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37 What do you get when you mix a drunk, down-and-out former-PI with a trio of beautiful girls and a murder?

The perfect Ed McBain novel, that’s what.

Well, perfect might be a stretch. Let’s just say it’s a perfect Ed McBain novel from his salad days. By the time THE GUTTER AND THE GRAVE was hit the drugstore paperback rack, he’d already published his critically acclaimed book, THE BLACKBOARD JUNGLE, under his other pseudonym, Evan Hunter. But he still needed a way to pay the rent.

Poof. Ed McBain the crime novelist was born.

To be honest, I’ve read better books from the era—a number of David Dodge’s fine works come to mind—but this one still had everything I look for in the genre: a milquetoast or two, a handful of tough guys, a few fist fights, some large-breasted sweater girls, and one reluctant hero (or anti-hero) with little choice but to solve the murder to clear his name.

Plus, it’s from the fine folks at Hard Case Crime. How could I lose?

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12 I’ve been a big fan of The Master’s 87th Precinct novels… the only stuff from McBain I’d read to date. GUNS is the first title I’ve finished from MCBain that wasn’t a procedural.

In fact, this one was from the criminal’s perspective. At times I felt it was a slow go. Maybe it’s because the type was a little small and old school. Maybe it’s because this was outside McBain’s wheelhouse (although I doubt it… actually, I’m certain it was my fault).

It did, however, seem like this was a writing exercise on McBain’s part. We should all be so lucky.

At any rate, this was a great little read. If you can find it—it’s out of print—snatch it up.

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