James crumley books list of books by author james crumley. Hes been described as a cross between raymond chandler and hunter s. Buy the last good kiss by james crumley from waterstones today. After leaving his last teaching job in 1984, crumley worked fulltime as a writer.
James crumley reading the last good kiss and an interview with crumley. Crumley with this book established that he had no contemporary equals. Hired to track down a derelict author, he ends up on the trail of a girl missing in haightashbury for a decade. Readalikes for james crumley if you like james crumley.
The last good kiss by james crumley, 9781784161583, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Find a library or download libby an app by overdrive. The last good kiss by james crumley, first edition abebooks passion for books. Apr 14, 2016 the 1978 publication of the last good kiss was a turning point not only in the career of its author james crumley but also in the crime genre itself. His novels the last good kiss, the mexican tree duck and the right madness feature the character c. Here he talks about how discovering a battered old copy of the last good kiss a classic mystery by crimewriting giant james crumley sparked a life long love of the genre. Published in 1978, the last good kiss is james crumleys third novel and the first to feature c. The last good kiss by crumley, james and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Crumleys books are among the mostrespected private eye novels of the turn of the millenium, and crumley earned a reputation as one of that eras foremost writers of privateeye fiction. Sughrue, an alcoholic former army officer who is now a p. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the last good kiss. See all books authored by james crumley, including the last good kiss, and the wrong case, and more on.
But theres that final chapter 19, crumleys biting, hardboiled social commentary on how 1970s america has taken a tougher, more violent turn in the 30 years since chandler and marlowe. Hired to track down a derelict author, he ends up on the trail of. In addition, his novel the last good kiss has been called the most influential crime novel to come out in the past fifty years. Sughrue series began with the last good kiss and concluded with crumleys final novel, the right madness in 2005. The 1978 publication of the last good kiss was a turning point not only in the career of its author james crumley but also in the crime genre itself. His novel the last good kiss was referred to as the most influential crime novel of the last 50 years. Apr 20, 2016 joseph knobbs is the crime buyer for waterstones stores across the uk and, next year, will be publishing his first novel sirens under the name of joseph knox. Founded in 1997, has become a leading book price comparison site. The last good kiss still blows me away, the complexity of the story, the flawed and damaged nature of the characters, the way it wove counter cultural themes and crime fiction together. James crumleys the last good kiss came to me through a shelf awareness book brahmin interview. Sughrue, parttime strip club barman and parttime private. In 2007, the magazine mens journal named the last good kiss as number 12 on its list of top 15 thrillers of all time, and in newsweek, george pelecanos, crime author and coproducer of the hbo series the wire, rated crumley s the last good kiss as number 3 in his list of the five most important crime novels.
James crumley made his debut as a published novelist in 1969 with the book one to count cadence. Tough, hardboiled, and brilliantly suspenseful, the last good kiss is an unforgettable detective story starring c. It is generally regarded as crumleys best novel, and any number of contemporary crime writers have described it as their favorite crime novel of all. This page contains details about the fiction book the last good kiss by james crumley published in 1978. The last good kiss by james crumley author ian rankin author of introduction. Buy the last good kiss by james crumley online at alibris. The final country by james crumley, paperback barnes. He lived in missoula, montana with his wife martha until his death on.
James arthur crumley was the author of violent hardboiled crime novels and several volumes of short stories and essays, as well as published and unpublished screenplays. With that kind of recommendation, i would have been hardpressed to pass it up. James crumley, the last good kiss 1978 what are you reading. The last good kiss is a book that singlehandedly redefined the detective novel for the postvietnam generation theres a pi, a missing writer and a missing girl, plus a labyrinthine plot that wends its way through some very shadowy places. The last good kiss has been described as the most influential crime novel of the last 50 years, influencing people like michael connelly, george pelecanos, dennis lehane and even neal stephenson. Given that context, the final country is an unexpected pleasure a fierce, funny, wickedly well written novel, easily crumleys finest since the last good kiss. I first read about the exploits of crumleys endearingly amoral private detective c. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over.
Sughrue, an alcoholic exarmy officer turned private. The other characters in crumleys novels are also notable. The last good kiss by james crumley overdrive rakuten. Other modern crime authors like pelecanos played the same tune basically solidifying crumley as one of the best kept secrets from casual fans of the genre. He attended southwestern louisiana institute and later received a b. As a bookshop affiliate and an amazon associate, the rumpus earns a percentage from qualifying purchases.
James crumley has 19 books on goodreads with 35734 ratings. Joseph knobbs is the crime buyer for waterstones stores across the uk and, next year, will be publishing his first novel sirens under the name of joseph knox. The last good kiss by james crumley knowledge lost. I recently reread james crumleys the last good kiss. James crumley 19392008 was an american author of hardboiled crime fiction. So the last good kiss had a lot to live up to and it does so and then some. James crumley 1 james crumley 1 primary author only james crumley disambiguation author division james crumley is composed of at least 2 distinct authors, divided by their works. His books tended to come out in vintage trade versions and. Sughrue and a windy novelist with writers block drink their way through the west while hunting a missing pornography actress in the last good kiss 1978. His book the last good kiss has been described as the most influential crime novel of the last 50 years. Although praised by his fellow authors, up until about 1990, his books sold more in japan and france than they did stateside. James lee burke was born in houston, texas, in 1936 and grew up on the texaslouisiana gulf coast. Sughrue about five years ago, and it was wonderful to revisit the character to. The last good kiss by james crumley author ian rankin author of introduction, etc.
Tough, hardboiled, and brilliantly suspenseful, the last good kiss is an. May, 2016 the last good kiss by james crumley, 9781784161583, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. They include the academics, skid row denizens, and mountain hippies whom milo meets in the wrong case 1975. James crumley, the last good kiss 1978 what are you. Although praised by his fellow authors, up until about 1990, his books sold more in japan and france. This is talented james crumley s least impressive work yet, exhibiting his established knack for rossmacdonaldish bite and dour toughness but lumbered with an off the wail plot, sluggish pacing, and an unconscionably smug narratorsleuth.
Go to the disambiguation page to edit author name combination and separation. The last good kiss by james crumley the greatest books. And in the last good kiss, crumley uses it to explore the battered bars and small towns of seventies postvietnam war american. In fact a close reading of the last good kiss shows its indebteness to chandlers the long good bye. He lived in missoula, montana with his wife martha until his death on september 17, 2008. Wrong case, last good kiss and dancing bear new edition by james crumley isbn. He has been described as one of modern crime writings best practitioners, who was a patron saint of the postvietnam private eye novel and a cross between raymond chandler and hunter s. One of the most influential crime novels ever written, by a legend of the genre. Jul 20, 2014 james crumley, the last good kiss 1978 opening paragraphs are not easy to get write, but crumleys is a cracker. Gardner dozois recommended james crumley s the last good kiss to me as the best hardboiled detective novel written in the last ten years.
If chapter 18 was the books last chapter we would have had a happy ending. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The last good kiss by james crumley great pick for 2020. In 1978 the last good kiss was published, which introduced crumleys other detective protagonist, c. The guest brahmin, john clarkson, is a novelist id never heard of, but from his picture, clarkson appears to be a big guy, balding, moustached with goatee, hint of a smile and a straightforward look behind glasses.
James crumley is one of the most influential crime writers of the postchandler era, and his raw, subversive novels have earned him living legend status. The final country brings back milo milodragovitch, who has stumbled into a prosperous, peaceful late middle age and hates every minute of it. The book that made me fall in love with crime fiction and fall further in love with reading. In fact a close reading of the last good kiss shows its indebteness to. Sughrue books in order of when they were originally released. This book is the 1989th greatest fiction book of all time as determined by. Gardner dozois recommended james crumleys the last good kiss to me as the best hardboiled detective novel written in the last ten years. Crumley has been on my radar ever since i heard dennis lehane sing his praises. The last good kiss by james crumley, first edition abebooks. James crumley, the last good kiss 1978 opening paragraphs are not easy to get write, but crumleys is a cracker. The last good kiss, book by james crumley paperback. James crumleys most popular book is the last good kiss c.
Books by james crumley author of the last good kiss. With a new introduction by an admiring ian rankin, the last good kiss is crumley at his best, hardboiled to perfection, cynical, written like a clockwork mechanism where every sentence is quasiperfect and boasts one of the most memorable opening sentences in. Sughrue, a montana investigator who kills time by working at a topless bar. Sughrue book 1 and millions of other books are available for amazon. Of james crumley, he has been described as a major definer and the patron saint of the private eye novel when it comes to postvietnam. I found a battered, american copy spineon in the crime. The glad and the sad the last good kiss is 19 chapters long. This is talented james crumleys least impressive work yet, exhibiting his established knack for rossmacdonaldish bite and dour toughness but lumbered with an offthewail plot, sluggish pacing, and an unconscionably smug narratorsleuth.