Saturday, May 8, 2010

Book Review: Big Bang

Title The Big Bang
Author Max Allan Collins
Rating ****
Tags mystery, thriller, hard-boiled, mike hammer 


I've never been a big fan of hard-boiled detective stories, and Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer series was one of the defining series of that genre. I never read any Spillane before. This book I wanted to read purely because it is co-authored by Max Allan Collins, who is one of my favorite authors, especially his Nate Heller series.

Mike is dropping off a report to a client when he intervenes to stop three guys from beating up a young man. By the time it is over two of the toughs are dead and the survivor is seriously wounded. It seems to be just another incidence of junkies trying to get money to feed their habit, but it may involve drug dealers fighting for territory.

I kept reading this book for the plot - it is a page turner. The level of violence is bothersome, the character has traits I don't admire, and the ending of the book is extremely disturbing. I think it is meant to be so, though. The book as a whole is a strong picture of the costs of drugs to the individual and society.

 


Author – Spillane, Mickey
Publication Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (2010), Edition: 1, Hardcover, 256 pages
Publication date 2010
ISBN 0151014485 / 9780151014484

Posted via web from reannon's posterous

3 comments:

Max Allan Collins said...

I am so grateful to you for this intelligent review.

You were able to meet this book on its own terms, and not dismiss it because the main character had traits you didn't admire...and you appreciated that the ending meant to disturb.

Getting this response was extremely gratifying. Thank you.

And there's a new Nate Heller coming next year -- BYE, BYE BABY -- from TOR/FORGE.

Max Allan Collins said...

I am so grateful to you for this intelligent review.

You were able to meet this book on its own terms, and not dismiss it because the main character had traits you didn't admire...and you appreciated that the ending meant to disturb.

Getting this response was extremely gratifying. Thank you.

And there's a new Nate Heller coming next year -- BYE, BYE BABY -- from TOR/FORGE.

Mary Amanda Axford said...

Thanks for your generous comments, and I'm so excited to hear about the new Nate Heller.

Part of the reason I so admire your books is that I have two degrees in history, and your books are so well researched and make history come alive.