The Gutter and the Grave

I had not read a real hard-boiled detective novel in years before I stumbled onto this book. This is the real deal in the old pulp tradition, but the absolute best pulp tradition. Originally written in 1958, I do not think that the vast majority of modern writers could come close to recreating the mindset or the backdrop. This isn't an elegant, intricate sort of mystery- it is more in the spirit of Mickey Spillanes's classic toughguy yarns. There is a difference though. It is more like one of Spillane's heroes had finally gone too far and found out that he wasn't a superman afterall. That is the case with Matt Cordell- we meet him on the Bowery as a pan-handling drunk. He has lost his license, wis wife, his rep, and his self-respect. He is now resigned to life as a philosophical drunk living in flops and on park benches. It is a joy watching him prove to himself and the world that he can solve one more case like a true professional. It is quite believable too, since at one point or another it seems like every single one of the other characters are lying to him. On a secondary level this book is also a time capsule of 50's Manhattan. Infact, the settings are as engrossing as the plot. If you are getting a few years on you, it is very easy to quickly identify with both Cordell and his world...

Matt Cordell, from the get go at the begining of the story, admits that he's a drunk. A down and out detective who's reputation we find out through a friend who finds him sitting on a park bench. Right when I read that, I knew that this book was gonna be interesting. The begining scene was enough to make me want to read the entire book in one sitting. Slowly, whil reading, we come to realize that Matt, even though he is rough around the edges, is actually a very cool, level-headed nice guy. It's all the people around him who are liars, cheaters, murderers and such. The Narrator of the story, matt cordell, had me entwined in the story by the sheer brilliance of the descriptions and the peotry of each witty dialogue scene. Matt Cordell is no fool. After getting back into the business, by long time friend Johnny Bridges (even that name had me giggling with nostalgic admiration.), we come to find that Matt Cordell will have to sober up if he wants to crack this case. Along the way, we are introduced to a colorful cast of characters, yet the beautifully written dialogue and the atmosphere of the descriptions just screams "Black and white Classic." If you are a 1950's nut like me, you will fully appreciate this kind of dynamite story that is a total tribute to film noir. The ending was a bit surprising, not what I expected, but nevertheless this was well worth 6 bucks. Easily fittable into your back pocket to take anywhere, affordable and compact and brilliantly written. Even the cover art is Cineamatic Pulp Fiction Eye Candy. This was the first Hard case crime series book that I have read, but it will certainly not be the last. I'm going to collect the whole set. Pick this book up now! You won't regret it!

A very well written,early novel by Ed McBain,and somewhat of a surprise for those more used to his later work.It's the usual story of a down and out private detective,asked to help out an old friend,but made an excellent read by the sharp,first person dialog,and a nice mixture of sordid and not so sordid characters.Well worth the price,as are any of the Hard Case Crime titles I've had the pleasure to read so far.

I loved this book! I have read several of the Hard Case Crime books and have liked them all, but this one really stands out. It was actually written in 1958, and I think it's one of McBain's first books. But it definitely doesn't have that "first novel" feel to it. The dialogue is snappy, the story fast-paced and very noir. The writing is first-rate, and the cover art is stunning. This book, and all of the Hard Case Crime books, are well worth the price of $7.

Ever since he found his wife Toni with one of his operatives, all former private investigator Matt Cordell has wanted to do is crawl inside a bottle and stay there. He's been perfectly happy to wallow in his memories for the last five years, panhandling for change on the Bowery, and he doesn't want any trouble. Enter trouble in the form of Johnny Bridges, a guy from Cordell's old neighborhood he hasn't seen in ten years. Johnny can't afford a real private detective -- and he doesn't want to get the police involved for personal reasons -- so he asks Matt for his help in figuring out whether his business partner, Dom Archese, is stealing from the till in their co-owned tailor shop. Being that Cordell doesn't have a whole hell of a lot else filling his day, he says yes. This little piece of magnanimity (really just a way to get Johnny off his back) sweeps Matt into a full-fledged murder case where he encounters a shady cast of characters so full of lies that it is impossible to tell if anyone is ever telling the truth. (Not that it stops Cordell from climbing into the sack with as many of the potential femmes fatales as will let him.) That's what you get for doing a guy a favor. The Gutter and the Grave is a reprint of a novel originally published by Gold Medal under the title I'm Cannon -- For Hire and the byline of "Curt Cannon" (the name the Cordell's character was changed to). This edition is Ed McBain's preferred text, complete with edits made just prior to his death. It is therefore a fascinating combination of the enthusiasm of a young writer (it is a little heavy on the exposition) and the restraint exercised by a seasoned pro (the violence is tight and visceral and not drawn out unnecessarily). The Gutter and the Grave is a prime example of the fiction called noir: it's dark and it's dirty, and Matt Cordell is one depressing son of a bitch of a hero. He's full of self-pity and the smallest things set him off on a flashback. McBain keeps his prose raw and fluid, his dialogue sizzling, and a happy ending never crosses his mind (though there is a fun Blackboard Jungle reference for those who can appreciate it). This is a novel about the other side of society: the side where every day is a struggle and every relationship is just one more opportunity to take advantage of. It's the kind of potent novel that, after you get over the grungy feeling it leaves behind, makes you feel happy that you're not one of the characters -- a perfect addition to the Hard Case Crime canon.