A few years ago I enjoyed seeing Max Allan Collins at Once Upon a Crime bookstore in Minneapolis. The event inspired me to read Black Hats.
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42. - 452.) Black Hats by Patrick Culhane – When
Sharon and I were in Minneapolis a couple of weeks ago we went to the Once Upon
a Crime bookstore to see Max Allan Collins talk about writing. He wrote this
book under his pseudynom. Collins writes mysteries (alone and with
collaborators who include his wife and under the pseudynom), screenplays,
graphic novels (Road to Perdition)
and comic books. He is also a move director. He said he can write a novel in
2-3 weeks when he starts actually writing. He said he did not know how many
books he had written.
I was
captured by the premise of the book – aging Wyatt Earp confronting Al Capone in
1920 in New York. I had never realized that Earp lived until 1929. In the book
he goes to New York to help Doc Holliday’s son, Johnny, who is operating one of
the first speakeasies. Johnny has been threatened by the Italian gang of which
Capone is a member. In New York Earp joins up with Bat Masterson who in fiction
and real life became an early 20th Century sportswriter in New York.
The spoken language has a convincing Western flavor. The story is well done. It
does not have the many twists of some stories. The violence is limited. Earp is
no saint but he is a hero. It was a satisfying honest story. It may be one of
the year’s most interesting because of its historical theme. Paperback. (Oct.
12/08)
Bill - What an interesting premise for a novel! Thanks for sharing this. I like the historical aspect as well as the main plot idea. I'm glad you found it enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteGreat concept for a novel, like you that would make me want to read it. The writer sounds fascinating.
ReplyDeleteMargot: Thanks for the comment. It was a very clever premise.
ReplyDeleteMoira: Thanks for the comment. Collins is both an excellent writer and a movie director.
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to read some books by Max Allan Collins for a long time but haven't gotten around to it. Hope to get to one soon. I don't know how he writes so much. Even working with other people sometimes.
ReplyDeleteTracyK: Thanks for the comment. When I heard him at the bookstore he spoke of writing a book in a month or so once he has it clear what the plot will be. Once he starts writing he barrels along.
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