Shadow Boxer: A Billy Nichols Novel

I read the book prior to this one by the same author Eddie Muller The Distance, which was great blending of dectective noir and a history of boxing when it was still a respectable sport. In Shadow Boxer, which I haven't finished reading, there seems to be more of an interest in the detective noir. Though the character of Billy Nichols isn't a detective but a sports writer like in the previous novel. You don't need to read The Distance to catch onto the story. The first three chapters basically runs down a recap of the previous novel. Unlike the Distance, the story so far (on the 6th chapter) doesn't go through dry spells where either the action is dead or you are introduced to characters you forget about with the turning of the next page. Still this is definite buy if you are into hard boiled crime novels. I hope Muller is writing another Billy Nichols novel.

2nd book in the Billy Nichols series; Historical Mystery. Eddie Muller is the son of a newspaper reporter, and that background really helped him create a very well described late 1940s California scene (at least I thought he was, though his official website does not note this fact in his biography). Muller's first book in the series, The Distance, has won the Shamus Award, the Mystery Ink Gumshoe Award for Best first Novel and was nominated for the Anthony, Macavity, and Barry awards. A non-fiction work that Muller apparently worked on between the Nichols books was nominated for the Edgar and Macavity awards (The Art of Noir). Unfortunately, his second Billy Nichols book is seemingly lacking in nominations or awards (and none of his other books has so far been nominated for anything). The first book was deeply involved in Nichols working as "Mr. Boxing," the premier boxing journalist in California. The second book, on the other hand, while including some boxing activity, has Nichols submerge himself into the world of financial/business journalism. The man who Nichols helped put in jail was apparently involved in a financial fraud/scam in California, involving some high ranking people (or at least highly regarded people). Nichols, though reluctant to help Burney Sanders, decides to examine the situation and acquires help along the way from one of the best financial journalist of the era (though he is now working outside journalism). Along the way Nichols ends up trying to help Sanders former secretary, who apparently had fled the scene when the trouble started in the first book. A very detailed, imaginative historical noir book that is not as good as the first book in the series (the first book was given 4.60 stars out of 5; the second barely makes it over 4 stars).

If you want the old golden era of Hollywood in a book then look no further. Shadow Boxer is a wonderfully plotted, atmospheric book of the forties. The mood and style is captured vividly in the lead protaganist, Billy Nichols. Billy is the boxing columnist for the San Francisco Inquirer and he gets deeply embedded in mayhem, murder and femme fatales.In his Through the Ropes Column Billy writes:Life is fixed. That's why I offer simple advice to any amateur turning pro; Kid don't leave it up to the judges. Get yourself a knockout punch. Shadow Boxer has a punch that takes your breath away. This is one entertaining read. Don't miss out.