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American Born Chinese - Gene Yang »

My third Hard Case Crime novel and the second to deal with the theme of 'broads' and how you just can't trust 'em. In this reprint of Williams' 1953 novel, Lee Scarborough, a down and out ex-football star walks in on a topless, sunbathing Diana James and from there his troubles just begin. Diana uses her feminine wiles to convince Lee to help her out in finding $120,000 in embezzled cash (let's remember that in 1953 that amount of money would have been worth all the trouble Lee eventually goes through, just one example of the fun, dated touches of these Hard Case reprints). The money was stolen by Diana's now deceased lover and resides somewhere in his estate. The simple plan is for Lee to sneak into the empty house and find the money. But of course the house isn't empty and Lee winds up attached to the hip for the rest of the novel with Madelon Butler, wife of the deceased and mastermind behind the troubles of every character in this book.

This is a fun read, furthering my love for the Hard Case imprint. Lee is an interesting character because he's fairly cunning in his attempts to stay on top of the situation but he is outmatched by the far more devious Madelon and because he knows this he slips up even more than he should. Madelon herself is cold and ruthless but in such a sophisticated way, fitting her upper class lifestyle. She is never anything less than a lady and it is pretty amusing how she is relaxed in every situation, whether accepting the fact that she was kidnapped in her pajamas and robe or that she spends each day as a hostage, rolling up her sleeves and sunbathing in the window. There is a lurid (by '50's sensibilities I guess) sexuality that drives a number of scenes and Williams is understated in how he describes it. The plot eventually builds to a surprising and frantic conclusion, perfectly matching the breakdown of Lee's own cool facade.

Posted at October 24, 2006 02:30 PM