From the massive archive…
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.
Material supplied by the
author in exchange for my objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2015, 2023
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