Down & Out: The Magazine Volume 1 Issue 1

by Rick Ollerman, Reed Farrel Coleman, Eric Beetner

We know a healthy appetite for well-written short stories exists and we want to help make things better. Our goal with Down & Out: The Magazine is to be a little different than other magazines by standing on the shoulders of the giants that have come before us, or at least tiptoe along the arrows in the backs of the pioneers of modern magazine publishing.

Each issue will feature a story based on a series character like this issue’s brand-new Moe Prager story by Reed Farrel Coleman. If you’re a fan of Moe, who is now retired, you’ll want to read this fantastic story.

We also have new tales by established and well-known writers. This debut issue includes series stories by Eric Beetner, Michael A. Black, Jen Conley, Terrence McCauley, Rick Ollerman, and Thomas Pluck. J. Kingston Pierce, fresh off his former beat from Kirkus Reviews, introduces “Placed in Evidence,” his non-fiction column only to be found here.

Finally, we’ll take a bit of the long road as we answer the question of what happened to crime fiction after Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler moved on from the pulps in “A Few Cents a Word.” This issue we re-introduce Frederick Nebel with the first of his Donahue series, “Rough Justice.” This is a fun one.

For fans of good writing, good literature, and good crime...welcome.

Genres: Crime

168 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 27, 2017

Reviews

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this the first issue of “Down & Out: The Magazine Volume 1 Issue 1” we are given a digest magazine in book form. In his introduction to this first installment, which I hope will have a long and fruitful life, editor Rick Ollerman (himself an author) kind of laments the decline of Digest Magazines, and hops to inject new life into the format.

Personally I don’t see much difference between a Digest Magazine and a normal book anthology. However this is a minor point, as I believe Mr. Ollerman has hit upon a winner with this production.

The magazine contains an abundance of PI stories, Cop stories, some book reviews, and a reprint from the 1930’s “Black Mask” which was new to me.

The table of contents is drawn from authors perhaps familure or known to the “Down & Out” audience, and introduces to the reader perhaps some new names. The highlight of this collection of stories came from a name unknown to me, Jen Conley, in fact I enjoyed her story so much I went and ordered her book. However you decide for your self.

Contents:
001 – A Few Clues from the Editor by Rick Ollerman
003 – “Dress Blues” by Michael A. Black – (A Ron Shade Story) ***
022 – “Hit Me” by Rick Ollerman –(A Scott Porter Story) ****
042 – “The Solitary Man” by Terrence McCauly –(A University Story) ***
060 – Placed In Evidence (Book Reviews) by J. Kingston Pierce
067 – “Breakage” by Reed Farrel Coleman (A Moe Prager Story) ***
082 – “On th Job Interview” by Eric Beetner – (A Slick And Bo Story) ****
095 – “Trash” by Jen Conly (An Andra Vogel Story) *****
130 – “Rough Justice” by Frederic Nebel (Reprint) ***
149 – “Deadbeat” – Thomas Pluck ****

As mentioned above the Jen Conley story is worth the price of admission alone, and above and beyond that in the next issue they advertise A Sherriff Dan Rhodes story by Bill Crider, which has me wanting to line up to purchase the next issue. The magazine is to be published quarterly.

[3 no 7 · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Down and Out: The Magazine” is a new entry in the mystery digest category. It features stories by prominent writers that give quick glimpses of existing characters. There are stories about people, investigators, criminals, and places, all with a twist or a secret a surprise. There are the good guys, the bad guys, and some who are both; there is even a cute dog. There is a nice assortment of fiction, classic stories, nonfiction, and opinions. If a reader does not “love” one story, there are many others from which to choose. There is also a section with books to watch for in the coming months. “Down and Out: The Magazine” promises to be a great addition to my reading list. Thank you Down and Out Books.

[Chuck Barksdale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Down and Out Books for providing me a copy of this book (magazine) in exchange for this honest review.

As the first issue of a new magazine, Down and Out’s editor Rick Ollerman decided to add a top writer to feature in Reed Farrel Coleman. More importantly, the story “Breakage” features Reed’s most famous series character, Moe Prager.

“Breakage” takes place in 1984 when Moe Prager’s friend Israel Roth asks for Moe’s help. Israel’s friend needs help in finding out if his wife is still alive who he hasn’t seen since they both were in concentration camps during World War II. This story still haunts me, especially thinking about what people had to do to survive that time and how it impacted the rest of their lives. This story reminded me of some of the great Holocaust songs Chuck Brodsky has written.

My other favorite stories were “Trash: An Andrea Vogel Story” written by Jen Conley and “On the Job Interview: A Slick and Bo Story” by Eric Beetner. I’ve read several other exceptional stories by Jen Conley, so I was not surprised that I enjoyed this one about an older policewomen, her new dog and her husband’s one time mistress. I’ve collected a few books by Eric Beetner, but have not read them yet, but after reading the story in this collection, that will be changing soon.

Although I appreciate reading an old story and one that shows some of the writers still writing short stories after some of the more famous writers of the time (Hammett, Chandler) were writing novels, I found the “Rough Justice” story by Frederick Nebel originally published in 1930 to be the least enjoyable. I probably should have re-read it as I found myself drifting away from the story and I may not really have given the attention the story deserved.

I enjoy reading short stories to read something by an author before trying some of their longer works. I’ve read lots of Reed Farrel Coleman’s novels but none of the other authors in this collection. I’ve read some of these authors shorter works before but some for the first time here. I’m looking forward to reading more. I’ll also be sure to read some more volumes of the Down and Out Magazine.

[Kevintipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edited by Rick Ollerman, Down & Out: The Magazine: Issue 1 is packed full of lots of good reading. After a short introduction, it is on to the stories. Each story has a brief introduction that explains a little bit of the background of the author as well as placing the presented in the context of the author’s work. Many of the tales in this issue tie into series work by authors.

Such is the case with the first author, Michael A. Black. His tale that leads off this first issue features the author’s signature character, private investigator Ron Shade. In “Dress Blues: A Ron Shade Story.” Inspired by a real life case according to the introduction, Mr. Shade has to find a boy who has run away from the Woodsen Academy.

Editor Rick Ollerman is up next with “Hit Me: A Scott Porter Agency Story.” Amanda has been difficult for far too long. He needs her gone. The only question is how to make it happen permanently. How do you go about hiring a hitman?

Late September and the breeze off the Seine is colder than it should be. For Inspector Alain Ducard of the Police Nationale it was hard to leave his warm bed and the comforts of his wife, but when the boss says go to the murder scene, he goes to the murder scene. He didn’t have a choice even though he works Intelligence and not Homicide. He has no idea why he was called in, but will soon find out in “The Solitary Man: A University Story” by Terrence McCauley.

Readers take a break from reading stories with the next piece by J. Kingston Pierce titled “Placed Into Evidence.” Best known for his highly entertaining site, The Rap Sheet, Mr. Pierce gives readers the highlights on seven books coming up. He also points out the fact, at least for some of us; the change in seasons does not mean a change in what one looks for in a good book.

I have been a longtime fan of the work of Reed Farrel Coleman. He hooked my parents who were avid readers and raved about the early installments of the Moe Prager series. I got hooked and used his work in reviews and FFB review entries. The last couple of years Mom could no longer read much at all due to her failing eyesight and memory issues, but she often talked about how much she enjoyed the series. As I now again live in the house I grew up in after inheriting it last year after my Mom passed from the consequences of a massive stroke, reading “Breakage: A Moe Prager Story” had a strong emotional impact. 1984 in Brooklyn and Moe has been doing very little detecting work. In fact, he has done none in several months. That is until Mr. Israel Roth, forty years Moe’s senior and a friend and far more, comes to see him. He needs Moe to find a concertation camp survivor just might be the wife of a dying man.

“On the Job Interview: A Slick and Bo Story” by Eric Beetner follows where Bo is glad he smoked on the way to the bar to calm his nerves once he had seen the man known as “Slick.” The job is a smash and grab. Slick is not about to go back to jail for anyone. Slick needs a good partner so if the first job goes right there could be future work. One also has to deal with the current partner as well.

It might be time to get a dog in “Trash: An Andrea Vogel Story” by Jen Conley. A cop, a widow, and the depression is pretty deep. A dog might help. Then there is the problem of Sheila Kemper. 2002 was a long time ago, but seeing her brings back the old fury.

After an introduction about Black Mask Magazine and the context of the story, “Rough Justice: A Donahue Story” by Frederick Nebel. Donahue is in town and working a case that has taken him from New York to St. Louis. Donahue is not happy. Not only is it too damn hot, he has to rely on a local contact for information and support. First up, Donahue needs a local cop with certain qualities.

Closing the fiction is a stand-alone story by Thomas Pluck titled “Deadbeat.” Our narrator works the high steel while trying to hide the extent of his knee injury. He chews pain pills so he can keep working to pay his mounting bills. He is a supervisor and needs to do what he needs to do to keep his job and also make sure that the union stays happy.

A final word from the editor and a listing of other books available from the publisher close out the issue. There are a lot of books so there plenty of reading suggestions. These suggestions are in addition to the books already mentioned by way of the introductions to the various stories.

Down & Out: The Magazine: Issue 1 is a good one. Plenty of variety in stories, both old and new, as well as the nice addition of the upcoming books by J. Kingston Pierce make this first issue well worth your time and money. If the quality of content in this first issue continues in subsequent issues, this magazine should be able to find a steady if not growing audience.

Down & Out: The Magazine: Issue 1 (Volume 1)
Editor Rick Ollerman
Down And Out Books
http://www.DownAndOutBooks.com
July 2017
ASIN: B074CFW523
eBook (also available in print format)
168 Pages
$0.99


Material was purchased by way of a gift card from my oldest son late last December.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2018

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first heard about The Magazine—its publisher and editor—my expectations soared. The potential to achieve something truly outstanding was not only exciting, but seemed entirely possible. I wasn’t disappointed. The Magazine is off to a stellar start. Every story and feature is an absolute winner. I only wish I could give it six stars instead of five.

[Jay Gertzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reed Farrel Coleman’s Moe Prager story was more satisfactorily complex that many in the genre. Did the dying man really seek to kill his wife, almost half a century after the Shoah, because of what she did to survive in the camp? Or did he want to make a final transition (with her) from a hard earthly life to the "true world," where both will see God and be judged? He would not get to do as a murderer, especially a vengeful one. I liked the focus on aging. The descriptions of the faces, bent bodies, skeletal appearance of today’s holocaust survivors added to the mystery of one of them making a final “gesture,” as it were, before death. Thank you, Reed Coleman, for focusing on human complexity, rather than easy sentiment and moral indignation, as many do nowadays, about many historical issues and events., thus inhibiting true analysis of events and their causes.

The writing of Eric Beetner’s “On the Job Interview” (it begins on p. 82, although the contents page states differently) is extremely vivid in depicting the dress and body language of the characters, and the Grand Guignol type events. Perhaps the beginning of a novella, it ends “It’s gona be interesting.” A rather psychopathic, very experienced thief and a laid back, long haired young man (the thief’s least favorite type) get to know each other through a blood-spattered trial period. Beetner has just the right perspective get the reader shocks to the point of either disgust or laughter—the kind people feel when they cannot get out of a situation that they know is beyond their capacity to survive.

Speaking of novellas, there’s a fine one by Frederick Nebel, whom, as Rick Ollerman explains in his Intro, was Dashiell Hammett’s successor at Black Mask. I like to imagine I’m feeling the rough pulp paper when I read these oldies but goodies.

Jen Conley’s “Trash” has a compassion that she skillfully develops for her protagonist, a female career policewoman, from beginning to end. Part of this is the way Andie tells her story. She evinces humility, compassion (she takes back a cheating husband—whose remorse is convincing due to the writer’s nice switching of point of view), and restraint at not striking back at a repulsive person’s insult (although as a cop to do so might have been excused). Throughout the story, she struggles to make her dog like her. They have much in common. Both have to adapt, after being abandoned. Both need to adjust. Both are survivors. They escape from loneliness, with each other. This is ironic, but the opposite of sentimental—it is sincerely absolutely humane and moving. Another novel in the developmental stage?

[Janet Kole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific collection of short crime fiction

I had forgotten how much I enjoyed reading short stories until I picked up this magazine. Really liked the writing, except for the last story, a so-called “hard boiled” detective story rife with nasty epithets. In its defense, it was written in the thirties. I still didn’t like it. But the rest of the stories kept me hooked.

[Ann Keeran · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic collection of stories compiled by an elite editor. The last story, Deadbeat, will knock your socks off! Totally amazing! And this is just the first issue! Keep them coming.

[A.B. Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new anthology magazine getting into the hard-boiled and noir space, and it sure delivers. Really enjoyed all the offerings here.