Guns

by Ed McBain

Strong spine with light wear. Bright clean cover has light shelf and edge wear. Text is perfect. Small stain on exterior pages. Same day shipping from AZ.

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Ebooks, Detective

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

"Ed McBain" is one of the pen names of American author and screenwriter Salvatore Albert Lombino (1926-2005), who legally adopted the name Evan Hunter in 1952.

While successful and well known as Evan Hunter, he was even better known as Ed McBain, a name he used for most of his crime fiction, beginning in 1956.

He also used the pen names John Abbott, Curt Cannon, Hunt Collins, Ezra Hannon, Dean Hudson, Evan Hunter, and Richard Marsten.

Reviews

[Karl]

This hardcover copy is signed by "Ed Mcbain".

[Aaron Martz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be the most violent and profane book I've ever read. From the opening dialogue to the chilling ending, it is one nonstop barrage of violence after another, and when it's not thrilling you with action, the protagonist (a cop killing criminal named Colley) is extolling on violence or sex. It's like a stream of consciousness experience of what it's like to think and act like a common criminal. The book takes place over about a twenty-four hour period, and is practically in real time. It feels completely authentic. Unique. A one hundred percent thrill ride. An adrenaline rush that is not for the faint of heart.

[Stewart Sternberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This feels like the author is working on his craft, but focusing on character. No one in this book is likeable. And for a character study, there's little if any internal conflict. Just my opinion.

All that being said, I love Ed McBain and will keep reading his work. It's a time capsule from the last century.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommend to all noir/hard boiled lovers.

[David L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A completely dislikable character who steered wrong and stayed on that wrong path from beginning to end. His last weekend comes undone with one catastrophe after another, nothing goes his way but not much ever did. Suddenly, he has insights that his crooked ways, which he loved and gave up one love for, might not be the path to big success. Inevitable ending.

[Claudio · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little hidden gem that I'm glad I've found.
I've got some problems with the ending and the secondary characters but overall it's a satisfying story.

[David Bonesteel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small-time armed robber is compelled to flee for his life when he kills a cop in a botched liquor store robbery. Over the subsequent 24 hours we learn a great deal about the psychology and life of Colley Donato and encounter, along with him, a bizarre gallery of characters, such as a buxom ex-stripper who nurses a murderous rage and a Jersey hillbilly family with a vicious dog. This is graphic, unsentimental stuff. There are no good guys and no one to root for, just a desperate criminal who deserves all the misfortune that comes his way. Evan Hunter's (AKA Ed McBain) spare but knowing prose is compulsively readable and he tells a savagely fascinating story.

[David B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small-time armed robber is compelled to flee for his life when he kills a cop in a botched liquor store robbery. Over the subsequent 24 hours we learn a great deal about the psychology and life of Colley Donato and encounter, along with him, a bizarre gallery of characters, such as a buxom ex-stripper who nurses a murderous rage and a Jersey hillbilly family with a vicious dog. This is graphic, unsentimental stuff. There are no good guys and no one to root for, just a desperate criminal who deserves all the misfortune that comes his way. Evan Hunter's (AKA Ed McBain) spare but knowing prose is compulsively readable and he tells a savagely fascinating story.

[Abdul Qadir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple. Effective. Brilliant. Guns got me into Ed McBain, and man oh man, was it a wonderful introduction. Set over a 24 hour period, this book has no nice guys in it... this is the raw, dirty, filthy and grimy experience of a small time crook out to save his skin. McBain delivers. Read if you're a fan of the crime genre.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in about 1977/78. I shouldn't have really had a copy but kids are sneaky. It's got a grimy LA Confidential / Mickey Spillane kinda feel to it, but set in 70's. I remembered it recently and will try and pick up more from the author.

[Eric C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy s**t! This book is hardcore. Gritty 70’s hard-boiled, robbery gone bad story with all the dressing. I was blown away at how raw this book was. Really amazing. Couldn’t put it down. More please.

[Shayde Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book from a robber turned cop-killer point of view. Mostly about the aftermath - ending doesn't do well for the main character.

[Darja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Výjimečně z pohledu zločince, ale o to je to možná lepší. :-)

[David Highton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A violent story follows the escape of career robber who kills a detective in a failed liquor store hold-up - all told in typical McBain style. My 84th McBain book.

[AbrakadabraKid · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tarantino probably LOVES this book