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November 11, 2023
Along came Ed Naha for just a little while - to give the world the strangest assortment of Crime, Horror, and Nonfiction books, and not very many of them - and then just as suddenly, the author with the coolest last name ever went away again.
I read the three Lt. Kevin Broskey Crime Thrillers as they came out; On the Edge came out in 1989, and I’m gonna confess right now, it was probably the way the name Ed Naha rattled around in my head that ultimately got me to buy the book - well, coolness of author name, but also a creepily effective late-80s style paperback cover and story synopsis. I did think I was getting a whodunit - but as I recall, Naha bursts the Mystery bubble early, and the whole thing converts into an entertaining serial killer story. I remember Broskey as a worthwhile lead detective; I remember Michael Keaton surprised everyone around when I read this book by actually succeeding as Batman - and expanding his career - and I wanted On the Edge to get filmed with Keaton as the bad guy (the film Pacific Heights cemented this opinion of mine). I think I felt On the Edge had an extra, uh, edge, for maybe being filmed, because this Naha fellow’s non-fiction seemed to suggest a movie and Pop Culture insider; plus a RoboCop 2 novelization. Alas, no Lt. Broskey movies or TV productions.
Razzle-Dazzle was the second Broskey novel, and I almost chose to ignore it. It seemed like it was going to be rooted in some kind of political corruption plot, and 21 year old me didn’t really want that in Crime fiction; plus, if On the Edge had coughed up the killer’s identity surprisingly early and become a thriller not a whodunit, Razzle-Dazzle seemed even less likely to offer a true puzzle. But ha-hah, ah-ah-ah, no resisting Naha. The name, the name…me willing to risk being stuck in my least favourite type of Crime novel. Surprise!: Razzle-Dazzle may be the best book in the Broskey series, even if puzzle-solving isn’t the attraction. I recall a tense, complex, tightly-plotted Crime novel, and it was great to have such a different plot than On the Edge.
If Razzle-Dazzle got topped, it was by the follow-up, Cracking Up. Finally a legit whodunit, some social relevance, LA (as with all the books) a lively locale, and the creepy tension of On the Edge without an early reveal.
If you want to delve into a forgotten but entertaining Crime & Mystery series by an author who - I guess it’s fair to say - never made it out of the minor leagues when it comes to Crime or Horror fiction, then I would say keep an eye out for any of three books. I’m guessing a re-read on my part would illuminate a late-1980s sensibility; it’s easy for me to recall snappy prose and exciting plots, but harder to really recall when things have not aged well. Risky reviewing from decades of distance…but if you want the whodunit of this fun series, go to the one called Cracking Up.
Some band put out an album called ‘Whatever Happened To P.J. Soles?’. What DID ever happen to P.J. Soles? Anyway, we need an album called ‘Whatever Happened To Ed Naha?’.
I read the three Lt. Kevin Broskey Crime Thrillers as they came out; On the Edge came out in 1989, and I’m gonna confess right now, it was probably the way the name Ed Naha rattled around in my head that ultimately got me to buy the book - well, coolness of author name, but also a creepily effective late-80s style paperback cover and story synopsis. I did think I was getting a whodunit - but as I recall, Naha bursts the Mystery bubble early, and the whole thing converts into an entertaining serial killer story. I remember Broskey as a worthwhile lead detective; I remember Michael Keaton surprised everyone around when I read this book by actually succeeding as Batman - and expanding his career - and I wanted On the Edge to get filmed with Keaton as the bad guy (the film Pacific Heights cemented this opinion of mine). I think I felt On the Edge had an extra, uh, edge, for maybe being filmed, because this Naha fellow’s non-fiction seemed to suggest a movie and Pop Culture insider; plus a RoboCop 2 novelization. Alas, no Lt. Broskey movies or TV productions.
Razzle-Dazzle was the second Broskey novel, and I almost chose to ignore it. It seemed like it was going to be rooted in some kind of political corruption plot, and 21 year old me didn’t really want that in Crime fiction; plus, if On the Edge had coughed up the killer’s identity surprisingly early and become a thriller not a whodunit, Razzle-Dazzle seemed even less likely to offer a true puzzle. But ha-hah, ah-ah-ah, no resisting Naha. The name, the name…me willing to risk being stuck in my least favourite type of Crime novel. Surprise!: Razzle-Dazzle may be the best book in the Broskey series, even if puzzle-solving isn’t the attraction. I recall a tense, complex, tightly-plotted Crime novel, and it was great to have such a different plot than On the Edge.
If Razzle-Dazzle got topped, it was by the follow-up, Cracking Up. Finally a legit whodunit, some social relevance, LA (as with all the books) a lively locale, and the creepy tension of On the Edge without an early reveal.
If you want to delve into a forgotten but entertaining Crime & Mystery series by an author who - I guess it’s fair to say - never made it out of the minor leagues when it comes to Crime or Horror fiction, then I would say keep an eye out for any of three books. I’m guessing a re-read on my part would illuminate a late-1980s sensibility; it’s easy for me to recall snappy prose and exciting plots, but harder to really recall when things have not aged well. Risky reviewing from decades of distance…but if you want the whodunit of this fun series, go to the one called Cracking Up.
Some band put out an album called ‘Whatever Happened To P.J. Soles?’. What DID ever happen to P.J. Soles? Anyway, we need an album called ‘Whatever Happened To Ed Naha?’.
Displaying 1 of 1 review