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Ebook Details
  • 09/2021
  • ‎ B09FG2924T
  • 635 pages
  • $7.95
Hard Noir Holiday
Kirk Alex, author
Hard Noir Holiday: A Doc Holiday Private Investigator Mystery (Book 4) Welcome to rattlesnake country. Where a certain desert rat type is far deadlier than a diamondback. When L.A. Private Investigator Edgar “Doc” Holiday arrives at the home of an old friend in Tucson, Arizona, instinct tells him something is wrong: the car isn’t in the driveway, fresh blood is dripping from a hand print on the doorjamb and no one appears to be in, not even the family dog. But soon Doc makes a discovery far from the happy reunion he’d imagined, when he finds his friend’s limp and lifeless body in the bathtub. Devastated, he vows to hunt down those responsible for her merciless killing as more horrifying murders follow in her wake. And then an unsolved investigation begins to resurface that takes him and his associates to the other side of the US/Mexico border and a cartel stronghold. Can Doc learn the truth behind their twisted connection in his biggest and most disturbing case yet? Hard Noir is the fourth book in the heart-pounding Doc Holiday mystery series by the inimitable Kirk Alex. Perfect for crime thriller readers and fans of Jo Nesbo, Lee Child, Tana French, Sean Chercover and Derek Raymond.  “Kirk Alex gets right down to it. There’s not a wasted word. If you don’t know his work, you should.” (Throwback & Backlash: Love Lust & Murder series) – Mark SaFranko, author of Lounge Lizard
Reviews
The epic fourth entry in Alex’s Edgar "Doc" Holiday series declares its intentions from the title. Our hero, a Los Angeles P.I. whose veins pump pulp, leaves town only to discover the murder of a friend and myriad other crimes, and there ain’t going to be anything cozy about what he faces as he investigates. For Doc it’s no vacation—he’s got to deal with crooked ex-cops, a cartel south of the border, illegal dog fights, kidney smugglers, the terrifying forked-tongue Moe clan out of Bisbee, AZ, and a car chase involving a hearse and a tow-truck in desert scrub—but readers who get their kicks from the darker crime-noir classics will find much to relish.

Setting Alex’s hard-noir holiday apart is the author’s preference for action over the existential paralysis that sometimes afflicts private eyes. That’s not to say Doc doesn’t despair—“And god was a powerless mook with no more power to do anything about any of it than Bozo the Clown,” he muses early on—but when heavies would work over the likes of Philip Marlowe, Doc will squash one’s eyeball with his sap then draw his Glock. Alex captures the dustups and dangers with crisp, precise language, at times daring the outrageous—"Titus yanked, and continued to do so, taking a chunk of the crotch with him.” That stirs a sense of rugged tension even during shoe-leather investigation scenes. When Doc and co. sneak through cartel tunnels, Alex wrings gut-churning suspense from the possibility of tripwires and armed guards.

The novel’s long, demandingly so, and sometimes proudly over the top, the grim developments penned with a sense of play but still taken seriously. While the thugs and ne’er-do-wells at times edge toward stock types—notable characters include Termite, Slim Biffle, Fede Gu, and Moustapha Standish—Doc and compatriots like Ilsa and Lucretia, whose dog Doc commits to recovering, remain engaging throughout as they “follow the money, find the truth” no matter how dark.

Takeaway: Living up to its title, this hard-edged P.I. epic dives into desert darkness and action.

Great for fans of: Matthew McBride, Max Allan Collins.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

Amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best of the Series


Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2022
The language was consistent. The characters were deep and realistic. Every page has exciting action. All the books are good, but this is outstanding. The story seemed much longer, but it was engrossing and exciting in every page. I wish I had more stars to add.

Formats
Ebook Details
  • 09/2021
  • ‎ B09FG2924T
  • 635 pages
  • $7.95
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