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The Enforcer
When someone needs bribing, beating or killing, the L.A. mob sends The Enforcer to do the job. He drives the flashiest cars, he wears the most expensive clothes, and he beds the hottest women. He has the connections and the money to buy just about anything... or anyone...that he wants. But now The Enforcer is being hunted... by a young, ambitious cop. The Enforcer knows there's only one way this can end...with one of them in a grave. That's fine with him. Thirty years after the publication of this noir classic, Demaris would write The Last Mafioso, the bestselling biography of Jimmy Fratiano, a real-life enforcer in Los Angeles. "Demaris is a writer of real talent...as good as pulp fiction gets." NB Magazine UK "Whoever said crime doesn't pay has never spoken to Ovid Demaris." New York Times
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 1960
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 6, 2025
3.75, rounded up.
Another Demaris entertainment that I got through in two days, a fine weekend read. His books are short, quick reads, you can't stop turning the pages.
Tony Bender is the enforcer, basically a hitman who has just killed two people for those higher up that he works for. For him, it's a routine job, to carry out and forget. He lives a comfortable life a swanky resort with nice apartments, swimming pools, and a few nice ladies for company as well.
However, a police Captain and his plainclothes assistant cop are after Bender, determined to nail him for his misdeeds and put him away for life. The plainclothes cop is given a fake identity, and is living at the resort, tracing Bender's every move.
And that's mostly it, plot wise. But it's a fun 140 page read and will keep you entertained for a day or two. A colorful cast of characters are living at the resort, and although I sometimes had a little bit of trouble at first keeping track of them all, I enjoyed their company.
Enjoyable crime/pulp from 1960. I have another two or three more Demaris books at home and look forward to reading them sometime soon.
Another Demaris entertainment that I got through in two days, a fine weekend read. His books are short, quick reads, you can't stop turning the pages.
Tony Bender is the enforcer, basically a hitman who has just killed two people for those higher up that he works for. For him, it's a routine job, to carry out and forget. He lives a comfortable life a swanky resort with nice apartments, swimming pools, and a few nice ladies for company as well.
However, a police Captain and his plainclothes assistant cop are after Bender, determined to nail him for his misdeeds and put him away for life. The plainclothes cop is given a fake identity, and is living at the resort, tracing Bender's every move.
And that's mostly it, plot wise. But it's a fun 140 page read and will keep you entertained for a day or two. A colorful cast of characters are living at the resort, and although I sometimes had a little bit of trouble at first keeping track of them all, I enjoyed their company.
Enjoyable crime/pulp from 1960. I have another two or three more Demaris books at home and look forward to reading them sometime soon.
October 16, 2018
The one about the mob enforcer who kills and beats up people and finally gets caught by a young cop on his first big job. A fair amount of blood, guts, and hot babes. Not much characterization. This was disposable when it was written, and, with its ho hum bikini girl cover, isn't worth acquiring now, unless you can get it for a buck or less at a garage sale. The only surprise is a blurb from Anthony Boucher (legendary mystery book reviewer for the New York Times) touting one of this author's other books.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews