storyman's review
4.0
A short, tight noir thriller about an enforcer, Gropper, who is roped into a world deeper and darker than he expected. Gropper's a quiet man who you get to know through his choice of music and actions rather than his few words. He works through a middle man who holds meetings in his favourite diner while he slurps booze, coffee, and gorges on diner food as if every meal is his last.
A motel manager reluctantly agrees to pimp for his cousin, but when some of the other women are abused by a trucker, he seeks help from outside. In comes Gropper to sort out the trucker - and as you can imagine, a world of noirish hell comes down on them all.
I liked the build-up, the slow ratchet of tension, and the showcasing of Gropper's abilities early in the story. The main bad man is interesting and brutal. If I have any criticism it's that it ends a little too quickly for my liking. I would have liked more.
It is a novella, however, so short is to be expected.
A motel manager reluctantly agrees to pimp for his cousin, but when some of the other women are abused by a trucker, he seeks help from outside. In comes Gropper to sort out the trucker - and as you can imagine, a world of noirish hell comes down on them all.
I liked the build-up, the slow ratchet of tension, and the showcasing of Gropper's abilities early in the story. The main bad man is interesting and brutal. If I have any criticism it's that it ends a little too quickly for my liking. I would have liked more.
It is a novella, however, so short is to be expected.
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