Amos Walker: The Complete Story Collection
Starred Review. All the elements that have made Estleman one of the best hard-boiled writers of all time--just a notch below Chandler and Hammett--are present in these 32 short stories. Remarkably, he has kept his Detroit-based Amos Walker series (Motor City Blue) fresh after three decades and 20 novels, and any fan of the genre who has yet to encounter the ex-cop turned PI will get a great introduction through this collection. What's most impressive is Estleman's ability to blend sharp-edged language, cynical characters, betrayals, twists, and a memorable narrative voice within the short story format. He also manages to inject dark humor into his work that keeps the violence, corruption, and double-crosses from becoming too grim ("I don't have so many friends I can afford to drop one just because he tried to kill me"). Longtime fans will welcome the author's informative introduction.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.