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Cornered
CORNERED
Steve Grogan was a cop but he quit the force and is hiding out with his young daughter. He’s got information that will put Henderson away for good, and Henderson knows it. He’s threatened Grogan’s daughter so the two of them head west with Vi and Rocco as look-outs. Now the four of them are living in a cabana, just waiting for Henderson’s men to find them.
Which they do. So Grogan sends back a warning to Henderson to buy them some time. In the meantime, he meets Terry, a local nightclub singer… and Liza, a sweet kid living in a nearby cabana. How could Grogen know that one of them is working with Henderson, and that the trap has already been set?
Black Gat #69
Steve Grogan was a cop but he quit the force and is hiding out with his young daughter. He’s got information that will put Henderson away for good, and Henderson knows it. He’s threatened Grogan’s daughter so the two of them head west with Vi and Rocco as look-outs. Now the four of them are living in a cabana, just waiting for Henderson’s men to find them.
Which they do. So Grogan sends back a warning to Henderson to buy them some time. In the meantime, he meets Terry, a local nightclub singer… and Liza, a sweet kid living in a nearby cabana. How could Grogen know that one of them is working with Henderson, and that the trap has already been set?
Black Gat #69
- GenresCrime
151 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 8, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 15, 2025
Originally published in 1958 as part of an Ace Double, now republished by Black Gat Books (Stark House Press), “Cornered” was Oscar Lewis King’s only novel. King was a character actor and then a movie director and a television director for every Western series including Gunsmoke, and other shows.
“Cornered” starts right in the middle of the action. Steve Grogan, an ex-police officer whose wife died, left him with an inheritance and three year old Betsy to look after. That’s a lot to deal with, but Grogan has the goods on a local mobster -Henderson- and the mob will stop at nothing to prevent Grogan from testifying and they know little Betsy is his weak spot. If they can get their hands on her, they can keep him from testifying.
Grogan is hiding out with Betsy and an older couple he knows at a local motel that has a restaurant with a nightclub. But he’s tired of hiding out and is ready to take action, which includes whatever it takes. That could mean bursting into a hotel room and threatening the hoods who are after him or paying one of them to take out the rest. Grogan has to do whatever it takes to protect his daughter.
And it gets more complicated when the hoods continue to come after him and one of the two women Grogan is sweet on is implicated but he doesn’t know which one.
King offers the reader a compact, jet-fueled bundle of excitement with “Cornered.”
“Cornered” starts right in the middle of the action. Steve Grogan, an ex-police officer whose wife died, left him with an inheritance and three year old Betsy to look after. That’s a lot to deal with, but Grogan has the goods on a local mobster -Henderson- and the mob will stop at nothing to prevent Grogan from testifying and they know little Betsy is his weak spot. If they can get their hands on her, they can keep him from testifying.
Grogan is hiding out with Betsy and an older couple he knows at a local motel that has a restaurant with a nightclub. But he’s tired of hiding out and is ready to take action, which includes whatever it takes. That could mean bursting into a hotel room and threatening the hoods who are after him or paying one of them to take out the rest. Grogan has to do whatever it takes to protect his daughter.
And it gets more complicated when the hoods continue to come after him and one of the two women Grogan is sweet on is implicated but he doesn’t know which one.
King offers the reader a compact, jet-fueled bundle of excitement with “Cornered.”
March 22, 2025
Black Gat No.69
Originally published in 1958 by Ace books, Cornered is Louis King’s (1898–1962) only novel. Sometimes known as Lewis King, the author spent most of his career in film and television. Beginning as an actor during the silent era, King went on to direct westerns and adventure films, and transitioned to television in the 1950s directing episodes of Gunsmoke, Zane Grey, and Wild Bill Hickok. Although he directed a lot of westerns, he also had plenty of experience with detective pictures including three entries into the Bulldog Drummond series, and Charlie Chan in Egypt (as Luis King).
King’s familiarity with crime stories no doubt helped him craft a fast-paced, engaging novel for Ace. Steve Grogan is a tough, seasoned cop. He married well, and when his wife’s father died, she inherited a fortune. Fast forward a few more years, when she herself died after giving birth to a daughter, Betsy, and Grogan is left a widower, single father, and rich. He soon quits the force, but before leaving, vows to testify against gangman Marc Henderson. As our story opens Henderson is out to put an end to Grogan through assassination or kidnapping young Betsy to force the ex-cop from testifying. Grogan does his best disappearing act, but Henderson is smart, savvy, and resourceful. In short order, Grogan is cornered, with Henderson and his minions closing in for the kill.
Black Gat brings back buried treasure with Cornered. It’s a nonstop juggernaut with barely a moment spared to catch your breath.
Originally published in 1958 by Ace books, Cornered is Louis King’s (1898–1962) only novel. Sometimes known as Lewis King, the author spent most of his career in film and television. Beginning as an actor during the silent era, King went on to direct westerns and adventure films, and transitioned to television in the 1950s directing episodes of Gunsmoke, Zane Grey, and Wild Bill Hickok. Although he directed a lot of westerns, he also had plenty of experience with detective pictures including three entries into the Bulldog Drummond series, and Charlie Chan in Egypt (as Luis King).
King’s familiarity with crime stories no doubt helped him craft a fast-paced, engaging novel for Ace. Steve Grogan is a tough, seasoned cop. He married well, and when his wife’s father died, she inherited a fortune. Fast forward a few more years, when she herself died after giving birth to a daughter, Betsy, and Grogan is left a widower, single father, and rich. He soon quits the force, but before leaving, vows to testify against gangman Marc Henderson. As our story opens Henderson is out to put an end to Grogan through assassination or kidnapping young Betsy to force the ex-cop from testifying. Grogan does his best disappearing act, but Henderson is smart, savvy, and resourceful. In short order, Grogan is cornered, with Henderson and his minions closing in for the kill.
Black Gat brings back buried treasure with Cornered. It’s a nonstop juggernaut with barely a moment spared to catch your breath.
July 12, 2026
3.5
Though not entirely first-rate, this is still a fast-moving, entertaining book that can be read over a couple of days.
Steve Grogan is an ex-cop in hiding with his young daughter, Betsy. He is a widowed single dad and hiding from a gangster thug by the name of Henderson - and his goons. Henserson is after Grogan as he has some evidence against Henderson that would put him away for good if brought to a court.
Henderson knows how to scare Grogan in the worst possible way; threating the safety of his daughter.
Hence Steve Grogan's hiding in a desert like setting at a roadside inn with a couple to help him in guarding his daughter's safety. In this location he meets two women; a singer he is falling for and another women staying at a room next door. He is living in a world where no one can be trusted fully - are either of these two women working for his enemy Henderson, and a threat to his daughter's safety? Thugs have already located Grogan's whereabouts and have made threats against his life.
The book keeps us turning the pages as Grogan confronts Henderson directly when the gangster's fate seems doomed and he has nothing to lose if he is caught for killing his nemesis.
Overall, a good book, I was reading it when there were stressful issues on my mind, which may have had some impact on my ability to fully enjoy the book. If it wasn't to be a completely successful reading experience, it may have been a case of It's Not You Book, It's Me.
The few other people to have reviewed it gave the book full thumbs up, so I'd take their word for it.
Though not entirely first-rate, this is still a fast-moving, entertaining book that can be read over a couple of days.
Steve Grogan is an ex-cop in hiding with his young daughter, Betsy. He is a widowed single dad and hiding from a gangster thug by the name of Henderson - and his goons. Henserson is after Grogan as he has some evidence against Henderson that would put him away for good if brought to a court.
Henderson knows how to scare Grogan in the worst possible way; threating the safety of his daughter.
Hence Steve Grogan's hiding in a desert like setting at a roadside inn with a couple to help him in guarding his daughter's safety. In this location he meets two women; a singer he is falling for and another women staying at a room next door. He is living in a world where no one can be trusted fully - are either of these two women working for his enemy Henderson, and a threat to his daughter's safety? Thugs have already located Grogan's whereabouts and have made threats against his life.
The book keeps us turning the pages as Grogan confronts Henderson directly when the gangster's fate seems doomed and he has nothing to lose if he is caught for killing his nemesis.
Overall, a good book, I was reading it when there were stressful issues on my mind, which may have had some impact on my ability to fully enjoy the book. If it wasn't to be a completely successful reading experience, it may have been a case of It's Not You Book, It's Me.
The few other people to have reviewed it gave the book full thumbs up, so I'd take their word for it.
August 24, 2026
I’ve really been enjoying Black Gat books reprints and this mid-century novel was no exception. It moves along at a brisk pace and provides the reader with insight into both the minds of the hero and the villain, all while keeping you guessing about the exact nature of things. It storms to a satisfying, if abrupt, finish. A short, fun read!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews