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Crime Fiction Thread 2.0. - Page 18

post #851 of 3017
9/24/10 at 11:08am
Batshit insane is a good way to describe some episodes of season 2, such as 'Paulie's Dream'. Don't know what they were thinking there. Most of them were quite good though, like the one with Elias Cotas and the one with crazy Russian pilot.
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post #852 of 3017
9/24/10 at 11:54am
So with the release of Blood's a Rover, I've been reading American Tabloid again and damn it's just such a sleazy, visceral portrait of the major events during the Kennedy era.

I used to imagine it being adapted by Scorsese with Clooney as Kemper Boyd and Willem Dafoe as Ward Littell but I think Jon Hamm might be a better fit for Boyd.
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post #853 of 3017
9/24/10 at 7:21pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by NathanW View Post
So with the release of Blood's a Rover, I've been reading American Tabloid again and damn it's just such a sleazy, visceral portrait of the major events during the Kennedy era.

I used to imagine it being adapted by Scorsese with Clooney as Kemper Boyd and Willem Dafoe as Ward Littell but I think Jon Hamm might be a better fit for Boyd.
Back in 2008, Tom Hanks' production company snapped up the rights, probably for a show on HBO, which is probably the right way to go.
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post #854 of 3017
9/24/10 at 7:26pm
Blood's a Rover any good? I totally loved Tabloid, but came close to despising Cold Six Thousand.
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post #855 of 3017
9/24/10 at 8:06pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evi View Post
Blood's a Rover any good? I totally loved Tabloid, but came close to despising Cold Six Thousand.
Not really. It's not bad, just mediocre. Some interesting stuff.
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post #856 of 3017
9/25/10 at 1:21am
I've also read the latest TPB of Criminal called The Sinners by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, classic hardboiled stuff, I loved it. Phillips art is gritty and quite expressive, this thing really packs a punch.
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post #857 of 3017
9/25/10 at 9:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cameron Hughes View Post
Not really. It's not bad, just mediocre. Some interesting stuff.
That's disappointing. Ellroy was one of my favourite crime authors, but he really seems to have lost himself in his insanity.
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post #858 of 3017
9/25/10 at 5:09pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evi View Post
That's disappointing. Ellroy was one of my favourite crime authors, but he really seems to have lost himself in his insanity.
Barry Eisler told me he listened to it on audio and loved and I can see the merit in doing Ellroy that way.

I enjoyed Blood's A Rover eventually, but lower your expectations. There are some great scenes and characters, he just made his prose even denser than The Cold Six Thousand.
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post #859 of 3017
9/27/10 at 5:57pm
Thread Starter 
Great article on the cartels in Mexico. Those of you that read The Power of The Dog will recognize much of this, specifically one memorable scene. Two Words: Bridge scene.

San Diego Reader | Mexican Drug Cartels: You Want Silver or Lead?/
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post #860 of 3017
9/27/10 at 6:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cameron Hughes View Post
Great article on the cartels in Mexico. Those of you that read The Power of The Dog will recognize much of this, specifically one memorable scene. Two Words: Bridge scene.

San Diego Reader | Mexican Drug Cartels: You Want Silver or Lead?/
Good article, and I'm glad you posted it because it reminded me of this documentary I watched last night.

If anyone has an interest in the Mexican drug cartels and has a spare 45 minutes, there are worse ways to spend your time.

The Passionate Eye - Mexico's Drug Wars
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post #861 of 3017
9/27/10 at 10:25pm
Passionate Eye kicks ass.
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post #862 of 3017
9/29/10 at 10:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evi View Post
Blood's a Rover any good? I totally loved Tabloid, but came close to despising Cold Six Thousand.
What made you almost despise Cold Six Thousand?
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post #863 of 3017
9/30/10 at 2:17am
Thread Starter 
Cover! I dig the minimalism of it.

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post #864 of 3017
10/1/10 at 3:51pm
Stephen Cannell passed away. Not only was he a solid crime writer but he was a terrific example of how to overcome dyslexia and was a champion for people with language disabilities.
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post #865 of 3017
10/1/10 at 4:23pm
Shame. Death can fuck off. The people he's taking.
Anyone know much about Affleck's next directing gig? Fascinated to see what he and Will Beale can do with 40's LA. I was wondering what Beale had been up to. Had no idea he was writing CASTLE. Didn't watch it after the pilot. Wasn't terrible, but not appointment viewing.
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post #866 of 3017
10/1/10 at 8:14pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Subotai View Post
Stephen Cannell passed away. Not only was he a solid crime writer but he was a terrific example of how to overcome dyslexia and was a champion for people with language disabilities.
The Plan was a very very good debut. Very funny, scarily plausible.

He had insane work ethic. When Don Winslow gave me a lecture on that not too long ago, he used Cannell as an example.
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post #867 of 3017
10/1/10 at 8:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluelouboyle View Post
Shame. Death can fuck off. The people he's taking.
Anyone know much about Affleck's next directing gig? Fascinated to see what he and Will Beale can do with 40's LA. I was wondering what Beale had been up to. Had no idea he was writing CASTLE. Didn't watch it after the pilot. Wasn't terrible, but not appointment viewing.
I kind of wondered what happened to Beale as L.A. Rex was pretty good, not great since it's a rehash of TRAINING DAY (even though every character is a scum bag and there would be no way to film what happens to the lead character towards in the end without getting NC-17). I figured that guy just dropped off along with Edward Conlon. Or stuck with their day jobs since both are on duty cops.
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post #868 of 3017
10/1/10 at 8:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by EdHocken View Post
I kind of wondered what happened to Beale as L.A. Rex was pretty good, not great since it's a rehash of TRAINING DAY (even though every character is a scum bag and there would be no way to film what happens to the lead character towards in the end without getting NC-17). I figured that guy just dropped off along with Edward Conlon. Or stuck with their day jobs since both are on duty cops.
L.A. Rex was a rehash of Wambaugh's The New Centurions. A good one though.
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post #869 of 3017
10/1/10 at 8:40pm
Shit, you're right on that one.

I just read The Blue Knight, real nice slice of life that doesn't really have a plot. Except for the completely out of nowhere ending that pretty much wrecks everything else.
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post #870 of 3017
10/1/10 at 8:42pm
Thread Starter 
Conlon has a new book in 2011
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post #871 of 3017
10/1/10 at 8:55pm
I liked Blue Bloods although the editor could've worked a little harder to earn his pay. Hope it's good.
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post #872 of 3017
10/1/10 at 8:57pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by EdHocken View Post
Shit, you're right on that one.

I just read The Blue Knight, real nice slice of life that doesn't really have a plot. Except for the completely out of nowhere ending that pretty much wrecks everything else.
You don't read Wambaugh for plot. The Choirboys is just a series of vignettes, but it's brilliant.
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post #873 of 3017
10/1/10 at 9:04pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by EdHocken View Post
Shit, you're right on that one.

I just read The Blue Knight, real nice slice of life that doesn't really have a plot. Except for the completely out of nowhere ending that pretty much wrecks everything else.
Funny story: When Wambaugh watched the pilot for Southland, he counted about a dozen things they ripped off from him. Will Beall was not pleased either because of the similarities to his book.
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post #874 of 3017
10/1/10 at 9:16pm
He's right. Wells owes Wambaugh an apology - and Wambaugh owes the reader an apology for bitching about the federal consent decree.

Jimmy Muro shot the shit out of the pilot, though.
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post #875 of 3017
10/1/10 at 9:51pm
Edward Conlon is great. Very excited he's got a novel coming out.
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post #876 of 3017
10/2/10 at 6:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by NathanW View Post
What made you almost despise Cold Six Thousand?
As a sequel to one of my favourite books, it was overly long, convoluted and filled with unlikeable characters making irrational decisions. That's all not to mention the fact that Ellroy's hard-boiled writing style had pretty much become a parody of itself.
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post #877 of 3017
10/2/10 at 6:44pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evi View Post
As a sequel to one of my favourite books, it was overly long, convoluted and filled with unlikeable characters making irrational decisions. That's all not to mention the fact that Ellroy's hard-boiled writing style had pretty much become a parody of itself.
I endorse this statement. His characters before The Cold Six Thousand weren't that likable, but way more understandable. Kemper Boyd. Jack Viciennes, Bud White, Edmund Exley, everyone from The Big Nowhere, Klein in White Jazz...
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post #878 of 3017
10/3/10 at 12:25am
Ellroy cracked 60 a couple of years back. TC6T was far from his best effort, but when you fire on all cylinders like Ellroy, it's tough to bat a thousand. I'll say this, he doesn't cater to his reading audience, which is something. To ask for another LA Quartet is too much, something like that comes along once in a lifetime.
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post #879 of 3017
10/3/10 at 12:30am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Subotai View Post
Ellroy cracked 60 a couple of years back. TC6T was far from his best effort, but when you fire on all cylinders like Ellroy, it's tough to bat a thousand. I'll say this, he doesn't cater to his reading audience, which is something. To ask for another LA Quartet is too much, something like that comes along once in a lifetime.
Absolutely. I will always give Ellroy a chance. He's earned that.
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post #880 of 3017
10/6/10 at 3:38pm
Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch. You're welcome.
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post #881 of 3017
10/6/10 at 3:39pm
Finished 'The Winter of Frankie Machine' and loved it. LOVED it. Which of his other books are similar to this one, stylistically?
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post #882 of 3017
10/6/10 at 3:52pm
Dawn Patrol is the next refinement of that style.
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post #883 of 3017
10/6/10 at 7:56pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Judas Booth View Post
Finished 'The Winter of Frankie Machine' and loved it. LOVED it. Which of his other books are similar to this one, stylistically?
The Dawn Patrol and then he kinda goes nuts with the brilliant Savages. And if you haven't yet, read California Fire and Life. There are days I call it my favorite.
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post #884 of 3017
10/8/10 at 12:24am
Just read On the Line, the latest in SJ Rozan's terrific Lydia Chin/Bill Smith series. Don't think there's been a book in the series not worth reading; the chemistry between the alternating narrators is always worth the visit.
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post #885 of 3017
10/8/10 at 12:42am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Subotai View Post
Just read On the Line, the latest in SJ Rozan's terrific Lydia Chin/Bill Smith series. Don't think there's been a book in the series not worth reading; the chemistry between the alternating narrators is always worth the visit.
Agreed, it's a really solid, gritty and realistic P.I. series. One of the things I never liked about Lehane's series is how he always found a way to put Angie on the sidelines (November's Moonlight Mile does not break this trend). Here, Lydia and Bill are equals.
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post #886 of 3017
10/8/10 at 6:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by RathBandu View Post
Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch. You're welcome.
Great choice. Never thought of him before but I definitely see it. Brolin could do it. Or maybe even Affleck in 5 years?

That reminds me to pick up THE OVERLOOK from the library.
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post #887 of 3017
10/8/10 at 1:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluelouboyle View Post
Great choice. Never thought of him before but I definitely see it. Brolin could do it. Or maybe even Affleck in 5 years?

That reminds me to pick up THE OVERLOOK from the library.
Welliver seems a little baby-faced for Bosch, though. I like the idea of Brolin, though I've always pictured Bosch at any point in his career as sort of a perpetual Gene Hackman.
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post #888 of 3017
10/8/10 at 3:38pm
Just wanted to stop in and reiterate how much this thread rocks. I have it bookmarked. Anytime I need some suggestions or want to know if a book I'm considering is great or not, I check in here.

Read recently: Dancing Bear by Crumley, Dawn Patrol by Winslow, Tishomingo Blues by Leonard, My Dark Places by Ellroy

Reading now: The Winter of Frankie Machine

Up Next: California Fire & Life

Also wanting to dip into some George V. Higgins and Ross Macdonald. Any suggestions on those would be appreciated.
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post #889 of 3017
10/8/10 at 3:56pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beldar View Post
Just wanted to stop in and reiterate how much this thread rocks. I have it bookmarked. Anytime I need some suggestions or want to know if a book I'm considering is great or not, I check in here.

Read recently: Dancing Bear by Crumley, Dawn Patrol by Winslow, Tishomingo Blues by Leonard, My Dark Places by Ellroy

Reading now: The Winter of Frankie Machine

Up Next: California Fire & Life

Also wanting to dip into some George V. Higgins and Ross Macdonald. Any suggestions on those would be appreciated.

What I loved about Tishomingo Blues is that with any other book, the witnessed murder would be the plot. Instead, it happens, Leonard moves on, we get 200 pages of people talking and interacting and then maybe 50 pages of shit hitting the fan, and none of it feels forced or like filler.


I love Higgins. The Friends of Eddie Coyle is great, but look for a little OOP gem from 2000 called The Agent, It's like Glengary Glen Ross set in the world of sports agents. I also reallly liked his (considerably) lighter Jerry Kennedy series.

Ross MacDonald is seriously underrated and better than both Chandler(And I love Chandler to death) and Hammett. He was unfairly considered a Chandler rip-off and his first few books felt like Chandler, but his series was deeper and sadder and more soulful. Try The Chill.

http://www.thrillingdetective.com/archer.html
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post #890 of 3017
10/8/10 at 4:05pm
yeah, this thread is the goods.
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post #891 of 3017
10/8/10 at 4:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beldar View Post
Also wanting to dip into some George V. Higgins and Ross Macdonald. Any suggestions on those would be appreciated.
Eddie Coyle is a must, but I love the hell out of Cogan's Trade, Outlaws, and The Judgement of Deke Hunter. Higgins is way underappreciated, and having grown up in New England, and lived in Boston, make me love his writing even more.
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post #892 of 3017
10/9/10 at 1:04am
My favorite thread on CHUD right now and one that has gotten me trough some long days and some tough writing nights.
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post #893 of 3017
10/11/10 at 7:25am
This thread introduced me to Don Winslow (and other great writers), so yeah, this thread fucking rocks.
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post #894 of 3017
10/12/10 at 6:36am
What's the verdict on Mark Billingham?

A 6-part TV show based on his 'Thorne' novels has just started here in the UK:

http://sky1.sky.com/thorne
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post #895 of 3017
10/12/10 at 5:38pm
Home sick from work today, and the film of "Bobby Z" is on.

And, of course, you guys were right. Pity,
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post #896 of 3017
10/12/10 at 6:59pm
Stephen Cannell's last book, The Prostitute's Ball, hits stores today iirc.
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post #897 of 3017
10/12/10 at 11:19pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluelouboyle View Post
What's the verdict on Mark Billingham?

A 6-part TV show based on his 'Thorne' novels has just started here in the UK:

http://sky1.sky.com/thorne
Serial killer crap for the first three books(Though Sleepy Head has a creepy villain). Gets interesting with the novel Burning Girl. My favorite is Lifeless, where someone is kicking homeless people to death and Thorne goes undercover.
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post #898 of 3017
10/12/10 at 11:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeb View Post
Home sick from work today, and the film of "Bobby Z" is on.

And, of course, you guys were right. Pity,
What kills me is how faithful it is, but has absolutely no energy or heart. The whole point of the book is how attached and emotional he gets over Kit, and the kid playing Kit is terrible.

What I would love is for Carnahan to take a crack at it with Chris Evans as Tim.
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post #899 of 3017
10/15/10 at 5:38am
Thread Starter 
Live from Bouchercon: the results of the 2010 MacAvity and Barry Awards: http://tinyurl.com/233jdp8

You all should have seen me twitch when Girl with the Dragon Tattoo won Crime Novel of the Decade and The Power of the Dog wasn't even nominated. Judges had short memories as most of the nominees aren't that old.
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post #900 of 3017
10/15/10 at 6:38am
I just can't agree enough with you.
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