Review: Everybody's Watching Me

Everybody's Watching Me by Mickey Spillane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Originally serialized in the first four issues of Manhunt Magazine, this novella by one of the world's most popular writers at the time, gave the fledgling magazine instant credibility and the ability to attract some of the best crime writers of the day. It helps that it's a terrific story that I found more appealing than his "Mike Hammer" novels. Probably the best Spillane that I've read.

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Review: Shame Dame

Shame Dame by John Dexter
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Contrary to rumor, I am doubtful that this one was written by Lawrence Block. "Shame Dame" tells the story of Frank Fisher, a newly published writer, who kills his unfaithful wife's lover in a fit of rage and then skips town to Florida to avoid being arrested. Flat broke and on the run, Frank is forced into the unsavory machinations of the wife of an old rich guy, and his oversexed teenage daughter. Sexual encounters are described in the toned-down terms used by softcore writers of this era. It's a quick read and fairly well plotted. OK for vintage sleaze.

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Convention report - Classicon

Book Review: "Ozark Nurse" by Fern Shepard

Ozark Nurse by Fern Shepard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I came across a few Vintage Nurse Romance eBooks recently, and started with this one, and it turned out to be a good book. One thing that strikes me is that regardless of how unworthy or forgotten a book may seem, it may still provide significant reading value. This novel was written in the early 1960's during a time of vast social change, especially in regards to the role of women, so it was very interesting from an historical perspective. Having read some modern romance novels that contain a lot of graphic sex, I was surprised to find that there was zero references to sex in this book at all. How things have changed.

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