Nightcrawlers

Title: Nightcrawlers
Author: Bill Pronzini

I read this one now for two reasons. I knew I could finish it before going away this weekend and I'm completely hooked on this series. The Nameless Detective is no longer nameless (his first name was revealed a few books ago), but that hasn't detracted at all from this terse, well written mystery series. Pronzini is a master of understatement and often, there are 1 to 3 pages of mostly dialogue, helping to make for fast, intense reading.

Nameless is in his 60s now and along with having a new partner in his business, he now has another operative working for the firm and Pronzini has moved from pure first person narration to a mix of first person for Nameless and third for Tamara (the partner) and Jake (the new guy), as well as the occasional thug.

There are two main stories threaded together this time: Tamara runs across a kidnapped child and gets snatched, too, while Jake goes after the gay bashers who put his estranged son's lover into the hospital. Some of this comes across a bit corny, but the themes parallel nicely. Some people find these books a bit repititious, but I devour them like candy, bon-bons I savor with every bite.