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The Haze
Short tales about deadly books, by top mystery authors
An aging mobster finds trouble in a nursing home in the latest caper from an Edgar Award–winning author.
Back in the day, Little Mo Connor was a hired gun for Slick Dickey Scalini, taking down opponents without discretion, always with the same signature three shots to the head, one shot to the heart. Now he’s living out his last days hidden away in an anonymous facility, surrounded by other seniors. Haunted by his past, his dementia comes as something of a blessing . . . though he can’t always remember what it is he wants to forget—he’s always mixing up the memories from his own life with those from books he’s read and movies he’s seen. A lover of crime novels from the pulp paperback era, Little Mo relishes lurid tales—the more violent the better.
Take, for example, his most recent a novel in which he and his trusty .38 snubnose are the stars. It tells the story of a former hit man in love with Varla, a geriatric serial killer who convinces him that murdering his grown daughter is the only way to escape the captivity of their nursing home. But as the plot of the novel begins to play out in Little Mo’s waking life, he must struggle to separate fact from fiction before they meet in a deadly conclusion.
Hailed a “master of suspense” by the New York Times Book Review, author of the Thorn Mysteries James W. Hall now presents one of the most unusual and enthralling novellas in the Bibliomystery series. The Haze is a treat for book lovers and mystery buffs alike.
An aging mobster finds trouble in a nursing home in the latest caper from an Edgar Award–winning author.
Back in the day, Little Mo Connor was a hired gun for Slick Dickey Scalini, taking down opponents without discretion, always with the same signature three shots to the head, one shot to the heart. Now he’s living out his last days hidden away in an anonymous facility, surrounded by other seniors. Haunted by his past, his dementia comes as something of a blessing . . . though he can’t always remember what it is he wants to forget—he’s always mixing up the memories from his own life with those from books he’s read and movies he’s seen. A lover of crime novels from the pulp paperback era, Little Mo relishes lurid tales—the more violent the better.
Take, for example, his most recent a novel in which he and his trusty .38 snubnose are the stars. It tells the story of a former hit man in love with Varla, a geriatric serial killer who convinces him that murdering his grown daughter is the only way to escape the captivity of their nursing home. But as the plot of the novel begins to play out in Little Mo’s waking life, he must struggle to separate fact from fiction before they meet in a deadly conclusion.
Hailed a “master of suspense” by the New York Times Book Review, author of the Thorn Mysteries James W. Hall now presents one of the most unusual and enthralling novellas in the Bibliomystery series. The Haze is a treat for book lovers and mystery buffs alike.
55 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 20, 2016
10 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
James W. Hall
68 books488 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
James W. Hall is an Edgar and Shamus Award-winning author whose books have been translated into a dozen languages. He has written twenty-one novels, four books of poetry, two collections of short stories, and two works of non-fiction. He also won a John D. MacDonald Award for Excellence in Florida Fiction, presented by the JDM Bibliophile.
He has a master’s degree in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University and a doctorate in literature from the University of Utah. He was a professor of literature and creative writing at Florida International University for 40 years where he taught such writers as Vicky Hendricks, Christine Kling, Barbara Parker and Dennis Lehane.
James W. Hall is an Edgar and Shamus Award-winning author whose books have been translated into a dozen languages. He has written twenty-one novels, four books of poetry, two collections of short stories, and two works of non-fiction. He also won a John D. MacDonald Award for Excellence in Florida Fiction, presented by the JDM Bibliophile.
He has a master’s degree in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University and a doctorate in literature from the University of Utah. He was a professor of literature and creative writing at Florida International University for 40 years where he taught such writers as Vicky Hendricks, Christine Kling, Barbara Parker and Dennis Lehane.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 23, 2016
*I received this book from NetGalley and Mysterious Press/Open Road in return for a fair review.*
This is a neat little short story about an old man in a retirement home. The Haze is his mind - he is living in fog, not sure exactly where he is or who he was. Mixing himself up with what he has read, and what he is reading.
Is he an old hitman who is looking for a way out? Is he seeing an old woman or is she just a character in his books?
What is the secret? You climb a mountain and there's supposed to be a guru there with a secret to reveal. What's the secret? What's the point? What happens when the story is over? To the people in the story?
I meant to just look at the first page/paragraph/chapter. Forget now. But I got pulled in and the story wouldn't let me go until it was over. Good thing it was a short story, eh? Or it could be several days later now instead of an hour or two.
Don't believe I've read this author before. Will have to try another.
September 23 2016
This is a neat little short story about an old man in a retirement home. The Haze is his mind - he is living in fog, not sure exactly where he is or who he was. Mixing himself up with what he has read, and what he is reading.
Is he an old hitman who is looking for a way out? Is he seeing an old woman or is she just a character in his books?
What is the secret? You climb a mountain and there's supposed to be a guru there with a secret to reveal. What's the secret? What's the point? What happens when the story is over? To the people in the story?
I meant to just look at the first page/paragraph/chapter. Forget now. But I got pulled in and the story wouldn't let me go until it was over. Good thing it was a short story, eh? Or it could be several days later now instead of an hour or two.
Don't believe I've read this author before. Will have to try another.
September 23 2016
October 1, 2016
Review: THE HAZE
Reading opens new worlds to our imagination--in this story, quite literally. An elderly nursing home resident fondly "recalls" his days as a contract killer. He is a voracious reader of crime, noir, and pulp fiction, provided by his not-so-devoted daughter, a bookstore clerk. In his mind, past, present, and fiction weave a fascinating new and adventurous life tapestry.
Reading opens new worlds to our imagination--in this story, quite literally. An elderly nursing home resident fondly "recalls" his days as a contract killer. He is a voracious reader of crime, noir, and pulp fiction, provided by his not-so-devoted daughter, a bookstore clerk. In his mind, past, present, and fiction weave a fascinating new and adventurous life tapestry.
September 7, 2024
Not up to the normal Bibliomysteries standards. Confusing story line.
August 25, 2023
Another short and sweet book.
This one involves a retired serial killer in an old age home. He loves to read books and can no longer distinguish between reality and fiction.
He Reminisces about the old days but he’s not sure if he is really remembering the past or getting it mixed up with things he has seen or read.
He tries to escape without any luck.
Destiny to live out the rest of his days in the old age home.
This one involves a retired serial killer in an old age home. He loves to read books and can no longer distinguish between reality and fiction.
He Reminisces about the old days but he’s not sure if he is really remembering the past or getting it mixed up with things he has seen or read.
He tries to escape without any luck.
Destiny to live out the rest of his days in the old age home.
January 24, 2021
Short and quirky story
July 12, 2021
“You had to have a mission. Something you thought about first thing in the morning when you woke up. His was to break out of this damn place.”
June 22, 2023
Sometimes I need a trippy short story like I need a cherry cola. Obviously I don’t need it but it mollifies a very specific craving.
December 25, 2017
Stories from books get caught inside you, they make you different. They’re dangerous.
These are decent short tales and this was no exception. This one, though, was bittersweet and an accurate portrayal of the slide into dementia. Is he a retired mob hitman or a quiet librarian or both? I guess we'll never know but it goes to show books are forever.
These are decent short tales and this was no exception. This one, though, was bittersweet and an accurate portrayal of the slide into dementia. Is he a retired mob hitman or a quiet librarian or both? I guess we'll never know but it goes to show books are forever.
February 8, 2023
Excellent short story
In this installment of the Bibliomysteries series James W Hall weaves a multilayered story part Noir, part secret life life of Walter Mitty
add a little sentimental journey background to a bittersweet tale of a retired Librarian / Bibliophile
in his final years at a retirement home
In this installment of the Bibliomysteries series James W Hall weaves a multilayered story part Noir, part secret life life of Walter Mitty
add a little sentimental journey background to a bittersweet tale of a retired Librarian / Bibliophile
in his final years at a retirement home
October 10, 2016
This is a short story about an elderly man who is in a nursing home. His daughter brings him books every week from the store where she works. He starts living the stooge reads. I think a longer book would have explained this story a little better.
July 18, 2023
Sadly, this was definitely one of my least favorite bibliomysteries so far. It was confusing to know what was reality and what wasn't, and the characters were not enthralling enough for me to even care all that much.
April 23, 2024
I dunno. Maybe this one is too close to home for somebody in their late sixties. Basic plot is a guy in care facility has dementia and it is getting worse. He imagines himself to be a former hit man. And he has a lover who is likely imaginary in the facility.
Didn't really work for me.
Didn't really work for me.
October 27, 2018
What?
Don't believe that I wasted my time reading this claptrap.
Life is certainly not lived in your imagination or, what passes for, your own mind.
Don't believe that I wasted my time reading this claptrap.
Life is certainly not lived in your imagination or, what passes for, your own mind.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews