What do you think?
Rate this book
Nameless Detective #45
Zigzag: A Nameless Detective Collection
Two novellas and two short stories featuring Mystery Writers of America Grandmaster Bill Pronzini's iconic Nameless Detective!
Zigzag is an original novella, in which a safe and simple accident investigation becomes the unraveling of a twisted murder scheme. Grapplin , which first appeared in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine , deals with the kind of missing person case that can end in only one of two ways, closure or heartbreak. In the second short, Nightscape , readers discover how, indeed, one thing just leads to another (First published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine as The Winning Ticket ). The final work, Revenant , is another original novella and entangles Nameless in a weird crime with fearful occult overtones. "Proficient." - Kirkus Reviews
Zigzag is an original novella, in which a safe and simple accident investigation becomes the unraveling of a twisted murder scheme. Grapplin , which first appeared in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine , deals with the kind of missing person case that can end in only one of two ways, closure or heartbreak. In the second short, Nightscape , readers discover how, indeed, one thing just leads to another (First published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine as The Winning Ticket ). The final work, Revenant , is another original novella and entangles Nameless in a weird crime with fearful occult overtones. "Proficient." - Kirkus Reviews
272 pages, Hardcover
First published May 17, 2016
8 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Bill Pronzini
625 books235 followersMystery Writers of America Awards "Grand Master" 2008
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1999) for Boobytrap
Edgar Awards Best Novel nominee (1998) for A Wasteland of Strangers
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) for Sentinels
Shamus Awards "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) 1987
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1982) for Hoodwink
Married to author Marcia Muller.
Pseudonyms:
Robert Hart Davis (collaboration with Jeffrey M. Wallmann)
Jack Foxx
William Jeffrey (collaboration with Jeffrey M. Wallmann)
Alex Saxon
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1999) for Boobytrap
Edgar Awards Best Novel nominee (1998) for A Wasteland of Strangers
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) for Sentinels
Shamus Awards "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) 1987
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1982) for Hoodwink
Married to author Marcia Muller.
Pseudonyms:
Robert Hart Davis (collaboration with Jeffrey M. Wallmann)
Jack Foxx
William Jeffrey (collaboration with Jeffrey M. Wallmann)
Alex Saxon
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
December 22, 2017
I came at this having not read any entries in the Nameless Detective for many years. Though solidly written, as you'd expect from Pronzini, I came away with mixed feelings about where the series is at now. Every series changes as the character grows older — and hopefully wiser — and this one certainly has. Having more characters, being semi-retired and sharing the business with Tamara, was not my problem with this, however. It was missing the atmosphere of San Francisco, the lean toward the hardboiled while remaining human negligible, and just any general spark to these stories, that while not a roaring flame, made my recollection of earlier books in the series quite fond.
It isn’t that I didn’t enjoy it to a fair degree, but I definitely recommend it more for fans of the series than anyone approaching the series for the first time. To anyone who hasn’t read a Nameless story, I’d urge them to go further back in this series. Some series get better as they go along, yet others either peter out or go on too long. Having not kept up with Nameless over the years, I can’t say with certainty that the latter is the case here, but I do recommend trying the earlier books in the series before this one. Now, the short stories in this collection:
The two shorter stories is where Pronzini and Nameless Detective shined for me. The second short story, NIGHTSCAPE, begins on a rainy night in a diner where Nameless and his pal Jake Runyon are waiting to make a nab. But then a couple come in to get out of the rain, and Nameless realizes something isn’t right about them. This is an atmospheric little short story with a twist, and a touch of irony. This started off the read great for me, because I skipped to the two short stories sandwiched between the two novellas, which bookend the collection.
The other short story, GRAPPLIN’, is the real gem, not just of the two short stories, but of this collection. It’s about an old and sick black trumpeter who wants Tamara — and Nameless — to find his niece Robin. I won’t reveal more, but will say this is sad and moving, and truly vintage stuff.
Okay, onto the novellas. ZIG ZAG, like most of Pronzini’s stuff, is well-plotted, so I can’t give much away. It starts out as a simple insurance claim, but ends up being much more. It takes a while to get going, but it’s solid, and as I mentioned, well-plotted. It didn’t have that moment, as the briefer Grapplin’ did, however, which gave it a spark, or made me feel like telling someone else about it.
The final novella was the story I had the most problems with. REVENANT had Pronzini taking Nameless into X-Files territory, as it’s all about a guy named Vox who may have risen from the dead — or not. There’s all kinds of occult stuff thrown into the story, including Devil worship, but of course in the end — well, I can’t tell you that, but you’ll probably easily figure it out, as this one is more about atmosphere. Even after the case is solved, Pronzini leaves something up in the air as to the occult stuff at the end, but it just felt forced and artificial to me.
Two good short stories, one fairly good novella, and one novella I just didn’t care for much, so 3.5 for me. Normally, I round up, but I think in this instance I’ll go with three, because of Revenant, and because I think this will be far more appealing to die-hard fans who have followed Nameless from the beginning, rather than a reader coming at it cold, or perhaps returning to it after many years as I did. I remember both short stories well, the first novella not quite as much, and would rather forget the last. So a mixed bag for me.
It isn’t that I didn’t enjoy it to a fair degree, but I definitely recommend it more for fans of the series than anyone approaching the series for the first time. To anyone who hasn’t read a Nameless story, I’d urge them to go further back in this series. Some series get better as they go along, yet others either peter out or go on too long. Having not kept up with Nameless over the years, I can’t say with certainty that the latter is the case here, but I do recommend trying the earlier books in the series before this one. Now, the short stories in this collection:
The two shorter stories is where Pronzini and Nameless Detective shined for me. The second short story, NIGHTSCAPE, begins on a rainy night in a diner where Nameless and his pal Jake Runyon are waiting to make a nab. But then a couple come in to get out of the rain, and Nameless realizes something isn’t right about them. This is an atmospheric little short story with a twist, and a touch of irony. This started off the read great for me, because I skipped to the two short stories sandwiched between the two novellas, which bookend the collection.
The other short story, GRAPPLIN’, is the real gem, not just of the two short stories, but of this collection. It’s about an old and sick black trumpeter who wants Tamara — and Nameless — to find his niece Robin. I won’t reveal more, but will say this is sad and moving, and truly vintage stuff.
Okay, onto the novellas. ZIG ZAG, like most of Pronzini’s stuff, is well-plotted, so I can’t give much away. It starts out as a simple insurance claim, but ends up being much more. It takes a while to get going, but it’s solid, and as I mentioned, well-plotted. It didn’t have that moment, as the briefer Grapplin’ did, however, which gave it a spark, or made me feel like telling someone else about it.
The final novella was the story I had the most problems with. REVENANT had Pronzini taking Nameless into X-Files territory, as it’s all about a guy named Vox who may have risen from the dead — or not. There’s all kinds of occult stuff thrown into the story, including Devil worship, but of course in the end — well, I can’t tell you that, but you’ll probably easily figure it out, as this one is more about atmosphere. Even after the case is solved, Pronzini leaves something up in the air as to the occult stuff at the end, but it just felt forced and artificial to me.
Two good short stories, one fairly good novella, and one novella I just didn’t care for much, so 3.5 for me. Normally, I round up, but I think in this instance I’ll go with three, because of Revenant, and because I think this will be far more appealing to die-hard fans who have followed Nameless from the beginning, rather than a reader coming at it cold, or perhaps returning to it after many years as I did. I remember both short stories well, the first novella not quite as much, and would rather forget the last. So a mixed bag for me.
May 27, 2016
"Zigzag" by Bill Pronzini is (depending on who is counting) the 43'd or 44'th "Nameless" Detective book. If one is a fan of "Nameless" or Mr. Pronzini admiration must be doled out.
What this book contains are two novellas and two short stories and the table of contents is:
011 - "Zigzag"
131 - "Graplin'"
151 - "Nightscape"
163 - "Revenant"
"Zigzag" appears to be the newest entry into the series, according to the timeline within the story, and is also the best of the collection. Mr. Pronzini is firing on all cylinders as he tells the story of an accident investigation that unfolds into a completely divergent direction involving kidnapping, murder and other crimes. If I had any complaint, it would be Mr. Pronzini's slightly condescending representation of the antagonists. However, the story is still an exciting thrill ride down the side of a perilous road.
The next two stories were published in "Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine" in 2014 and 2007 respectively and are slices of events and incidents in the life of "Nameless".
The last story "Revenant" appears to take place slightly prior to "Zigzag" and is an attempt to enter into the world of the wyrd and strange surrounding the events of a deadly car collision and a curse placed upon the causer of the incident. Although "Nameless" admits that the occult is far from something he believes in, he still takes the case and caries out the investigation.
All in all a solid entry into this on going series that began with the novel "The Snatch" back in 1971.
What this book contains are two novellas and two short stories and the table of contents is:
011 - "Zigzag"
131 - "Graplin'"
151 - "Nightscape"
163 - "Revenant"
"Zigzag" appears to be the newest entry into the series, according to the timeline within the story, and is also the best of the collection. Mr. Pronzini is firing on all cylinders as he tells the story of an accident investigation that unfolds into a completely divergent direction involving kidnapping, murder and other crimes. If I had any complaint, it would be Mr. Pronzini's slightly condescending representation of the antagonists. However, the story is still an exciting thrill ride down the side of a perilous road.
The next two stories were published in "Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine" in 2014 and 2007 respectively and are slices of events and incidents in the life of "Nameless".
The last story "Revenant" appears to take place slightly prior to "Zigzag" and is an attempt to enter into the world of the wyrd and strange surrounding the events of a deadly car collision and a curse placed upon the causer of the incident. Although "Nameless" admits that the occult is far from something he believes in, he still takes the case and caries out the investigation.
All in all a solid entry into this on going series that began with the novel "The Snatch" back in 1971.
August 22, 2016
Short stories with a good narrator and a few decent tales. 6 of 10 stars
January 9, 2017
...the Skid Row pocket remained mostly unchanged, as filled as ever with drunks and drug addicts and hookers and scruffy bars and cheap lodging places......You walked carefully in that neighbourhood after dark. I walked carefully even though it was only seven o'clock....
Zigzag: A Nameless Detective Collection brings together two contemporary novellas and two short stories, based in the San Francisco area. The detective agency teams a semi-retired experienced partner with a tech-savvy, business-smart young woman, with two former detectives along for the heavy-lifting.
In 'Zigzag', the setting is Russian River in the redwood forest areas in the north of the State; the context is to locate witnesses to a 2-vehicle accident for an insurance claim, which leads to the discovery of a double homicide. 'Revenant' has paranormal undertones masking a crime....
Bill Pronzini is a skillful storyteller; blending keen character descriptions with well-developed plots and classic humour. Violence and sexual references are low-key, giving it a broader appeal. Very enjoyable.
Zigzag: A Nameless Detective Collection brings together two contemporary novellas and two short stories, based in the San Francisco area. The detective agency teams a semi-retired experienced partner with a tech-savvy, business-smart young woman, with two former detectives along for the heavy-lifting.
In 'Zigzag', the setting is Russian River in the redwood forest areas in the north of the State; the context is to locate witnesses to a 2-vehicle accident for an insurance claim, which leads to the discovery of a double homicide. 'Revenant' has paranormal undertones masking a crime....
Bill Pronzini is a skillful storyteller; blending keen character descriptions with well-developed plots and classic humour. Violence and sexual references are low-key, giving it a broader appeal. Very enjoyable.
July 24, 2016
Zigzag is a collection of two novellas and two short stories. While the short stories are okay, it's the novellas that keep your attention. Zigzag is the best, IMO. When her husband is killed in what appears to be a murder-suicide, a woman goes to Nameless to find the truth about his death. She doesn't believe the police version. It's an excellent read. The other novella I didn't care that much about because the ending was pretty obvious.
All in all this is a good addition to the Nameless series.
All in all this is a good addition to the Nameless series.
September 20, 2017
This mix of novellas and short stories provides a good menu from low calorie to very satisfying. It is only the second nameless detective book I have read and will try to go back to earlier offerings.
May 17, 2016
Okay, three stars is probably unfair, because it's my fault I chose a book of four stories and I don't like stories -- I like novels. Zigzag, the first in this book, is actually a novella. And it's good. Author Pronzini's Nameless detective is a great guy, a family man, semi-retired, has a respected agency down the Peninsula from San Francisco, so the setting is killer. His partner Tamara and agent Jake Runyon are superb support characters. So...Zigzag takes place a bit north, up in Dry Creek/Russian River area, one of my favorites. Good mystery. The other three stories are shorter but no less interesting. Definitely a worthwhile read...even for novel lovers like me.
January 8, 2018
A very enjoyable book. Short novellas with The Nameless Detective. Love this series and these are some very good ones. The last one is a real thriller and spooky story.
June 16, 2017
Four short stories comprise this book, two lengthy, and two quite succinct. In each, the No Name detective faces a moral or ethical dilemma: enforce the legalities of the situation or make a moral but satisfying judgment skirting the law. In “Zigzag,” which opens the quartet, he is retained by the widow of a man who is found dead, probably murdered, behind the locked doors of a remote cabin near the Russian River where he went to shack up with a woman who failed to show up for the tryst. Given the situation, the police write off the death as self-inflicted. No Name doubts the verdict and investigates despite the fact that it’s not his brief.
“Grapplin’ ” follows, the story of a man accused of murder, but innocent, who has hidden from the law for decades. In “Nightscape,” No Name is hired to solve an unusual event: solving two “cases” at the same time by accident. Then the final eerie story, “Revenant,” in which No Name is asked to find the reason the client is supposedly being haunted by a man who was killed in an auto accident the previous year. But things are not what they appear to be.
All interesting stories and well worth reading, and recommended.
“Grapplin’ ” follows, the story of a man accused of murder, but innocent, who has hidden from the law for decades. In “Nightscape,” No Name is hired to solve an unusual event: solving two “cases” at the same time by accident. Then the final eerie story, “Revenant,” in which No Name is asked to find the reason the client is supposedly being haunted by a man who was killed in an auto accident the previous year. But things are not what they appear to be.
All interesting stories and well worth reading, and recommended.
September 24, 2019
Bill Pronzini is still the Grand Master - probably the best writer of detective fiction. You can’t beat this series.
I love the California locale - I’ve been every place he ever mentions, from Atherton to the Russian River and all points in between!
I love the California locale - I’ve been every place he ever mentions, from Atherton to the Russian River and all points in between!
October 25, 2020
Cover format is familiar but this is not a novel, but rather 4 shorter pieces.
ZigZag: The opening short story has a strong start, similar to other Nameless tales set in the Norhern California backcountry, with that patented "something's wrong" suspense buildup.
Questions develop in what seemed to be a cut-and-dried case.
A convincing resolution.
Grapplin': a brief, familiar tale, lifted by our characters' compassion.
Nightscape: Just a tidbit, maybe more appropriately titled "How about that".
Revenant: Can't recall a Nameless opening like this, should prove absorbing if the mystery is sustained.
Enjoying the scene shift from San Francisco to my neck of the woods (South Bay/Santa Clara/San Jose/Campbell)
A very satisfying wrap-up.
Overall comment:
A successful collection - Pronzini is not only skilled at the traditional novel length but also adept at the pacing and distillation to the essentials of the shorter pieces without sacrificing characterization.
On to Endgame
ZigZag: The opening short story has a strong start, similar to other Nameless tales set in the Norhern California backcountry, with that patented "something's wrong" suspense buildup.
Questions develop in what seemed to be a cut-and-dried case.
A convincing resolution.
Grapplin': a brief, familiar tale, lifted by our characters' compassion.
Nightscape: Just a tidbit, maybe more appropriately titled "How about that".
Revenant: Can't recall a Nameless opening like this, should prove absorbing if the mystery is sustained.
Enjoying the scene shift from San Francisco to my neck of the woods (South Bay/Santa Clara/San Jose/Campbell)
A very satisfying wrap-up.
Overall comment:
A successful collection - Pronzini is not only skilled at the traditional novel length but also adept at the pacing and distillation to the essentials of the shorter pieces without sacrificing characterization.
On to Endgame
March 3, 2017
Another enjoyable "Nameless Detective" book. I've been a fan of this series since the very first book. The fact that it is set in the San Francisco Bay Area only makes it appeal to me more. I lived there for 32 years.
June 9, 2016
I love Bill Pronzini's books. This was a bit different in that it was a collection of short stories and novellas. All were as tightly plotted and paced as his books always are. The only unsatisfying story was Revenant.
The novella Zigzag began with the routine task of interviewing witnesses to an automobile accident. Because of holes in the interviews, Nameless interviews additional people and comes upon what appears to be a case of a shoot-out with each victim shooting the other. Nameless tries to let this rest, but then the wife of one of the victims hires him to learn more. The story unfolds with Pronzini's usual twists and turns.
Grapplin' and Nightscape are better described as short stories. Both are satisfying.
Revenant deals with the supernatural, a genre I do not generally read. I do not recall Pronzini writing in this genre before, but I could be wrong. The wealthy couple that hires Nameless claim to be haunted by a man from an automobile accident one year earlier. This is where I find the story beginning to lose my interest - Nameless takes the job. I find this part hard to believe. The story is well written, but I did not find it satisfying.
The novella Zigzag began with the routine task of interviewing witnesses to an automobile accident. Because of holes in the interviews, Nameless interviews additional people and comes upon what appears to be a case of a shoot-out with each victim shooting the other. Nameless tries to let this rest, but then the wife of one of the victims hires him to learn more. The story unfolds with Pronzini's usual twists and turns.
Grapplin' and Nightscape are better described as short stories. Both are satisfying.
Revenant deals with the supernatural, a genre I do not generally read. I do not recall Pronzini writing in this genre before, but I could be wrong. The wealthy couple that hires Nameless claim to be haunted by a man from an automobile accident one year earlier. This is where I find the story beginning to lose my interest - Nameless takes the job. I find this part hard to believe. The story is well written, but I did not find it satisfying.
May 7, 2018
I've read several of this author's Nameless series. I liked them a lot. This one is no exception. It has several stories of cases the detective worked. As you can see it is Book 45 in the series. I may have to add them to my Series Tab. Really good book!
December 8, 2024
Book synopsis: A collection of two novellas and two short stories from the first-person perspective of a nameless private detective as he investigates murders, insurance cases, missing loved ones, deadbeat dads, kidnappers, and the supernatural.
Book review: The short stories were really good but the novellas felt a little too padded and long-winded, although the scene descriptions were fantastic. Most stories start off with our nameless detective investigating "boring" cases that quickly spin into some heart-racing hunt or chase, making for a great story arc.
Individual story reviews:
Zigzag - 3 stars
Synopsis: Waylaid on a straightforward insurance case by the discovery of three dead bodies in an apparent drug deal gone wrong, our nameless detective is pulled into investigating the murder when the widow insists her murdered husband was no criminal.
Review: Gritty detective noir mysteries aren't generally my thing, but this was a good insight into the real side of private detective work, with a precariously thin zigzagging trail, dead ends, and a smattering of clues and events to keep you hooked.
Grapplin' - 4 stars
Synopsis: Our nameless detective and his partner track down the long lost niece of a dying man, but what else will they unearth?
Review: This sad short story of racial prejudice neatly questioned what justice means.
Nightscape - 4 stars
Synopsis: Another wet night for our nameless detective and his partner, staked out in a diner, when in walks trouble but not the kind they were waiting for.
Review: What a great short story that pulls you in from the get go, with the thrilling scene showcasing the perceptiveness of detectives for tying together little clues.
Revenant - 2 stars
Synopsis: Our nameless detective steps into the world of the supernatural when a client insists he is being haunted by the revengeful ghost of a satanist who died in a car accident the client was involved with.
Review: Not a fan of supernatural mysteries, particularly when the supernatural is shown to be real, as this destroys the whole detective element of the story.
Book review: The short stories were really good but the novellas felt a little too padded and long-winded, although the scene descriptions were fantastic. Most stories start off with our nameless detective investigating "boring" cases that quickly spin into some heart-racing hunt or chase, making for a great story arc.
Individual story reviews:
Zigzag - 3 stars
Synopsis: Waylaid on a straightforward insurance case by the discovery of three dead bodies in an apparent drug deal gone wrong, our nameless detective is pulled into investigating the murder when the widow insists her murdered husband was no criminal.
Review: Gritty detective noir mysteries aren't generally my thing, but this was a good insight into the real side of private detective work, with a precariously thin zigzagging trail, dead ends, and a smattering of clues and events to keep you hooked.
Grapplin' - 4 stars
Synopsis: Our nameless detective and his partner track down the long lost niece of a dying man, but what else will they unearth?
Review: This sad short story of racial prejudice neatly questioned what justice means.
Nightscape - 4 stars
Synopsis: Another wet night for our nameless detective and his partner, staked out in a diner, when in walks trouble but not the kind they were waiting for.
Review: What a great short story that pulls you in from the get go, with the thrilling scene showcasing the perceptiveness of detectives for tying together little clues.
Revenant - 2 stars
Synopsis: Our nameless detective steps into the world of the supernatural when a client insists he is being haunted by the revengeful ghost of a satanist who died in a car accident the client was involved with.
Review: Not a fan of supernatural mysteries, particularly when the supernatural is shown to be real, as this destroys the whole detective element of the story.
June 30, 2018
Nightscape - Quick story has Runyan and Nameless in a diner waiting apprehend a deadbeat dad. But while waiting for him to show up a couple walks in to the near empty place. The couple is acting "off", the women shaken and sick looking and the man brusk and short tempered. Runyan and Bill over hear part of their conversation - and it isn't good. So they follow the couple to the parking lot and after a scuffle they end up with two for the price of one.
Grapplin - When an old man comes into the agency to hire them to find his daughter. Who he hasn't seen in many years. But when Tamara does some background she finds the man ins't who he claims. And that puts Nameless and Tamara into a tough decision, but ultimately do the right thing.
Revenant - To be read in stand alone version.
ZigZag - Now that's the Nameless I haven't seen in a while. Although I like the other characters and Kerry a lot, it was nice to have it mainly Nameless. When a simple job of interviewing a few witnesses lead to the scene of a double murder, things get all ziggy zaggy. Short with all the fat cut out made this a lean, very good story. With only a novella (Revenant) and novel (Endgame) remaining I am getting a little sad this the end may be near.
Grapplin - When an old man comes into the agency to hire them to find his daughter. Who he hasn't seen in many years. But when Tamara does some background she finds the man ins't who he claims. And that puts Nameless and Tamara into a tough decision, but ultimately do the right thing.
Revenant - To be read in stand alone version.
ZigZag - Now that's the Nameless I haven't seen in a while. Although I like the other characters and Kerry a lot, it was nice to have it mainly Nameless. When a simple job of interviewing a few witnesses lead to the scene of a double murder, things get all ziggy zaggy. Short with all the fat cut out made this a lean, very good story. With only a novella (Revenant) and novel (Endgame) remaining I am getting a little sad this the end may be near.
August 9, 2018
This was different for me to read from Pronzini...I have read many of his books...and a few others than the nameless series but this was a first of short stories about nameless...I have to say I did enjoy them but maybe not as much as the full book stories I am used to...The last story in the book ... "Revenant" ...was something very far afield from his normal story and was more like a Stephen King...I think I liked that best of all the stories...The two middle ones...one ten pages ...one twenty...didnt have a enough substance for me to really dig in...but overall a good quick read ...I am on vacation and doing about a book a day so far...read the last hundred pages during dinner and in the hotel...would recommend for those of a good detective series...but if you want a real good one...choose one of his others...I would recommend starting toward the beginning but a later one will give you all of the cast...Enjoy!
April 24, 2019
This one is 3.5 stars rounded up.
A generally enjoyable book which is a group of short stories cleverly joined by the fact that the protagonist is the private investigator involved in each one.
The writing is solid although most of the characters are fairly one dimensional. In some cases the plots were 'different but unnecessarily convoluted' and the final installment 'Revenant' was too weird for my taste.
As far as mysteries go, this one is satisfactory but not brilliant.
A generally enjoyable book which is a group of short stories cleverly joined by the fact that the protagonist is the private investigator involved in each one.
The writing is solid although most of the characters are fairly one dimensional. In some cases the plots were 'different but unnecessarily convoluted' and the final installment 'Revenant' was too weird for my taste.
As far as mysteries go, this one is satisfactory but not brilliant.
January 24, 2018
Quick , compact stories .........
February 9, 2020
Entertaining and kept me turning the pages. It also is set in Northern California, which is a plus for me.
November 27, 2020
Enjoyed this collection and will have to find more mysteries involving the nameless detective.
December 20, 2020
Great read. “Grappling’” and “Revenant” were the best.
Read
January 10, 2023Hella paint-by-numbers
February 25, 2023
Always enjoyable. Not very hard to find you are working with Nameless Detective. This was a few stores an novellas.
April 18, 2025
Such a professional writer - and he gets the city right.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
June 17, 2025
Several short stories, a private eye is the main character
January 9, 2017
Nice read. Right up my sleeve.
December 27, 2016
AudioBook
March 14, 2017
42 WORD REVIEW:
It’s nice to have Nameless back as a sole investigator, even if only within a collection. The two previously published short stories are more vignettes than actual mysteries but the two original novellas offer more intrigue (albeit with less closure than usual).
It’s nice to have Nameless back as a sole investigator, even if only within a collection. The two previously published short stories are more vignettes than actual mysteries but the two original novellas offer more intrigue (albeit with less closure than usual).
December 17, 2016
Another Nameless Detective number with four pieces. His usual deft, easy-reading writing. You never stop to say, "What a beautiful sentence" or "Which 'he' just got shot" because the pronouns are misplaced. Just straightforward narrative with good dialogue, so nothing distracts you from the story--you just sail on.
Two pieces are original novellas. Two are short pieces from ELLERY QUEEN MYSTERY MAGAZINE. Is that still around? I had two stories published in EQMM many years ago. The first was an entry in the "Department of First Stories" which was for writers who hadn't previously published fiction. (I never fessed up to having some "confessions" published.) That First Story was subsequently reprinted in a hard cover collection of mysteries and in a text book for high school English.
It also let me be a "qualified" member of Mystery Writers of America -- as opposed to someone simply interested in mystery writing. Kept up the membership for several years, too.
Just put another of Pronzini's on reserve (on CD) at the library. Always a good read.
Two pieces are original novellas. Two are short pieces from ELLERY QUEEN MYSTERY MAGAZINE. Is that still around? I had two stories published in EQMM many years ago. The first was an entry in the "Department of First Stories" which was for writers who hadn't previously published fiction. (I never fessed up to having some "confessions" published.) That First Story was subsequently reprinted in a hard cover collection of mysteries and in a text book for high school English.
It also let me be a "qualified" member of Mystery Writers of America -- as opposed to someone simply interested in mystery writing. Kept up the membership for several years, too.
Just put another of Pronzini's on reserve (on CD) at the library. Always a good read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews