, Victor confesses and is jailed. Victor's son is missing and the dead girl was his girlfriend. What is the connection to Nameless' business card? Fast moving, short novel. Very enjoyable.
February 7, 2017
That was awesome! Talk about a twist plot? A business card is found on a dead woman, and it belongs to Nameless. After some questioning he is released, but just as he starts thinking about her he is hired to "babysit" a wealthy woman's brother for fear he may hurt himself or get hurt by the husband of a woman that died in a car accident. And that is the easy to explain part! There is a whole bunch of unanswered questions that to more unanswered questions. And a scary as hell night time boat ride...
July 9, 2012
This has to be the best free book I've ever picked up out of a bin. Pronzini writes in a style similar to Stephen King, though not nearly as graphic and in a different genre. What I mean to say is that he has a realness and a grittiness about his characters and settings in this book that make me want to invest time into reading more of his works.
In particular, this novel is short, fast-paced, and turns the switch about ten different times. The plot involves a series of accidents, suicides, and deaths that, at first glance, appear to have no order or pattern. However, Pronzini's Nameless Detective takes it upon himself to make sense of the situation. Without giving anything away, the ending is satisfying if a bit jarring. I'd definitely recommend it as a quick afternoon read.
In particular, this novel is short, fast-paced, and turns the switch about ten different times. The plot involves a series of accidents, suicides, and deaths that, at first glance, appear to have no order or pattern. However, Pronzini's Nameless Detective takes it upon himself to make sense of the situation. Without giving anything away, the ending is satisfying if a bit jarring. I'd definitely recommend it as a quick afternoon read.
December 31, 2012
I wasn't crazy about this one. The overarching theme is that sometimes coincidences are just ... coincidental. What a weird thing in a mystery novel, where there are NO coincidences allowed.
So this finds Our Hero-Without-a-Name being called to the site of a homicide investigation because the police have found his business card in her purse. He's never seen her. Over the course of trying to sort out what's going on, he is hired by a family to babysit one of their members (an adult intent on harming himself), his office is vandalized, and he nearly gets drowned AND shot by bootleggers.
Not a bad book, just not my favorite.
So this finds Our Hero-Without-a-Name being called to the site of a homicide investigation because the police have found his business card in her purse. He's never seen her. Over the course of trying to sort out what's going on, he is hired by a family to babysit one of their members (an adult intent on harming himself), his office is vandalized, and he nearly gets drowned AND shot by bootleggers.
Not a bad book, just not my favorite.
April 10, 2015
Two murders in two days, with one tenuous connection - Nameless himself. Can San Fran's leading private eye crack the case(s) ? Pronzini goes a little overboard with the death trap escapes, but overall a solid entry in the series that will leave you clues to the end.
July 5, 2014
Excellent Nameless,Detective mystery with suspenseful finish.
November 3, 2012
6th in The Nameless Detective Series
September 24, 2014
This one had a unique plot and was fast moving with an action ending.
April 30, 2017
A fun read. Coincidences abound, but Pronzini is smart enough to have Nameless acknowledge that they are coincidences. The scene towards the end where Nameless breaks into the bad guy's store is fraught with genuine suspense. The descriptions of San Francisco and Bodega Bay are interesting, and all the characters are well-drawn. The true strength of the book, though, lies in its pacing: Pronzini shows real skill at growing a narrative.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews