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It's in the Book
Mike Hammer tears apart New York in search of a dead don’s ledger. For years, cops have whispered legends that Don Nicholas Giraldi, the gentleman godfather, kept a ledger going back decades, keeping track of every police officer, mogul, and politician who took even a cent of his dirty money. Finding the register would put mayors, senators, and even a president or two on the hook for prosecution—or blackmail. When old Nic finally kicks the bucket, one such official comes to Mike Hammer and begs him to find the book before it falls into the wrong hands. Mike has never believed the stories of the old don’s journal, but for $10,000, he is happy to play along. Every hood in town wants to get his hands on the book, and finding it will mean pushing to the very heart of Nic’s family. No matter how many years may have passed, Mike Hammer can still push harder.The Bibliomysteries are a series of short tales about deadly books, by top mystery authors.
58 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 20, 2014
24 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Mickey Spillane
316 books447 followersMickey Spillane was one of the world's most popular mystery writers. His specialty was tight-fisted, sadistic revenge stories, often featuring his alcoholic gumshoe Mike Hammer and a cast of evildoers who launder money or spout the Communist Party line.
His writing style was characterized by short words, lightning transitions, gruff sex and violent endings. It was once tallied that he offed 58 people in six novels.
Starting with "I, the Jury," in 1947, Mr. Spillane sold hundreds of millions of books during his lifetime and garnered consistently scathing reviews. Even his father, a Brooklyn bartender, called them "crud."
Mr. Spillane was a struggling comic book publisher when he wrote "I, the Jury." He initially envisioned it as a comic book called "Mike Danger," and when that did not go over, he took a week to reconfigure it as a novel.
Even the editor in chief of E.P. Dutton and Co., Mr. Spillane's publisher, was skeptical of the book's literary merit but conceded it would probably be a smash with postwar readers looking for ready action. He was right. The book, in which Hammer pursues a murderous narcotics ring led by a curvaceous female psychiatrist, went on to sell more than 1 million copies.
Mr. Spillane spun out six novels in the next five years, among them "My Gun Is Quick," "The Big Kill," "One Lonely Night" and "Kiss Me, Deadly." Most concerned Hammer, his faithful sidekick, Velda, and the police homicide captain Pat Chambers, who acknowledges that Hammer's style of vigilante justice is often better suited than the law to dispatching criminals.
Mr. Spillane's success rankled other critics, who sometimes became very personal in their reviews. Malcolm Cowley called Mr. Spillane "a homicidal paranoiac," going on to note what he called his misogyny and vigilante tendencies.
His books were translated into many languages, and he proved so popular as a writer that he was able to transfer his thick-necked, barrel-chested personality across many media. With the charisma of a redwood, he played Hammer in "The Girl Hunters," a 1963 film adaptation of his novel.
Spillane also scripted several television shows and films and played a detective in the 1954 suspense film "Ring of Fear," set at a Clyde Beatty circus. He rewrote much of the film, too, refusing payment. In gratitude, the producer, John Wayne, surprised him one morning with a white Jaguar sportster wrapped in a red ribbon. The card read, "Thanks, Duke."
Done initially on a dare from his publisher, Mr. Spillane wrote a children's book, "The Day the Sea Rolled Back" (1979), about two boys who find a shipwreck loaded with treasure. This won a Junior Literary Guild award.
He also wrote another children's novel, "The Ship That Never Was," and then wrote his first Mike Hammer mystery in 20 years with "The Killing Man" (1989). "Black Alley" followed in 1996. In the last, a rapidly aging Hammer comes out of a gunshot-induced coma, then tracks down a friend's murderer and billions in mob loot. For the first time, he also confesses his love for Velda but, because of doctor's orders, cannot consummate the relationship.
Late in life, he received a career achievement award from the Private Eye Writers of America and was named a grand master by the Mystery Writers of America.
In his private life, he neither smoked nor drank and was a house-to-house missionary for the Jehovah's Witnesses. He expressed at times great disdain for what he saw as corrosive forces in American life, from antiwar protesters to the United Nations.
His marriages to Mary Ann Pearce and Sherri Malinou ended in divorce. His second wife, a model, posed nude for the dust jacket of his 1972 novel "The Erection Set."
Survivors include his third wife, Jane Rodgers Johnson, a former beauty queen 30 years his junior; and four children from the first marriage.
He also carried on a long epistolary flirtation with Ayn Rand, an admirer of his writing.
His writing style was characterized by short words, lightning transitions, gruff sex and violent endings. It was once tallied that he offed 58 people in six novels.
Starting with "I, the Jury," in 1947, Mr. Spillane sold hundreds of millions of books during his lifetime and garnered consistently scathing reviews. Even his father, a Brooklyn bartender, called them "crud."
Mr. Spillane was a struggling comic book publisher when he wrote "I, the Jury." He initially envisioned it as a comic book called "Mike Danger," and when that did not go over, he took a week to reconfigure it as a novel.
Even the editor in chief of E.P. Dutton and Co., Mr. Spillane's publisher, was skeptical of the book's literary merit but conceded it would probably be a smash with postwar readers looking for ready action. He was right. The book, in which Hammer pursues a murderous narcotics ring led by a curvaceous female psychiatrist, went on to sell more than 1 million copies.
Mr. Spillane spun out six novels in the next five years, among them "My Gun Is Quick," "The Big Kill," "One Lonely Night" and "Kiss Me, Deadly." Most concerned Hammer, his faithful sidekick, Velda, and the police homicide captain Pat Chambers, who acknowledges that Hammer's style of vigilante justice is often better suited than the law to dispatching criminals.
Mr. Spillane's success rankled other critics, who sometimes became very personal in their reviews. Malcolm Cowley called Mr. Spillane "a homicidal paranoiac," going on to note what he called his misogyny and vigilante tendencies.
His books were translated into many languages, and he proved so popular as a writer that he was able to transfer his thick-necked, barrel-chested personality across many media. With the charisma of a redwood, he played Hammer in "The Girl Hunters," a 1963 film adaptation of his novel.
Spillane also scripted several television shows and films and played a detective in the 1954 suspense film "Ring of Fear," set at a Clyde Beatty circus. He rewrote much of the film, too, refusing payment. In gratitude, the producer, John Wayne, surprised him one morning with a white Jaguar sportster wrapped in a red ribbon. The card read, "Thanks, Duke."
Done initially on a dare from his publisher, Mr. Spillane wrote a children's book, "The Day the Sea Rolled Back" (1979), about two boys who find a shipwreck loaded with treasure. This won a Junior Literary Guild award.
He also wrote another children's novel, "The Ship That Never Was," and then wrote his first Mike Hammer mystery in 20 years with "The Killing Man" (1989). "Black Alley" followed in 1996. In the last, a rapidly aging Hammer comes out of a gunshot-induced coma, then tracks down a friend's murderer and billions in mob loot. For the first time, he also confesses his love for Velda but, because of doctor's orders, cannot consummate the relationship.
Late in life, he received a career achievement award from the Private Eye Writers of America and was named a grand master by the Mystery Writers of America.
In his private life, he neither smoked nor drank and was a house-to-house missionary for the Jehovah's Witnesses. He expressed at times great disdain for what he saw as corrosive forces in American life, from antiwar protesters to the United Nations.
His marriages to Mary Ann Pearce and Sherri Malinou ended in divorce. His second wife, a model, posed nude for the dust jacket of his 1972 novel "The Erection Set."
Survivors include his third wife, Jane Rodgers Johnson, a former beauty queen 30 years his junior; and four children from the first marriage.
He also carried on a long epistolary flirtation with Ayn Rand, an admirer of his writing.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 19, 2024
Hammer Time - Bibliomysteries #15
Review of the Mysterious Press/Open Road eBook (May 20, 2014) of The Mysterious Press hardcover & paperback (2013).
When old-time Mafioso Don Nicholas Giraldi dies, the hunt is on for his reputed ledger where he apparently kept a record of all of his dealings and payoffs. Hardboiled P.I. Mike Hammer has two sets of clients who task him with finding the book, the feds and the mobster's own son. The former need the book to erase the traces of mob connections to political figures. The latter needs it in order to maintain power.
This is a short story left unfinished at Mickey Spillane's passing and now completed by the prolific crime & mystery writer Max Allan Collins. The style feels very dated now and there is even a bit of a letdown ending, probably needing an Unsatisfactory Ending Alert.
Trivia and Links
Mickey Spillane (1918-2006) was a writer of hardboiled pulp mystery & crime novels, especially those in the Mike Hammer (1947-2020) series. The later books are completions or continuations by writer Max Allan Collins.
The Bibliomysteries series are short stories commissioned by Otto Penzler's The Mysterious Press to be written around the theme of deadly books. They are individually published in 100-copy limited edition signed hardcovers and then as paperbacks and ebooks. They are periodically collected in anthology editions such as Bibliomysteries (2013, containing stories 1-15) and Bibliomysteries: Volume Two (2018, containing stories 16-30). There does not appear to be a Goodreads Listopia for them, but on Library Thing the current listing (as of mid-September 2024) includes 40 short stories.
Review of the Mysterious Press/Open Road eBook (May 20, 2014) of The Mysterious Press hardcover & paperback (2013).
“These days,” I said, “political parties and bank-rollers and lobbyists call the shots. No matter how important the pol, he’s still a chess piece for money to move around. That includes the big man in the Oval Office.”
When old-time Mafioso Don Nicholas Giraldi dies, the hunt is on for his reputed ledger where he apparently kept a record of all of his dealings and payoffs. Hardboiled P.I. Mike Hammer has two sets of clients who task him with finding the book, the feds and the mobster's own son. The former need the book to erase the traces of mob connections to political figures. The latter needs it in order to maintain power.
This is a short story left unfinished at Mickey Spillane's passing and now completed by the prolific crime & mystery writer Max Allan Collins. The style feels very dated now and there is even a bit of a letdown ending, probably needing an Unsatisfactory Ending Alert.
Trivia and Links
Mickey Spillane (1918-2006) was a writer of hardboiled pulp mystery & crime novels, especially those in the Mike Hammer (1947-2020) series. The later books are completions or continuations by writer Max Allan Collins.
The Bibliomysteries series are short stories commissioned by Otto Penzler's The Mysterious Press to be written around the theme of deadly books. They are individually published in 100-copy limited edition signed hardcovers and then as paperbacks and ebooks. They are periodically collected in anthology editions such as Bibliomysteries (2013, containing stories 1-15) and Bibliomysteries: Volume Two (2018, containing stories 16-30). There does not appear to be a Goodreads Listopia for them, but on Library Thing the current listing (as of mid-September 2024) includes 40 short stories.
August 23, 2023
In this short mystery story, iconic hard-boiled PI Mike Hammer is hired to locate a missing ledger in which recently deceased crime boss Don Nicolas Giraldi kept track of all his criminal activities. Politicians, law enforcement, and the underworld all want to get their hands on the valuable book.
Mike, who's trusted by men on both sides of the law, finds himself in the middle of a tug-of-war to recover the ledger.
Max Allan Collins completed this unfinished Mickey Spillane story, and the resulting collaboration is a winner. Lots of pithy observations, crackling dialogue, and a fun twist at the end combine to make this "bibliomystery" an entertaining read.
Mike, who's trusted by men on both sides of the law, finds himself in the middle of a tug-of-war to recover the ledger.
Max Allan Collins completed this unfinished Mickey Spillane story, and the resulting collaboration is a winner. Lots of pithy observations, crackling dialogue, and a fun twist at the end combine to make this "bibliomystery" an entertaining read.
September 10, 2019
От Ozone.bg винаги са ми изпращали като подарък към поръчките разни нискобюджетни филми на DVD, които дори не проверявам. Изключение прави миналата Коледа, когато получих пъзел от 1000 части "Залез над Созопол", който така и не наредих, нито пък едва ли някога ще. Та, много се учудих днес, когато отворих пратката си и видях малка джобна книжка, че и трилър на всичкото отгоре. Много, много се зарадвах. И вече не се. :)
Никакъв сюжет, никакъв съспенс, какви крале на трилъра, какво по дяволите...
Никакъв сюжет, никакъв съспенс, какви крале на трилъра, какво по дяволите...
May 30, 2023
minor but well-written mike hammer short.
has a fun denouement.
has a fun denouement.
September 30, 2019
A short but fun Mike Hammer story with plenty of twists and turns.
February 9, 2025
A series about bibliophile mysteries? How can you pass that up? I couldn't so I bought a bunch of them. This one was started by Spillane and finished after his death by Max Allan Collins. Fun read with a satisfying twist at the end.
November 16, 2018
Няма да се уморя да чета за корави частни ченгета, на които не им пука ни от могъщи сенатори, ни от корумпирани полицаи, ни от кофти мафиоти, а сексапилните им помощнички са еднакво вещи както в козметичните процедури, така и в стрелбата с пистолет... Баш такива са Майк Хамър и "неговата" Велда. А понеже е ясно, че в живота нещата не се случват по този начин, удоволствието от художествената измислица става още по-голямо.
Петте истории в "Мистериозно-виртуозно" - джобната серия на "Кралете на трилъра" - се въртят все около книги. И Майк Хамър издирва книга, ама счетоводна, която според градската мълва съдържа всички тайни на прясно починал мафиотски дон...
Финалът беше изключително остроумен и... невъзможен...
Петте истории в "Мистериозно-виртуозно" - джобната серия на "Кралете на трилъра" - се въртят все около книги. И Майк Хамър издирва книга, ама счетоводна, която според градската мълва съдържа всички тайни на прясно починал мафиотски дон...
Финалът беше изключително остроумен и... невъзможен...
May 8, 2017
Пет книжни убийства: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/m...
“Пише го в книгата” е на тандема Мики Спилейн и Макс Алан Колинс. В нея едно ченге се забърква с опасна игра, след като се оказва един от малкото хора, на които стар дон от мафията се е доверявал. И когато той най-сетне умира, настава търсене на легендарната му книга, която често е споменавал и в която е записвал всяка своя сделка. Ченгето е на прицела и на мафиотите, и на полицията, и на политици, които са започнали кариерите си с с мръсни пари – и се започва едно удърдно издирване, чак до страхотния и много хитър край.
Издателска къща БАРД
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/m...
“Пише го в книгата” е на тандема Мики Спилейн и Макс Алан Колинс. В нея едно ченге се забърква с опасна игра, след като се оказва един от малкото хора, на които стар дон от мафията се е доверявал. И когато той най-сетне умира, настава търсене на легендарната му книга, която често е споменавал и в която е записвал всяка своя сделка. Ченгето е на прицела и на мафиотите, и на полицията, и на политици, които са започнали кариерите си с с мръсни пари – и се започва едно удърдно издирване, чак до страхотния и много хитър край.
Издателска къща БАРД
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/m...
February 25, 2020
"Пише го в книгата" на Мики Спилейн и Макс Алан Колинс е кратка новела за детектива Майк Хамър. С две думи, търси се книгата на починал мафиотски бос, в която се предполага, че е записвал всички изнудвания, сметки, тайни и други подобни нещо.
September 3, 2018
Short story about gangsters, ledgers, with a fun twist at the end.
May 23, 2020
This 2014 Mike Hammer short story was started by author Mickey Spillane and finished after his death by co-author, Max Allan Collins. This story was author Collins' favorite of the Mike Hammer short stories and was published in Otto Penzler's Mysterious Bookshop series of individually published bibliomystery stories.
A mobchief had kept a mysterious journal that purportedly had a record of all of his transactions in it. When he dies, the journal can't be found and nervous politicians and mobsters alike seek the book. Both come to Hammer to buy the book or have Hammer find it.
A mobchief had kept a mysterious journal that purportedly had a record of all of his transactions in it. When he dies, the journal can't be found and nervous politicians and mobsters alike seek the book. Both come to Hammer to buy the book or have Hammer find it.
July 12, 2022
Short, to the point, and reading like a somewhat more evolved Mike Hammer. I mean, it's set vaguely in the 80's (which really messes with my mind because Mike Hammer is always black and white and kind of 40's noir in my head so doesn't this make him like... ANCIENT?)
More charmingly, it's part of the specially printed set of mini books done by The Mysterious Bookshop in NYC. One of their Bibliomysteries. The concept alone delights me and I want to read them all now.
More charmingly, it's part of the specially printed set of mini books done by The Mysterious Bookshop in NYC. One of their Bibliomysteries. The concept alone delights me and I want to read them all now.
May 27, 2021
Max Allan Collins is the best
I love the Bibliomysteries Books and this one by Collins is the best yet a sweet ride thru the world of one of my favorite PI's Mike Hammer looking for a Dying Mafia Don's ledger that could be trouble for both sides of the law and those caught the middle an excellent read
I love the Bibliomysteries Books and this one by Collins is the best yet a sweet ride thru the world of one of my favorite PI's Mike Hammer looking for a Dying Mafia Don's ledger that could be trouble for both sides of the law and those caught the middle an excellent read
September 22, 2023
Collins did a good job of playing Spillane…
…but the story is fairly mundane. “It’s in the Book” does feature a book, fitting the Bibliomysteries series theme. The characters and dialogue, centered around P.I. Mike Hammer, carry on Mickey Spillane’s style, but the plot develops in a fairly ho-hum way, and the clever ending isn’t really all that clever.
…but the story is fairly mundane. “It’s in the Book” does feature a book, fitting the Bibliomysteries series theme. The characters and dialogue, centered around P.I. Mike Hammer, carry on Mickey Spillane’s style, but the plot develops in a fairly ho-hum way, and the clever ending isn’t really all that clever.
February 26, 2021
Никакъв сюжет, никаква интрига и със сигурност прекалено много описания на женското тяло...
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No plot, no intrigue and definitely too much stuff about a woman's body...
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No plot, no intrigue and definitely too much stuff about a woman's body...
October 9, 2021
A hard-boiled bibliomystery?
May 15, 2022
Typical Hammer humor. The ending was a let down and unbelievable, but all-in-all, a fun read.
June 17, 2022
Cute story about a dangerous book. You might be a bit surprised to learn the contents of the book when the story is over.
December 31, 2023
This was fine! I love this little series, perfect bite sized stories.
January 16, 2024
67/100
Engaging short. Not much value though.
Engaging short. Not much value though.
December 12, 2015
GESTATTEN: MIKE HAMMER...
Der raubeinige Privatdetektiv Mike Hammer ist überraschenden Besuch in seinem Büro gewöhnt. Doch nun überschlagen sich die Ereignisse. Unbekannte Polizisten und bekannte Gangster geben sich die Klinke in die Hand - und alle sind nervös. Denn Don Nicholas Giraldi ist tot, der Mafia-Pate aus New York. Hier geht es nicht nur um die mögliche Nachfolge, sondern hier geht es vor allem um ein Buch. Ein höchst brisantes Buch, das alle fürchten, denn es handelt sich hierbei um die geheimen Aufzeichnungen des Paten, in denen alle Namen und Taten verzeichnet sein sollen, mit denen Giraldi im Laufe der Zeit zu tun hatte...
"Der Don hatte lange Zeit die Fäden in der Hand... seit Ende der vierziger Jahre, um genau zu sein. In einigen Dingen war er nach heutigen Maßstäben bis zum Schluss ein wenig altmodisch. Eine seiner besonders kauzigen Angewohnheiten bestand darin, sich über jedes Geschäft, jede Vereinbarung, die er traf, handschriftlich Notizen zu machen. Kein Mensch weiß ganz genau, was in diesem Buch stand."
Doch dieses Buch ist verschwunden. Und Mike Hammer erhält jetzt von verschiedenen Seiten die ehrenvolle Aufgabe, sich auf die Suche nach dem Buch zu machen. Dem Privatdetektiv ist klar, dass er kaum eine Chance hat, heil aus dieser Sache herauszukommen. Zu viele Interessen prallen hier aufeinander, und jeder Mitwisser ist einer zu viel...
Als ich zu Beginn der Lektüre die Worte 'Mafia' und 'Privatdetektiv' las, verzog ich ehrlich gesagt erst einmal das Gesicht. Beides reizt mich in der Regel nicht sonderlich, aber ich muss gestehen: hier lohnte sich das Weiterlesen! Dies lag zum einen sicherlich an der raubeinigen Art von Mike Hammer, der mich mit seinem Zynismus und seinen coolen Sprüchen immer wieder zum Lachen brachte - nicht zuletzt bekamen hier auch Politik und Religion gehörig ihr Fett weg. Zum anderen war es aber auch die interessante Thematik, die wirklich Spannung erzeugte. Was war das für ein Buch? Wer konnte es haben? Was stand wirklich darin? Wie konnte der Privatdetektiv seine eigene Haut retten? Und wie viele Tote würde es letztlich geben?
"Der Krieg hat mir gezeigt, dass Gott das alles entweder ziemlich egal ist oder er einen schrägen Sinn für Humor hat."
Wie die Informationen über die Autoren berichten, hat Mickey Spillane im Laufe seines Lebens zahlreiche Romane mit dem Privatdetektiv Mike Hammer verfasst. Diese Geschichte schrieb nach Spillanes Tod sein langjähriger guter Freund Max Allan Collins zu Ende, den er als 'literarischen Erben' eingesetzt hatte. Es ist der Erzählung kein Bruch anzumerken - ich hätte nicht sagen können, wo der eine aufgehört und der andere den Faden aufgenommen hat. Auch wirkt die Figur des Mike Hammer ausgereift, was wohl auch darauf zurückzuführen ist, dass es eben nicht das erste Buch mit dem Privatdetektiv ist.
Insgesamt hat mich diese Folge der Biblio-Mysteries deutlich besser unterhalten als ich anfangs erwartet hatte. Dies war bereits der vorletzte Band der Reihe (13 Folgen gibt es insgesamt), in der es immer um Kriminalfälle geht, die im Zusammenhang mit Büchern stehen: mit alten Büchern, seltenen Manuskripten, unschätzbaren Stücken. Und natürlich geht es auch um diejenigen, die sie unbedingt haben wollen: Buchhändler, exzentrische Sammler, Bibliothekare, Buchliebhaber - oder einfach: Leser.
Nun freue ich mich auf die letzte Folge der Reihe!
© Parden
Der raubeinige Privatdetektiv Mike Hammer ist überraschenden Besuch in seinem Büro gewöhnt. Doch nun überschlagen sich die Ereignisse. Unbekannte Polizisten und bekannte Gangster geben sich die Klinke in die Hand - und alle sind nervös. Denn Don Nicholas Giraldi ist tot, der Mafia-Pate aus New York. Hier geht es nicht nur um die mögliche Nachfolge, sondern hier geht es vor allem um ein Buch. Ein höchst brisantes Buch, das alle fürchten, denn es handelt sich hierbei um die geheimen Aufzeichnungen des Paten, in denen alle Namen und Taten verzeichnet sein sollen, mit denen Giraldi im Laufe der Zeit zu tun hatte...
"Der Don hatte lange Zeit die Fäden in der Hand... seit Ende der vierziger Jahre, um genau zu sein. In einigen Dingen war er nach heutigen Maßstäben bis zum Schluss ein wenig altmodisch. Eine seiner besonders kauzigen Angewohnheiten bestand darin, sich über jedes Geschäft, jede Vereinbarung, die er traf, handschriftlich Notizen zu machen. Kein Mensch weiß ganz genau, was in diesem Buch stand."
Doch dieses Buch ist verschwunden. Und Mike Hammer erhält jetzt von verschiedenen Seiten die ehrenvolle Aufgabe, sich auf die Suche nach dem Buch zu machen. Dem Privatdetektiv ist klar, dass er kaum eine Chance hat, heil aus dieser Sache herauszukommen. Zu viele Interessen prallen hier aufeinander, und jeder Mitwisser ist einer zu viel...
Als ich zu Beginn der Lektüre die Worte 'Mafia' und 'Privatdetektiv' las, verzog ich ehrlich gesagt erst einmal das Gesicht. Beides reizt mich in der Regel nicht sonderlich, aber ich muss gestehen: hier lohnte sich das Weiterlesen! Dies lag zum einen sicherlich an der raubeinigen Art von Mike Hammer, der mich mit seinem Zynismus und seinen coolen Sprüchen immer wieder zum Lachen brachte - nicht zuletzt bekamen hier auch Politik und Religion gehörig ihr Fett weg. Zum anderen war es aber auch die interessante Thematik, die wirklich Spannung erzeugte. Was war das für ein Buch? Wer konnte es haben? Was stand wirklich darin? Wie konnte der Privatdetektiv seine eigene Haut retten? Und wie viele Tote würde es letztlich geben?
"Der Krieg hat mir gezeigt, dass Gott das alles entweder ziemlich egal ist oder er einen schrägen Sinn für Humor hat."
Wie die Informationen über die Autoren berichten, hat Mickey Spillane im Laufe seines Lebens zahlreiche Romane mit dem Privatdetektiv Mike Hammer verfasst. Diese Geschichte schrieb nach Spillanes Tod sein langjähriger guter Freund Max Allan Collins zu Ende, den er als 'literarischen Erben' eingesetzt hatte. Es ist der Erzählung kein Bruch anzumerken - ich hätte nicht sagen können, wo der eine aufgehört und der andere den Faden aufgenommen hat. Auch wirkt die Figur des Mike Hammer ausgereift, was wohl auch darauf zurückzuführen ist, dass es eben nicht das erste Buch mit dem Privatdetektiv ist.
Insgesamt hat mich diese Folge der Biblio-Mysteries deutlich besser unterhalten als ich anfangs erwartet hatte. Dies war bereits der vorletzte Band der Reihe (13 Folgen gibt es insgesamt), in der es immer um Kriminalfälle geht, die im Zusammenhang mit Büchern stehen: mit alten Büchern, seltenen Manuskripten, unschätzbaren Stücken. Und natürlich geht es auch um diejenigen, die sie unbedingt haben wollen: Buchhändler, exzentrische Sammler, Bibliothekare, Buchliebhaber - oder einfach: Leser.
Nun freue ich mich auf die letzte Folge der Reihe!
© Parden
May 20, 2017
"Мистериозно-виртуозно" в link: Wanderbook
Пише го в книгата" на Мики Спилейн и Макс Алън Колинс започна точно като детективска история в стил ноар. Тесен офис, детектив с бутилка в ръката, красива секретарка, която държи пистолет под бюрото. И тайнствена книга, принадлежала на бос от мафията, до която всички искат да се докопат след смъртта му. Тази новелка определено имаше повече плът от предната. Героите си имаха минало, имаха си история, и това накара настоящия случай да изпъкне и да си заслужи 4 звезди.
Пише го в книгата" на Мики Спилейн и Макс Алън Колинс започна точно като детективска история в стил ноар. Тесен офис, детектив с бутилка в ръката, красива секретарка, която държи пистолет под бюрото. И тайнствена книга, принадлежала на бос от мафията, до която всички искат да се докопат след смъртта му. Тази новелка определено имаше повече плът от предната. Героите си имаха минало, имаха си история, и това накара настоящия случай да изпъкне и да си заслужи 4 звезди.
July 21, 2017
“It’s In The Book” is a short 36-page piece Mike Hammer piece. Hammer is the legendary private investigator that Spillane invented and is indeed known the toughest one-man army ever. This is a short little treat about a Don who kept a ledger of transactions and left it to someone he trusted when he died. The feds want Hammer to find the ledger and the Don’s son, who is the heir apparent, wants the Don’s secrets as well. Both are willing to pay Hammer a terrific sum for finding it. What’s great about this short piece is it has the tough-guy Hammer in it and a sense of humor as well. Since this is just a short piece it should not be compared with full- length Hammer novels. Worth reading for Hammer enthusiasts and for those who want an easy introduction to the legendary PI.
December 15, 2014
Don Nicholas Giraldi had passed away. The legend was that he kept a ledger with every crooked payoff, whether it be cops, politicians, business rivals, all listed. His dying wods were that he left it to the one he trusted the most.
And to most everybody that was Mike Hammer.
Hammer had done a number of jobs for the Mafia man over the years and the old man had reciprocated, helping Hammer out of the occasional mess with other Crime families.
Now everybody wanted it, from a U.S. Senator to the late Don's nephew to members of the other five families. The Senator offered Hammer ten grand, the nephew a hundred, for him to find the book.
A brief note by Mr. Collins says it was unclear when Spillane started the story, but certain elements within the fragment suggested the eighties. Collins followed that lead.
Liked this one.
And to most everybody that was Mike Hammer.
Hammer had done a number of jobs for the Mafia man over the years and the old man had reciprocated, helping Hammer out of the occasional mess with other Crime families.
Now everybody wanted it, from a U.S. Senator to the late Don's nephew to members of the other five families. The Senator offered Hammer ten grand, the nephew a hundred, for him to find the book.
A brief note by Mr. Collins says it was unclear when Spillane started the story, but certain elements within the fragment suggested the eighties. Collins followed that lead.
Liked this one.
June 15, 2014
Like a number of stories and novels that weren't completed at the time of his death, friend and collaborator, Max Allan Collins finished and polished this e-book story thought to have been started in the 80s.
A tale of a late mob boss's hidden ledger, and the criminals and cops who will stop at nothing to get it, this is classic, hard-boiled fun.
Although never in the same league as Raymond Chandler, Mickey Spillane nevertheless always managed to deliver a good time.
A tale of a late mob boss's hidden ledger, and the criminals and cops who will stop at nothing to get it, this is classic, hard-boiled fun.
Although never in the same league as Raymond Chandler, Mickey Spillane nevertheless always managed to deliver a good time.
June 5, 2016
Good quick hit. Felt a little more MAC than Spillane (which is fine in my opinion, never been a big Spillane fan). Recommended, as are all the books in the Mysterious Bookshop bibliomystery series.
August 19, 2014
very good read
April 27, 2017
Another great short story - from the bibliomysteries list. Nice twist at the end.
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