Night Squad (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard)

Rating:
Summary: A David Goodis classic.
Review: David Goodis could have been a Greek tragedy author two thousand years ago. In a riveting and limpid style David goodis classic hero is looking for redemption in a world where the goodies are bad and the baddies are good.

Rating:
Summary: A decent pulp novel that never lives up to its promise
Review: NIGHT SQUAD has all the elements of classic hard-boiled pulp. You've got the anti-hero, Corey, a disgraced cop who figures the only way to stay alive is to go criminal. You've got mobsters who fear nothing except betrayal. You've got a mysterious branch of the police you have an unhealthy interest in the anti-hero's business. And you've got the ex-wife who, somehow, still manages to be in love with the big lug.

But it doesn't fall together.

David Goodis writes tough dialogue with the best of them. His novel BLACK FRIDAY is a wonder of desperation and fear. But NIGHT SQUAD has too many avenues that don't engage the reader. The ex-wife is too mysterious, and her reason for being in the story is never clear. It relies too heavily on coincidence. Repressed memories suddenly surface, to unsatisfactory effect. Corey's final stab at redemption doesn't ring true.

It's as if Goodis had a good, tight story, but then realized he didn't include enough cliche's. It's a good night's read, but it doesn't stick with you.

Rating:
Summary: A decent pulp novel that never lives up to its promise
Review: NIGHT SQUAD has all the elements of classic hard-boiled pulp. You've got the anti-hero, Corey, a disgraced cop who figures the only way to stay alive is to go criminal. You've got mobsters who fear nothing except betrayal. You've got a mysterious branch of the police you have an unhealthy interest in the anti-hero's business. And you've got the ex-wife who, somehow, still manages to be in love with the big lug.

But it doesn't fall together.

David Goodis writes tough dialogue with the best of them. His novel BLACK FRIDAY is a wonder of desperation and fear. But NIGHT SQUAD has too many avenues that don't engage the reader. The ex-wife is too mysterious, and her reason for being in the story is never clear. It relies too heavily on coincidence. Repressed memories suddenly surface, to unsatisfactory effect. Corey's final stab at redemption doesn't ring true.

It's as if Goodis had a good, tight story, but then realized he didn't include enough cliche's. It's a good night's read, but it doesn't stick with you.