Edited by: Jeff Vorzimmer
First Published: 2019
File size/Pages: 1441KB / 384pp
Ebook Publisher: Stark House Press
Ebook Date: August 2019
In August 2019, Stark House Press released The Best of Manhunt, and ever since I've been wondering when I'd get a chance to delve into it and sample some of the stories on offer. The opportunity has arisen, and I'm pleased to report I wasn't dissapointed.
Thirteen of the tales contained in this compilation were originally published in 1958 in a volume entitled The Best from Manhunt. These are included in this updated version still in their original listed order. In addition, a number of short stories from 1959's The Bloodhound Anthology (the British version of Manhunt, titled Bloodhound Detective Story Magazine) have been included, making this a truly combined version of previous releases. Finally, the team headed by editor Jeff Vorzimmer, have expanded the line-up by almost three times the orignal with this edition totallying out at a massive 39 stories. you can't ask from more really (well, you could ask for further volumes I suspect).
I won't go into the history of Manhunt as there is a surfeit of introductions and histories included in the book itself. Suffice to say that Manhunt is considered the successor to pulp crime magazine Blackmask, appearing very soon after the demise of that periodical in 1951. It was very quickly attracting the best output from the best writers of the genre at the time and remains a true source of incredible quality crime fiction during its fifteen year run.
This edition is peppered with great yarns. The list of authors is like a who's who of hardboiled crime fiction literati, Brewer, Kane, McDonald, Hunter, Prather, Spillane, Deming and Westlake to name a few. I'm sure there will be something in here that pleases every reader. Below is a short list highlighting the five I enjoyed the most;
Professional Man - David Goodis
My own personal favourite in the entire book; the tale of a consumate hitman who masquerades as an elevator operator during the day. Freddy Lamb carries out a contract killing after clocking off for the day, then makes his way back to his mobster boss to report yet another successful hit - only to be side-swipped by an unorthadox request from his leader.
Hit and Run - Richard Deming
Very Chandleresque in its style, setting and subject matter. St. Louis based private detective, Bernie Calhoun is witness to a hit and run late one night. He recongnises the passenger as rich, divorcee society playboy, Harry Cushman, but not the beautiful, tanned, female driver (not) in control of the automobile as it weaves down the road causing mayhem. Following up on his instincts he traces the woman to a wealthy property where she is playing young wife to a busy businessman. Calhoun offers to approach the pedestrian she put in hospital and ensure there are no unpleasant lawsuits, and more importatly, no press lines connecting her to Cushman. This is the longest story in the book, and that allows for a fantastic noir tale with a suitably dark conclusion.
Night of Crisis - Harry Whittington
Thankfully, this Whittington effort impressed me a lot more than the last one I read. It involves a single night in the life of Jim Cooper, who appears to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. The story begins with Cooper identifying the man who shot a bar-owner where he was drinking after work. The only problem is that Cooper was the only other person in the bar at the same time, and claims he was in the rest-room when the shooting occured. The police don't believe him, and feel that he was in on a caper to rob the bar with his partner. Cooper pleads innocence. As the night progresses, his life, and the life of his wife, son and neighbours gets more and more dangerous. Fast and gripping, I enjoyed this a lot.
The Double Take - Richard S. Prather
Who can resist a short story starring L.A.'s Shell Scott? Not me, it seems. I liked the style of this fast-action quick-moving episode. Scott finds himself in a bar, where he is approached by a good-looking gal who accuses him of stealing her father's fortune and destroying his life. She then backs it up by attempting to shoot our hero at point blank range. Luckily Scott launches himself over the bar to avoid any serious harm. Quickly setting up a chase to determine who the hottie was, and what the hell she was going on about, Shell discovers someone in his office pretendingto be Shell Scott! Lot's of satisfying fisticuffs and gun-play at work here.
Return Engagement - Frank Kane
Liked Shell Scott? Well here's some Johnny Liddell as well then. Liddell is approached by Abel Terrell to investigate the death of a person - but the strange twist is that Terrell claims to have already killed the man a few months earlier? The police have yet to identy the man they have in the morgue. When he arrives Liddell, still doubting the word of his client, is witness to the identification of the body, and it confrims Terrell's story - the only thing is that the body has no wounds on it that match the story that he had been shot month's earlier. Returning to the hotel, Liddell finds it empty of his client. I haven't had a great experience with Liddell books, but I have to admit, in this shortened format, I really liked this one.
I would highly recommend picking up a copy of The Best of Manunt. I think you will not go wrong, and there are so many short stories in here, that at least some of them will impress. It's readily available in eBook format.
Ebook Publisher: Stark House Press
Ebook Date: August 2019
In August 2019, Stark House Press released The Best of Manhunt, and ever since I've been wondering when I'd get a chance to delve into it and sample some of the stories on offer. The opportunity has arisen, and I'm pleased to report I wasn't dissapointed.
Thirteen of the tales contained in this compilation were originally published in 1958 in a volume entitled The Best from Manhunt. These are included in this updated version still in their original listed order. In addition, a number of short stories from 1959's The Bloodhound Anthology (the British version of Manhunt, titled Bloodhound Detective Story Magazine) have been included, making this a truly combined version of previous releases. Finally, the team headed by editor Jeff Vorzimmer, have expanded the line-up by almost three times the orignal with this edition totallying out at a massive 39 stories. you can't ask from more really (well, you could ask for further volumes I suspect).
I won't go into the history of Manhunt as there is a surfeit of introductions and histories included in the book itself. Suffice to say that Manhunt is considered the successor to pulp crime magazine Blackmask, appearing very soon after the demise of that periodical in 1951. It was very quickly attracting the best output from the best writers of the genre at the time and remains a true source of incredible quality crime fiction during its fifteen year run.
This edition is peppered with great yarns. The list of authors is like a who's who of hardboiled crime fiction literati, Brewer, Kane, McDonald, Hunter, Prather, Spillane, Deming and Westlake to name a few. I'm sure there will be something in here that pleases every reader. Below is a short list highlighting the five I enjoyed the most;
Professional Man - David Goodis
My own personal favourite in the entire book; the tale of a consumate hitman who masquerades as an elevator operator during the day. Freddy Lamb carries out a contract killing after clocking off for the day, then makes his way back to his mobster boss to report yet another successful hit - only to be side-swipped by an unorthadox request from his leader.
Hit and Run - Richard Deming
Very Chandleresque in its style, setting and subject matter. St. Louis based private detective, Bernie Calhoun is witness to a hit and run late one night. He recongnises the passenger as rich, divorcee society playboy, Harry Cushman, but not the beautiful, tanned, female driver (not) in control of the automobile as it weaves down the road causing mayhem. Following up on his instincts he traces the woman to a wealthy property where she is playing young wife to a busy businessman. Calhoun offers to approach the pedestrian she put in hospital and ensure there are no unpleasant lawsuits, and more importatly, no press lines connecting her to Cushman. This is the longest story in the book, and that allows for a fantastic noir tale with a suitably dark conclusion.
Night of Crisis - Harry WhittingtonThankfully, this Whittington effort impressed me a lot more than the last one I read. It involves a single night in the life of Jim Cooper, who appears to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. The story begins with Cooper identifying the man who shot a bar-owner where he was drinking after work. The only problem is that Cooper was the only other person in the bar at the same time, and claims he was in the rest-room when the shooting occured. The police don't believe him, and feel that he was in on a caper to rob the bar with his partner. Cooper pleads innocence. As the night progresses, his life, and the life of his wife, son and neighbours gets more and more dangerous. Fast and gripping, I enjoyed this a lot.
The Double Take - Richard S. Prather
Who can resist a short story starring L.A.'s Shell Scott? Not me, it seems. I liked the style of this fast-action quick-moving episode. Scott finds himself in a bar, where he is approached by a good-looking gal who accuses him of stealing her father's fortune and destroying his life. She then backs it up by attempting to shoot our hero at point blank range. Luckily Scott launches himself over the bar to avoid any serious harm. Quickly setting up a chase to determine who the hottie was, and what the hell she was going on about, Shell discovers someone in his office pretendingto be Shell Scott! Lot's of satisfying fisticuffs and gun-play at work here.
Return Engagement - Frank Kane
Liked Shell Scott? Well here's some Johnny Liddell as well then. Liddell is approached by Abel Terrell to investigate the death of a person - but the strange twist is that Terrell claims to have already killed the man a few months earlier? The police have yet to identy the man they have in the morgue. When he arrives Liddell, still doubting the word of his client, is witness to the identification of the body, and it confrims Terrell's story - the only thing is that the body has no wounds on it that match the story that he had been shot month's earlier. Returning to the hotel, Liddell finds it empty of his client. I haven't had a great experience with Liddell books, but I have to admit, in this shortened format, I really liked this one.
I would highly recommend picking up a copy of The Best of Manunt. I think you will not go wrong, and there are so many short stories in here, that at least some of them will impress. It's readily available in eBook format.
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