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Play Him Again
It’s the Roaring Twenties but silence remains golden for Hollywood. Sound is scorned by movie moguls. It’s too expensive. Only two studios have sound equipment. Only one picture has contained limited spoken dialogue.
Matt Hudson, a rumrunner and the preferred bootlegger of the movie industry, wants to produce a talking picture. Hud’s gut tells him a talkie would rake in the dough at the box office but neither sound studio will lease him their facilities.
Hud’s oldest friend, con man Danny Kincaid, uses the talkie gold mine angle to con a transplanted Chicago gangster into buying a bogus sound device. But when the gangster gets wise, Danny ends up dead.
Now Hud has a score to settle and nothing can stop him from finding Danny’s killer. After Hud unravels a web of deception, blackmail, and murder that leads to a studio controlled by the gangster, he sets up another con to play the gangster again. A con that will either avenge Danny or get Hud killed.
Matt Hudson, a rumrunner and the preferred bootlegger of the movie industry, wants to produce a talking picture. Hud’s gut tells him a talkie would rake in the dough at the box office but neither sound studio will lease him their facilities.
Hud’s oldest friend, con man Danny Kincaid, uses the talkie gold mine angle to con a transplanted Chicago gangster into buying a bogus sound device. But when the gangster gets wise, Danny ends up dead.
Now Hud has a score to settle and nothing can stop him from finding Danny’s killer. After Hud unravels a web of deception, blackmail, and murder that leads to a studio controlled by the gangster, he sets up another con to play the gangster again. A con that will either avenge Danny or get Hud killed.
309 pages, ebook
First published March 8, 2012
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242 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
September 29, 2012
Matt "Hud" Hudson is the rumrunner to the stars. He brings it in from the ships outside legal limits and distributes it himself with his own trucking company. He is also one who deals only in the good stuff and doesn't water it down like other rumrunners. He knows Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks and other movie stars.
He even has aspirations of his own in that line. It's in the early days of sound on film and most of the studios think talking pictures are a fad that will fade. What they're really worried about is the costs of converting to one of the new sound systems. Most own their own string of theaters and the cost to wire them all would cut into their profits. Not to mention the backlog of silents already in the can that might prove useless. And no longer profitable.
But Hud knew talkies were the next big thing. Just convincing some studio to make one, let him make one, is the tough sell.
That's the backdrop of this new novel, first in a series, by Jeffrey Stone.
The main story starts when Hud's best and oldest friend, Danny Kincaid, dies in an accidental drowning when he drives his car off the pier. That's the police's conclusion.
But Hud knows that's BS. It's easy for him to see. A bottle of rye whiskey lay on the seat beside him. Danny couldn't stand rye for a reason that went back to the pair's childhood. They'd stolen a bottle of Hud's dad's rye and got sick. Worse, when dad found out, he made them drink shot after shot until they were completely sick.
The second reason Hud knew Danny's death wasn't accidental was even easier.
Every finger had been broken, one shoulder was dislocated, and both kneecaps had been shattered.
His oldest friend, Hud knew what had killed him. Danny had been a grifter, something Hud had gotten away from early in his life. He had too much of a conscious. It had to be one of Danny's cons that got him killed.
All Hud had to do was find out what, who the mark was, and then it was just a matter of retribution.
I liked this look at prohibition from Hud's point of view, the early days of sound in films. I had no idea the studios were so reluctant to embrace something new. I should have because, even today, the movie world is driven strictly by the profit motive.
I look forward to more from the author.
He even has aspirations of his own in that line. It's in the early days of sound on film and most of the studios think talking pictures are a fad that will fade. What they're really worried about is the costs of converting to one of the new sound systems. Most own their own string of theaters and the cost to wire them all would cut into their profits. Not to mention the backlog of silents already in the can that might prove useless. And no longer profitable.
But Hud knew talkies were the next big thing. Just convincing some studio to make one, let him make one, is the tough sell.
That's the backdrop of this new novel, first in a series, by Jeffrey Stone.
The main story starts when Hud's best and oldest friend, Danny Kincaid, dies in an accidental drowning when he drives his car off the pier. That's the police's conclusion.
But Hud knows that's BS. It's easy for him to see. A bottle of rye whiskey lay on the seat beside him. Danny couldn't stand rye for a reason that went back to the pair's childhood. They'd stolen a bottle of Hud's dad's rye and got sick. Worse, when dad found out, he made them drink shot after shot until they were completely sick.
The second reason Hud knew Danny's death wasn't accidental was even easier.
Every finger had been broken, one shoulder was dislocated, and both kneecaps had been shattered.
His oldest friend, Hud knew what had killed him. Danny had been a grifter, something Hud had gotten away from early in his life. He had too much of a conscious. It had to be one of Danny's cons that got him killed.
All Hud had to do was find out what, who the mark was, and then it was just a matter of retribution.
I liked this look at prohibition from Hud's point of view, the early days of sound in films. I had no idea the studios were so reluctant to embrace something new. I should have because, even today, the movie world is driven strictly by the profit motive.
I look forward to more from the author.
October 16, 2012
Set in the roaring twenties and blending Hollywood’s glitz with Chicago’s gangsters, Jeffrey Stone’s Play Him Again follows the long con, the short con and the actor’s conning skills in a tale of mystery, revenge and movie-making history. A masterful opening scene orients and disorients the reader beautifully, leading into a world of ships, movies and alcohol, where the law is bent gently and bodies break for vengeance. Prohibition rules the law courts and community rules the waves. But a con gone wrong has left Matt “Hud” Hudson’s friend dead, and pulls Hud back into the badboy world of his youth.
The plot’s exciting and the mystery intriguing, plus there’s an added bonus of meticulously researched and well-told details of history and movie-making. The whole is a pleasing blend of fiction and fact, with all the dark glow of film noir, the narration of a fine documentary, and pitch perfect dialog with inconspicuous subtitles perfectly placed.
At last I know where the phrase “The real McCoy” comes from. I know how sound was added to film. I appreciate a con-artist’s acting skills. And, by the end of the tale, I know who did what and why. The tangled morals of vengeance and drink are nicely balanced with great characters, plausible relationships, and a truly evocative sense of time and place. Highly recommended for film and mystery readers—I hope the author has more adventures planned for these characters.
Disclosure: I received a free ecopy of this novel from the author in exchange for my honest review.
September 12, 2012
When I received the synopsis of this book and a request for a review I was intrigued. Jeffrey Stone’s request was unusual enough in itself to tell me that anything he had written could be good.
Hi, Jo, how are you? My name is Jeffrey. I liked your comment about needing instructions to survive in Queensland. I was raised in Youngstown, Ohio in the U.S. It’s about 800 miles from Chicago, a notorious gangland town commonly known as The Windy City. Youngstown was referred to as Little Chicago because of its own lawlessness. We used to say that Chicago may be the windy city but Youngstown blows.
I’m hoping to interest you in reviewing my crime novel, Play Him Again.
See what I mean. Jeffrey Stone sound intriguing himself with a history like that. Then I read the synopsis he sent me.
It’s the Roaring Twenties but silence remains golden for Hollywood. Sound is expensive. Only two studios have installed sound equipment. Matt Hudson, the preferred bootlegger of the film industry, wants to produce a talking picture but neither sound studio will lease him their facilities. After Hud’s oldest friend, con man Danny Kincaid, dupes a gangster who controls a small movie studio into buying a bogus sound device, the gangster gets wise and Danny ends up dead. To settle the score, Hud runs another con to play the gangster again. A con that will either avenge Danny and land Hud a studio, or get him killed.
Now you understand why I thought I might enjoy reading this. Nothing thrills me more than to take a trip out of this century. And how I love this era and this backdrop. Hollywood, gangsters [somewhere other than Chicago], bootlegging. I went to Amazon, read the prologue and opening chapters. That was enough to send me off to Smashwords [where it is also available] to download it.
Stone’s characters are wonderfully complex. The plot of Play Him Again is believable and flows with a quick and smooth pace from one scene to the next. The author has constructed a great backdrop that makes it very easy to slip in to as you read.
I think I fell a little in love [lust] with Hud from the moment he slid in to bed with Sylvia. Many books fail miserably when it comes to love scenes. It is either too Mills and Boon, picture an orchestra playing while the heroine swoons in to the muscle bound hero’s bulging arms,or jumps straight in to pornography. Play Him Again does neither. It balances perfectly on the highwire of not being cringe worthy but still being raunchy enough to feel real.
Hud is such an interesting character. He grew up a hustler. He and Danny spent many years conning people out of their money. When we meet Hud, he has moved on. No longer comfortable with being a con man Hud is now a bootlegger, and one of the best in Los Angeles. Hud is also fascinated with the prospect of talking movies.
There are so many facets to Hud’s personality. He’s real in the way a protagonist should be. Intriguing, flawed, knowing who he is but vulnerable when it comes to showing that to the one person he needs to be honest with.
I loved the complicated relationship between Hud and Sylvia. Thankfully all the supporting characters have depth and add to this story. Minnetti is a terrific antagonist.
Play Him Again is a fascinating story. I admit I love Humphrey Bogart, and this book took me to similar places Bogey did in his films. It is well written, well plotted and actually just a great read.
A young Humphrey Bogart would have made a perfect Hud. It is a fascinating look at the twenties, prohibition, gangsters and the film industry.
There were a couple of grammatical errors but I think I found more in Harry Potter. There are more books to come in this series and I look forward to following Hud through all of them.
Hi, Jo, how are you? My name is Jeffrey. I liked your comment about needing instructions to survive in Queensland. I was raised in Youngstown, Ohio in the U.S. It’s about 800 miles from Chicago, a notorious gangland town commonly known as The Windy City. Youngstown was referred to as Little Chicago because of its own lawlessness. We used to say that Chicago may be the windy city but Youngstown blows.
I’m hoping to interest you in reviewing my crime novel, Play Him Again.
See what I mean. Jeffrey Stone sound intriguing himself with a history like that. Then I read the synopsis he sent me.
It’s the Roaring Twenties but silence remains golden for Hollywood. Sound is expensive. Only two studios have installed sound equipment. Matt Hudson, the preferred bootlegger of the film industry, wants to produce a talking picture but neither sound studio will lease him their facilities. After Hud’s oldest friend, con man Danny Kincaid, dupes a gangster who controls a small movie studio into buying a bogus sound device, the gangster gets wise and Danny ends up dead. To settle the score, Hud runs another con to play the gangster again. A con that will either avenge Danny and land Hud a studio, or get him killed.
Now you understand why I thought I might enjoy reading this. Nothing thrills me more than to take a trip out of this century. And how I love this era and this backdrop. Hollywood, gangsters [somewhere other than Chicago], bootlegging. I went to Amazon, read the prologue and opening chapters. That was enough to send me off to Smashwords [where it is also available] to download it.
Stone’s characters are wonderfully complex. The plot of Play Him Again is believable and flows with a quick and smooth pace from one scene to the next. The author has constructed a great backdrop that makes it very easy to slip in to as you read.
I think I fell a little in love [lust] with Hud from the moment he slid in to bed with Sylvia. Many books fail miserably when it comes to love scenes. It is either too Mills and Boon, picture an orchestra playing while the heroine swoons in to the muscle bound hero’s bulging arms,or jumps straight in to pornography. Play Him Again does neither. It balances perfectly on the highwire of not being cringe worthy but still being raunchy enough to feel real.
Hud is such an interesting character. He grew up a hustler. He and Danny spent many years conning people out of their money. When we meet Hud, he has moved on. No longer comfortable with being a con man Hud is now a bootlegger, and one of the best in Los Angeles. Hud is also fascinated with the prospect of talking movies.
There are so many facets to Hud’s personality. He’s real in the way a protagonist should be. Intriguing, flawed, knowing who he is but vulnerable when it comes to showing that to the one person he needs to be honest with.
I loved the complicated relationship between Hud and Sylvia. Thankfully all the supporting characters have depth and add to this story. Minnetti is a terrific antagonist.
Play Him Again is a fascinating story. I admit I love Humphrey Bogart, and this book took me to similar places Bogey did in his films. It is well written, well plotted and actually just a great read.
A young Humphrey Bogart would have made a perfect Hud. It is a fascinating look at the twenties, prohibition, gangsters and the film industry.
There were a couple of grammatical errors but I think I found more in Harry Potter. There are more books to come in this series and I look forward to following Hud through all of them.
July 3, 2012
Great Stuff! Play Him Again by Jeffrey Stone is a feast for anyone interested in the history of movies, prohibition, gangsters, grifters and bootleggers. In Jeff's noire tale, he takes us back to the 1920s when cops were paid to keep a blind eye to rum running and the disbursement of alcohol which fueled many late night Hollywood parties. Hud is a first rate bootlegger to the stars as prohibition is in its upswing, and with prohibition, gangsters and crooks vie for territories to earn their livelihood and they often try to knock each other out of the way to take over certain areas. Not only does Hud run a successful liquor business in the midst of gamblers and theives, he also has dreams of making talking pictures - but he's having a very hard time convincing studio heads that talking pictures is the way of the future, even though The Jazz Singer, featuring Al Jolson was a huge success.
When Hud's long time friend, Danny is killed by a rival, Hud makes it his mission to find the culprit. Along the way, Hud meets many amazing people such as Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, he also picks up enemies who would like to have Hud's territory and booze to profit from.
This is an all around good tale if you are a Hollywood history buff or love gangster stories. Jeffrey Stone shows his passion for the time period in a great tale of intrigue filled with memorable characters. It looks like Jeff intends for this to be a series and I am greatly looking forward to more adventures that involve Hud, Swede, Sylvia, Nora and the rest of the cast of players. I also look forward to all of the interesting tidbits regarding the 1920s. If you enjoy Hollywood history, this is a great book. In this story, we learn the ins and outs of the movie business way back when silent movies ruled and talkies were a thing of the future.
Play Him Again is an ebook that is well edited. I could tell that the author paid great attention to detail and has spent a lot of time perfecting his story. I hope he earns a lot of readers through this first book. Jeff can only get better from here.
When Hud's long time friend, Danny is killed by a rival, Hud makes it his mission to find the culprit. Along the way, Hud meets many amazing people such as Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, he also picks up enemies who would like to have Hud's territory and booze to profit from.
This is an all around good tale if you are a Hollywood history buff or love gangster stories. Jeffrey Stone shows his passion for the time period in a great tale of intrigue filled with memorable characters. It looks like Jeff intends for this to be a series and I am greatly looking forward to more adventures that involve Hud, Swede, Sylvia, Nora and the rest of the cast of players. I also look forward to all of the interesting tidbits regarding the 1920s. If you enjoy Hollywood history, this is a great book. In this story, we learn the ins and outs of the movie business way back when silent movies ruled and talkies were a thing of the future.
Play Him Again is an ebook that is well edited. I could tell that the author paid great attention to detail and has spent a lot of time perfecting his story. I hope he earns a lot of readers through this first book. Jeff can only get better from here.
November 10, 2012
I was offered this ebook by the author and, although I rarely do so, I accepted. The synopsis appealed to me because it is set in 1928 Los Angeles and the hero is a rumrunner and would-be producer of talking movies.
While I was reading the book, I just happened to see a program on TV about this era in L.A. which showed what's left of some of the speakeasies and tunnels where the booze was kept. The mayor and much of the police force ran the racket so the mob never took over as happened in Chicago. This enhanced my reading pleasure.
Matthew "Hud" Hudson is our hero, although a crook. Ships bring booze from Canada and rumrunners like Hud offload it and smuggle it into L.A. They make tons of money despite the fact that occasionally someone gets greedy and hijacks their booze. It's during such a time that Hud's best lifelong friend is tortured and murdered. He vows vegeance against Frank Minetti, the goon who was responsible.
Meanwhile, Hud has fallen in love with a woman who isn't involved in the "business" and she isn't comfortable with what's going on. Hud actually, in his own way, is an honorable man and his friends are loyal. His real passion is for movies and he's been stashing his money away to get into the movie business, but plans to keep on rumrunning because it's so profitable.
Along the way we learn a lot about smuggling, cons, Chinatown gambling run by tongs, and the early movie business. This is what lifts the book above an ordinary read to a satisfying one. Thrills and chills plus 1928 L.A. What more can you ask?
I can happily recommend this book and I'm looking forward to the sequel. It is available from Smashwords and Amazon.com.
While I was reading the book, I just happened to see a program on TV about this era in L.A. which showed what's left of some of the speakeasies and tunnels where the booze was kept. The mayor and much of the police force ran the racket so the mob never took over as happened in Chicago. This enhanced my reading pleasure.
Matthew "Hud" Hudson is our hero, although a crook. Ships bring booze from Canada and rumrunners like Hud offload it and smuggle it into L.A. They make tons of money despite the fact that occasionally someone gets greedy and hijacks their booze. It's during such a time that Hud's best lifelong friend is tortured and murdered. He vows vegeance against Frank Minetti, the goon who was responsible.
Meanwhile, Hud has fallen in love with a woman who isn't involved in the "business" and she isn't comfortable with what's going on. Hud actually, in his own way, is an honorable man and his friends are loyal. His real passion is for movies and he's been stashing his money away to get into the movie business, but plans to keep on rumrunning because it's so profitable.
Along the way we learn a lot about smuggling, cons, Chinatown gambling run by tongs, and the early movie business. This is what lifts the book above an ordinary read to a satisfying one. Thrills and chills plus 1928 L.A. What more can you ask?
I can happily recommend this book and I'm looking forward to the sequel. It is available from Smashwords and Amazon.com.
January 16, 2016
Set in California in the Roaring 20's when silent movies are the rage and producing talkies is just too expensive. Only two studios even have equipment to add the sound and they don't want to share even with their favorite bootlegger, Matt Hudson. His dream is to make a film with actors actually talking and rake in the dough. His oldest friend in the world, con man Danny Kincaid, tries to use the talkie gold mine angle to his favor with a Chicago mobster fresh to California. Sadly he ends up dead, swimming with the fishes. "Hud" goes on a mission to track down Danny's killer hoping he doesn't join Danny in the morgue.
Dollycas's Thoughts
This was a quick fun read that was very interesting. Spattered with big time actors of the 20's like Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks who all happen to be friends with Matt "Hud" Hudson. Hud's girlfriend is upset she is not as friendly with the famous trio.
Referencing the success of the movie The Jazz Singer really set the time and place of the story. This piece of fiction seems to have been well researched regarding the era, movie making and prohibition which makes it believable. The plot and subplots are polished and interwoven but at times the story is a bit bogged down trying to let the reader know just too much.
I was really taken with the characters the author created. The famous ones acted as expected but "Hud" especially was multifaceted. A man trying to better himself, wanting out of bootlegging and trying to make himself something in the hot industry of the era, making movies.
I can't wait to see where the author takes Matthew "Hud" Hudson next!
Dollycas's Thoughts
This was a quick fun read that was very interesting. Spattered with big time actors of the 20's like Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks who all happen to be friends with Matt "Hud" Hudson. Hud's girlfriend is upset she is not as friendly with the famous trio.
Referencing the success of the movie The Jazz Singer really set the time and place of the story. This piece of fiction seems to have been well researched regarding the era, movie making and prohibition which makes it believable. The plot and subplots are polished and interwoven but at times the story is a bit bogged down trying to let the reader know just too much.
I was really taken with the characters the author created. The famous ones acted as expected but "Hud" especially was multifaceted. A man trying to better himself, wanting out of bootlegging and trying to make himself something in the hot industry of the era, making movies.
I can't wait to see where the author takes Matthew "Hud" Hudson next!
October 25, 2012
Review of Play Him Again by Jeffrey Stone
5 Stars
A delightful peek into the backdrop of a long-lost era, the United States (and Canada) in the 1920’s-the era of rum-running and Prohibition, speakeasies and con artists, semi-organised crime and film studios, “The Jazz Singer” with Al Jolson. Talking films were just about to get off the ground, but studios had so much investment in silents that it was an uphill battle. The Volstead Act purportedly kept alcohol away from citizens; instead it spawned bootlegging, both with and without violence.
A totally engrossing reader’s hook launches this story into orbit, and the adventure, excitement, and thrills never stop. “Play Him Again” is a novel I could not put down, and look forward to rereading. I highly recommend it. Author Jeffrey Stone’s portrayal of this forgotten era is as vivid as if he had lived it, and he causes readers to feel they are living it now. His characters deserve and welcome our empathy, and we readily follow their exploits, confusions, problems, griefs, and successes.
I reviewed an e-book copy provided by the author in return for my fair and impartial review.
5 Stars
A delightful peek into the backdrop of a long-lost era, the United States (and Canada) in the 1920’s-the era of rum-running and Prohibition, speakeasies and con artists, semi-organised crime and film studios, “The Jazz Singer” with Al Jolson. Talking films were just about to get off the ground, but studios had so much investment in silents that it was an uphill battle. The Volstead Act purportedly kept alcohol away from citizens; instead it spawned bootlegging, both with and without violence.
A totally engrossing reader’s hook launches this story into orbit, and the adventure, excitement, and thrills never stop. “Play Him Again” is a novel I could not put down, and look forward to rereading. I highly recommend it. Author Jeffrey Stone’s portrayal of this forgotten era is as vivid as if he had lived it, and he causes readers to feel they are living it now. His characters deserve and welcome our empathy, and we readily follow their exploits, confusions, problems, griefs, and successes.
I reviewed an e-book copy provided by the author in return for my fair and impartial review.
July 10, 2012
While I can understand the authors love of history when it comes to the film industry I think he managed to split the book in two due to that love. It is as if he couldn't decide which area or storyline to focus on more and/or felt the necessity to purge himself of the knowledge on early film technology.
Don't get me wrong both storylines were interesting, they just didn't gel well together, because one overpowered the other. In the beginning and especially at the end the crime story is predominant. The last 40% of the book flows better with less reference to the technology/history and with more of a gangster feel to it, but the middle just doesn't fit at all, because it reads like a history book.
The crime plot was well put together and I enjoyed the fact that the main character wasn't an innocent. Instead he wanders the line of criminal morality himself and fights for revenge using the weapons he knows and seeks justice via even more dodgy dealings.
I received a free copy of this book for my review.
Don't get me wrong both storylines were interesting, they just didn't gel well together, because one overpowered the other. In the beginning and especially at the end the crime story is predominant. The last 40% of the book flows better with less reference to the technology/history and with more of a gangster feel to it, but the middle just doesn't fit at all, because it reads like a history book.
The crime plot was well put together and I enjoyed the fact that the main character wasn't an innocent. Instead he wanders the line of criminal morality himself and fights for revenge using the weapons he knows and seeks justice via even more dodgy dealings.
I received a free copy of this book for my review.
September 24, 2012
The Roaring 20's are alive and well!
As a fan of American History, I was eager to read a book focused on the 1920's. Prohibition, gangsters, bootleggers- it's all here, along with Hollywood and movies!
This book delivers exactly what it promises! Matt Hudson (Hud) is a bootlegger looking toward the future. His personal fascination is talking movies! This book goes into detail about the history of early filmmaking. This was all new to me- I love learning new things when I read a book!
This gave the book a more creative feel. It wasn't just about the bootlegging gangster, shoot 'em up time in history- although that is a strong presence in the storyline.
Hud is a not so innocent character. He is a wonderful creation. He skirts on the edge of the law and lives by his own code of ethics. He is willing to cross the line when he feels it necessary. In this book he is trying to solve the murder of his friend.
This book is a gem. If you enjoy the 1920's or American History, you will enjoy the world created by Jeffrey Stone.
As a fan of American History, I was eager to read a book focused on the 1920's. Prohibition, gangsters, bootleggers- it's all here, along with Hollywood and movies!
This book delivers exactly what it promises! Matt Hudson (Hud) is a bootlegger looking toward the future. His personal fascination is talking movies! This book goes into detail about the history of early filmmaking. This was all new to me- I love learning new things when I read a book!
This gave the book a more creative feel. It wasn't just about the bootlegging gangster, shoot 'em up time in history- although that is a strong presence in the storyline.
Hud is a not so innocent character. He is a wonderful creation. He skirts on the edge of the law and lives by his own code of ethics. He is willing to cross the line when he feels it necessary. In this book he is trying to solve the murder of his friend.
This book is a gem. If you enjoy the 1920's or American History, you will enjoy the world created by Jeffrey Stone.
September 6, 2017
Good book
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
February 1, 2019
Great read!
Enjoyed every minute. History and mystery. Back to the roaring twenties, when thugs, and bootleg booze were king. A roaring g good time!
Enjoyed every minute. History and mystery. Back to the roaring twenties, when thugs, and bootleg booze were king. A roaring g good time!
October 9, 2012
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
It’s the Roaring 20s in Hollywood. A murder that is made to look like a suicide. A long con involving talking movies. Matthew Hudson, rumrunner to the stars and friend to the victim, will stop at nothing to find out who killed Danny, to protect his bootlegging business, and to produce talking movies.
The conflict is set up well enough: the novel begins with Danny’s slow descent into the Pacific, in a car he can’t escape.
Seawater filled his lungs. He hoped he hadn’t talked. If he’d told them where he’d hidden the money that might get Hud involved but with him being killed, Hud was going to get involved anyway. His last thought was why did it have to be rye.
Hud (short for Hudson) quickly figures out it’s a murder rather than a suicide, and begins investigating when the police decides to close the case.
A criminal investigating other criminals and doling out his own kind of justice–that’s Hud’s story. There are Chinese gangs and Italian gangs moving out of Chicago, and movie stars and important studios and yes, Hollywood starlets andfemmes fatales.
The story was interesting enough, despite the fact that it’s more a thriller than a mystery (we learn very quickly who’s responsible for the murder). The characters are decently developed, despite finding Hud a bit bland at times. He doesn’t seem to have much internal conflict–he’s driven by his desire to make talking movies. This character has so much space to have moral conflict–he’s a bootlegger, hangs around criminal circles, but he wants to start a legitimate business. I’d like to see his internal life developed beyond the desire for revenge and I’d like to know more about his moral life.
I have two major issues with this book: the excessive exposition and the sometimes confusing head-hopping in action scenes.
This is a historical novel, and sometimes some background is interesting, but most of what was in Play Him Again was unnecessary to the story. Let me give you an example. At one point, Hud starts thinking about the new technology that’s been invented to add sound to movies–either recorded on film or on wax discs. This passage is quite a few pages long, and it basically describes in historically accurate detail the invention, development and deployment of these technologies. Interesting? Sure, if you’re in to the history of cinema. Useful for the story? Not really, not in so much detail. The book could definitely have been tightened by cutting off those bits and giving just the essential details, in context and not in summary and exposition. I want to read a story, not a history.
My second problem can be illustrated by a short passage. In this scene, Ike and Simms, two criminals from a rival gang, are following Hud and his girlfriend, Sylvia, to a restaurant out of town.
“Yeah,” Ike said, “it’s perfect. Stay back until we cross the bridge. We’ll take him on the other side.”
Rivera was a small town nestled between the Rio Hondo and the San Gabriel rivers surrounded by thousands of acres of citrus, avocado, and walnut groves.
“You better not be taking me to some overblown avocado stand for dinner,” Hud said, “I’m hungry. Are you sure there’s even a restaurant in Rivera?”
In this scene, we jump from Ike and Simms to Hud and Sylvia without warning and without a textual mark like a full-line break. I think the effect was meant to make the scene more action-driven, but all it did was confuse me. And it happens quite a few times throughout the book. You end up not being sure who’s doing what, and there’s nothing worse to kill the pace of an action scene.
And this is where I’m going to start praising the virtues of a professional editor, even for self-published books. This story has potential, but it is in need of serious, professional fiction editing, not only at the structural and character levels, but also at the proofreading level. There are countless errors of your/you’re, its/it’s and others, things that are easily dealt with with a little care and a professional proofreader.
The author obviously cares about his book and his story; I would like him to show even more by taking the time to work through some of the issues I’ve mentioned. This would make a decent read move up to the “good” and even “great” level. But for now, these unfortunate problems really mar the effect of the book. An action-driven story should not be slowed down by endless exposition and confusing POV-hopping.
If the era interests you, I’d say give it a go. If you’re into quick-moving mystery or thrillers, give it a pass or wait up for future Hud mysteries, which hopefully will have eliminated, or at least diminished, these weaknesses.
It’s the Roaring 20s in Hollywood. A murder that is made to look like a suicide. A long con involving talking movies. Matthew Hudson, rumrunner to the stars and friend to the victim, will stop at nothing to find out who killed Danny, to protect his bootlegging business, and to produce talking movies.
The conflict is set up well enough: the novel begins with Danny’s slow descent into the Pacific, in a car he can’t escape.
Seawater filled his lungs. He hoped he hadn’t talked. If he’d told them where he’d hidden the money that might get Hud involved but with him being killed, Hud was going to get involved anyway. His last thought was why did it have to be rye.
Hud (short for Hudson) quickly figures out it’s a murder rather than a suicide, and begins investigating when the police decides to close the case.
A criminal investigating other criminals and doling out his own kind of justice–that’s Hud’s story. There are Chinese gangs and Italian gangs moving out of Chicago, and movie stars and important studios and yes, Hollywood starlets andfemmes fatales.
The story was interesting enough, despite the fact that it’s more a thriller than a mystery (we learn very quickly who’s responsible for the murder). The characters are decently developed, despite finding Hud a bit bland at times. He doesn’t seem to have much internal conflict–he’s driven by his desire to make talking movies. This character has so much space to have moral conflict–he’s a bootlegger, hangs around criminal circles, but he wants to start a legitimate business. I’d like to see his internal life developed beyond the desire for revenge and I’d like to know more about his moral life.
I have two major issues with this book: the excessive exposition and the sometimes confusing head-hopping in action scenes.
This is a historical novel, and sometimes some background is interesting, but most of what was in Play Him Again was unnecessary to the story. Let me give you an example. At one point, Hud starts thinking about the new technology that’s been invented to add sound to movies–either recorded on film or on wax discs. This passage is quite a few pages long, and it basically describes in historically accurate detail the invention, development and deployment of these technologies. Interesting? Sure, if you’re in to the history of cinema. Useful for the story? Not really, not in so much detail. The book could definitely have been tightened by cutting off those bits and giving just the essential details, in context and not in summary and exposition. I want to read a story, not a history.
My second problem can be illustrated by a short passage. In this scene, Ike and Simms, two criminals from a rival gang, are following Hud and his girlfriend, Sylvia, to a restaurant out of town.
“Yeah,” Ike said, “it’s perfect. Stay back until we cross the bridge. We’ll take him on the other side.”
Rivera was a small town nestled between the Rio Hondo and the San Gabriel rivers surrounded by thousands of acres of citrus, avocado, and walnut groves.
“You better not be taking me to some overblown avocado stand for dinner,” Hud said, “I’m hungry. Are you sure there’s even a restaurant in Rivera?”
In this scene, we jump from Ike and Simms to Hud and Sylvia without warning and without a textual mark like a full-line break. I think the effect was meant to make the scene more action-driven, but all it did was confuse me. And it happens quite a few times throughout the book. You end up not being sure who’s doing what, and there’s nothing worse to kill the pace of an action scene.
And this is where I’m going to start praising the virtues of a professional editor, even for self-published books. This story has potential, but it is in need of serious, professional fiction editing, not only at the structural and character levels, but also at the proofreading level. There are countless errors of your/you’re, its/it’s and others, things that are easily dealt with with a little care and a professional proofreader.
The author obviously cares about his book and his story; I would like him to show even more by taking the time to work through some of the issues I’ve mentioned. This would make a decent read move up to the “good” and even “great” level. But for now, these unfortunate problems really mar the effect of the book. An action-driven story should not be slowed down by endless exposition and confusing POV-hopping.
If the era interests you, I’d say give it a go. If you’re into quick-moving mystery or thrillers, give it a pass or wait up for future Hud mysteries, which hopefully will have eliminated, or at least diminished, these weaknesses.
May 28, 2012
Note: I was originally asked by the writer to review this book, and received a copy for free. Before I was halfway through, I went back to Smashwords and purchased the book. This great a read deserves a payment to the author!
I am not normally a student of American History. While the great histories of Egypt and the Mesopotamian regions are well within my purview, possibly my Native American history makes the history of the US after the arrival of the white man more painful than I care to think about. However, the period of this book, the 1920's, the age of the Volstead Act and some of the bloodiest of the country, other than the Civil War, is admittedly fascinating. And Jeffrey Stone does an incredible job of making you feel like you are there, in the period, and know these people he is writing about.
The thing I totally admire about the book is Mr. Stone's grasp of the period. His research was flawless. The main characters of the book are `rumrunners,' those brave (and, of course, criminal) purveyors of `distilled spirits', which were made illegal by the Volstead Act, the 18th Amendment to the Constitution. This act of hubris, brought on by the efforts of `temperance societies' in the US, created an atmosphere of violence and greed across the country unseen at any other period. Billions of dollars in tax revenues were lost (could the Great Depression have been foreshortened by the taxes from legal liquor sales?) while gangsters turned the country into a shooting gallery, and thousands died from imbibing bootleg liquors laced with wood alcohol and other chemicals. Embalming fluid, anyone?
Stone's little band of `heroes,' led by Hud, a rum runner and all around nice guy (yes, he is a criminal, but in those days, you took your `criminal' by degrees) are devastated as the book opens by the murder of their friend Danny, a `big con roper'. As I got deeper and deeper into the book, the reality and the spirit of the period drew me in, and refused to let me go. Hud is a rumrunner, but he is also very involved in another story so integral to the period - the advent of `talkies' - motion pictures that featured sound.
In this day and age of Blu-ray, surround sound and 3D, it is hard to remember that, in the first two decades of the 20th century, movies were filmed with no sound at all, and were viewed strictly in theaters. Stone's research into the period provides fascinating background. While 1927's "The Jazz Singer", the first movie produced and distributed with actual spoken dialog, was hailed by audiences of the time, Warner Brothers Studios head, and others, considered `talkies' a passing fad, and were reluctant to invest in the technology. Stone's Hud, fascinated by the process and seeing the possibilities in the field, spends time during the book planning his own talkie production, thereby giving us deep insight into what I consider to the hysterically funny limitations of thought of the studio heads of the time. (Yes, you CAN buy a three-disk special edition of "The Jazz Singer" at Amazon. Personally, I am waiting for the 3D version - ROFL)
Overall, this is one of the best books I have ever read set in the period. I am a huge fan of Dashiell Hammett and his ilk from that period, but this is a different animal. Steeped in the actual history of the period, Stone's Hud and his friends are a more accessible group, with a minimum of the angst present in Hammett's work. With even the slightest interest in the period, the development of the movie industry, or human nature as a whole, this is definitely the book for you. I mean, who can't love an author who starts out his story in the front seat of an Essex Super Six Coupe? I do love me some antique cars!
I am not normally a student of American History. While the great histories of Egypt and the Mesopotamian regions are well within my purview, possibly my Native American history makes the history of the US after the arrival of the white man more painful than I care to think about. However, the period of this book, the 1920's, the age of the Volstead Act and some of the bloodiest of the country, other than the Civil War, is admittedly fascinating. And Jeffrey Stone does an incredible job of making you feel like you are there, in the period, and know these people he is writing about.
The thing I totally admire about the book is Mr. Stone's grasp of the period. His research was flawless. The main characters of the book are `rumrunners,' those brave (and, of course, criminal) purveyors of `distilled spirits', which were made illegal by the Volstead Act, the 18th Amendment to the Constitution. This act of hubris, brought on by the efforts of `temperance societies' in the US, created an atmosphere of violence and greed across the country unseen at any other period. Billions of dollars in tax revenues were lost (could the Great Depression have been foreshortened by the taxes from legal liquor sales?) while gangsters turned the country into a shooting gallery, and thousands died from imbibing bootleg liquors laced with wood alcohol and other chemicals. Embalming fluid, anyone?
Stone's little band of `heroes,' led by Hud, a rum runner and all around nice guy (yes, he is a criminal, but in those days, you took your `criminal' by degrees) are devastated as the book opens by the murder of their friend Danny, a `big con roper'. As I got deeper and deeper into the book, the reality and the spirit of the period drew me in, and refused to let me go. Hud is a rumrunner, but he is also very involved in another story so integral to the period - the advent of `talkies' - motion pictures that featured sound.
In this day and age of Blu-ray, surround sound and 3D, it is hard to remember that, in the first two decades of the 20th century, movies were filmed with no sound at all, and were viewed strictly in theaters. Stone's research into the period provides fascinating background. While 1927's "The Jazz Singer", the first movie produced and distributed with actual spoken dialog, was hailed by audiences of the time, Warner Brothers Studios head, and others, considered `talkies' a passing fad, and were reluctant to invest in the technology. Stone's Hud, fascinated by the process and seeing the possibilities in the field, spends time during the book planning his own talkie production, thereby giving us deep insight into what I consider to the hysterically funny limitations of thought of the studio heads of the time. (Yes, you CAN buy a three-disk special edition of "The Jazz Singer" at Amazon. Personally, I am waiting for the 3D version - ROFL)
Overall, this is one of the best books I have ever read set in the period. I am a huge fan of Dashiell Hammett and his ilk from that period, but this is a different animal. Steeped in the actual history of the period, Stone's Hud and his friends are a more accessible group, with a minimum of the angst present in Hammett's work. With even the slightest interest in the period, the development of the movie industry, or human nature as a whole, this is definitely the book for you. I mean, who can't love an author who starts out his story in the front seat of an Essex Super Six Coupe? I do love me some antique cars!
September 7, 2012
Play Him Again by Jeffrey Stone is a novel that doubles as a crime story and a movie industry history.
The events take place in the late 1920’s in Los Angeles. The prohibition is in place and the bootleggers make tons of money by supplying booze to the people who can afford it. One of the aforementioned men is Matt Hudson, a street-wise guy, who does big business with the movie crowd and who dreams of shooting the first all-talking-picture ever.
Before doing that though he has to solve a murder. His oldest friend, and great conman, Danny Kincaid has been brutally tortured and killed. Who was it that killed him and why? Did Danny cross roads with someone too clever or powerful for him to handle?
Well, since the police decided to rule his death an accident, now it’s up to him to bring the perp or perps to justice, even though his chances of doing that seem to be quite slim. He has no clue what his friend was up to, he has a business to take care of, and he does have a dream to pursue and a woman to please. Quite the busy man, isn’t he?
Luck though will decide to give him a helping hand, so he’ll soon discover what the latest con his friend’s put into place was. And he’ll be devastated, since it was his idea that he used, and which had probably got him killed.
Now he has more than one reason to investigate the case, while at the same time he’ll have to deal with a local gangster who’s started stealing his booze supplies, and keep trying to convince some studio executives to give him the green light for his movie.
There are a lot of action scenes in this book, but one could also read it as a document of a whole era: the Hollywood in the 20’s, the fabric of a society in its high and lows, the prohibition that made some people rich and led others to death, the corruption inside the police force, the past of a future to be.
The author does a great job recreating that period in history and delivers to the reader a hero with many flaws, who tries hard to find a balance in a world where doing the right thing could land you into trouble. Hud’s psyche is a tortured one. People don’t get him, not the ones that matter the most anyway, and that makes him every now and again question himself and his own motives. He may be a bootlegger but he’s also a man with principles. He may be an honest man but he more often than not has to deal with crooks. He may cherish life but he may have to kill to survive.
Placing this novel under a particular genre is not such an easy thing to do. I can say one thing though: I really enjoyed reading it.
The events take place in the late 1920’s in Los Angeles. The prohibition is in place and the bootleggers make tons of money by supplying booze to the people who can afford it. One of the aforementioned men is Matt Hudson, a street-wise guy, who does big business with the movie crowd and who dreams of shooting the first all-talking-picture ever.
Before doing that though he has to solve a murder. His oldest friend, and great conman, Danny Kincaid has been brutally tortured and killed. Who was it that killed him and why? Did Danny cross roads with someone too clever or powerful for him to handle?
Well, since the police decided to rule his death an accident, now it’s up to him to bring the perp or perps to justice, even though his chances of doing that seem to be quite slim. He has no clue what his friend was up to, he has a business to take care of, and he does have a dream to pursue and a woman to please. Quite the busy man, isn’t he?
Luck though will decide to give him a helping hand, so he’ll soon discover what the latest con his friend’s put into place was. And he’ll be devastated, since it was his idea that he used, and which had probably got him killed.
Now he has more than one reason to investigate the case, while at the same time he’ll have to deal with a local gangster who’s started stealing his booze supplies, and keep trying to convince some studio executives to give him the green light for his movie.
There are a lot of action scenes in this book, but one could also read it as a document of a whole era: the Hollywood in the 20’s, the fabric of a society in its high and lows, the prohibition that made some people rich and led others to death, the corruption inside the police force, the past of a future to be.
The author does a great job recreating that period in history and delivers to the reader a hero with many flaws, who tries hard to find a balance in a world where doing the right thing could land you into trouble. Hud’s psyche is a tortured one. People don’t get him, not the ones that matter the most anyway, and that makes him every now and again question himself and his own motives. He may be a bootlegger but he’s also a man with principles. He may be an honest man but he more often than not has to deal with crooks. He may cherish life but he may have to kill to survive.
Placing this novel under a particular genre is not such an easy thing to do. I can say one thing though: I really enjoyed reading it.
August 24, 2012
When I first saw the cover of this novel, I expected nothing less than wild scenes of mayhem - something akin to the movie, The Cotton Club - but I was surprised and delighted to get so much more. The history associated with the time was interesting, if a little long, thereby drawing my focus away from the main plot. However, where the scam is explained my interest was held.
The story opens with the horrific murder by drowning of Danny Kincaid, conman extraordinaire, who manipulates the wrong person this time. Matt Hudson, rum runner and bootlegger to the stars of 1920s Hollywood, has two driving ambitions - to make a full length talking movie and to find Danny's killer.
Matt - "Hud" - is an interesting and likeable character. Deceptively calm, a man wise enough to stay alive in spite of a rival's best effort to kill him, Matt has a streak of humanity not often found among those with whom he associates. Murderous though he undoubtedly is, Hud comes across as a likeable rogue and one cannot regard his crookedness as serious in the way of Menotti and his henchmen. Hud's violence flares from emotion, and from necessity within the environment in which he operates. His regards his relationship with movie stars as business, unlike his society girlfriend Sylvia, who is a starry-eyed fan.
In spite of the subject matter, this novel for me was a moral tale. Prohibition was - in my opinion - the most damaging piece of legislation enacted after World War 2 and brought out the worse in humanity. It provided an "excuse" for violence which was carried out mostly without conscience or second thought. In order to operate, rum runners and bootleggers were obliged to make pay-offs to officials, including the police. Hence, Danny's death is passed off as an accident while drunk, officialdom carefully ignoring the obvious signs of the torture which he endured before his death.
Hud, on the warpath, performs acts of violence which shock the reader and when his horrified society girlfriend, Sylvia, questions his motives, she is echoing the readers moral dilemma. Is Hud a product of his time and is he justified in taking revenge for his friend's murder when the police have clearly been bribed to overlook it? Could the same scenario be enacted in 2012, in view of the fact that corruption does exis? Would modern day forensics and scrutiny of police behaviour prevent this happening? Maybe a book club would come up with some answers.
This well-written and engaging novel will stay with me for a long time. This author can only go from strength to strength!
The story opens with the horrific murder by drowning of Danny Kincaid, conman extraordinaire, who manipulates the wrong person this time. Matt Hudson, rum runner and bootlegger to the stars of 1920s Hollywood, has two driving ambitions - to make a full length talking movie and to find Danny's killer.
Matt - "Hud" - is an interesting and likeable character. Deceptively calm, a man wise enough to stay alive in spite of a rival's best effort to kill him, Matt has a streak of humanity not often found among those with whom he associates. Murderous though he undoubtedly is, Hud comes across as a likeable rogue and one cannot regard his crookedness as serious in the way of Menotti and his henchmen. Hud's violence flares from emotion, and from necessity within the environment in which he operates. His regards his relationship with movie stars as business, unlike his society girlfriend Sylvia, who is a starry-eyed fan.
In spite of the subject matter, this novel for me was a moral tale. Prohibition was - in my opinion - the most damaging piece of legislation enacted after World War 2 and brought out the worse in humanity. It provided an "excuse" for violence which was carried out mostly without conscience or second thought. In order to operate, rum runners and bootleggers were obliged to make pay-offs to officials, including the police. Hence, Danny's death is passed off as an accident while drunk, officialdom carefully ignoring the obvious signs of the torture which he endured before his death.
Hud, on the warpath, performs acts of violence which shock the reader and when his horrified society girlfriend, Sylvia, questions his motives, she is echoing the readers moral dilemma. Is Hud a product of his time and is he justified in taking revenge for his friend's murder when the police have clearly been bribed to overlook it? Could the same scenario be enacted in 2012, in view of the fact that corruption does exis? Would modern day forensics and scrutiny of police behaviour prevent this happening? Maybe a book club would come up with some answers.
This well-written and engaging novel will stay with me for a long time. This author can only go from strength to strength!
June 1, 2012
The author of this book sent me a copy with a request for a review.
Let me run this down really quick:
Story: Outstanding
Storytelling: Outstanding
Characterization: Outstanding
Scene and setting: Outstanding
Did I love this book? I could hardly put it down. Los Angeles in the 1920s, rum runners, grifters and con artists, mob men, blackmail, murder, hijacking on both land and sea, silent movie stars and a movie industry reluctant to embrace "talkies" - this book has it all. Not only did I learn a lot about Los Angeles in the time period and the state of the movie industry, I enjoyed the story and the characters.
Matt Hudson ("Hud") is a rum runner during the Prohibition, providing first-rate alcohol to the best restaurants, hotels and celebrity homes. When his best friend, Danny, runs his car off the end of a pier and sinks into the harbor, the LAPD labels it an unfortunate accident. His bruises and broken bones tell a different story, and Hud vows to find his friend's killer. At the same time, he's trying to fulfill his dream of making a feature film with sound, complete with a script and dialogue, but he needs a sound stage and Hollywood isn't exactly embracing the idea of movies with dialogue. Danny's murder leads Hud down a twisting trail that he hopes he can survive.
I loved the character of Hud and I look forward to seeing him, and Hollywood, again. He's a good guy who lives outside the law, which I found interesting. There's a dichotomy to Hud; he's willing to step over some of the lines drawn by the law, and he's willing to kill to exact retribution for his friends, but he has his own well-defined moral code that has nothing to do with what the law says is right or moral. It's obvious the author not only knows a lot about the Los Angeles and the movie business during that period, but through the character of Hud he also conveys his love for it. It makes Hud a compelling character and the details about the history of early movie industry are, for me, icing on the cake. The rest of the characters are just as interesting, even Danny Kincaid, who dies in the first couple of pages. As Hud pursues the killer of his friend, the author acquaints the reader with Danny long after he's dead.
At $2.99, this Kindle book is a steal. I highly recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Let me run this down really quick:
Story: Outstanding
Storytelling: Outstanding
Characterization: Outstanding
Scene and setting: Outstanding
Did I love this book? I could hardly put it down. Los Angeles in the 1920s, rum runners, grifters and con artists, mob men, blackmail, murder, hijacking on both land and sea, silent movie stars and a movie industry reluctant to embrace "talkies" - this book has it all. Not only did I learn a lot about Los Angeles in the time period and the state of the movie industry, I enjoyed the story and the characters.
Matt Hudson ("Hud") is a rum runner during the Prohibition, providing first-rate alcohol to the best restaurants, hotels and celebrity homes. When his best friend, Danny, runs his car off the end of a pier and sinks into the harbor, the LAPD labels it an unfortunate accident. His bruises and broken bones tell a different story, and Hud vows to find his friend's killer. At the same time, he's trying to fulfill his dream of making a feature film with sound, complete with a script and dialogue, but he needs a sound stage and Hollywood isn't exactly embracing the idea of movies with dialogue. Danny's murder leads Hud down a twisting trail that he hopes he can survive.
I loved the character of Hud and I look forward to seeing him, and Hollywood, again. He's a good guy who lives outside the law, which I found interesting. There's a dichotomy to Hud; he's willing to step over some of the lines drawn by the law, and he's willing to kill to exact retribution for his friends, but he has his own well-defined moral code that has nothing to do with what the law says is right or moral. It's obvious the author not only knows a lot about the Los Angeles and the movie business during that period, but through the character of Hud he also conveys his love for it. It makes Hud a compelling character and the details about the history of early movie industry are, for me, icing on the cake. The rest of the characters are just as interesting, even Danny Kincaid, who dies in the first couple of pages. As Hud pursues the killer of his friend, the author acquaints the reader with Danny long after he's dead.
At $2.99, this Kindle book is a steal. I highly recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
August 6, 2012
Matt Hudson is running two gigs. First he's an alcohol runner or bootlegger and second his chief fascination, indeed obsession, is the future of movies made with sound. Such is the focus of this very informative and enlightening story.
To begin with, those who run alcohol under Prohibition in the 1920s do so with great duress. A runner might be caught by the police but even worse are other thug runners who are now attacking bootlegger ships with firearms. It's a risky business and it's Matt and the Swede, his partner, who advise all that they must start carrying firearms on their ships or lose thousands of dollars to Mafia thugs.
But the real focus that becomes a mystery is who is producing sound films, who are the powers in the business, and what are each willing and unwilling to do to spread the fire of sound movies, which is just beginning to catch the attention of the public. This novel is obviously well-researched as Matt gives us a superb education in the history of how film developed from the soundless films with famous actors and actresses and the companies behind the new invention of producing sound. Many of the movie moguls claim the latter will never become popular, but it seems that those who know it will have different plans and they aren't always on the up and up.
When Matt's good friend Danny, a con man, is killed, Matt knows he didn't drink himself to the point of driving off a cliff and drowning to death. So he sets about his mission to find out who did it and why. This involves all the parties in a "con" and figuring out who is the ultimate "mark" most probably responsible for Danny's death. In the process, Matt's girlfriend Sylvia is forced to find out how important Matt is to her and how much she will support or reject him.
The novel proceeds at a taut pace, educating and intriguing the reader at every turn of the page. Matt himself faces threats and actual violence, but he is much smarter than his opponents. It turns out that there is no limit to what the powerful will do to force the progress of movie in sound, with their own motivations, techniques, and goon-squad hit men at the forefront of protecting and furthering their focused mission - the almighty dollar!
Fine, fine novel Jeffrey Stone - enjoyable on many levels!
To begin with, those who run alcohol under Prohibition in the 1920s do so with great duress. A runner might be caught by the police but even worse are other thug runners who are now attacking bootlegger ships with firearms. It's a risky business and it's Matt and the Swede, his partner, who advise all that they must start carrying firearms on their ships or lose thousands of dollars to Mafia thugs.
But the real focus that becomes a mystery is who is producing sound films, who are the powers in the business, and what are each willing and unwilling to do to spread the fire of sound movies, which is just beginning to catch the attention of the public. This novel is obviously well-researched as Matt gives us a superb education in the history of how film developed from the soundless films with famous actors and actresses and the companies behind the new invention of producing sound. Many of the movie moguls claim the latter will never become popular, but it seems that those who know it will have different plans and they aren't always on the up and up.
When Matt's good friend Danny, a con man, is killed, Matt knows he didn't drink himself to the point of driving off a cliff and drowning to death. So he sets about his mission to find out who did it and why. This involves all the parties in a "con" and figuring out who is the ultimate "mark" most probably responsible for Danny's death. In the process, Matt's girlfriend Sylvia is forced to find out how important Matt is to her and how much she will support or reject him.
The novel proceeds at a taut pace, educating and intriguing the reader at every turn of the page. Matt himself faces threats and actual violence, but he is much smarter than his opponents. It turns out that there is no limit to what the powerful will do to force the progress of movie in sound, with their own motivations, techniques, and goon-squad hit men at the forefront of protecting and furthering their focused mission - the almighty dollar!
Fine, fine novel Jeffrey Stone - enjoyable on many levels!
September 20, 2012
The prologue had me hooked! What happened to Danny and why? Taking place in the prohibition era, AKA the Roaring Twenties, this book takes on the feel of a film noire and mob crime thriller. With revenge, hijackings, cons and of course, alcohol, this book was filled with action. The ending was wonderful! Well... not so much for some people in the book. I was given the synopsis and the book by the author, and I must say, this book opened up a new genre for me.
The Author does a great job of setting the atmosphere, to the point that I was reading the book in a L.A. noire slang. Stone delves into the history of the time, using the innovation and uprising of sound/talking movies as the cascading theme. The dialogue and terms in Play Him Again were on cue and gave the book great credibility. There were some instances where ideas were over-elaborated and ran on a bit, and sometimes the congruency between the story line and Hud's film fascination weren't quite clear. But overall, I really enjoyed reading it!
The contrast between Hud and Minetti is a fine line but readers are given just enough perspective to win you on Hud’s side. I was kind of reminded of the television program Dragnet, only the criminals were catching other criminals and putting them through their own “Justice System.” The book panned out really well, and although it is the first in a series, it is also a great stand-alone book.
First Line: “The Essex Super Six Coupe rolled over the redwood planking, shattered the wooden railing at the end of the Sunset Pier, and plunged into the Pacific Ocean.”
Last Line: Could be considered a spoiler
---------------
Quotes:
“It was either drink or drown, so he drank.” (Loc. 53)
“Those that have the most to lose are always the most opposed to change.” (Loc. 327)
“‘not much for a man to leave behind.’
‘It’s who you leave behind that matters,’ Swede replied.” (Loc. 707)
“‘If words could lessen your suffering, I’d hold you in my arms and say them over and over until the pain was gone.’” (Loc. 742)
“He wanted to give this feeling she gave him a name, so he could recall it whenever he needed it again. He thought about it a long while and finally decided on safe. She made him feel safe.” (Loc. 869)
The Author does a great job of setting the atmosphere, to the point that I was reading the book in a L.A. noire slang. Stone delves into the history of the time, using the innovation and uprising of sound/talking movies as the cascading theme. The dialogue and terms in Play Him Again were on cue and gave the book great credibility. There were some instances where ideas were over-elaborated and ran on a bit, and sometimes the congruency between the story line and Hud's film fascination weren't quite clear. But overall, I really enjoyed reading it!
The contrast between Hud and Minetti is a fine line but readers are given just enough perspective to win you on Hud’s side. I was kind of reminded of the television program Dragnet, only the criminals were catching other criminals and putting them through their own “Justice System.” The book panned out really well, and although it is the first in a series, it is also a great stand-alone book.
First Line: “The Essex Super Six Coupe rolled over the redwood planking, shattered the wooden railing at the end of the Sunset Pier, and plunged into the Pacific Ocean.”
Last Line: Could be considered a spoiler
---------------
Quotes:
“It was either drink or drown, so he drank.” (Loc. 53)
“Those that have the most to lose are always the most opposed to change.” (Loc. 327)
“‘not much for a man to leave behind.’
‘It’s who you leave behind that matters,’ Swede replied.” (Loc. 707)
“‘If words could lessen your suffering, I’d hold you in my arms and say them over and over until the pain was gone.’” (Loc. 742)
“He wanted to give this feeling she gave him a name, so he could recall it whenever he needed it again. He thought about it a long while and finally decided on safe. She made him feel safe.” (Loc. 869)
June 27, 2012
Fascinating story about the "roaring twenties" in L.A.
I won’t rehash the storyline as other reviewers already did a creditable job. I will say that I enjoyed reading a “roaring twenties novel” that took place in California instead of New York. Having lived in L.A. and Santa Barbara, the descriptions of real places made the story come alive for me. I once took the ferry to Catalina and toured the building that hopped to big band music and illegal hooch in the twenties.
The author provided me with a copy of this book for the purpose of a review, and I admit that I sighed when I started reading. I thought the story might dwell on gangsters, blood, guts and endless shootouts, but I was delightfully surprised by Hud, the bootlegger hero, and his motley assortment of friends. The author’s “side trips” into the film industry and the business of bootlegging made the book more interesting. My husband grew up in a house in Pasadena that served as a speakeasy (with bullet holes in the walls). This book explains how bootleggers smuggled liquor ashore and how many palms they greased to sell their product.
Hud’s dream involved producing a “talking film,” so this story was not just another remake of “The Sting.” Stone’s narrative got a little too involved with the history of talking pictures for my taste, but the "talking picture" con that got his friend murdered amplified Hud’s motives for finding the bad guys. All the characters were expertly developed, including the sleazy villains—who really had to die! I felt sorry for Hud and his girlfriend but the book was more believable due to their problems.
In the end this book reminded me more of “The Rocketeer” than “The Sting.” Hud was clever and courageous but not really cut out to be a con man. Tension and excitement built throughout the story until I read into the wee hours to finish. It’s a good story that I recommend to adventure and suspense enthusiasts. Stone would be smart to write a sequel (we must know what happens next) but take it easy on the history lessons in the next one.
I won’t rehash the storyline as other reviewers already did a creditable job. I will say that I enjoyed reading a “roaring twenties novel” that took place in California instead of New York. Having lived in L.A. and Santa Barbara, the descriptions of real places made the story come alive for me. I once took the ferry to Catalina and toured the building that hopped to big band music and illegal hooch in the twenties.
The author provided me with a copy of this book for the purpose of a review, and I admit that I sighed when I started reading. I thought the story might dwell on gangsters, blood, guts and endless shootouts, but I was delightfully surprised by Hud, the bootlegger hero, and his motley assortment of friends. The author’s “side trips” into the film industry and the business of bootlegging made the book more interesting. My husband grew up in a house in Pasadena that served as a speakeasy (with bullet holes in the walls). This book explains how bootleggers smuggled liquor ashore and how many palms they greased to sell their product.
Hud’s dream involved producing a “talking film,” so this story was not just another remake of “The Sting.” Stone’s narrative got a little too involved with the history of talking pictures for my taste, but the "talking picture" con that got his friend murdered amplified Hud’s motives for finding the bad guys. All the characters were expertly developed, including the sleazy villains—who really had to die! I felt sorry for Hud and his girlfriend but the book was more believable due to their problems.
In the end this book reminded me more of “The Rocketeer” than “The Sting.” Hud was clever and courageous but not really cut out to be a con man. Tension and excitement built throughout the story until I read into the wee hours to finish. It’s a good story that I recommend to adventure and suspense enthusiasts. Stone would be smart to write a sequel (we must know what happens next) but take it easy on the history lessons in the next one.
October 31, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. Right from the beginning of the book there was so much going on that it just pulled me into the story. I just had to know what was going to happen next. How was Hud going to figure out what happened to Danny without getting himself hurt in the process. It was so exciting.
Even though Hud wasn’t a great guy I still liked him. Trying to figure out what he was going to do next was an exciting adventure. He had a way of thinking about things that I didn’t really understand. Once I got towards the end of the book I finally started to understand a little of how he thought, but even then some of the ideas he came up with weren’t anywhere close to what I thought he was going to do. He was almost always a step ahead and had a good idea of what everyone else was going to do before they did it. Even though his actions weren’t always the nicest he did have a good heart and did what he thought was right to take care of the people that he loved. And that’s what made him such a likable character. But I guess being a Rumrunner kind of lends itself to having to commit unscrupulous deeds.
The story was very fast paced. There was always something going on. In Hud’s search to find out who killed Danny and why he uncovered some things that really threw the story for a loop. The “family” that Hud and Danny had were all just as loyal as Hud was. Even though these people knew what Danny did they were still committed to uncovering the truth, because he was their friend. As the pieces start falling into place and Hud starts coming up with new ideas they all fall in line to make sure that Danny’s death is vindicated.
It was a great story. It was well written and the characters were all pretty well developed. Even the characters that didn’t play a central role in the story were developed enough that you understood the part they had to play. It was well executed and exciting to read.
Even though Hud wasn’t a great guy I still liked him. Trying to figure out what he was going to do next was an exciting adventure. He had a way of thinking about things that I didn’t really understand. Once I got towards the end of the book I finally started to understand a little of how he thought, but even then some of the ideas he came up with weren’t anywhere close to what I thought he was going to do. He was almost always a step ahead and had a good idea of what everyone else was going to do before they did it. Even though his actions weren’t always the nicest he did have a good heart and did what he thought was right to take care of the people that he loved. And that’s what made him such a likable character. But I guess being a Rumrunner kind of lends itself to having to commit unscrupulous deeds.
The story was very fast paced. There was always something going on. In Hud’s search to find out who killed Danny and why he uncovered some things that really threw the story for a loop. The “family” that Hud and Danny had were all just as loyal as Hud was. Even though these people knew what Danny did they were still committed to uncovering the truth, because he was their friend. As the pieces start falling into place and Hud starts coming up with new ideas they all fall in line to make sure that Danny’s death is vindicated.
It was a great story. It was well written and the characters were all pretty well developed. Even the characters that didn’t play a central role in the story were developed enough that you understood the part they had to play. It was well executed and exciting to read.
December 23, 2012
Play Him Again is the first book in the Matt Hudson series by Jeffrey Stone. The Roaring Twenties are my favorite era. I really wish I lived during that time to experience silent films, the social culture, the use of automobiles and telephones. Who wouldn't want to live during the Motion Picture/Jazz Age? So when the author contacted me for a possible review, I made room in my reading schedule to read Play Him Again before the new year.
Silence was golden in Hollywood during the Roaring Twenties. Sound for movies was too expensive. There were only two studios with sound equipment, Fox Film Corporation and Warner Brothers. Most industry people thought talking pictures were just a fad. Oh, how wrong they were!
Matt Hudson, a rumrunner and "the preferred bootlegger of the movie industry", wanted to produce a talking picture but neither of the two studios would lease him their facilities. Financing was not a problem; Hudson lacked the production. So Hudson's friend, Danny, conned a Chicago gangster into buying a motion picture sound device. Problem is, the sound device is bogus. When the gangster figures it out, Danny ends up dead. The police ruled it an accidental death and closed the case. But Hudson is determined to find Danny's killer and avenge his death, all while staying alive himself.
Play Him Again begins with action; the Prologue is a detailed scene where a character is in a Coupe...in the ocean! Jeffrey Stone writes with such description that I could sense the character's panic through the words. The book is a history lesson set in fiction. I learned a lot about film-making, rumrunners, bootlegging and smuggling of liquor, talking pictures, and three types of cons. Well done, Jeffrey Stone. Play Him Again is the first book in the Matt Hudson series. I wonder what other crimes Hud will solve...or commit.
Literary Marie of Precision Reviews
Silence was golden in Hollywood during the Roaring Twenties. Sound for movies was too expensive. There were only two studios with sound equipment, Fox Film Corporation and Warner Brothers. Most industry people thought talking pictures were just a fad. Oh, how wrong they were!
Matt Hudson, a rumrunner and "the preferred bootlegger of the movie industry", wanted to produce a talking picture but neither of the two studios would lease him their facilities. Financing was not a problem; Hudson lacked the production. So Hudson's friend, Danny, conned a Chicago gangster into buying a motion picture sound device. Problem is, the sound device is bogus. When the gangster figures it out, Danny ends up dead. The police ruled it an accidental death and closed the case. But Hudson is determined to find Danny's killer and avenge his death, all while staying alive himself.
Play Him Again begins with action; the Prologue is a detailed scene where a character is in a Coupe...in the ocean! Jeffrey Stone writes with such description that I could sense the character's panic through the words. The book is a history lesson set in fiction. I learned a lot about film-making, rumrunners, bootlegging and smuggling of liquor, talking pictures, and three types of cons. Well done, Jeffrey Stone. Play Him Again is the first book in the Matt Hudson series. I wonder what other crimes Hud will solve...or commit.
Literary Marie of Precision Reviews
November 23, 2012
Take a step back in time to the era of the Roaring Twenties just as change is coming to the movie industry and a rumrunner wants in on the action.
Matt ‘Hud’ Hudson is the premier bootlegger to the stars and the movie industry bigwigs. Silent movies are still popular but Hud sees ‘talkies’ as where things are going. He shares his dream of making a ‘talkie’ with his best friend, Danny Kincaid, a con man.
Kincaid gets the idea to run a con on Frank Minnetti, a Chicago gangster recently relocated to California. Kincaid believes Minnetti is the answer to Hud making his movie.
However, when things turn deadly and Kincaid winds up at the bottom of the ocean, Hud’s direction changes. He sets out to run his own con to find his friend’s killer and seek justice no matter what.
The story is well-balanced with historical tidbits scattered throughout for a plausible adventure. Author Jeffrey Stone has done an excellent job researching the era and setting placing the reader back in time with realistic accuracy.
PLAY HIM AGAIN is filled with colorful characters mingling with real-life movie stars such as Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplain. It details bootlegging and the movie industry giving a look at how the two facets were possible interwoven. The story is action-packed moving at a steady pace but never losing your attention. There’s suspense, mystery, friendship, loyalty, and surprises along the way.
You don’t have to be a movie buff or a fan of the silent screen era to enjoy this tantalizing adventure. Hud is a character well-worth keeping an eye out for in the future.
FTC Full Disclosure - An eBook copy of this book was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Matt ‘Hud’ Hudson is the premier bootlegger to the stars and the movie industry bigwigs. Silent movies are still popular but Hud sees ‘talkies’ as where things are going. He shares his dream of making a ‘talkie’ with his best friend, Danny Kincaid, a con man.
Kincaid gets the idea to run a con on Frank Minnetti, a Chicago gangster recently relocated to California. Kincaid believes Minnetti is the answer to Hud making his movie.
However, when things turn deadly and Kincaid winds up at the bottom of the ocean, Hud’s direction changes. He sets out to run his own con to find his friend’s killer and seek justice no matter what.
The story is well-balanced with historical tidbits scattered throughout for a plausible adventure. Author Jeffrey Stone has done an excellent job researching the era and setting placing the reader back in time with realistic accuracy.
PLAY HIM AGAIN is filled with colorful characters mingling with real-life movie stars such as Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplain. It details bootlegging and the movie industry giving a look at how the two facets were possible interwoven. The story is action-packed moving at a steady pace but never losing your attention. There’s suspense, mystery, friendship, loyalty, and surprises along the way.
You don’t have to be a movie buff or a fan of the silent screen era to enjoy this tantalizing adventure. Hud is a character well-worth keeping an eye out for in the future.
FTC Full Disclosure - An eBook copy of this book was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
January 19, 2013
Original review posted at A Date with a Book
I was provided a copy of this book by the author for my honest review. When I received the request, I read and thought the synopsis for a while before accepting the request. I’m glad I chose the book. I think the cover is fitting for the story, as well as the title.
A lot is going on in this book. It’s not a quick read, but it is a page turner. Absorb all of the information you can when you read about the bootlegging and rumrunning, and the silent and talking pictures. Do not make a determination about liking or disliking the book until you are at least halfway through the book. As soon as the connections begin coming together, the book takes off.
My favorite character was not the main character, but his girlfriend Sylvia. I think partly because of the way Hud treated her and what he kept secret from her. However, when she found out about the certain things he was hiding, she was spit fire back at him. I really enjoyed it.
I enjoyed the background information on the rumrunning and progression into talking pictures. Some big names in there that made me wonder how the actual talking picture came to be. That’s what I like about fiction. An introduction to non-fiction, that will cause me to research and learn more about.
I recommend this book to readers of thrillers and mysteries. It is not a light or fluffy read and will require some thought and patience, but it is definitely worth your time.
I was provided a copy of this book by the author for my honest review. When I received the request, I read and thought the synopsis for a while before accepting the request. I’m glad I chose the book. I think the cover is fitting for the story, as well as the title.
A lot is going on in this book. It’s not a quick read, but it is a page turner. Absorb all of the information you can when you read about the bootlegging and rumrunning, and the silent and talking pictures. Do not make a determination about liking or disliking the book until you are at least halfway through the book. As soon as the connections begin coming together, the book takes off.
My favorite character was not the main character, but his girlfriend Sylvia. I think partly because of the way Hud treated her and what he kept secret from her. However, when she found out about the certain things he was hiding, she was spit fire back at him. I really enjoyed it.
I enjoyed the background information on the rumrunning and progression into talking pictures. Some big names in there that made me wonder how the actual talking picture came to be. That’s what I like about fiction. An introduction to non-fiction, that will cause me to research and learn more about.
I recommend this book to readers of thrillers and mysteries. It is not a light or fluffy read and will require some thought and patience, but it is definitely worth your time.
September 30, 2012
There I was minding my own business, when out of the blue I offered the opportunity to read a book by an author I had never heard of. Jeffrey Stone knew I had just read and been blown away by the latest Dennis Lehane novel, Live by Night, coincidentally also a book about mobsters during prohibition. What he didn't know is that I am also a fan of the early movie industry in California and have also recently watched the last Academy Award winning movie for best picture, "The Artist".
So this novel combines these two themes and does it amazingly well. It starts as a bit of a mystery, with the protagonist, Matt "Hud" Hudson, successful rum smuggler and wannabe studio boss, trying to get to the bottom of who killed his lifelong best friend. But then the novel shifts gears and becomes more like a thriller as he and his friends decide what to do about it. Along the way we meet interesting characters, witness brutal rum-running mob action, participate in the "long con" and generally have a great time. And we also get to learn quite a bit about early Hollywood, especially the resistance to the new sound technology and the rise of the talkies. This is quite a balancing act and Mr. Stone pulls it off nicely. Well-paced and informative, this novel is a page-turner. Greatly looking forward to the further adventures of Matt Hudson, as he solves crimes...and commits them.
So this novel combines these two themes and does it amazingly well. It starts as a bit of a mystery, with the protagonist, Matt "Hud" Hudson, successful rum smuggler and wannabe studio boss, trying to get to the bottom of who killed his lifelong best friend. But then the novel shifts gears and becomes more like a thriller as he and his friends decide what to do about it. Along the way we meet interesting characters, witness brutal rum-running mob action, participate in the "long con" and generally have a great time. And we also get to learn quite a bit about early Hollywood, especially the resistance to the new sound technology and the rise of the talkies. This is quite a balancing act and Mr. Stone pulls it off nicely. Well-paced and informative, this novel is a page-turner. Greatly looking forward to the further adventures of Matt Hudson, as he solves crimes...and commits them.
January 11, 2013
Confidence Game
PLAY HIM AGAIN by Jeffrey Stone is about a bootlegger, Matthew 'Hud' Hudson. Hud's reputation as a rumrunner has made him the most sought out in his trade as his liquor is uncut. Not your run of the mill bootlegger, Hud owns his own trucks and sells his liquor to hotels, restaurants and Hollywood. While Hud is making a very nice living, Hud has big dreams. He's hoping to convince one of the studios to let him make a movie with sound. All of the majors believe that silent movies will stay in demand plus they don't want to invest the money to convert their studios. Despite their concerns, Hud is certain that talkies will be the next big thing. Can he find a way to get his point across?
When Hudson learns that his oldest and dearest friend Danny, a grifter, was killed, he immediately starts to look for the con he was running as well as the mark. As the pieces of the puzzle fall into place, Hud's heart is heavy as he learns that Danny was using sound in movies as his con. More motivated to make the mark pay, Hud has to run his own con in order to get revenge. Will he find himself caught in his own trap?
I really loved PLAY HIM AGAIN! I'm so in love with the past, the roaring 20's, gangsters, bootleggers and dare I say it, Tommy guns. Stone does a wonderful job transporting readers into the 20's. The story is one big mystery and you're dying to figure out if and how it will play out.
PLAY HIM AGAIN by Jeffrey Stone is about a bootlegger, Matthew 'Hud' Hudson. Hud's reputation as a rumrunner has made him the most sought out in his trade as his liquor is uncut. Not your run of the mill bootlegger, Hud owns his own trucks and sells his liquor to hotels, restaurants and Hollywood. While Hud is making a very nice living, Hud has big dreams. He's hoping to convince one of the studios to let him make a movie with sound. All of the majors believe that silent movies will stay in demand plus they don't want to invest the money to convert their studios. Despite their concerns, Hud is certain that talkies will be the next big thing. Can he find a way to get his point across?
When Hudson learns that his oldest and dearest friend Danny, a grifter, was killed, he immediately starts to look for the con he was running as well as the mark. As the pieces of the puzzle fall into place, Hud's heart is heavy as he learns that Danny was using sound in movies as his con. More motivated to make the mark pay, Hud has to run his own con in order to get revenge. Will he find himself caught in his own trap?
I really loved PLAY HIM AGAIN! I'm so in love with the past, the roaring 20's, gangsters, bootleggers and dare I say it, Tommy guns. Stone does a wonderful job transporting readers into the 20's. The story is one big mystery and you're dying to figure out if and how it will play out.
January 12, 2013
Play Him Again (A Matt Hudson Novel) was a nice change of pace for me. I enjoy a good thriller, but I had never read a historical thriller before. The book is set in the roaring twenties, and the dialogue in it contains much of the flapper/gangster slang of the time, without making the book a caricature. Phrases like "hope is for spinsters and stock speculators", "two-bit whore" and "not that you don't look like a sweet patootie, or however a Sheik refers to his Sheba this week" along with the rich description of clothes, food, furnishings, etc. really help to pull the reader back to that bygone era.
The book is well-researched and gives histories and explanations of rumrunning, con games and talking pictures without feeling like a textbook. There are a few minor sexy scenes, but nothing particularly graphic. I enjoyed the blend of description and story-telling that runs throughout the book.
Play Him Again is an exciting adventurous read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The book is well-researched and gives histories and explanations of rumrunning, con games and talking pictures without feeling like a textbook. There are a few minor sexy scenes, but nothing particularly graphic. I enjoyed the blend of description and story-telling that runs throughout the book.
Play Him Again is an exciting adventurous read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
July 5, 2012
I will be honest and say that I don't usually read this kind of book but the author asked me if I would, and overall it was good and well written.
The first scene is excellent - action, thoughts and feelings - a great start to the story (and I have to say that's why I continued reading as my list is long). The characters are strong and realistic and the storyline has a sound basis.
The author also asks about history v story and I would say be careful on the history - if it comes out through the plot and characters that's fine but otherwise it may become boring (even if people are interested in the era).
Play Him Again seemed to be well-researched and true to the era (although I'm by no means an expert)and the characters too were portrayed with just the right kind of 'old-fashioned' sense within the plot.
A good read and I would recommend it to those who like this genre.
The first scene is excellent - action, thoughts and feelings - a great start to the story (and I have to say that's why I continued reading as my list is long). The characters are strong and realistic and the storyline has a sound basis.
The author also asks about history v story and I would say be careful on the history - if it comes out through the plot and characters that's fine but otherwise it may become boring (even if people are interested in the era).
Play Him Again seemed to be well-researched and true to the era (although I'm by no means an expert)and the characters too were portrayed with just the right kind of 'old-fashioned' sense within the plot.
A good read and I would recommend it to those who like this genre.
September 9, 2012
Jeffrey Stone has done what most authors strive for and only a few obtain. He transported me to another place, the 1920's Prohibition-era, with his well-researched and well-told story of a rum-rummer in LA. There is no doubt of Stone's love of hard-boiled crime stories and his thorough knowledge of the Hollywood era, bootlegging, and, boating.
It only took a few chapters for me to be sucked into this intriguing world and feel like I were watching a black and white Bogie and Becall drama playing out on the page.
Piggybacking the popularity of HBO's Boardwalk Empire, Play Him Again is the perfect next read for those interested in a different time and place.
I look forward to the next Matt Hudson novel.
Victoria Allman
author of: SEAsoned: A Chef's Journey with Her Captain
www.victoriaallman.com
It only took a few chapters for me to be sucked into this intriguing world and feel like I were watching a black and white Bogie and Becall drama playing out on the page.
Piggybacking the popularity of HBO's Boardwalk Empire, Play Him Again is the perfect next read for those interested in a different time and place.
I look forward to the next Matt Hudson novel.
Victoria Allman
author of: SEAsoned: A Chef's Journey with Her Captain
www.victoriaallman.com
September 2, 2014
This book gave an inside view of the bootlegger scene during Prohibition. It was sort of interesting to see how the main character justified all types of illegal behavior, but then had a very strict code about what he viewed as wrong. I appreciated Matt's loyalty to his childhood friend, but there was little else that I saw as admirable about him. There was a lot of information about the film industry of the times and the transition from silent movies to talkies, which was interesting, so that part of the story would probably appeal to anyone who has an interest in the history of the film industry. I felt that the conclusion of the mystery was a real let-down - it was wrapped up in a couple of paragraphs of narrative that was very short on drama and it did not feel like a real resolution to the whole book that led up to it. I don't think I will be reading any more Matt Hudson novels.
July 13, 2014
'Play Him Again' is an intriguing old-style crime novel set in Prohibition-era Los Angeles. Bootlegger Matthew "Hud" Hudson searches for the killer of his friend Danny. The fast-paced novel captures some of the glamour of Old Hollywood in the days when "talkies" were a novel new idea. Even more so, it captures the grit of Old Hollywood as frontier town where a ragtag amalgam of mobsters and studio heads played fast and loose with the law. As a nice bonus, author Stone seems to know quite a lot about the history of the Los Angeles area and incorporates some fascinating facts into the narrative. The late 1920s were a rich, colorful time in the American West, and this book does the era justice. It's a definite page-turner.
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