The other night at Murder by the Book, Joe Lansdale said to me, "You love this noir stuff, but you don't write it." Well, as he admitted after reflection, I've written a number of noir stories ("My Heart Cries for You," "Death's Brother," "Top of the World," "An Evening Out with Karl," and even "Franklin and the Can of Whup-Ass"). Later it occurred to me that I've also written a hard-core noir novel. Or my evil twin, Jack MacLane, has. It's one of my favorites of my own books, and it's noir to the bone. At least I think it is. Great cover, too. I commend it to you, assuming you can find a copy. You can decide for yourself.
8 comments:
"Franklin" is in Obsessions edited by Joe and Karen Lansdale. "My Heart Cries for You" is in 14 Vicious Valentines edited by Martin Greenburg, and "Top of the World" is in Flesh and Blood: Dark Desires, or at least I think that's right.
I have several of those stories and actually have a copy of Goodnight Moom. I guess I need to dig it out and read it.
Danny
It's been so long since I read all of the MacLane books that I don't know for sure which was best. I guess it would be a toss-up between Goodnight Moom and Blood Dreams. I also suppose that Blood Marks is not dark enough for noir. But it's the best of all.
BTW, Blood Marks was good enough to get the author's real name, and not the evil twin's.
Goodnight, Moom does have a great cover. But which was the MacLane with the "kids in cages" cover, Bill? I need to get that one.
I have "My Heart Cries for You!" in the original Mystery Scene Press individual edition, inscribed of course.
Jeff, that cover belongs to Keepers of the Beast. It's another offering that works pretty well, but I'd agree with Bill that Goodnight Moom is a better read.
Isn't KEEPERS OF THE BEAST the one with sheriff Jay Reasoner?
That's the one, Juri. It's scary that someone besides me and James knows that.
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