Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 10, Writing Rat Face concludes. Email the show: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 9, the penultimate episode of Writing Rat Face, Justin (and Rat Face) race toward the finish line.  Email the show: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 8 of Writing Rat Face, Justin emerges from the middlegame slog and finds himself (and Rat Face) moving toward the story climax. He uses chess analogies, examines a potential femme fatale,  discusses the problem of individuality, and comtemplates how a characters' dream world might grease the wheels of a stuck narrative.  Email the show: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 7 of Writing Rat Face, Justin shares a plot building technique that has helped him with story logic & flow.  Email the show: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 6 of Writing Rat Face, Justin continues to doggy-paddle through the middle part of the novel. He also continues to ask critical questions about his central character, Rat Face, which inevitably leads to questions about the author himself.  Email the show: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 5 of Writing Rat Face, Justin interrogates his central character, Rat Face, and comes away with a better understanding of Rat Face's emotional and philosophical journey. Email the show: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 4 of Writing Rat Face, Justin hits the 13,000 word mark, confronts the question of setting, discusses the importance of internal consistency, and gets to know his central character's primary motivation -- who is Rat Face and what does he want? Justin also considers a twist that will raise the stakes for Rat Face and the readers. Email the show: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 3 of Writing Rat Face, Justin surpasses 8,000 words and begins to run into more questions than answers.  He discusses his thoughts on essential characters beyond the main character, his research process, and thoughts on writers block. He also shares two excerpts from week two of story writing. Email the show: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft.  Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends,  and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves.  In Episode 2 of Writing Rat Face, the writing is smooth sailing, but how long will the good winds last? Justin explains his thoughts on the city as character, rants briefly about art & labor, and shares two excerpts from week one of story writing.

Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft.  Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 6 to 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process writing 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends,  and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. 

Welcome! In this episode we discuss the film version of The Third Man. For the full plot summary and commentary on the novella, check out episode 73. We riff on our reactions to the film with the written story fresh in our minds. What a masterpiece! Truely a joy to watch, even when you know what's going to happen.   ***Sorry this one took so long to publish. As we briefly discuss in the show, we have both got a lot going on this summer. Get in touch: [email protected]

Blankers!  We review Graham Greene's novella, The Third Man. Is it better than the film? Listen to hear our thoughts! Email the show: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

Blankers! Last episode we discussed James Sallis's hardboiled, neo-noir classic Drive. This time we interrogate Nicholas Winding Refn's 2011 film adaptation starring Ryan Gosling. In what ways is the film better than the novel and vice versa? Hit play to find out! Get in touch with the show: [email protected] Facebook Group #crimefiction #refn #gosling #jamessallis #drive #noir #neonoir

Get in and buckle up! In this episode, we cover Drive by James Sallis. It's a short work that speaks to the kind of crime fiction we love.  For the appropriate listening experience break out your classic car and crank the stereo. Get in touch with the show: [email protected] Facebook Group #crimefiction #sallis #jamessallis #drive #noir

We finally get to Elmore Leonard! We asked for recommendations and received a lot of great suggestions from our listeners. Swag delivered with a tale of two robbers trying to make a buck. If they stick to the 10 rules, what can go wrong? Email the show: [email protected] Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir and Detective Fiction

With the book fresh in our minds we take a look at the classic film "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" directed by John Huston and starring Humphrey Bogart. This is mostly a reaction episode looking at how the film diverged from the source material. Enjoy. Email: [email protected] Find us on Facebook: Point Blank: Noir, Hardboiled, and Detective Fiction

Greed. Ambition. Gold Fever. Adventure. Join us for a discussion of "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" by the mysterious author B. Traven. Three men down on their luck strike out to find gold in the mountains of Mexico. Will they find their fortunes? Probably not or else it would be a boring book. While this one isn't exactly crime fiction, we think it offers a lot of the hardboiled and noir elements that crime fiction fans will enjoy. Contact the show: Email: [email protected] Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction

Bienvenido a Cuba! Grab a rum and join us for Adios Muchachos by Daniel Chavarria. Alicia is a woman looking for a rich man to help her escape. She's got a plan that involves a bicycle and seduction. What she doesn't plan for is a kidnapping.  We discuss this novel, provide some short reviews, and touch on the world of Cuban Noir. Get in touch with the show: [email protected] Find us on Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction  

Hello, again, Point Blank Listeners! Sorry for the delay. I've been sick. Here's episode 65. We cover the bestselling, award-winning Razorblade Tears. S.A. Cosby delivers another powerful noir tale, and we get down into the grit to examine why this one is making all of the "best" lists. Justin provides a short review of the classic James M. Cain novel Mildred Pierce , and we discuss the noir film The Asphalt Jungle. Contact the show: [email protected] Find Us on Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir and Detective Fiction

We are back! Sorry for the delay. We needed an extended holiday break. In this episode, we discuss Tartan/Scottish Noir through the lens of what is considered the first Tartan Noir Laidlaw. Laidlaw is a gritty detective novel taking place on the streets of Glasgow in the 1970s. William McIlvanney or Gus to his friends is considered the father of Scottish noir and gives us working-class fiction from a working-class town. Want to get in touch with the show? Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pointblankpodcast/ Give us a review on iTunes.  

Hey Blankers -  Kurt & I finally got around to recording Episode 62. This time we take a walk down the mean streets of Isola with Ed McBain's Cop Hater. The first novel in the acclaimed 87th Precinct series, Cop Hater (1956) set the blueprint for modern police procedurals. Does it hold up? Tune in & find out! Get in touch with the show: Email: [email protected]  Twitter: @pointblanknoir  Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction  Good Reads Point Blank page:  https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/747867-point-blank  Support the show:  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime  Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!  Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 

What in the world is eco-noir?  We attempt to answer that question by looking at a few texts that might be ecological noir. In the discussion, we mention: The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abby Animals by Will Staples Zodiac by Neal Stephenson The Glass Factory by Kenneth Wishnia Nature Noir by Jordan Fisher Smith Captiva by Randy Wayne White   If you'd like to get in touch with the show: Email: [email protected] Facebook: Point Blank: Noir, Hardboiled, and Detective Fiction

Blankers!    Find your sun hat, stab that beach umbrella into the sand, and break out the Banana Boat -- this is Five Round Reviews: Summer Edition.   We have 13 short reviews for you--from Jim Harrison & Dorothy B. Hughes to David Heska Wanbli Weiden & Nick Kolakowski. (See the full list below.) Get in touch with the show: Email: [email protected]   Twitter: @pointblanknoir   Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction   Good Reads Point Blank page:  https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/747867-point-blank   Support the show:   Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime   Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!   Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868   Books reviewed (full list) No Room at the Morgue by Jean Patrick Manchette The Prone Gunman by Jean Patrick Manchette   Timber Beasts: A Sage Adair Historical Mystery by S.L. Stoner   The Great Leader by Jim Harrison The Big Seven by Jim Harrison Paradise Palms: Red Menace Mob by Paul Haddad   The So Blue Marble by Dorothy B. Hughes   Maxine Unleashes Doomsday by Nick Kolakowski    Noir by Christopher Moore   White Tears by Hari Kunzru    Palm Springs Noir ed. by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett: ARC    Someone to Watch Over Me by Dan Bronson   Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden 

Throw on your white blazer, power up the speed boat, and cut yourself a line. We're head to '80's  Miami for Charles Willeford's 'Miami Blues."  In what can only be described as a "weird and unsettling novel," we join Hoke Moseley, Frederick J. Frenger Jr, and Susan Waggoner for a bizarre tale of Floridian crime. Get in touch with the show: [email protected] Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pointblankpodcast

Blankers! Zip up your windbreakers and don’t forget change for the highway tolls — in Episode 58 we head to Chicago to wrap our heads around Chicago Noir. We talk about Chicago as a city for noir, and we look at crime fiction by Nelson Algren, Howard Browne, Frederic Brown, Sara Paretsky, Michael Harvey, Danny Gardner, Bob Hartley, & more. Italian beef, tavern cut pizza, Old Style, Malort, murder. You ready? Get in touch with the show: Email: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Good Reads Point Blank page: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/747867-point-blank Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends! Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868

We promised an episode on The Expendable Man, but we just couldn't contain ourselves to one book by Dorothy B Hughes! We discuss these two masterpieces of crime fiction, sharing why we find Hughes' work so compelling.  We'd love to hear from you: Email: [email protected] Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Join Our Facebook Group: Here  

In Episode 57, we review the hell out of nearly a dozen books, + a couple films! We review: Run Man Run by Chester Himes Plan B by Chester Himes Darktown by Thomas Mullen The Man with the Getaway Face by Richard Stark If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned by Walter Mosley M. Ravenel's The Arrangement Champagne Cowboys by Leo W. Banks Freebooters : A Novel by Elleston Trevor Satan Takes the Helm by Calvin Clements The Shadow of What We Were by Luis Sepulveda Generation Loss by Elizabeth Hand Get in touch with the show: [email protected] Find us on Facebook and join our Facebook group: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir and Detective Fiction Twitter: @pointblanknoir Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

Buckle your seat belts! This is going to be a wild ride!  We take a deep dive into "Blacktop Wasteland" by SA Cosby, a novel we both describe as a modern classic.  Cosby takes us on a journey through the rural hills of Virginia for an exhilarating, timely work that highlights everything modern noir crime fiction has to offer.    Get in touch with the show: [email protected] Find us on Facebook and join our Facebook group to discuss these books with other listeners. Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir and Detective Fiction

In Episode 45, we revisit to one of the masters of hardboiled detective crime fiction, Raymond Chandler, and his acclaimed second novel, Farewell, My Lovely. Damn, this book is boozy. (And racist!) But also rich with memorable secondary characters (Moose Malloy & Jessie Florian) & Marloweian one-liners. It's a classic example of hardboiled detective fiction that finds Chandler at his most Chandleresque. Get in touch with the show: Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Website: www.pointblankpodcast.com Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

We follow up our discussion of Spy Fiction from E52 with more in-depth reviews of books we read for the show. Books covered: 'A Coffin for Dimitrios' by Eric Ambler 'The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare' by GK Chesterton 'Moonraker' by Ian Fleming 'Spies of the Balkans' and 'Red Gold' by Alan Furst 'The Spy In the Ointment' by Donald Westlake 'The Quiet American' by Graham Greene 'Agent Running in the Field' by John Le Carre 'The Berlin Memorandum' and 'The 9th Directive' by Adam Hall 'Slow Horses' by Mick Herron Get in touch with the show! Find us on Facebook 'Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction' Send us an email at [email protected]

From the shadows, we emerge to discuss the huge topic of spy fiction. We look at this genre in broad strokes, covering nearly a century of spy novels. I'm sure we've missed a lot, so if you have books we should have covered, get in touch.  Please find us on Facebook at Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction. Join our Facebook Group or find the Point Blank group on GoodReads. Send us an email: [email protected]

Enjoy this mini-episode review of the 2011 film adaptation of John Le Carré's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Our last episode of 2020. We'll see you next year with a fully rendered episode dedicated to spy fiction.

Hello Blankers! In this episode we celebrate our semicentennial by regaling you with memories of our first three years & by answering tough questions about personal favorite (and least favorite) novels, authors, characters, and settings from the first 50 episodes. 

We made it to 50! In this golden anniversary of a show we return to the gritty, noir world of Jim Thompson with "Pop. 1280." It's another take on the corrupt sheriff that Thompson writes so well. Which character is more menacing; Lou Ford or Nick Corey? Which is the better novel? Tune in to find out. Get in touch with the show: Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Website: www.pointblankpodcast.com Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

In Episode 49, we dive deep into Attica Locke’s contemporary soon-to-be classic Bluebird, Bluebird.  Justin reviews the western noir film Blood on the Moon, and we go five rounds in Five Round Burst. Get in touch with the show: Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Website: www.pointblankpodcast.com Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

In Episode 48, we introduce Attica Locke's contemporary rural noir soon-to-be classic, Bluebird, Bluebird.  We look more closely at rural noir -- what it is and who the major players are -- in Subject Unknown and take a close look at Chris McGinley's beautiful & disturbing short story collection, Coal Black. Finally, Kurt offers us up a Forgotten Classic, and we talk a bit about Attica Locke's early yet successful career.    Get in touch with the show: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Website: www.pointblankpodcast.com Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

Hi Blankers!  This is our second of two episodes dedicated to Hawaiian Noir.  Our deep dive is the short, gritty Yakudoshi: Age of Calamity by Chris McKinney, an under-heralded Hawaiian author who should be getting far more attention than he does. We also feature a review of Scott Kikkawa's first novel, Kona Winds,  a historical detective story set in 1950s Honolulu we both enjoyed.  Get in touch with the show: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Website: www.pointblankpodcast.com Don't forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

Welcome to episode 46! We head out into the Pacific for a look at Hawaiian Noir.  For our featured book this time we focus on "For a Song" by Rodney Morales a classic detective tale with a lot of local flavor. In Subject Unknown and 5 Round Burst we focus on more reasons to enjoy Hawaiian Noir. This is part 1 of a 2 part look at the crime fiction of the islands. Get in touch with the show: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Website: www.pointblankpodcast.com Don't forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

In Episode 45 we do a deep dive of Richard Stark’s The Hunter. Did we like it? Yes, but. . .  Also in this episode, Justin discusses two classic noir films in Cinema Spotlight, and we get back to basics in Five Round Burst. Get in touch with the show: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Website: www.pointblankpodcast.com Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

Hey, Blankers! In Episode 44 we introduce Richard Stark's The Hunter, featuring the antihero of antiheroes, no-sense thief & miscreant Parker. Wrong Parker once, and you best watch your back.  Also in this episode, Kurt shares a Forgotten Classic, Nightmare Alley, we chat about Crime Fiction in the age of Pandemic, & we learn a bit about prolific-as-hell Donald Westlake.  Get in Touch! Join our Goodreads Group Visit our Patreon Email Us Facebook Twitter Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

Greetings Blankers! In Episode 43, we dive deep into Philip K Dick’s sci-fi-noir classic, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? In Forgotten Classics, Kurt puts Home is the Sailor by Day Keene to the test.  We also review 5 books in 5 minutes during 5 Round Burst. Get in Touch! Join our Goodreads Group Visit our Patreon Email Us Facebook Twitter Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

Hello Blankers! Here is another short episode for these very difficult times. I (Kurt) am on my own this time looking at two classic noir era films which cover pandemics. "Panic in the Streets" and "The Killer That Stalked New York" are both from 1950 and feature some interesting noir takes on the issue. I enjoyed watching them and I hope you gain something from them as well.  Wash your hands and keep your distance! Note: Maybe don't watch these if you are already stressed about our current situation.   As always you can get in touch with the show at: [email protected]  or on Facebook.

Greetings Blankers! In Episode 42, don your jet packs because we are going "back to the future" with our introduction to Philip K Dick's sci-fi-noir classic Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?  In Subject Unknown, we discuss Neo-Noir, particularly Sci-Fi Noir. For our Featured Review, we spend time with Dan Stout's terrific Titanshade, and Kurt also sheds light on Philip K. Dick: was he a paranoid drug-fueled narc, a genius, or both? Get in Touch! Join our Goodreads Group Visit our Patreon Email Us Facebook Twitter Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

Hello Point Blank Listeners. Odds are you are under some type of stay at home order or doing some sort of social distancing. We've got you covered with a mini-episode. We both watched "Riot in Cell Block 11." It's a classic prison noir film that we both enjoyed. We talk about the film without any major spoilers, and it's pretty easy to find online for free viewing. Enjoy!

Welcome to Point Blank! This time around we share another round of Coca-Cola with Paco Ignacio Taibo II as we take a deep dive into An Easy Thing. We both loved this book and can't stop talking about it. In Cinema Spotlight, we still can't get away from Paco as we look at a documentary based on Paco's Che biography. It just happens to be hosted by Paco as well! In 5 Round Burst we look at fiction with a strong connection to Mexican Noir. Get in touch with the show: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id`276038868 Website: www.pointblankpodcast.com Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don't forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

Welcome to Point Blank! Grab your Coke and cigarettes (It's the fuel for both our writer and our detective this episode.) and join us for a discussion of "An Easy Thing" by Paco Ignacio Taibo II. I think we are both in love with Paco's writing and he's a pretty interesting person as well. We'll introduce his work and his life as well as have a discussion about Mexican Noir.  Will this episode reveal a Forgotten Classic? Join us and see. Get in touch with the show. [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Website: www.pointblankpodcast.com Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don't forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends! 

Welcome to Point Blank! We return to Sao Paulo, diving deep into Leighton Gage's Blood of the WIcked, the first Chief Inspector Mario Silva investigation. We'll also reflect on City of God (2003), a Brazilian crime film that both of us agree is a modern classic, and we give you five Brazilian crime fiction hard hitters in Five Round Burst.  Get in touch with the show: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Website: www.pointblankpodcast.com Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

Welcome to Point Blank! In this episode we travel down to the beautiful beaches, massive cities, and humid jungles of Brazil to explore Brazilian Noir.  We'll introduce Leighton Gage's 'Blood of the WIcked' the first Chief Inspector Mario Silva investigation. We'll take a look at some of the crime fiction books of the decade, and see if 'Carny Kill' is really a forgotten classic. We also ask, "Just who the hell is Leighton Gage?" Put on your swimsuit and join us on the beach. Get in touch with the show: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Ficiton www.pointblankpodcast.com

Welcome to the second part of our feature on Natsuo Kirino's noir classic Out. We dive deep into the text and discuss the good and the less good. Warning: spoilers aplenty so read ahead.  We also review Akira Kurosawa's film noir classic Stray Dog, look back at Black Mask's lesser known young sibling, Manhunt Magazine, and give you five kill shots in Five Round Burst. Get in touch with the show! [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction www.pointblankpodcast.com   Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime

In Episode 36, we head as far east as we're going to go on on our Noir Trip Around the World as we take you to the industrial wastelands of working class Tokyo with our introduction to Natsuo Kirino's very popular and controversial crime noir, Out. In Subject Unknown, we chat about Japanese Noir, and Kurt shares a Dog Eared Classic.  Get in touch with the show. [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction www.pointblankpodcast.com Support the show. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime

Welcome to Point Blank Podcast! In Episode 35, we take a close look at two sisters; ones a killer, the other cleans up the mess. We travel to Lagos, Nigeria a place think with a gritty noir feel where we cover Oyinkan Braithwaite's wildly popular "My Sister, The Serial Killer." We look at the work of a nearly forgotten female mystery writer from the 1950s, Helen Nielsen. In my opinion her work deserves to be remembered. A number of books are on target in 5 Round burst and that's it for Nigeria. On to Japan. Get in touch with the show! [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction  

Welcome to Point Blank Podcast! In Episode 34, we are off to Nigeria for a look at the riveting tale of two sisters, "My Sister, the Serial Killer" by Oyinkan Braithwaite From the title you'd probably guess one is in fact a killer, and the other gets really good at cleaning up the mess. We introduce Braithwaite's novel and review a Halloween Treat, "Blood Sugar" by Daniel Kraus. "Blood Sugar" offers a narrator unlike anything we've read recently and made as both crave a supermilk. (See our review...) In "Subject Unknown" we dive into the chaotic world that is the streets of Lagos and look at what elements make Nigeria a hot bed for excellent crime fiction. Get in touch with the show! [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction www.pointblankpodcast.com Support the Show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime

Welcome to Point Blank Podcast! In Episode 33, we take a deep dive into the cold blue waters of Jean-Claude Izzo's stunningly fresh and sensual hardboiled classic, Total Chaos. We review a couple films from Guild Cinema's 16th Annual Film Noir Fest. And, yes, we also pull the trigger on 5 Round Burst.  Get in touch with the show! [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction www.pointblankpodcast.com Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime

We've packed our bags and hopped the pond to explore the noir of the Mediterranean focusing in on Marseilles, France. We introduce 'Total Chaos' by Jean-Claude Izzo and the broader topic of Mediterranean Noir. In 'Well Thumbed Classics' we cover two collections one featuring the Western Noir of Harry Whittington and the other the work of Bernice Carey. We also take a closer look into the life of Jean-Claude Izzo. Get in touch with the show. [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction www.pointblankpodcast.com Support the show. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime

Gather 'round for part 2 of our episode on Cormac McCarthy's border noir classic, No Country for Old Men.  In Well Thumbed Classics, Kurt reviews Black Wings Has My Angel by Elliott Chaze. In Five Round Burst, we review 5 strong books, including two by Gabino Iglesias.   Get in touch with the show: Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Email: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Don't forget to check us out on Goodreads or visit our Patreon site if you'd like to help out the show.

Welcome back to Point Blank! In this episode we introduce 'No Country For Old Men' and Cormac McCarthy. We also discuss the broad topic of Western and Border Noir. Justin reviews 'Mystery Tribune.'   Get in touch with the show: Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Email: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Don't forget to check us out on Goodreads or visit our Patreon site if you'd like to help out the show.

Just a quick update on the show. We need a short early summer break and we can all do some summer reading.

We dive deep into Ernest Hemingway's To Have and Have Not. Did we love the book? Well, that's complicated. Kurt offers a Dog-Eared Classic review: The Men From the Boys by Ed Lacy (Stark House Press) We also offer up six selections in 5 Round Burst, including Graham Greene's Our Man in Havana and Ann Aptaker's Flesh and Gold  Find Us: Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir and Detective Fiction Email: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Find our readers group on Goodreads.

Hemingway. In this episode we tackle a big author and one of his lesser known books. We introduce To Have and Have Not, discuss Hemingway's life and address the racist language found in this work. "Milwaukee Noir," edited by Tim Hennessy and published by Akashic Books, is our featured review this episode. We return to the Midwest for some rust belt noir from the land of beer, cheese, and motorcycles. Find Us: Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir and Detective Fiction Email: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Find our readers group on Goodreads.

Are you ready for our deep discussion of Horace McCoy's existential noir classic, They Shoot Horses, Don't They?? We sure are.  We dig into the text, discuss Sartre, Camus, de Beauvoir, talk about existentialism in the context of writers like Woolrich and Goodis, and share our latests reads in Five Round Burst.  Join our Goodreads group. Find us on Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Email us at: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir If you enjoy the show give us a rating on iTunes or visit our Patreon page.

In this episode we introduce They Shoot Horses, Don't They? It's also time for Philosophy 101 with Justin and Kurt as we attempt to look at Existentialism in crime fiction. Our newest segment, Dog Eared Classics looks at No Orchids for Miss Blandish by James Hadley Chase and we explore the life of Horace McCoy. Join our Goodreads group. Find us on Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Email us at: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir If you enjoy the show give us a rating on iTunes or visit our Patreon page.

We might be discussing In a Lonely Place by Dorothy B Hughes, but this episode is anything but lonely. We simply loved this book and have a great time discussing it in detail. We cover quite a few reviews as well, taking a look at both books and television this time around. TV Reviews: The Expanse, Damnation, Happy!, Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened Book Reviews: "A Walk Among The Tombstones" by Lawrence Block "The Green Ripper: a Travis McGee Novel" by John D. MacDonald "The Woman Who Married a Bear" by John Straley "Dirty Boulevard: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Lou Reed" edited by David James Keaton "The Dawn Watch: Joseph Conrad in a Global World" by Maya Jasanoff Join the Goodreads Group: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/747867-point-blank Contact Us: Facebook Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Twitter: @pointblanknoir Email: [email protected]  

Greetings! We introduce Dorothy Hughes' noir classic In A Lonely Place, discuss alcoholism in detective fiction for Subject Unknown, and dig up what we can about who Dorothy Hughes was and what made her tick.  Join our Goodreads Group:  www.goodreads.com/group/show/747867-point-blank Visit our Patreon:  http://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Contact Us Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir and Detective Fiction Twitter: @pointblanknoir

Welcome back and happy 2019! This time we look at "Devil in a Blue Dress" by Walter Mosely, we do some reviews and we get into a bit of a controversial topic regarding the Mystery Writers of America Grandmaster Award. *Sorry for the Delay with this episode. 2019 came with a lot of chaos on my end. Good and Bad. Kurt* Books Reviewed: "Pirata" by Patrick Hasburgh "The Dain Curse" by Dashiell Hammett "The Friends of Eddie Coyle" by George V. Higgins "Mystic River" by Dennis Lehane "The Scene" by Clarence Cooper Jr. "Boise Longpig Hunting Club" by Nick Kolakowski "Hope Never Dies" by Andrew Shaffer Gone the Goodreads Group. www.goodreads.com/group/show/747867-point-blank Contact Us: Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir and Detective Fiction Gmail: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir

Hello Again. This time we introduce Walter Mosley's "Devil in a Blue Dress." In Subject Unknown we look at the state of the podcast and where we are going, and we also have a few featured reviews. Join our Goodreads Group:www.goodreads.com/group/show/747867-point-blank Visit our Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Contact Us: Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir and Detective Fiction Twitter: @pointblanknoir Email: [email protected] www.pointblankpodcast.com

"A Flash of Green" by John D MacDonald. Well...we sure didn't love it, but that doesn't mean we don't have something to say. We dig deep to find out what does and does not work in this novel. Justin brings us another really stupid mystery. Where we are forced to ask what lurks in the shadows around Walden Pond. Of course there's also reviews!! 5 Round Burst: "Silencer" Thorn Mystery #11 by James W Hall "October Heat" by Gordon Demarco "Crimes of Southern Indiana" and "Donnybrook" by Frank Bill "Gone Bamboo" and "The Bobby Gold Stories" by Anthony Bourdain  Join our GoodReads Group: Search for Point Blank Group Contact Us: Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Email: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir

Hello again from Point Blank! Join us as we head on down to Florida to introduce "A Flash of Green" and John D MacDonald. We'll explore what's lurking in the shadows of the magic kingdom as we discuss Florida Crime Fiction and all that it entails. Our featured review this episode is Joe Clifford's hardboiled drug fueled tale "Junkie Love." We have a new Goodreads discussion group created by one of our listeners, Geoff. Thanks, Geoff. It's a great place to discuss all of the books we talk about and contribute to the discussion in future episodes.  Check out the Goodreads Group:  www.goodreads.com/group/show/747867-point-blank Contact Us: Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Email: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir

Step right into the sauna as we discuss The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo our first look at Nordic Noir. We go back in time for a really stupid mystery series from the age of the Vikings. As bonus pillage you also get 5 reviews in 5 Round Burst: "Rhode Island Red" by Charlotte Carter "Noir" by Christopher Moore "Miami Purity" by Vicki Hendricks "Jar City" by Arnaldur Indridason "Roseanna" by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo   Contact Us: Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir and Detective Fiction Email: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir 

Cold, Rocky, Windswept. We discuss Nordic Noir, Stieg Larsson, and introduce "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo." Vikings, The Nordic Model, and exposing the extreme right. Grab some aquavit, lutefisk, and lefsa and join us for this trip to the north. Find Us On: Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Email: [email protected] Twitter:@pointblanknoir

Welcome to our special summer episode. We joined forces in San Francisco to walk in the footsteps of Sam Spade and Dashiell Hammett.  This was an experimental episode for us, I hope you enjoy. View the photos on Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction

All Abbott! All Queenpin! We discuss this wonderful neo-noir tale from one of the "Queens of Noir." There are spoilers, as we do discuss the whole book, but we believe this one is worth more than one read. Get in touch with the show: Email: [email protected] Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Twitter: @pointblanknoir

Discussion! Reviews! Antiheroes! We introduce Megan Abbott's "Queenpin," talk films, review a few books, and have an interesting talk about antiheroes thanks to a listener question.   Books Reviewed: "Paradise Travel" by Jorge Franco "Among the Thugs" by Bill Buford "She Rides Shotgun" by Jordan Harper "Lamentation" by Joe Clifford "Dark Harbor: The War for the New York Waterfront" by Nathan Ward "XXX Shamus" by Red Hammond   Contact Us: Email: [email protected] Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Twitter: @pointblanknoir

Look at this dingus! It's "The Maltese Falcon" by Dashiell Hammett. This episode we dive deep into the falcon while discussing the book, '80's cartoons, Communist presses, and gunsels. I'm sure we got some things wrong so call us out on it. Get in touch with the show at: Twitter: @pointblanknoir Email: [email protected] Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction

Look at this dingus! It's part 1 of our discussion of The Maltese Falcon, perhaps the most well known book in all of crime fiction. In this episode we tease out a few of our initial thoughts on the book and suggest you give it a read before part 2. We discuss the lost Hammett tale "The Glass That Laughed." A new segment where we do a featured review of the excellent book "North and Central" by Bob Hartley and of course 5 Round Burst. Books featured in 5 Round Burst: "Bangkok 8: A Royal Thai Detective Novel" by John Burdett "A Negro and an Ofay" by Danny Gardner "The Long-Legged Fly" by James Sallis "Right As Rain: A Derek Strange Novel" by George Pelecanos "Adolfo Kaminsky: A Forger's Life" by Sarah Kaminsky   Find Us: Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Twitter: @pointblanknoir Email: [email protected] Website: www.pointblankpodcast.com

Greetings! Welcome to part 2 of our discussion of Ross Macdonald's “The Doomsters.”   We run down the basic plot of the book, discuss Macdonald's life and dig deep into the themes and characters in this important transition novel in the Archer series. “The Doomsters” may not be the best known of the Archer novels, but we enjoyed it as it provides an important look into Macdonald as a writer and Archer as a character.   Connect with us: Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Twitter: @pointblanknoir Email: [email protected]

Welcome to the new format! Part 1 of our discussion of Ross Macdonald's "The Doomsters.' We introduce the book, give some short reviews, discuss the writing life of Ross Macdonald aka Ken Millar and Margaret Millar, and go bird-watching in a really stupid mystery series. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected]

Ring! Ring! It's “The Postman Always Rings Twice” by James M. Cain. We discuss this excellent work and just how much is packed into this little novel. Great plotting, interesting characters, and cats! Hungry? James Cain also wrote extensively about food including a love of muskrat and midnight spaghetti. We talk about his culinary legacy or lack there of. Books Reviewed in 5 Round Burst: “White Jazz” by James Ellroy “The Hard Bounce” by Todd Robinson “The Lawn Job” by Chuck Caruso “Gun, with Occasional Music” by Jonathan Letham “Criminal Economics” by Eric Beetner   Find us on: Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Twitter: @pointblanknoir Email: [email protected]   Give us a review on iTunes or better yet tell a friend about the show.

Like the looming dread in a Cornell Woolrich novel we are back with another episode. Is Woolrich really the master of noir suspense that so many have claimed? We discuss this point while looking at the book Night Has A Thousand Eyes. Of course we also do some reviews and Kurt talks about investigative gaming. Books Reviewed in 5 Round Burst: "The Guards" by Ken Bruen "The Bloody Black Flag" by Steve Goble "Poisonville" by Massimo Carlotto & Marco Videtta "Virgin Cay/A Night Out" by Basil Heatter "The Crime Book" from DK Press Biographies of Woolrich: "Cornell Woolrich: First You Dream, Then You Die" by Francis M. Nevins, Jr. "Blues of a Lifetime: The Autobiography of Cornell Woolrich" Edited by Mark T. Bassett   Contact Us: Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Email: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir  

Welcome to the lost episode. Plagued by technical problems, we are happy to finally be able to bring you episode 6. "The Real Cool Killers" by Chester Himes. Himes was a revolutionary writer and thinker in crime fiction and was an influential contributor to 20th Century African-American fiction. His work deserves to be better known.   Books Reviewed for 5 Round Burst: "The Moving Target" by Ross Macdonald "Nobody Move" by Denis Johnson "Cop Hater" by Ed McBain "Send My Love and a Molotov Cocktail! Stories of Crime, Love and Rebellion" Edited by Gary Phillips "How to Steal the Mona Lisa: and Six Other World-Famous Treasures" by Taylor Baymouth

Join us for the dark wonderful tale that is "Shoot the Piano Player" by David Goodis. A story we both loved! Plus reviews, discussion, a really stupid mystery, and a discussion of the East Vs. the West coast in crime fiction. Find us on Facebook at Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction

Join us as we look at a collection of short stories from the pages of Black Mask Magazine. The Black Mask Boys covers some of the key writers from the golden years of the genre's most important magazine. We also discuss Blade Runner 2049 and it's connection to neo-noir, technology, and a changing world. Reviews include an excellent anthology based on the songs of Johnny Cash and we discuss short stories vs. the longer forms in Subject Unknown.

Guy and Bruno meet on a train and things go poorly. We roll right along with Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith.  As always we review some books, discuss somethings, and even have a really stupid mystery. 

Episode 4: Scorpion Reef by Charles Williams We discuss the nautical noir of Charles Williams, Kurt gets annoyed in 5 Round Burst, and we discuss Seattle as a noir setting. 5 Round Burst Books: “Hot Stuff” by Charles Williams “Mucho Mojo” by Joe R. Lansdale “The Blood Strand” by Chris Ould “The Killing Bay” by Chris Ould “Low Life” by Luc Sante Visit us on Facebook. Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, & Detective Fiction Send us an email at [email protected] Www.pointblankpodcast.com

We discuss Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep, the detective as a modern knight, yogurt, Albuquerque as a Noir setting, and Chandler's poetry! Find a list of books we discuss on Facebook. Visit our website at: www.pointblankpodcast.com Send us comments or questions at: [email protected]

Welcome to Episode 2! This episode we cover Dashiell Hammett's Red Harvest. 5 Round Burst Books: The Cartel by Don Winslow Savage Season by Joe R Lansdale After Dark, My Sweet by Jim Thompson Seattle Noir Akashic Books The Invention of Murder: How the Victorian's Created Modern Crime by Judith Flanders For full show notes visit us at www.pointblankpodcast.com Find us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/pointblankpodcast/  

  In each episode of Point Blank we discuss, analyze, and review works of crime fiction. We focus on the hardboiled, noir, and detective fiction sub-genres covering a featured novel each episode. Join us as we stroll down the dark, rain soaked alleys and into the dangerous corners of literature. For more information and show notes please visit our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pointblankpodcast/