Bill Pronzini (no slouch of a mystery writer in his own right) and Jack Adrian, have suceeded on all counts and have delivered this small gem that can give you a very intense view and deep understanding of this very significant genre.

Hard boiled mystery and crime stories play a particularly important role in American cultural development. Coming out of the shadows of the depression at the same time film had developed sound. The film studios were suddenly in an exploding marketplace, therefore hungry for content-providers. This created a situation where a group of new mystery genre authors had fundamental and massive impact on both publishing and movie-making. Spade, Marlowe, Little Caesar, and Public Enemy were all action and image oriented and provided Hollywood with a stream of notable properties, characters and roles.

Organized chronologically beginning in the '20s when the genre was born, amply representd by a number of certified members of the Black Mask Crew; Hammett, Chandler, James M. Cain and W.R. Burnett. John D MacDonald, Mickey Spillane, Ross MacDonald, Jim Thompson are among those who fill in the following decades. Elmore Leonard, Andrew Vachss, James Ellroy, Lawrence Block and host of others bring us right up into the '90s.

I read enough stories I knew to feel comfortable and enough stories I didn't to be surprised. All in all I was more than just pleased. Want to learn about an interesting piece of Americana, want to know get to know a few of the authors, understand their work, explore a few unique but troubled lives? Try this.

The editors have done their homework, know their stuff and have truly delivered a entertaining selection.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Review by Will Goldschein

NMM