From: Las Vegas Noir ed. Jarret Keene & Todd James Pierce. Akashic Books, 2008.
From the author of The Ice Harvest comes the story of Tate, a good-natured pothead originally from Kansas who, as a favor to his friend Skip, agrees to pick up some crystal meth from Skip's friend Babs, and bring it back to L.A. Babs, described by Skip as "a stripper", is nothing like Tate expects. Falling a little in love with her, he agrees to back her up retrieving the meth from a dealer.
I'm not a fan of first-person present-tense narrative as a rule, but the style works here to set up Tate's sensibilities. I was as disarmed by Babs as he was, even as I realized Tate was getting in over his head.
Showing posts with label Las Vegas Noir. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Las Vegas Noir. Show all posts
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
"Mitzvah" by Tod Goldberg
From: Las Vegas Noir ed. Jarret Keene & Todd James Pierce. Akashic Books, 2008.
Fifteen years into his assumed identity as a Las Vegas rabbi, former Chicago mob hitman Sal Cupertine is fed up with the phoniness and monotony of his new life. After officiating at the fake funeral of policeman Vincent Castiglione, now known as Vincent Castleberg, Sal decides to steal the cop's identity and make a play to return to Chicago.
Showing the complexity of Sal's feelings and the depth of his despair, Goldberg makes readers care about a killer.
Fifteen years into his assumed identity as a Las Vegas rabbi, former Chicago mob hitman Sal Cupertine is fed up with the phoniness and monotony of his new life. After officiating at the fake funeral of policeman Vincent Castiglione, now known as Vincent Castleberg, Sal decides to steal the cop's identity and make a play to return to Chicago.
Showing the complexity of Sal's feelings and the depth of his despair, Goldberg makes readers care about a killer.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
"Pretty Little Parasite" by David Corbett
From: Las Vegas Noir ed. Jarret Keene & Todd James Pierce. Akashic Books, 2008.
Upon learning she is pregnant, cocaine-addicted casino worker Sam Pitney tries to provide for her child by becoming a low-level coke dealer. Her business succeeds for some time, but unfortunately one of her sources for new clientele brings in an undercover cop, himself an addict. Shifting viewpoints from Sam, to her source, and to the cop, Corbett keeps this sad tale moving.
Upon learning she is pregnant, cocaine-addicted casino worker Sam Pitney tries to provide for her child by becoming a low-level coke dealer. Her business succeeds for some time, but unfortunately one of her sources for new clientele brings in an undercover cop, himself an addict. Shifting viewpoints from Sam, to her source, and to the cop, Corbett keeps this sad tale moving.
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