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Aaron Gunner #7
Good Man Gone Bad: An Aaron Gunner Mystery
Hard times are nothing new for private investigator Aaron Gunner. Working on the mean streets of South Central Los Angeles, he's seen more than his fair share of trouble. But when his cousin and confidante Del Curry commits suicide after allegedly killing his wife and critically injuring their daughter Zina, Gunner knows he's about to face the hardest times of all. He doesn't buy the LAPD's version of the shooting and isn't going to wait for Zina to regain consciousness to disprove it. Whatever drove Del to take his own life---and possibly assault his wife and daughter---Gunner's going to find it, even if it means learning things about his late cousin he'll wish he never knew. But first, he has a paying case to work, proving the innocence of an Afghan War veteran accused of murder. Plagued by seering migraines and occasional fits of rage, Harper Stowe III is counting on Gunner to fill the holes in his ruined memory that make him the perfect suspect in the killing of his former employer. With a new era of American racism and divided politics on the rise all around him, Gunner must seek the truth behind two fatal shootings now, and grieve for his beloved cousin later.
240 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2019
About the author
Gar Anthony Haywood
45 books73 followersaka Ray Shannon.
Gar Anthony Harwood also writes as Ray Shannon. He has won the Shamus and Anthony Award for his mystery fiction. He writes stand-alone novels and short-stories as well as series. He has also written for the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times, written scripts for television drama series (e.g. New York Undercover and the District) and Movies of the Week for ABC. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of America.
Gar Anthony Harwood also writes as Ray Shannon. He has won the Shamus and Anthony Award for his mystery fiction. He writes stand-alone novels and short-stories as well as series. He has also written for the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times, written scripts for television drama series (e.g. New York Undercover and the District) and Movies of the Week for ABC. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of America.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 6, 2019
Pop Quiz for Mystery/Detective Novel Readers.
Name 2 living, male, African-American authors of contemporary mystery and detective novels. I’ll spot you Walter Mosley. A month ago, I couldn’t either. Add Gar Anthony Haywood to your list and, if you’re inspired to do so, check out the link at the end of this review to a page maintained by the LA Public Library and discover more black authors writing in this genre and deserving to have more light shone on their work.
Good Man Gone Bad: An Aaron Gunner Mystery is the 7th in Haywood’s Aaron Gunner series and I recommend it. If you’re the sort who must start with the first book in a series, then go find Fear of the Dark, which won a couple of prizes in 1988 when it debuted…a year before Mosley’s Easy Rawlings burst on the scene and apparently, American readers and publishers being as they are, we couldn’t have two black hard-boiled protagonists on the market, so Gunner faded into obscurity as Rawlings ascended. (No disrespect to Rawlings or Mr. Mosley.) Oh, and - watch out - Mosley has a book that shares that same title. Good Man Gone Bad works just fine as a standalone or an on-ramp to the series – your call. Nothing in the book would have tipped me off that it wasn’t a stand-alone if I hadn’t known that going in.
Aaron Gunner is a private investigator in South Central LA. He’s also a VietNam veteran. His office is in a backroom of Mickey Moore’s barbershop. He’s getting by, not making bank. He’s smart but not brilliant; not the bravest private-eye. He’s a regular guy, asking questions people don’t want to answer. (do they ever?) In Good Man Gone Bad, he’s working two cases – one which involves his cousin and closest friend, Del, and the other for his new girlfriend, an attorney, who engages him to dig up evidence clearing her client, an Afghan war veteran. The plotting and movement back and forth between the cases is smooth. Gunner’s ability to untangle the relationships and facts, and to deal with Del’s parents amid their simultaneous grief and anger, is a testament to his grinding commitment and doesn’t require the reader to suspend disbelief at helpful coincidences.
Good Man Gone Bed reveals its California roots on every page. It has an intense sense of place that very few American novels in this genre demonstrate. Haywood’s writing is better than a Robert Parker book (back when Parker used to write them) and just a notch less polished than Timothy Hallinan's Junior Bender novels. Good Man Gone Bad shares a lot of the Bender series’ understated humor and understanding of how communities and relationships work. But Haywood also brings the experience of 2 generations of veterans to his readers’ attention, and in a way that is real and raw. Every character’s behavior rings true.
If you’re looking for a realistic, well-written contemporary PI novel, put Good Man Gone Bad in your cart. I’m off to find and buy Haywood’s back catalog books.
Two bonuses:
Here’s a 2012 interview with Haywood.
http://therapsheet.blogspot.com/2012/...
and that awesome list I promised from the LA Public Library:
https://www.lapl.org/collections-reso...
Thanks to Prospect Park Books and Edelweiss+ for providing an ecopy.
Name 2 living, male, African-American authors of contemporary mystery and detective novels. I’ll spot you Walter Mosley. A month ago, I couldn’t either. Add Gar Anthony Haywood to your list and, if you’re inspired to do so, check out the link at the end of this review to a page maintained by the LA Public Library and discover more black authors writing in this genre and deserving to have more light shone on their work.
Good Man Gone Bad: An Aaron Gunner Mystery is the 7th in Haywood’s Aaron Gunner series and I recommend it. If you’re the sort who must start with the first book in a series, then go find Fear of the Dark, which won a couple of prizes in 1988 when it debuted…a year before Mosley’s Easy Rawlings burst on the scene and apparently, American readers and publishers being as they are, we couldn’t have two black hard-boiled protagonists on the market, so Gunner faded into obscurity as Rawlings ascended. (No disrespect to Rawlings or Mr. Mosley.) Oh, and - watch out - Mosley has a book that shares that same title. Good Man Gone Bad works just fine as a standalone or an on-ramp to the series – your call. Nothing in the book would have tipped me off that it wasn’t a stand-alone if I hadn’t known that going in.
Aaron Gunner is a private investigator in South Central LA. He’s also a VietNam veteran. His office is in a backroom of Mickey Moore’s barbershop. He’s getting by, not making bank. He’s smart but not brilliant; not the bravest private-eye. He’s a regular guy, asking questions people don’t want to answer. (do they ever?) In Good Man Gone Bad, he’s working two cases – one which involves his cousin and closest friend, Del, and the other for his new girlfriend, an attorney, who engages him to dig up evidence clearing her client, an Afghan war veteran. The plotting and movement back and forth between the cases is smooth. Gunner’s ability to untangle the relationships and facts, and to deal with Del’s parents amid their simultaneous grief and anger, is a testament to his grinding commitment and doesn’t require the reader to suspend disbelief at helpful coincidences.
Good Man Gone Bed reveals its California roots on every page. It has an intense sense of place that very few American novels in this genre demonstrate. Haywood’s writing is better than a Robert Parker book (back when Parker used to write them) and just a notch less polished than Timothy Hallinan's Junior Bender novels. Good Man Gone Bad shares a lot of the Bender series’ understated humor and understanding of how communities and relationships work. But Haywood also brings the experience of 2 generations of veterans to his readers’ attention, and in a way that is real and raw. Every character’s behavior rings true.
If you’re looking for a realistic, well-written contemporary PI novel, put Good Man Gone Bad in your cart. I’m off to find and buy Haywood’s back catalog books.
Two bonuses:
Here’s a 2012 interview with Haywood.
http://therapsheet.blogspot.com/2012/...
and that awesome list I promised from the LA Public Library:
https://www.lapl.org/collections-reso...
Thanks to Prospect Park Books and Edelweiss+ for providing an ecopy.
January 26, 2020
It's been a long while since I've read this author and I forgot how good he is. I don't give out a lot of 5 star ratings but this book checked a lot of boxes for me. It has strongly developed characters and a strong sense of place. The dual plots were well paced and interesting. I look forward to the next one.
October 17, 2019
Although I’m not usually much of a noir fan, I remember reading and enjoying a couple of early titles in Gar Anthony Haywood’s Aaron Gunner series a long long time ago. So I was happy to receive an advance copy of the most recent entry in the series, Good Man Gone Bad, in exchange for an honest review.
And I found that, even after many years, I still enjoy the series. Gunner himself is a well-drawn “not-quite-a-failure, but not-really-a-success-either” noir PI, and other characters (his sort-of girlfriend, his aunt and uncle, other relatives and friends) are similarly well-developed. There are two storylines weaving through the book, but Haywood does a good job of making sure things don’t get mixed up, and kept me wondering until the end. Finally, I really enjoy books with a sense of place, and Haywood’s descriptions of Los Angeles are spot-on, making it seem as if the city itself is another character in the story. In fact, overall, Haywood’s crisp and evocative writing style was a big contributor to my enjoyment of the book.
Although Good Man Gone Bad is the seventh book in the series, I don’t think you really need to read the earlier titles to enjoy it. As I mentioned above, I had read a couple of earlier titles in this series, but so long ago that, although I remembered them with pleasure, I didn’t remember a lot of details. So I think my prior experience with the series didn’t matter a whole lot, and didn’t color my opinion that this book does fine as a stand-alone. I am however, now going to go back and read, or re-read, some of the earlier books.
Finally, please note that for me, 4 stars out of 5 is a really good ranking. I reserve 5 stars for a very few absolute favorite books; probably no more than one in twenty or thirty books that I read. And once again, my thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the advance review copy.
And I found that, even after many years, I still enjoy the series. Gunner himself is a well-drawn “not-quite-a-failure, but not-really-a-success-either” noir PI, and other characters (his sort-of girlfriend, his aunt and uncle, other relatives and friends) are similarly well-developed. There are two storylines weaving through the book, but Haywood does a good job of making sure things don’t get mixed up, and kept me wondering until the end. Finally, I really enjoy books with a sense of place, and Haywood’s descriptions of Los Angeles are spot-on, making it seem as if the city itself is another character in the story. In fact, overall, Haywood’s crisp and evocative writing style was a big contributor to my enjoyment of the book.
Although Good Man Gone Bad is the seventh book in the series, I don’t think you really need to read the earlier titles to enjoy it. As I mentioned above, I had read a couple of earlier titles in this series, but so long ago that, although I remembered them with pleasure, I didn’t remember a lot of details. So I think my prior experience with the series didn’t matter a whole lot, and didn’t color my opinion that this book does fine as a stand-alone. I am however, now going to go back and read, or re-read, some of the earlier books.
Finally, please note that for me, 4 stars out of 5 is a really good ranking. I reserve 5 stars for a very few absolute favorite books; probably no more than one in twenty or thirty books that I read. And once again, my thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the advance review copy.
August 12, 2022
I did really like the book as the four stars indicate. I too had forgotten how much I liked Gar's writing. I remember in the old Borders Books author forums asking Walter Mosley about Gar Anthony Haywood. I was drawn in to find out what happened to Dell myself and certainly identified with dealing with the "straight ahead" aunt and uncle.
But as I posted in the questions I wonder if Gar needs a better editor. At the Auto Parts store he drove the borrowed SUV -or maybe it was after the brief fight with Zina's neighbor he is all of sudden walking toward his Cobra mustang. Then of course he ends up driving the SUV in the next scene. I stopped and went back and reread it to be sure.
But I do look at those slips as administrative but they were a couple of them and they are distracting. But glad to see Aaron Gunner back and anxious to see if he does hire the new protege.
But as I posted in the questions I wonder if Gar needs a better editor. At the Auto Parts store he drove the borrowed SUV -or maybe it was after the brief fight with Zina's neighbor he is all of sudden walking toward his Cobra mustang. Then of course he ends up driving the SUV in the next scene. I stopped and went back and reread it to be sure.
But I do look at those slips as administrative but they were a couple of them and they are distracting. But glad to see Aaron Gunner back and anxious to see if he does hire the new protege.
December 9, 2019
Private detective Aaron Gunner investigates his cousin’s suicide and murder of wife. He also is hired by his girlfriend lawyer to clear a PTSD Army vet of murder. Typical investigations with lots of suspects. At the end of the day I couldn’t care less.
January 14, 2020
In many ways a very good book. However, the racial positions regarding oppression and police ruined it for me. Author may not even be aware that cultural positions are not based on facts.
August 26, 2021
interesting series, good characterization, relatively clear plotting, this episode had parallel mysteries with much personal involvement.
August 4, 2023
I enjoy this series and hope there are more coming. I think this one was the best so far. We find the story behind his red Cobra Mustang and his service in the Ashau Valley, 1969. Lots of pondering on the fates of life here as Aaron is dealt a devastating blow. Family.
Aaron Gunner loses his best friend, Cousin Del, and it’s with disbelief and determination he seeks to find out exactly what could cause Del, his rock, to kill his wife, shoot his daughter, and kill himself. Meanwhile he’s got bills to pay and like Del revenue is a source of concern. He’s working a case for his girlfriend lawyer involving an Afghan veteran who is accused of killing his boss at an auto parts store for firing him. Both cases consume Gunner and he emerges vindicated and ready to soldier on.
Aaron Gunner loses his best friend, Cousin Del, and it’s with disbelief and determination he seeks to find out exactly what could cause Del, his rock, to kill his wife, shoot his daughter, and kill himself. Meanwhile he’s got bills to pay and like Del revenue is a source of concern. He’s working a case for his girlfriend lawyer involving an Afghan veteran who is accused of killing his boss at an auto parts store for firing him. Both cases consume Gunner and he emerges vindicated and ready to soldier on.
March 12, 2022
Slow suspense
A "murder/suicide" of his cousin and wife, Detective Gunner was not buying it. He knew there was more to the story. While investigating the tragedy he has also been hired by his attorney/girlfriend to investigate the death of a business woman. Detective Gunner was good at his job and eventually cracks both cases almost simultaneously.
A "murder/suicide" of his cousin and wife, Detective Gunner was not buying it. He knew there was more to the story. While investigating the tragedy he has also been hired by his attorney/girlfriend to investigate the death of a business woman. Detective Gunner was good at his job and eventually cracks both cases almost simultaneously.
March 14, 2022
A detective story
Private detective Gunner investigates his cousin's suicide and murder of his wife. He also is hired by his girlfriend lawyer to clear an Army vet of murder. He finds out things about his cousin's family drama he finds hard to believe. He also finds evidence of things that point to his girlfriend lawyer to help the Army vet of murder charges.
Private detective Gunner investigates his cousin's suicide and murder of his wife. He also is hired by his girlfriend lawyer to clear an Army vet of murder. He finds out things about his cousin's family drama he finds hard to believe. He also finds evidence of things that point to his girlfriend lawyer to help the Army vet of murder charges.
March 19, 2022
Slow start
This is the first book of this genre I have ever read. The book has a slow start but don't give up keep reading. The twists and turns begins to flow. I could not figure out the end until I read it. I did enjoy the story line and the plot.
This is the first book of this genre I have ever read. The book has a slow start but don't give up keep reading. The twists and turns begins to flow. I could not figure out the end until I read it. I did enjoy the story line and the plot.
May 4, 2020
Well-written but just another classic murder mystery novel. Nothing exciting about it at all
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews