Sunday 14 August 2016

KEITH GILMAN - BAD HABITS (2013)


Synopsis/blurb…….

BAD HABITS collects Keith Gilman's short stories.

“The best fiction has this feeling that someone’s just leaned close to whisper in our ear, ‘I’ve something important to tell you.’ Keith Gilman’s debut novel has and sustains that quality from the first page. You know right away that you’re in the hands of a natural and very fine storyteller. Authenticity, voice, the sense of lives beyond the page, all those things we crave as readers and for which we work so hard as writers, tossing the bones, hoping the magic will work--all are solidly, soundly in place.” —James Sallis, author of Drive

“Dark, gritty, and hauntingly lyrical, Keith Gilman writes Noir with the authenticity of a cop who has actually worked the mean streets.” —Robin Burcell, author of Face of a Killer

“…Grabbed me by the collar and wouldn’t let go. Gilman’s voice is a powerful new addition to the crime fiction community.” —Reed Farrel Coleman, Shamus, Barry and Anthony Award-winning author of the Moe Prager series

A collection of short stories from Keith Gilman read back in March. 16 stories in all and a brief excerpt from the author’s novel My Brother’s Keeper

Cops, ex-cons, bars, cheating wives, troubled teenagers, old neighbourhoods, floating casino boats, pistols, pool tables, scams, death, American flags, Sunday church services, Elvis wannabees and a lot more besides.

A couple of favourites….

Nice Round Numbers…..gambling, conning, assumed identity, inheritance, a shapely bonus and an unexpected pay off.

Bus Stop – a mother’s loss and grief and guilt.

Guts…..a fractured family torn apart by abandonment.

Keith Gilman
A great collection, some pure criminal entertainment, others tackling difficult subjects……families, abuse, disappointment, failure, loss.

The last 20% of my kindle edition carries excerpts from other Down and Out authors - Jack Getze, Trey R. Barker and A. C. Frieden.....tempting!

4 from 5


Keith Gilman has a couple of full length novels to his name My Brother’s Keeper and Father’s Day and his website is here. He's been a serving police officer in Philadelphia for over 20 years.

Bad Habits was supplied for review by the publisher Down and Out Books. (Website here.)


Read back in March, 2016

10 comments:

  1. Sounds like a good collection, Col. And it sounds as though the stories cover a variety of different themes. That can add to the interest. Glad you liked these so well.

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    1. Margot I did enjoy the diversity within the collection.

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  2. I enjoy the stories as well, writing them and reading. I still go back and check them out. My books r detective novels. The stories r Noir which is closer to what I'm trying to do with my writing. I appreciate u guys taking a look.

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    1. Keith, cheers for stopping by. I look forward to reading more from you in the future.

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  3. Col, this sounds like a good collection of stories with some interesting noir elements.

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    1. I liked them Prashant. Worth a look if you get the chance.

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  4. Sounds good. Will you try the novels?

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    1. I don't have any of them, but never say never!

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  5. I would not mind giving any of his books a try.

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    1. Ditto - I'd like to try a novel by him, but doubt I have the time. I ought to be reading some of what I already have!

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