THE FAR SIDE OF THE DOLLAR - Ross MacDonald

 

A STAB IN THE DARK - Lawrence Block

 

TROUBLE IN TRIPLICATE - Rex Stout

 

Three novellas, all average.  Stout did this s alot , you get the feeling they all started as full novels but he didn't feel it so he canned them after 70 pages.  Always good dialogue but the stories ae weak.

HAG'S NOOK- John Dickson Carr

 

A LONG LINE OF DEAD MEN- Lawrence Block

 

IN THE MIDST OF DEATH - Lawrence Block

 

THE CASE OF THE CONSTANT SUICIDES - John Dickson Carr

 

This is one of the best I have read of Carr's, some great characters and genuine humour.

THE WIDOWS CRUISE - Nicholas Blake

 

Not one of his best, in fact all a bit silly and a waste of an afternoon.

A DANCE AT THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE - Lawrence Block

 

The entire Scudder series is excellent but this one is exceptional.  Scudder is hired by a man to prove his brother in law murdered his sister.  This segue's into the underworld where children are sold as play things for freaks.

This stands with anything Chandler wrote, very dark, very violent and gut wrenching.

If you like the crime noir genre it doesn't come any better than this.

GRAVEDIGGER - Joseph Hansen

 

PRISONERS BASE - Rex Stout

 

WINGS ABOVE THE DIAMANTINA - Arthur Upfield

 

THE EMPIRE OF THE SUN - J G Ballard

 

THE ALAMUT AMBUSH - Anthony Price

 

THE LABYRINTH MAKERS - Anthony Price

 

THE SOFT TALKERS - Margaret Millar

 

THE TIME OF THE EYE - Harlan Ellison

 

MY FRIEND MAIGRET- Georges Simenon

 

THE MYSTERY OF SWORDFISH REEF - Arthur Upfield

 

A LEGACY OF SPIES- John Le Carre

 

THE HONOURABLE SCHOOLBOY - John Le Carre

 

I have read this several times and it never gets old, my favourite Le Carre.  Another fine example of his writing about broken people getting used.  The dialogue is fantastic.

It will get read again.

CONSEQUENCE OF FEAR - Ted Allbeury

 

MURDER MUST WAIT - Arthur Upfield