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The Gutter and the Grave (Hard Case Crime) | 
 enlarge | Author: Ed Mcbain
Publisher: Leisure Books
Category: Book
List Price: £6.99
Buy New: £0.68
You Save: £6.31 (90%)
New (16) Used (11) Collectible (1) from £0.63
Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 153876
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Edition: Reprint
Pages: 217
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.9
ISBN: 0843955872
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780843955873
ASIN: 0843955872
Publication Date: November 29, 2005
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: New book. WE USE PRIORITY AIRMAIL ONLY for books from the USA. UK & European delivery is 7-10 days. Over 2,000,000 books sold to Amazon customers
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| Customer Reviews:
 Gutter Gumshoe is Great June 3, 2007
Foggy Tewsday
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
There are a few improbabilities in this story, things that, in terms of suspended disbelief, you have to wonder if the author might expect too much from his readership. An ex-detective has been living as a homeless alcoholic for five years after the collapse of his marriage. He takes on a case of theft as a favour to an old acquaintance. This case quickly turns into one of murder. Our hero's mind has not become completely stewed thanks to the demon drink, though. He still possesses remarkable athleticism and stereotypical prowess with the ladies.
And yet, this is a rattling good yarn. Ed McBain was truly a master of his craft. I can't claim to have read many books by him (in fact, the only other book I've read by him is `The Blackboard Jungle' which he wrote as Evan Hunter), but I know good writing when I see it, and I see it here. This novel was originally published in 1958 under one of McBain's other pseudonyms, Curt Cannon, under the title `I'm Cannon - For Hire'.
Our hero, Matt Cordell, tells this story in the first person, and, thanks to McBain's superlative writing, the story comes to life amid New York's steaming hot summer. The dialogue is wonderfully snappy, in the manner of a classic film noir. I had Bogart's voice in my head as I read Cordell's narration. There are also some wonderfully descriptive passages. In particular, there's a scene where Cordell wants to question a musician who's taking part in a late night jam session. McBain's writing is so sharp that you can hear the music as he describes the musicians' actions. You can imagine the smoky, sweaty scene as the players do their stuff in front of their rapt audience. Cordell opines that, "racial prejudice would evaporate if everyone were taught to play an instrument. The sound is the thing and music has its own color."
The whodunit aspect is perhaps not handled as well as it could have been. That said, I didn't guess who the killer was, but the ending felt forced. The story seemed to be flowing in top gear when the author suddenly applies the brakes and wraps things up. Nevertheless, this is highly recommended for sheer entertainment with a few minor reservations in the plausibility department. `The Gutter and the Grave' is another novel from the Hard Case Crime imprint. Also recommended from this particular series is Gil Brewer's `The Vengeful Virgin'.
 Good....But...... May 20, 2006
CC (England)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
I bought this book based on the review i read here. And i was not disappointed.
The book was well written and kept me turning the ages into the small hours. The main character was gritty and everything a good, hard boiled detective should be; unkept alcoholic who, despite appearances is good with the ladies.
However, i figured out early on in the book who done it and felt that Matt Cordell, the detective should have caught on earlier as well.
But having said this, i was not disappointed with the book and have been looking up more stories with this character in it.
Well worth the money, and i highly recommend it.
murder & drinks January 29, 2006
ilyushin (usa)
100% slick. No time to waste; better think and move fast. Crime & seduction in New York hard concrete.
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