Look at all the pretty paintings in this column! We have two well-known artists providing the visuals: Robert McGinnis and Robert Maguire. For anyone who has a few Stark House reprints handy, you actually have the photos that Maguire used for reference to paint his covers. Think of this column as a Maguire sandwich with two slices of McGinnis.
A MAN IN THE MIDDLE by M.E. Chaber – A little bit of a beef before I tackle my review: Don’t worry, I enjoyed this 1967 book, but I’m pissed about the numbering. As you can see, the cover says it’s book two in the series. Well, guess what? That’s way off: It’s actually number 18. That means there is a small amount of carryover and continuity that will screw with readers, since Chaber constantly mentions previous adventures throughout.
All right, enough complaining. This light ‘n’ breezy read deals with a Milo March, an investigator for a large insurance company. It opens with Milo on vacation, trying to duck his bosses who are constantly trying to get in touch with him, to the point of having the local police show up and force him to take a call. The job in question deals with a smuggling ring running out of the Far East, so once he arrives in Hong Kong, Milo runs into former associates he dealt with in the previously mentioned books.
Again, nothing is ruined – just a bit of frustration for readers who think they’re coming in to the series early. Milo is the type of detective/investigator in the style of Banacek and Jim Rockford. Nothing is too taxing here – it’s very much of the jet-set variety of adventure, with Milo going from Hong Kong to Vegas, back to California, then back to Hong Kong. The case itself will never force the reader to overthink the situation; it’s pretty obvious that the smuggling has Mafia connections, and Milo is not the only investigator.
Chaber’s writing comes off as a more sophisticated version of a Carter Brown book, with the pacing of an Erle Stanley Gardner. His novels are fun and I’ve been chomping at the bit to read these, since they all feature cover art of McGinnis, who admitted to basing the Milo paintings on actor James Coburn.
ONE TEAR FOR MY GRAVE by Mike Roscoe – I’ve come across a problem with this novel that has only happened once before in all my reading: It literally falls apart as I read it. So already, that’s not a promising start. The other problem is our main character Johnny April is referred to as either April or Johnny, making me think at certain passages it was a man and woman investigating the case. I know that sounds silly, but it’s a jumbled mess that never found its footing with me.
Published in 1955, it has not aged well at all for a story of this type. I’m usually the first one to defend a story like this, dealing with bookies being killed off one by one, each more gruesome then the previous one. But honestly, there were times while reading the disintegrating book that my mind would wander elsewhere. Sure, it might move along fine, but wow, does it get muddled later on. Even the outcome feels forced.
Well, at least we have a somewhat interesting cover by Maguire. Is it just me or does that woman look like Donna Reed on a really bad day? If you come across this book it might pique your interest, but be forewarned that it might also fall to the wayside as it’s being read.
BLONDE ON A BROOMSTICK by Carter Brown – It’s the glorious return of not only a favorite of this column, but of course, the kickass covers that McGinnis does for them. This 1966 Carter Brown novel is part of the Rick Holman series.
Rick is called upon by a big-time agent to see what’s keeping him from signing a female singer who is compared to Sinatra and Caruso. But there is a huge catch: a Svengali-like manager named Linc who talks for the girl and won’t let anyone deal with her without him. Can you say “control issues”?
But it seems there is something else driving this singer, with Holman discovering her sister died at a sanitarium. It turns out she was there to kick heroin, cold turkey. That is only a minor blip compared to the Mata Hari-like woman he hooks up with. This being a Brown novel, there’s more to add to this slim but packed story. How about a witch coven planning a human sacrifice?
Yeah, this one is a little too packed for some people’s tastes, but not mine. I love how over-the-top it gets. Sure, the climax is forced and shoe-horned in since these books never top the 150-page mark. But who cares? By the time you’re done, you will have been entertained, and an hour later, it will all be forgotten. I make no bones about disposable Brown’s writing is, but I’d rather read one of his any day than some self-serving crap Oprah pushes. I mean, THE SECRET? Come on, people.
Next time: a C.U.R.E. for boredom! –Bruce Grossman
OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF CARTER BROWN:
• AND THE UNDEAD SING by Carter Brown
• THE CLOWN by Carter Brown
• THE EVER-LOVING BLUES by Carter Brown
• THE HONG KONG CAPER by Carter Brown
• THE LADY IS TRANSPARENT by Carter Brown
• MURDER IS A PACKAGE DEAL by Carter Brown
• THE NEVER-WAS GIRL by Carter Brown
• THE WANTON by Carter Brown
Related posts:
- BULLETS, BROADS, BLACKMAIL & BOMBS >> Renoir, Monet & McGinnis
- BULLETS, BROADS, BLACKMAIL & BOMBS >> The Gumshoe Gang
- BULLETS, BROADS, BLACKMAIL & BOMBS >> MacDonald’s Extra-Value Meal
- BULLETS, BROADS, BLACKMAIL & BOMBS >> Freeze Frame
- BULLETS, BROADS, BLACKMAIL & BOMBS >> Don’t Fear the Reaper
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I like Chaber’s books. In that particular series, at some point, Milo March becomes Brian Brett, and if you’re not creful, it may take you a while to notice because the characters are so similar.
Another series from the same publisher uses Steve McQueen as the model for the character, and it just doesn’t work because the character isn’t cool enough.
I think I like the Johnny April series a little more than you do. I like the Kansas City setting and the fast pace.