Nerd of Noir

Justified - "Cut Ties"

2012-01-24T23:31:00.005-06:00

My review of "Cut Ties," the latest episode of Justified, is up at spinetingler.

Check out my review HERE.

Good stuff this week, especially cool to see Art get his hands dirty with a suspect.

Also got Rachel popping a dude in the head like his head was a whack-a-mole and her gun was the fucking mallet. Some cold shit.

Justified - "The Gunfighter"

2012-01-18T12:02:00.004-06:00

My review of the season premiere of season three of Justified, "The Gunfighter," is up at spinetingler.

Give it a look-see over HERE.

Michael Dinner, who did the pilot and last year's season finale episode for the series, directed this one handsomely.

Looking at the guy's imdb page, dude has done a ton of work in TV for the last almost thirty years.

Why Crime?

2012-01-17T10:39:00.004-06:00

My first blog post for Crime Factory's new blog is up! It's called "Why Crime?" because I'm so fucking clever like that.

Check that shit out HERE.

While you're over there, look around, stay awhile. There's a whole bunch of good content up there and a ton more coming.

Drawing Dead by JJ DeCeglie

2012-01-17T02:08:00.003-06:00

My review of JJ DeCeglie's Drawing Dead is up at spinetingler.

Give it a look HERE.

DeCeglie dedicates the book to Charles Willeford, Jim Thompson and John Dahl, which reminds the Nerd of THIS old article from early in this blog's run.

The Drop by Howard Linskey

2012-01-10T20:54:00.005-06:00

My review of Howard Linskey's debut novel The Drop is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Funny how this came out the same year as Michael Connelly released a novel of the same name.

If I had to guess though, only one of these books features an enforcer who really likes to use power drills...

Crime Factory Vol. 2 No. 9

2012-01-07T13:27:00.009-06:00

My Crime Sleeper Double Feature on Paul Schrader's Blue Collar (1978) and American Gigolo (1980) entitled "In America, Establishment Fuck You!" is in the new issue of Crime Factory on pages 94-99.

Check that shit out HERE.

Really great issue this month, with shit from Ray Banks, Tom Piccirilli, Scott Phillips and a hell of a lot more folks in there as well.

Dig Two Graves by Eric Beetner

2012-01-05T01:41:00.004-06:00

My review of Eric Beetner's Dig Two Graves is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Looking forward to checking out more of Beetner's shit soon.

If you're a long-time reader of my shit, yer gonna want to check this one out for sure.

The Best Myster/Crime Fiction of 2011

2012-01-04T11:13:00.003-06:00

We've got four best books of the year lists from myself, R Thomas Brown, Garrett Kenyon, and Brian Lindenmuth over at spinetingler.

Check out that shit right HERE.

Look at that goofy book! He's fuckin crazy!

Hell On Church Street by Jake Hinkson

2011-12-30T17:12:00.003-06:00

My review of Hell On Church Street by Jake Hinkson is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Very excited about this debut novel, dear reader, very fucking excited.

Can't wait to see what Hinkson busts out next.

Already Gone by John Rector

2011-12-27T21:54:00.003-06:00

My review of John Rector's Already Gone is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

I've got reviews of both The Cold Kiss and The Grove by Rector posted here as well.

Just hit up Rector's name in the labels to see for yourself.

Stolen Souls by Stuart Neville

2011-12-22T20:12:00.005-06:00

My review of Stolen Souls by Stuart Neville is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

It may have prostitutes, coked-up sex traffickers, psychotic christians, and a bunch of brutal stabbings, but don't be fooled, dear reader: Stolen Souls is the perfect novel for Christmas.

Well, it's set over Christmas, anyway...

Woe to Live On by Daniel Woodrell

2011-12-12T08:19:00.002-06:00

My review of Daniel Woodrell's Woe to Live On is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

I have now read (and, you know, fucking loved) all of Woodrell's work.

Somebody get the Nerd a fucking cookie!

Choke Hold by Christa Faust

2011-12-09T08:04:00.004-06:00

My review of Christa Faust's Choke Hold is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Had been waiting on this one a long time so expectations were well-fucking high.

Hit up that link to find out if my expectations were met.

Oh, I suck at keeping secrets - they were! They were! (*pees pants*)

Dead Money by Ray Banks

2011-11-25T15:11:00.006-06:00

My review of Dead Money by Ray Banks is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

I've got just about everything dude's written reviewed here on the NoN blog so hit up his name in the labels to find out more about his shit.

The Gentlemen's Hour by Don Winslow

2011-11-24T13:26:00.003-06:00

My review of Don Winslow's The Gentlemen's Hour is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Fun to hang out with Boone Daniels, the chillest PI on land or sea, again.

My review of The Dawn Patrol can be found by hitting up Winslow's name in the labels.

Headstone by Ken Bruen

2011-11-23T10:18:00.002-06:00

My review of Headstone by Ken Bruen is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

I don't wanna spoil anything about the latest Jack Taylor novel, but there might be some crazy killers in this one....

All the Young Warriors by Anthony Neil Smith

2011-11-22T10:44:00.003-06:00

My review of Anthony Neil Smith's All the Young Warriors is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

I've got a bunch of A.N. Smith reviews on the blog so hit up his name in the links to find out about his other shit.

You'll see I'm a bit of a fan...

The Outlaw Album by Daniel Woodrell

2011-11-21T11:04:00.004-06:00

My review of Daniel Woodrell short story collection The Outlaw Album is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

I've got reviews of everything Woodrell's done (except for Woe to Live On, which I'll be reading shortly) here on the NoN blog so hit up his name in the labels to learn more about his stuff.

Interview: Allan Guthrie

2011-11-14T10:11:00.002-06:00

I interviewed Allan Guthrie about Two-Way Split and Blasted Heath, the new e-pub he launched with Kyle MacRae this month.

Check that shit out HERE.

In the over three years I've been doing online reviews and articles, I have never done an interview before. (Obvious Guy says, "Don't worry - it shows!")

El Gavilan by Craig McDonald

2011-11-11T10:48:00.003-06:00

My review of Craig McDonald's El Gavilan is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

If you're not up to speed with McDonald's shit, hit up his name in the labels and learn a thing or two.

The End of Everything by Megan Abbott

2011-10-28T16:52:00.004-05:00

My review of The End of Everything by Megan Abbott is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Read my reviews of her four previous novels here at the NoN blog by hitting up her name in the labels.

Or do something else - I'm not trying to be controlling, here, just making conversation.

Crime Factory Vol. 2 No. 8

2011-10-24T11:31:00.005-05:00

My Crime Sleeper Double Feature on Paul Andrew Williams' London to Brighton and Ben Wheatley's Down Terrace is in the latest issue of Crime Factory.

Find it on pages 126-9 HERE.

Also plenty of great shit in there from guys like Andrew Nette, Nik Korpon, Seth Harwood, and Addam Duke so kick off your shoes, stay there a while.

The Devil All the Time by Donald Ray Pollock

2011-10-20T17:55:00.004-05:00

My review of Donald Ray Pollock's debut novel, The Devil All the Time, is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

To read my review of his short story collection from a few years back, Knockemstiff, hit up his name down in the labels section pof this post.

Breaking Bad - "Face Off"

2011-10-11T10:36:00.003-05:00

My piece on "Face Off," the season finale of Breaking Bad, is up at spinetingler.

Read that shit HERE.

Nice direction from Gilligan in this one, especially liked the numerous badass front-facing tracking shots, Gus' entrance into the nursing home even putting some funky, modern Morricone music on there to make it feel like the end of a Leone movie.

Breaking Bad - "End Times"

2011-10-03T23:55:00.003-05:00

My review of the penultimate episode of season four of Breaking Bad, "End Times," is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out here.

Vince Gilligan directed himself directed this episode and man oh man did he bust out some style with it.

What is it with show creators flashily directing "big" episodes of their shows? David Chase and Matthew Weiner are major offenders on Sopranos and Mad Men.

The Ranger by Ace Atkins

2011-09-29T20:48:00.007-05:00

My review of The Ranger by Ace Atkins is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Hit up "Ace Atkins" in the labels and you'll find my review of Infamous.

Hit up "The Ranger" in the labels and you'll find...this very review link...

Breaking Bad - "Crawl Space"

2011-09-26T21:23:00.004-05:00

My piece on "Crawl Space," the latest episode of Breaking Bad, is up at spinetingler.

Check it out HERE.

Nice to have Bill Burr back again, this time with a lot more to do as he very coolly tells Beneke how it's gonna be. ("If you don't have cable...it's gonna suck.")

Here's hoping we see more of him

Drive by Nicolas Winding Refn

2011-09-24T19:51:00.004-05:00

My review of Drive from director Nicolas Winding Refn is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Seen this shit twice now in theaters - I practically never do that.

Also, this review is incredibly long, another rarity for the Nerd.

In the labels you'll find my review of Refn's Bronson if you hit up his name.

The Cut by George Pelecanos

2011-09-21T14:27:00.003-05:00

My review of The Cut by George Pelecanos is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Been a couple years since Pelecanos put one out.

I don't mean to spoil anything here but...there's Greek people in this one. Also diners....

Breaking Bad - "Salud"

2011-09-20T20:03:00.002-05:00

My review of "Salud," the latest episode of Breaking Bad, is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit HERE.

Things I have recently learned:

Don Eladio was played by Steven Bauer, AKA Tony Montana's best friend who boned Tony's little sister in Scarface.

Ted Beneke is played by Christopher Cousins who also played Robert Lindus on Terriers.

Cold Fish by Sion Sono

2011-09-16T21:11:00.004-05:00

My review of Sion Sono's Cold Fish is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

I used to think that just the Koreans had issues with how their names are spelled per this or that publication (which part of the name goes first and the like), but found that, in looking up the names for this piece, nobody can agree on how to spell half the Japanese names I used in the review.

Little peek behind the curtain for ya, dear readers...the sad, tear-soaked curtain that makes up my review-writing lair.

Breaking Bad - "Bug"

2011-09-12T20:30:00.005-05:00

My piece on "Bug," the latest episode of Breaking Bad, is up at spinetingler.

Learn yerself a thing or two HERE.

Will "Bug" be as love-it-or-hate-it as last year's "Fly?"

No. No it will not.

Breaking Bad "Hermanos"

2011-09-07T10:44:00.005-05:00

My piece on "Hermanos," the latest episode of Breaking Bad, is up at spinetingler.

Give it a look HERE.

Sorry for the delay this week in posting. I had important shit to do, like go to the State Fair and eat bullshit and drink beer Sunday night. And go to a cookout on Labor Day and eat bullshit and drink beer.

Breaking Bad "Problem Dog"

2011-08-29T19:21:00.006-05:00

My piece on "Problem Dog," the latest episode of Breaking Bad, is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Drunk Gene Shalit says, "This is one "Problem Dog" I won't be putting down."

Or maybe "If you think this episode is a "Dog," you and me have a "Problem.""

Good Neighbors by Ryan David Jahn

2011-08-27T16:24:00.006-05:00

My review of Ryan David Jahn's Good Neighbors is up at spinetingler.

Give that shit a quick look-see HERE.

Yeah, I'm posting on a Saturday afternoon like a fucking newb but - and I don't know if you know this about me - I'm kind of a badass like that, posting whenever I damn well please and the like.

*hits inhaler*

Blitz by Elliot Lester

2011-08-25T20:50:00.003-05:00

My review of the movie adaptation of Ken Bruen's Blitz from director Elliot Lester and screenwriter Nathan Parker (of Moon fame!) is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

American readers take note: the film is currently streaming on netflix instant, so do it up toot-sweet!

Cold Shot to the Heart by Wallace Stroby

2011-08-24T00:25:00.006-05:00

My review of Wallace Stroby's Cold Shot to the Heart is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Up for reading more of Stroby's shit.

Anybody out there in Internetland (totally one word - don't worry about it) got a favorite to rec to your dear old Nerd?

Fun and Games by Duane Swierczynski

2011-08-23T13:36:00.005-05:00

My review Duane Swierczynski's Fun and Games is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

This is the first in a trilogy of novels by Swierczynski featuring protagonist Charlie Hardie, and if parts 2 and 3 are anywhere near as good as 1, this could be up there with Charlie Huston's Hank Thompson trilogy.

Speaking of Huston, what's that guy doing these days? Pumps out like ten books a year for five years then fuckin' radio silence for two? I'm fucking jonesin' over here, Huston!

Breaking Bad "Cornered"

2011-08-21T23:40:00.007-05:00

My review of "Cornered," the latest episode of Breaking Bad, is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Some good trailers tonight, including Refn's Drive and The Debt.

I'd add the Walking Dead teasers to that list but good god did that show go downhill after the pilot last season. Still gonna watch it because, you know, it's got zombies and shit but holy fuck.

Remember that scene where the sisters talk about how their dad fished with them different ways because he understood their distinct personalities? Just thinking about that freshman year writerly bullshit makes me nauseous.

Every Shallow Cut by Tom Piccirilli

2011-08-18T19:08:00.008-05:00

My review of Tom Piccirilli's Every Shallow Cut is up at spinetingler.

Give that shit some of you precious time HERE.

It'll just take a second - scout's honor. Give it a look and then go back to doing what you were doing, which, if the Nerd had to guess from the looks of you, was looking at funny-faced kitties jump into boxes.

Breaking Bad - "Shotgun"

2011-08-15T22:03:00.004-05:00

My review of "Shotgun," the latest episode of Breaking Bad, is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Loved when Jesse made the keys knucks with his fist in the car. The move of every impotent asshole when they feel shit might go down any minute.

One Dead Hen by Charlie Williams

2011-08-11T13:08:00.006-05:00

My review of the latest Royston Blake novel, One Dead Hen, is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

I've got reviews on NoN of all of Charlie Williams' Royston Blake novels up here so hit up his name in the labels to read more.

Breaking Bad - "Bullet Points"

2011-08-08T20:21:00.004-05:00

My piece on the latest episode of Breaking Bad, "Bullet Points," is up at spinetingler.

Dig that shit HERE.

So Jesse's hair "broke bad" this week finally. Think Vince Gilligan's ever gonna shave his head so he looks Walt (or Jesse or Hank or Mike)?

The Shield creator Shawn Ryan was such a big fan of the exposed pate that he and his main character, Vic Mackey, both Bic'd it daily.

Just sayin'.

Guilty Pleasures - Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

2011-08-03T11:02:00.010-05:00

My piece for Crimespree Cinema's Guilty Pleasures series is up.

I did mine on a little movie called Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

Yeah. The Costner movie.

Check that shit out HERE.

Breaking Bad - "Open House"

2011-08-01T17:01:00.003-05:00

My piece on "Open House," the latest episode of Breaking Bad, is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

So there's been a big self-promotional push on AMC for their airing of "mob movies" like Scarface, The Godfather, Goodfellas, etc., said movies being "hosted" by Rudy Guiliani.

So not only are you watching classic movies with commercials and without swears, sex and violence, but you gotta listen to that punchable-faced prick as well? Good luck with that, AMC.

Crime Factory Vol. 2 No. 7

2011-07-31T22:51:00.003-05:00

My Crime Sleeper Double Feature on Jennifer Chambers Lynch's Surveillance and Davidy Twohy's A Perfect Getaway, entitled "Remember the 90s?" is up at Crime Factory.

Check that shit out HERE on pages 112-116.

Pieces from Pete Risley, Sean Doolittle, Matthew C. Funk and tons more (this fucker is well over three hundred pages!) can be found in there as well.

Devil Red by Joe R. Lansdale

2011-07-29T12:46:00.004-05:00

My review of Devil Red, the latest in the Hap & Leonard series by Joe R. Lansdale, is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

If you've never read a Hap & Leonard novel before I'd say start at the beginning with Savage Season. Or maybe Mucho Mojo - no! Two-Bear Mambo!

Fuck it. Read em all.

Breaking Bad - "Thirty-eight Snub"

2011-07-25T16:30:00.004-05:00

My piece on the new episode of Breaking Bad, "Thirty-eight Snub," is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Glad to see Badger back and dropping some raspy-voiced funnies on us in the this ep.

"But I think I've got like this...cat...and I think I've gotta like...feed it."

The Adjustment by Scott Phillips

2011-07-19T15:40:00.004-05:00

My review of Scott Phillips' latest novel, The Adjustment, is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Hit up his name in the labels at the bottom of this post to find reviews of his other four novels.

Also, dig that fucking sweet cover.

Breaking Bad - "Box Cutter"

2011-07-18T22:50:00.004-05:00

My review of episode one of season four of Breaking Bad, "Box Cutter," is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

With just one episode of Breaking Bad I *almost* got the shit taste of AMC's The Killing out of my mouth.

Almost.

The Shark-Infested Custard by Charles Willeford

2011-07-15T08:48:00.003-05:00

My review of The Shark-Infested Custard by Charles Willeford is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

If I didn't have a whole lot of great shit screaming at me from the TBR pile right now, I could easily slip down the fucking rabbit-hole with Willeford's work. Great fucking book.

Cowboys by Gary Phillips and Brian Hurtt

2011-06-24T16:34:00.008-05:00

My review of Cowboys, the latest Vertigo Crime graphic, is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

The art's by Brian Hurtt and it's written by Gary Phillips, a dude who I've got to catch up with.

Only read The Jook from Switchblade Press a few years ago. Any suggestions on where to go next, dear reader?

The Lost Sister by Russel D. McLean

2011-06-23T15:07:00.007-05:00

My review of Russel D. McLean's The Lost Sister is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Hit up McLean's name in the labels and you'll find my review of The Good Son, another book you're gonna want to read the shit out of.

If you don't hate things that are good, that is.

Gun by Ray Banks

2011-06-17T13:04:00.007-05:00

My review of Ray Banks' Gun is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Also, hit up dude's name in the labels at the bottom of the page if you're unfamiliar with his work.

I'm kind of a, you know, huge fucking fan.

Dust Devils by James Reasoner

2011-06-16T22:35:00.006-05:00

My review of James Reasoner's Dust Devils is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Anybody read Reasoner's Texas Wind? That sounds pretty badass too. Any of his western shit particularly noir-ish that you know of?

The Nerd's leaving his research up to you, reading public. Now excuse me while I'm fed grapes and fanned with palm fronds.

Fatale by Jean-Patrick Manchette

2011-06-10T16:53:00.007-05:00

My review of Jean-Patrick Manchette's Fatale is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Hit up the labels on this post and click JPM's name as well. You're gonna want to read the book mentioned therein.

So got-damned good.

badbadbad by Jesus Angel Garcia

2011-06-09T09:09:00.004-05:00

My review of Jesus Angel Garcia's badbadbad is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out here.

Man, New Pulp Press fucking rocks it hard with their covers, don't they?

Fucking ridiculously awesome looking.

Frank Sinatra in a Blender by Matthew McBride

2011-06-08T09:48:00.003-05:00

My review of Matthew McBride's debut novel Frank Sinatra in a Blender is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Concord sure is turning out to be a cool press these days. You've got your Scott Phillips and your Stona Fitch, now a touch of Matthew McBride over there?

Tough lineup to beat.

A Dirty Carnival by Ha Yu

2011-06-07T00:35:00.005-05:00

My review of writer-director Ha Yu's 2006 film A Dirty Carnival is up at spinetingler.

Give it a moment of your precious time over HERE.

Not a new film but if you haven't seen it then it's new to you!

Remember when that was briefly NBC or some major network's mantra to get you to watch summer reruns? Some guy got paid for that bullshit.

Crime Factory Vol. 2 No. 6

2011-06-02T23:31:00.007-05:00

My Crime Sleeper Double Feature on Matteo Garrone's Gomorrah and Paolo Sorrentino's Il Divo is on pages 46-50 of the latest issue of Crime Factory.

Check that shit out HERE.

Also in that beast you'll find some fantastic shit from reliable motherfuckers like Tony Black, Eric Beetner, Jedidiah Ayres, and Nigel Bird.

Go and get some, dear reader.

Mixed Blood by Roger Smith

2011-05-11T20:55:00.002-05:00

My review of Roger Smith's debut novel Mixed Blood is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

For whatever reason, I read Wake Up Dead before Mixed Blood (the review of which you can find by hitting Smith's name in the labels below), a rare thing for a completist, in-order-of-publication reader like myself.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to wash my hands an even number of times and get the corners matched tight on my shower cloth before I go to bed.

Justified - "Bloody Harlan"

2011-05-06T14:35:00.008-05:00

My review of the season finale of Justified, "Bloody Harlan," is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

That's it for 2011 Justified coverage, dear reader.

Unless you know something I don't, that is. Like some sort of secret episode is out in the ether or some crazy shit like that.

There's an idea...

Justified - "Reckoning"

2011-04-28T12:25:00.004-05:00

My review of "Reckoning," the penultimate episode of season two of Justified, is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

"Penultimate" is definitely a two, possibly three dollar word. If you need to look it up, the Nerd will not judge you. Much.

The Terror Of Living by Urban Waite

2011-04-27T10:38:00.004-05:00

My review of The Terror of Living by Urban Waite is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Lots of film references in this one so look out, it's about to get pathetically geeky up in this bitch.

Justified - "Full Commitment"

2011-04-21T12:27:00.007-05:00

My review of "Full Commitment," the eleventh episode of Justified, is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Nice little cameo in the episode from Mickey Jones, drummer for Dylan when he went electric on the '66 tour and TV and film character actor of forty years with well over a hundred credits, playing Rodney "Hot Rod" Dunham.

Probably remembered best from his recurring role on (sigh) Home Improvement or his long-running Breathsavers commercial as "friendly biker on subway," I prefer to remember him as one of the dumbasses in Doyle's band in Sling Blade. (Along with the late, great Vic Chesnutt.)

Okay, the Nerd apologizes for going down the fucking rabbit hole of references in this post. I must be stopped.

The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes by Marcus Sakey

2011-04-15T00:41:00.006-05:00

My review of The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes by Marcus Sakey is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Been a fan of Sakey's for a helluva long time, just check the labels below for proof.

Or maybe you don't need proof. That's a dangerous way to live, dear reader, but I admire your style.

Justified - "Debts and Accounts"

2011-04-14T12:09:00.004-05:00

My review of "Debts and Accounts," the latest episode of Justified, is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

I really hope Natalie Zea starts getting some plum fucking movie roles. She's giving Christina Hendricks a run for her money as sexiest chick on TV.

Justified - "Brother's Keeper

2011-04-08T10:44:00.004-05:00

My review of "Brother's Keeper," the latest episode of Justified, is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

"Brother's Keeper" was very nicely directed by Tony Goldwyn, a dude who has been acting since the mid-80's (he was the voice of Tarzan in Disney's Tarzan for fuck's sake) yet has lately been kicking ass directing TV, doing Dexter, Justified, Damages, and a whole bunch of other shit.

The Bayou Trilogy by Daniel Woodrell

2011-04-05T11:56:00.007-05:00

My review of The Bayou Trilogy by Daniel Woodrell is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Now I've read everything by Woodrell aside from Woe To Live On, which was made into the Ang Lee film Ride With The Devil.

As the film just got a Criterion Collection release a while back, I should probably do both of those up toot-fucking-sweet.

Mesrine: Killer Instinct & Mesrine: Public Enemy #1 by Jean-Francois Richet

2011-04-02T18:08:00.010-05:00

My review of Mesrine: Killer Instinct and Mesrine: Public Enemy #1 is up at spinetingler.

Allow yourself to be enlightened on the subject HERE.

Or you can stay here with me, the Nerd of Noir, and marvel at the blandness that is my bare-minimum blog.

Wait, what? That sounds cool to you? Okay then, I'll go fetch the UNO cards and sody-pop.

Justified - "The Spoil"

2011-04-01T10:41:00.005-05:00

My review of "The Spoil," the latest episode of Justified, is up at spinetingler.

Give that piece a once-over HERE.

Would have had this up earlier but there was some chaos over at spinetingler - CHAOS I SAY!

Justified - "Save My Love"

2011-03-24T00:34:00.004-05:00

My review of "Save My Love," the latest episode of Justified, is up at apinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Yeah, Natalie Zea is kinda hot, I guess.

*Reaches for paper bag to hyperventilate into*

*Passes out*

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin

2011-03-22T11:54:00.006-05:00

My review of Tom Franklin's Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter is up at spinetingler.

Check it out HERE.

Gotta check out his old shit now, really jazzed about this one.

Again, don't be frightened that this shit isn't insanely dark, dear reader, because you'll dig it all the same, guaranteed.

Justifed - "Blaze of Glory"

2011-03-17T00:15:00.005-05:00

My review of "Blaze of Glory," the latest episode of Justified, is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

This episode featured some nice work by veteran character actor Scott Wilson, who you might remember as the near-silent dad in Junebug or Dick, Perry's (Robert Blake) partner in In Cold Blood.

Yeah, dude's kind of a legend.

Smokeheads by Doug Johnstone

2011-03-14T12:48:00.003-05:00

My review of Doug Johnstone's Smokeheads is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Whisky, cocaine, murder - what else do you fucking want in a book, dear reader?

I Saw The Devil by Kim Ji-woon

2011-03-12T14:26:00.005-06:00

My review of the new Korean revenge thriller I Saw The Devil from director Kim Ji-woon is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

One film I neglected to mention in this review is Chaser, a little seen and ridiculously kick-ass Korean crime film that came out on DVD last fall.

Check that review out too.

Kung Fu Factory

2011-03-11T10:49:00.006-06:00

Kung Fu Factory, a special issue of Crime Factory featuring, you know, fucking kung fu and shit, is out and you better believe the Nerd sneaked a Crime Sleeper Double Feature into that motherfucker.

On pages 135-139 you can find my article on Syndney Pollack's The Yakuza and Sam Peckinpah's Killer Elite in the PDF file found HERE.

Also in there is some great shit by Christa Faust, Duane Swierczynski, Anthony Neil Smith, Frank Bill and tons more ridiculously talented folks. Check that shit out toot-fucking-sweet!

Justified - "Cottonmouth"

2011-03-10T00:16:00.002-06:00

My review of "Cottonmouth," the latest episode of Justified, is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

I almost put up a picture of Margo Martindale as Hilary Swank's despicable welfare-collecting redneck mom in Million Dollar Baby ("Dey all laaafff atch yoooo!") but instead kept it Justified related.

Carlos by Olivier Assayas

2011-03-09T11:43:00.006-06:00

I review the three-part French television mini-series Carlos from director Olivier Assayas over at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

You can find all three episodes over at netflix instant watch.

The Red Riding Trilogy I mention in the review is also on instant watch. Hit up "Red Riding" in the labels to find my review of that similarly badass miniseries.

One True Sentence by Craig McDonald

2011-03-08T11:01:00.005-06:00

My review of Craig McDonald's One True Sentence is up at spinetingler.

Look it over HERE.

Or read it very carefully.

I can't control your reading approach to online magazine books reviews - nor would I want to.

Justified - "For Blood or Money"

2011-03-02T23:46:00.002-06:00

My review of "For Blood or Money," the latest episode of Justified, is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

This episode was directed by the great unsung director John Dahl, a guy who I did an article on a couple years back. Hit his name up in the labels section of this post if you wanna read it and pretend you truly give a shit.

Graven Image by Charlie Williams

2011-02-24T14:33:00.005-06:00

My review of the new novella from Charlie Williams, Graven Image, is up at spinetingler.

Give it a quick look-see right HERE.

If you're not savvy to dude's shit, click on his name down in the labels section of the post - my reviews of all three of the Mangel books are there.

Or don't. Being ignorant of all the awesome in the world might be what you consider a good lifestyle choice, I suppose.

Justified - "The I of the Storm"

2011-02-23T23:51:00.005-06:00

My review of episode three of season two of Justified, "The I of the Storm," is up at spinetingler.

Give that shit a quick gander HERE.

You ever see a gander take a quick shit?

Jesus, I don't even know what that means but I'm ashamed of myself all the same.

California by Ray Banks

2011-02-18T11:50:00.003-06:00

Ray Banks has a new novella out called California.

I read it. I reviewed it. It's kind of, like, what I do.

See the results of that process HERE.

The Science of Paul by Aaron Philip Clark

2011-02-17T01:15:00.003-06:00

My review of The Science of Paul by Aaron Philip Clark is up at spinetingler.

Give that shit a look HERE.

No, dear reader, this is not the sequel to The Science of Sleep, Michel Gondry's disappointing follow-up to his masterpiece The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Or is it? (No, it's not.)

Justified - "The Life Inside"

2011-02-16T23:12:00.004-06:00

My review of "The Life Inside," the second episode of season two of Justified, is up at spinetingler.

Give it a once over HERE.

This episode was nicely directed by Jon Avnet, the guy who directed the lazy Al Pacino thrillers 88 Minutes and Righteous Kill.

Guy does nice work with a decent script, eh?

Friday's Forgotten Books: Four Corners of Night by Craig Holden

2011-02-11T00:45:00.006-06:00

My Friday's Forgotten Books review of Craig Holden's Four Corners of Night is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out right HERE.

Anybody have any suggestions for what I should read next of Holden's?

Is all his shit, you know, fucking brilliant?

Justified - "The Moonshine War"

2011-02-10T00:35:00.004-06:00

My review of episode one of season two of Justified, "The Moonshine War, is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Starting strong right out the fucking gate - already we've been introduced to the great character actors Margo Martindale and Jeremy Davies as Mags and Dickie Bennett.

Doesn't mean anything to you? IMDB that shit post-fucking-haste, you philistine!

Outsourced by Dave Zeltserman

2011-02-01T10:18:00.003-06:00

My review of Dave Zeltserman's Outsourced is up at spinetingler.

Give it a look right HERE.

It seems Zeltserman has replaced Charlie Huston as "guy who puts out great shit and multiple times a year at that" in the crime fiction community these days.

Just saying, it's been over a year since we had a Huston novel...

Wake Up Dead by Roger Smith

2011-01-31T14:06:00.004-06:00

My review of Wake Up Dead by Roger Smith is up at spinetingler.

Check it out HERE.

Definitely gotta go back and read Smith's debut Mixed Blood now.

Guy serves it up bloody, the only way I like it.

Bleed a River Deep by Brian McGilloway

2011-01-20T11:53:00.003-06:00

My review of Brian McGilloway's Bleed a River Deep is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

I should look into how many reviews on this blog have been of books by either Irish or Irish-American authors since I started it up.

But then again, that sounds like work...

The Wilding by Benjamin Percy

2011-01-11T10:00:00.003-06:00

My review of The Wilding by Benjamin Percy is up at spinetingler.

Give it a look-see right HERE.

I'm sorry to say that there's some spoiler-y shit (properly alerted, of course) in this review. Had to be that guy, I'm afraid.

Collusion by Stuart Neville

2011-01-10T12:09:00.004-06:00

My review of Stuart Neville's Collusion is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out HERE.

Also, if you haven't already, read his first novel The Ghosts of Belfast fucking immediately. Dude has this book-writing gig down fucking cold.

The Best Mystery/Crime Fiction of 2010

2011-01-04T12:18:00.003-06:00

Brian Lindenmuth and I put together top tens of the best books of 2010 over at spinetingler.

Compare and contrast that shit here.

If you walk away from this article with nothing to add to your amazon wishlist, either you're the hippest cat in book town or your tastes run more towards the novels of the little lady to the right...

Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane

2010-12-27T08:29:00.004-06:00

My review of Dennis Lehane's Moonlight Mile is up at spinetingler.

Check it out right HERE.

And no, it's not a Mick Jagger biography nor the long-awaited movie tie-in to the Jake Gyllenhaal movie from several years ago. It's the new Kenzie and Gennaro mystery!

Best of Whatever

2010-12-19T00:22:00.008-06:00

I did a "Best of Whatever" post over at Day Labor, the official blog of Crimefactory Magazine, on some of my favorite foreign crime films of 2010.

Check that shit out HERE.

While you're over there you should definitely take a look at some of the other "Best of Whatevers," seeing how they're from some pretty bee-fucking-knees-ish motherfuckers.

Pike by Benjamin Whitmer

2010-12-16T10:27:00.004-06:00

My review of Pike by Benjamin Whitmer is up at spinetingler.

Check that shit out right HERE.

While you're over there, take a look around at the newly redesigned spinetingler site.

Pretty sexy shit, huh?

Late Rain by Lynn Kostoff

2010-12-06T11:49:00.004-06:00

My review of Lynn Kostoff's Late Rain is up at spinetingler.

Read that shit HERE.

This year has apparently been the year of Kostoff and Winslow for the Nerd, looking back at how many reviews of their shit I did up in '10.

Don't worry, one of these years I'll have that Tolstoy marathon I keep talking about...

Luther by Neil Cross

2010-11-25T10:03:00.004-06:00

My review of Luther, the six-part TV series created by Neil Cross, is up spinetingler.

You can see my feelings on the matter right this-a-way.

"See my feelings?"

How fucking high am I right now?

Florida Gothic Stories by Vicki Hendricks

2010-11-24T12:06:00.002-06:00

My review of the new short story collection from Vicki Hendricks, Florida Gothic Stories, is up at spinetingler.

Give it a look right HERE.

I think Hendricks should put together an anthology like Damn Near Dead or one of those, call it Pet Noir or Noirotica or some shit like that.

Or Pet Noirotica...