Synopsis/blurb.....
“A surprisingly dark, thoughtful, action filled, hardboiled thriller with a heart as black as pitch. If you like dark fiction, this is it.” --Christopher Black.
“The Hard Cold Shoulder is clever, ruthless and hardboiled enough to give the meanest tough guy the shivers.” -- Frank Larnerd.
“Every step leaves ex DI Ben Pitkin wrestling with his own sanity, takes him deeper into seedy shadows thick with money and greed, deeper into the sickness of a country tearing itself apart under the pressures of austerity. Northern Noir at its most fierce, Sykes’ novella takes a hard, cold look at the desperate actions of desperate people caught in the effects of psychological trauma.” --E.S. Wynn
“This is hardboiled noir. This is updated noir. This is a book you have to read.” --Joseph Patchen, Lurid Lit
L.A. Sykes is a force to be reckoned with. His writing is crisp and to the point, His no-holds-barred stories would make Donald E Westlake and Jim Thompson proud. When I first read him it was a jolt of electricity. It made me want to stand up and scream, “Hell Yeah!” --Mark Slade, writer and podcaster: Dark Dreams and Blackout City
A few random scattered thoughts on this one.
A fast-paced, hard hitting, one sitting read from L.A. Sykes.
Manchester setting, and an ex-cop PI on the hunt for a missing girl..... in short order .... train stations, hospitals, bars, belligerent drunks, taxi rides, encounters with old colleagues, all-round bad eggs and victims, a nightclub, drugs, people trafficking, gun play, a rescue, consequences.
I read this one a few weeks back and the memory of it is fading, which isn't to say I didn't enjoy it. I quite liked the main character, he's dealing with a few issues but has a strong moral compass. I enjoyed the Manchester setting. I've not visited the city too often, but every time I have it's been raining. There's a grim, dour vibe to the place which the author captures. That said it's probably lovely now, seeing as my trips were the best part of 25 years ago.
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Did what it was supposed to - entertained.
4 from 5
L.A. Sykes is a writer I'll be keen to read more from in the future - which is just as well as his collection of short fiction - Noir Medley sits on the pile.
Read - September, 2019
Published - 2013
Page count - 108
Source - purchased copy
Format - Kindle
I like the Manchester setting, too, Col. I've not read enough that takes place there. And if you're going to have a noir story, it's nice to have some dark wit woven in, too, here and there. I'm glad you enjoyed it, and I might look it up for one of those times when I'm ready for something really dark.
ReplyDeleteMargot, I've not visited the city too often myself, which is remiss of me. I hope you bear it in mind for when you fancy something on the dark side of the street!
DeleteI definitely need to read this. I wonder what its availability is over here. Off to find out . . .
ReplyDeleteI hope you find it, Kindle copy maybe?
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