Getting good help is always a
problem whether in the real world at the store or repair shop, or in the
fictional world. Kenny Rogan and Big Jim Lawson were supposed to go get a
brief case from a man known as Half Pint Harry Hebb. Now, his name could be
changed to Brainless Half-Pint Harry Hebb as Big Jim just used a sawed off
shotgun to permanently change the man’s cognitive skills in a highly negative
way. While Big Jim considers the matter “a little accident” Kenny vehemently disagrees
and understands the catastrophe that has befallen the duo.
Half-Pint Harry Hebb was a key
player with the local underworld. Considering the fact that Mad Tony Cook sent
them to get the now slightly damaged stainless steel briefcase he is not going
to be pleased at all that a man of Half-Pint Harry Hebb’s stature is now
dead. Once they turn over the briefcase their fates are pretty much
sealed. Of course, if Kenny and Big Jim can get rid of the body on their own
and make it all go away with no one the wiser then they should be good. And
they can get rid of the body as part of a trip they have planned to do an
independent job of their own.
Anyone who pays attention at any
level to the world of politics, religion, crime, and other humans endeavors
should be well aware that the cover up is always a worse disaster than the
original crime. Such is the case here in Guns of Brixton when the effects of
a few minutes in a Landon garage ripple far afield from Kenny, Big Jim, and the
departed Half-Pint Harry Hebb. For all involved it is going to be an odd and
often violent start to the New Year.
Like a lot of the Paul D. Brazill’s
excellent stories there are a large number of cultural references at work in
this twisting crime yarn. Many become clear in time via the context of the
story through one does get the feeling one is missing a point or joke here and
there. What is clear regardless of your personal familiarity with the cultural
references is that humor is prevalent in this read as is plenty of serious
violence and action in a noir style tale that gets bigger and bigger as the
novella works toward the conclusion.
Much like his very good A
Case of Noir much is at work in Guns of Brixton making
the read well worth your time and money.
Guns of Brixton
Paul D. Brazill
Byker Books
December 2014
ASIN: B00QIKBQJ0
E-Book
(Print also available)
134
Pages
$2.99
Material
supplied by the author in exchange for my objective review.
Kevin
R. Tipple ©2015
Posts
4 comments:
Thanks Kevin. I'm glad GOB entertained. I'm pleased you can enjoy it without getting all the references.
By the way, this version of the book is actually published by Caffeine Nights Publishing.
http://caffeine-nights.com/
Went with the publisher information on the version I reviewed. I had 4 different copies from you. So, the one I used had the publisher information I used in my review. Enjoyed the book.
Thanks again Kevin!
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