First Published: 1974
Pages: 156
The Hardman series has recently been given a fresh injection and as a result renewed attention now that is has made its way to eBook format. Written during the seventies by author Ralph Dennis, who never really got the recognition many of us think he deserves during this time. The books run to twelve in total. Dennis must have written at a phenomenal speed or the publisher decided to delay printing until there were enough ready to create a series - as the initial seven numbered paperbacks were all released in 1974. The final book appeared just a few years later, in 1977. The original paperbacks are very collectible, and have typical men's action and adventure style covers depicting an exciting scene and a character or two on them.
A striking thing about the Hardman series; these covers do not feel suited to the subject matter inside the book; once you start reading you begin to get a different impression of the characters it depicts and the style of story that you are reading. It is common belief among most fans that the covers used were a likely reason for why the series did not enjoy a much longer life than they should have been rewarded with. A casual reader in 1974 would have some justification in feeling a little short-changed after picking one up I feel.
Regardless of this negativity about what the book looks like; the story inside is a fantastic read. Dennis writes very well and (if you ignore the updated cover of the eBook versions) you feel right at home in Atlanta during the seventies. After a bit of research, I am lead to understand that his descriptions of Atlanta at that time are quite accurate, and you get that grounded feeling from his writing.
Atlanta Deathwatch introduces the reader to Jim Hardman and his partner Hump Evans, an ex-NFL player who acts as Hardmans muscle when things get physical . Hardman is an ex-cop who was caught up in controversy through his association with his on/off girlfriend. She reveals, in order to get a reduced sentence, that she was asked to "get to know" Hardman. Thus the seeds of doubt are sown as to his loyalties and the whiff of corruption linked to him; he is forced to resign from the force, despite many friends support. It's this support that he utilises regularly to gain inside information on Police matters when required, especially his friendship with Detective Art Maloney.
Hardman and Evans are asked to look into the death of a college girl. They are asked by oneof the local black mafia known simply as The Man. I thoroughly enjoyed the scenes he plays a part in. I couldn't help but get a direct vibe of Yaphet Kotto from the Bond film Live and Let Die. I was also constantly getting flashbacks of images from TV-series Starsky and Hutch. I suppose its just my age, and the fact that these images are the closest I ever got to 70s America as kid growing up in East London.
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| eBook cover |
Hardman is not the all action hero the covers display. He is a bit overweight, he sometimes carries a gun but doesn't use it often. He's intelligent and likes to question people, only using Hump as and when needed, but never hesitating when it is called for. Oh, and they drink. A lot. Lots and lots, and they never seem to get the worse for it. His relationship with Art Maloney and his wife is nice, they feel like real people and you sympathise with them and Hardman when it comes to their personal troubles.
Atlanta Deathwatch was a joy to read. Slightly slower paced than I had expected, but the writing makes up for that in spades. I'm looking forward to revisiting Hardman and Hump Evans over the next eleven novels, but might need to spread them out, like an expensive bottle of whiskey. Lots of them.
The eBook cost me £3.87, quite a bit in terms of the age of the book and being in this format. Thankfully the novel itself is well worth the money.