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Portrait in Smoke / The Longest Second
PORTRAIT IN SMOKE
Danny April is obsessed. He buys out a little collection agency in Chicago, and that’s how he first meets Krassy. He’d never seen anyone so beautiful. She was Krassy Almauniski then, when he first runs across her picture in his files. She’s gone through several identities since then. As Danny tries to track her down, each new name presents him with a portrait of a woman on the move. Krassy is climbing up the social ladder, one sucker at a time. There’s the photographer who signs off on a charge account for her, later arrested for larceny. And the ad executive… he gets off lightly. He gets to walk away with his pride. Not all the men who Krassy meet are so lucky. But Danny knows he’ll be different. So he keeps looking… until at last he finds her.
THE LONGEST SECOND
When I awakened, I stared straight above me at the ceiling … I attempted to turn my head.
It was then I realized that my throat had been cut. The pain ran down both sides of my neck … I gasped, choking for air. The next day I regained consciousness again ... Suddenly it struck me that I didn't know my own name!… They check his fingerprints and find out that his name is Victor Pacific. He has no memories of who he is, what he is, or why someone tried to kill him. He remembers the name Horstman. But he has no idea of how to find him. All he can do is to begin a search for the clues to his former life. Then he meets Bianca—but will she be able to help him before they strike again?
Danny April is obsessed. He buys out a little collection agency in Chicago, and that’s how he first meets Krassy. He’d never seen anyone so beautiful. She was Krassy Almauniski then, when he first runs across her picture in his files. She’s gone through several identities since then. As Danny tries to track her down, each new name presents him with a portrait of a woman on the move. Krassy is climbing up the social ladder, one sucker at a time. There’s the photographer who signs off on a charge account for her, later arrested for larceny. And the ad executive… he gets off lightly. He gets to walk away with his pride. Not all the men who Krassy meet are so lucky. But Danny knows he’ll be different. So he keeps looking… until at last he finds her.
THE LONGEST SECOND
When I awakened, I stared straight above me at the ceiling … I attempted to turn my head.
It was then I realized that my throat had been cut. The pain ran down both sides of my neck … I gasped, choking for air. The next day I regained consciousness again ... Suddenly it struck me that I didn't know my own name!… They check his fingerprints and find out that his name is Victor Pacific. He has no memories of who he is, what he is, or why someone tried to kill him. He remembers the name Horstman. But he has no idea of how to find him. All he can do is to begin a search for the clues to his former life. Then he meets Bianca—but will she be able to help him before they strike again?
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 2, 2018
9 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Bill S. Ballinger
87 books12 followersBill S Ballinger received his B.A. in 1934 at the University of Wisconsin. From 1934 he worked in advertising, and as a radio and television writer. After traving Europe and the Near East, Ballinger moved to southern California, to take advantage of the television 'boom' of the 1950s as a script writer. Between the years 1977 and 1979 he was an associate professor of writing at the California State University, Norhtridge. In 1960, Ballinger received for his TV work Edgar Allan Poe Award from Mystery Writers of America.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 6, 2022
Portrait in Smoke/ The Longest Second
Ballinger was one of those underrated novelists who fell out of favor and is little known today. In this double-novel package from Stark House Press, the readers get two unrelated novels connected only by technique. In both novels, Ballinger uses alternating points of view.
In the first of the two novels, Portrait of Smoke, Ballinger tells the story of two social climbers from the wrong side of the tracks. Danny April becomes a collection agent with his own firm who becomes obsessed with a file from the collection business he bought. The debtor, whose bill is noted as paid, is a ravishing blonde and Danny, against all judgement dedicates his life to tracking her down. Though he could never have imagined how twisted that path would be or who he would become to win her over. Kassy was not just a pageant queen, but the world’s ultimate gold digger, determined, dedicated, ruthless.
Their stories run parallel to each other and, although Danny is hot on her trail, it seems that the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is always just out of his reach. But, what makes Ballinger’s work so masterful is that it’s all a long lead up to a finish that is nothing like you expect.
The second novel in the set, Ballinger’s 1957 thriller, The Longest Second, tells two stories in alternating chapters. The connection between the two alternate stories not entirely clear until the end. Ballinger also uses what was quite a popular plot device in the late fifties and early sixties: amnesia. Seems at the time that lots of guys were getting conked on the head and forgetting who they were. Doesn’t seem to happen as much anymore. Maybe our skulls aren’t quite as fragile these days.
Although it was an overused plot device, Ballinger parlays the idea of amnesia really well here, cresting a mystery of Vic Pacific’s past that neither Vic nor the reader can figure out. Vic is an interesting lead character. Not only can’t he remember who he is, but his throats was slit so badly he can’t speak and only communicates through the use of a notepad. Ballinger never lets us forget that there’s danger lurking in the background. After all, people are dropping like flies around Vic. And, he’s getting threatening calls. All he has going for him is the kindness of one woman who had found him bleeding to death on her porch.
Ballinger was a storyteller first and foremost and that shows here in his story-focused writing. There’s nothing literary or pretentious about his writing. He just tells a good story that you don’t want to put down and, in the end, that’s what counts.
Ballinger was one of those underrated novelists who fell out of favor and is little known today. In this double-novel package from Stark House Press, the readers get two unrelated novels connected only by technique. In both novels, Ballinger uses alternating points of view.
In the first of the two novels, Portrait of Smoke, Ballinger tells the story of two social climbers from the wrong side of the tracks. Danny April becomes a collection agent with his own firm who becomes obsessed with a file from the collection business he bought. The debtor, whose bill is noted as paid, is a ravishing blonde and Danny, against all judgement dedicates his life to tracking her down. Though he could never have imagined how twisted that path would be or who he would become to win her over. Kassy was not just a pageant queen, but the world’s ultimate gold digger, determined, dedicated, ruthless.
Their stories run parallel to each other and, although Danny is hot on her trail, it seems that the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is always just out of his reach. But, what makes Ballinger’s work so masterful is that it’s all a long lead up to a finish that is nothing like you expect.
The second novel in the set, Ballinger’s 1957 thriller, The Longest Second, tells two stories in alternating chapters. The connection between the two alternate stories not entirely clear until the end. Ballinger also uses what was quite a popular plot device in the late fifties and early sixties: amnesia. Seems at the time that lots of guys were getting conked on the head and forgetting who they were. Doesn’t seem to happen as much anymore. Maybe our skulls aren’t quite as fragile these days.
Although it was an overused plot device, Ballinger parlays the idea of amnesia really well here, cresting a mystery of Vic Pacific’s past that neither Vic nor the reader can figure out. Vic is an interesting lead character. Not only can’t he remember who he is, but his throats was slit so badly he can’t speak and only communicates through the use of a notepad. Ballinger never lets us forget that there’s danger lurking in the background. After all, people are dropping like flies around Vic. And, he’s getting threatening calls. All he has going for him is the kindness of one woman who had found him bleeding to death on her porch.
Ballinger was a storyteller first and foremost and that shows here in his story-focused writing. There’s nothing literary or pretentious about his writing. He just tells a good story that you don’t want to put down and, in the end, that’s what counts.
August 21, 2018
4.5 rounded up (4 for The Longest Second; 5 for Portrait in Smoke
Bill Ballinger once noted that he considers himself "primarily, a story writer" -- for him
"the story is the thing. Although I usually try to make a point as all good stories should, I stay away from moralizing and propaganda ... I have always enjoyed a good plot, the thrill of plotting."
And in this book of two Ballinger novels, story is definitely the thing. First, with Portrait in Smoke, I believe I've discovered the ultimate in femmes fatales. I read this story this past Saturday, and I did not move from my spot on the sofa until the last page had been turned -- that's how good it is. Others can disagree, but I loved it. For one thing, it's pretty obvious that Ballinger didn't care about the usual crime fiction/mystery formula where we're all happy at the end and life has returned to normal yet again, giving this book an edgy, dark vibe; for another, I was just flabbergasted at the way it all unfolded, no holds barred.
In The Longest Second, while the scenario of a man waking up in the hospital with amnesia has been done before, Ballinger weaves in something new: a recurring nightmare that pops up periodically as a sort of guide to where this book is headed, and when it finally comes to fruition, it's a bit of a stunner. No wonder this book was nominated for an Edgar Award in 1958; dark it is for sure.
Recommended for serious hardboiled/pulp readers.
much, much more at my reading journal: http://www.crimesegments.com/2018/08/...
Bill Ballinger once noted that he considers himself "primarily, a story writer" -- for him
"the story is the thing. Although I usually try to make a point as all good stories should, I stay away from moralizing and propaganda ... I have always enjoyed a good plot, the thrill of plotting."
And in this book of two Ballinger novels, story is definitely the thing. First, with Portrait in Smoke, I believe I've discovered the ultimate in femmes fatales. I read this story this past Saturday, and I did not move from my spot on the sofa until the last page had been turned -- that's how good it is. Others can disagree, but I loved it. For one thing, it's pretty obvious that Ballinger didn't care about the usual crime fiction/mystery formula where we're all happy at the end and life has returned to normal yet again, giving this book an edgy, dark vibe; for another, I was just flabbergasted at the way it all unfolded, no holds barred.
In The Longest Second, while the scenario of a man waking up in the hospital with amnesia has been done before, Ballinger weaves in something new: a recurring nightmare that pops up periodically as a sort of guide to where this book is headed, and when it finally comes to fruition, it's a bit of a stunner. No wonder this book was nominated for an Edgar Award in 1958; dark it is for sure.
Recommended for serious hardboiled/pulp readers.
much, much more at my reading journal: http://www.crimesegments.com/2018/08/...
May 16, 2018
Portrait in Smoke
The Longest Second
By Bill S. Ballinger
Introduction by Nicholas Litchfield
Stark House Press, 2018
A nearly forgotten master of the mystery novel, Bill Ballinger may once again astound readers with this new edition from Stark House Press, containing two of his exemplary works.
The first story, Portrait in Smoke, won the Geneva Grand Master Award when it was released. Today, we are used to unreliable narrators, multiple narratives, and other innovative plot structures in film and print. But in 1950, this was cutting edge stuff, and it is fascinating to see how this story is constructed. Two competing narratives bring Danny April, owner of a two-bit collection agency in Chicago, closer to his dream girl Krassy Almauniski. The only trouble is he doesn’t realize the dream is a nightmare. This is a superbly told noir fable, the twisted tale of Danny’s hard fall for an even harder dame.
The Longest Second, nominated for an Edgar Award in 1958, also uses competing, and seemingly contradictory, narratives to tell the story of Vic Pacific (do all Ballinger’s protagonists have months for last names?). He’s found on a Manhattan street with his throat slit, naked except for his shoes and socks. It’s not a deadly cut, but it hampers his ability to speak and explain himself. Which he can’t do anyway given a nasty case of total amnesia. We follow his search for the truth of his own life at the same time detectives are investigating the murder of a man found with his throat slit, his corpse wearing only shoes and socks. What’s going on here? That question will keep you turning the pages of this intense, unsettling, and ingeniously crafted novel.
As with Portrait in Smoke, Ballinger’s skill as a writer and his unique style are on full display. These classics are a must for anyone with an interest in noir storytelling.
The Longest Second
By Bill S. Ballinger
Introduction by Nicholas Litchfield
Stark House Press, 2018
A nearly forgotten master of the mystery novel, Bill Ballinger may once again astound readers with this new edition from Stark House Press, containing two of his exemplary works.
The first story, Portrait in Smoke, won the Geneva Grand Master Award when it was released. Today, we are used to unreliable narrators, multiple narratives, and other innovative plot structures in film and print. But in 1950, this was cutting edge stuff, and it is fascinating to see how this story is constructed. Two competing narratives bring Danny April, owner of a two-bit collection agency in Chicago, closer to his dream girl Krassy Almauniski. The only trouble is he doesn’t realize the dream is a nightmare. This is a superbly told noir fable, the twisted tale of Danny’s hard fall for an even harder dame.
The Longest Second, nominated for an Edgar Award in 1958, also uses competing, and seemingly contradictory, narratives to tell the story of Vic Pacific (do all Ballinger’s protagonists have months for last names?). He’s found on a Manhattan street with his throat slit, naked except for his shoes and socks. It’s not a deadly cut, but it hampers his ability to speak and explain himself. Which he can’t do anyway given a nasty case of total amnesia. We follow his search for the truth of his own life at the same time detectives are investigating the murder of a man found with his throat slit, his corpse wearing only shoes and socks. What’s going on here? That question will keep you turning the pages of this intense, unsettling, and ingeniously crafted novel.
As with Portrait in Smoke, Ballinger’s skill as a writer and his unique style are on full display. These classics are a must for anyone with an interest in noir storytelling.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews