Hard-boiled/Noir Archives - John Dwaine McKenna

The Yards-Legacy Report No. 7

By John|2022-09-22T19:30:13+00:00September 26th, 2022|Crime Fiction, Hard-boiled/Noir, Mysterious Book Report|

Just in case you’re wondering, we’ll be re-running some of our best and most popular book reviews every other week from now on. They will be described as our Legacy Mysterious Book Reports. Send us a quick request if you have a favorite that you’d like to see again and we’ll do our best to re-publish it. Legacy Mysterious Book Report No. 7 Published January 17, 2022 The

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The Old Man

By John|2022-06-13T02:29:14+00:00June 13th, 2022|Crime Fiction, Hard-boiled/Noir, Mysterious Book Report|

Just in case you’re not one of the many viewers of the trailer, the FX television network is kicking off a new series on June 16, 2022, starring Jeff Bridges in the title role, of the following Thomas Perry novel which we reviewed in April of 2017. We thought you might enjoy a quick review. The Old Man Mysterious Book Report No. 284 by John Dwaine McKenna The

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Don’t Know Tough

By John|2022-05-05T20:37:10+00:00May 9th, 2022|Hard-boiled/Noir, Mysterious Book Report|

Don’t Know Tough Mysterious Book Report No. 489 by John Dwaine McKenna Don’t Know Tough, (Soho Crime, $24.95, 336 pages, ISBN 978-1-64129-345-7), by Eli Cranor, is the apex of Southern Noir. Placed in Denton, Arkansas, it’s hard-boiled, gut-wrenching, poignant, gritty, emotional, brutal, savage, raw, and stunningly authentic. It’s a novel you’ll never forget, and it’s hard to believe that it’s Mr. Cranor’s debut. He speaks with authority and his

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The Yards

By John|2022-04-25T19:35:03+00:00January 17th, 2022|Hard-boiled/Noir, Mysterious Book Report|

The Yards Mysterious Book Report No. 473 by John Dwaine McKenna Told from three alternating points of view, The Yards, (Mysterious Press, $25.95, 308 pages, ISBN 978-1-61316-235-4), by A.F. Carter, is hard-boiled crime fiction at it’s best. It takes place in the imaginary mid-western city of Baxter, where the last of four meat-packing plants is on the skids and failing. It’s closure will leave the already troubled area where

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Razorblade Tears

By John|2021-08-26T19:59:34+00:00August 30th, 2021|Crime Fiction, Hard-boiled/Noir, Mysterious Book Report|

Razorblade Tears Mysterious Book Report No. 462 by John Dwaine McKenna There are legions of fiction writers in the world today, who toil diligently at their chosen craft and produce innumerable works that are exciting, memorable and entertaining. They satisfy our need to educate ourselves and explore unfamiliar societies while experiencing another person’s world through their eyes—all from the comfort of our favorite reading nook. But only a few—a

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The Heathens

By John|2021-08-19T19:33:59+00:00August 23rd, 2021|Hard-boiled/Noir, Mysterious Book Report|

The Heathens Mysterious Book Report No. 461 by John Dwaine McKenna The Heathens, (Putnam, $27.00, 400 pages, ISBN 978-0-593-32839-2) by Edgar finalist and NY Times bestselling author Ace Atkins, is the eleventh in his Quinn Colson series . . . and it’s easily the best one yet. Colson is an ex-army Ranger who’s come home to Mississippi, where he’s now the Tibbehah County Sheriff, elected on a vow to

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City of Fallen Angels

By John|2021-06-03T18:50:30+00:00June 7th, 2021|Hard-boiled/Noir, Mysterious Book Report|

City of Fallen Angels Mysterious Book Report No. 452 by John Dwaine McKenna City of Fallen Angels, (Legend Press, PB, $15.95, 222 pages, ISBN 978-1-78955-981-1), by Paul Buchanan, is a debut novel that announces in a loud and clear voice, the arrival of a first-rate new author, writing in a classic noir tradition. The novel opens in Los Angeles. It’s August of 1962 and the city is sweltering in

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Remember My Face

By John|2020-11-24T21:13:32+00:00November 24th, 2020|Hard-boiled/Noir, Mysterious Book Report, Thriller|

Remember My Face Thanksgiving Day 2020 Extra by John Dwaine McKenna Our usual custom here at the Mysterious Book Report is to take some time off on turkey day, spending it with family and friends . . . eating, talking, watching football on TV . . . and giving thanks for the many freedoms and the bounty we all enjoy . . . and often take for granted. But

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Cherry

By admin|2019-12-19T20:13:24+00:00January 20th, 2020|2019 Best Books of the Year, Hard-boiled/Noir, Mysterious Book Report|

Cherry Mysterious Book Report No. 362 by John Dwaine McKenna Every person in America today who pays attention to the news and current events is aware that we’re dealing with an unprecedented drug and opioid crisis. The numbers are staggering . . . and the statistics sobering . . . there were more than 70,000 drug overdose deaths in the U.S. during the year 2017, according to the latest

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My Bad ; A mile high noir

By admin|2019-10-13T22:11:44+00:00October 25th, 2019|Hard-boiled/Noir, Mysterious Book Report|

My Bad, A Mile High Noir Mysterious Book Report No. 264 by John Dwaine McKenna The word noir (pronounced NWAR) comes from the French. Its literal translation is black, but it can be interpreted as dark or wicked. As it applies to the Mysterious Book Report, it’s a type of crime fiction that’s characterized by cynicism, fatalism and moral ambiguity. The noir genre has become so popular over the

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