To ask other readers questions about the last good kiss, please sign up. 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 the history of crime fiction. Sughrue, a montana investigator who kills time by working at a topless bar. 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. Published in 1978, the last good kiss is james crumleys third novel and the first to. Private detectives are supposed to find missing persons and solve crimes. See all books authored by james crumley, including the last good kiss, and the wrong case, and more on. Read the last good kiss by james crumley available from rakuten kobo. The last good kiss, written in 1978, is a novel many fans of crime fiction have never heard of. James crumley, 68, wrote 11 novels but was best known for his 1978 book, the last good kiss. James crumley has 37 books on goodreads with 35509 ratings. It is generally regarded as crumley s best novel, and any number of contemporary crime writers have described it as their favorite crime. It is disappointing to learn that crumley went on to serialize the character, but at the same time, i trust crumley wholeheartedly and am excited to read more.
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. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. James crumley author james crumley was born in three rivers, texas and spent most of his childhood in south texas. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the final country. Although praised by his fellow authors, up until about 1990, his books sold more in japan and france than they did stateside. 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. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the last good kiss. The last good kiss, book by james crumley paperback. James crumley books list of books by author james crumley. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. Hes been described as a cross between raymond chandler and hunter s. His book the last good kiss has been described as the most influential crime novel of the last 50 years.
One of the most influential crime novels ever written, by a legend of the genre. The last good kiss by james crumley, first edition abebooks. Amazon, book depository or visit your local indie bookstore james crumley s private investigator cw sughrue finds himself searching for a runaway young woman, missing for ten years. Do you considered one of people who cant read gratifying if the sentence chained in the straightway, hold on guys this specific arent like that. The mayhem is awesome and the political skullduggery deliciously vile, but pi milo milodragovtichs most formidable enemy may. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Publication date 19801201 topics nonclassifiable publisher pocket. The novel did not sell particularly well, nor did crumleys. Pages can include considerable notesin pen or highlighterbut the notes cannot obscure the text. Pdf the last good kiss download full pdf book download.
The last good kiss ebook by james crumley rakuten kobo. Buy a cheap copy of the last good kiss book by james crumley. I too, feel that this novel was so personal and so selfcontainedit really reads like a mainstream litfic novel. One hopes, too, that jones book will launch a movement to study, preserve, and make more accessible the dime novels that still exist. If you like your detective fiction raw and nasty, james crumleys dancing bear is your cup of meat. Hired to track down a derelict author, he ends up on the trail of a girl missing in haightashbury for a decade.
Dancing bear book by james crumley 3 available editions. The tense hunt becomes obsessive as sughrue takes a haunting journey through the. Its protagonist milo dragovitch pursues two cases at once, which quickly entwine him in a shipment of cocaine, poachers, stunning and disaffected characters, grenades, ak47s, and a slew of corpses strewn across the macho backwoods of montana. As sweetly profane a poet as american noir could have asked for ian rankin a friggin masterpiece dennis lehane the stunner that reinvigorated the genre and jacked up a generation of future crime novelists george pelecanos meet private detective c. An exlibrary book and may have standard library stamps andor stickers. What is it about this relatively obscure book that warrants such. The last good kiss by james crumley overdrive rakuten. Books by james crumley author of the last good kiss. 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. James crumleys two brilliant novels posted on april, 2014 by dave stanton the last good kiss and the wrong case, by james crumley are two extraordinary detective novels. James crumleys most popular book is the last good kiss c.
The unencumbered sex, the pornif you had any illusions about free love, the 1960s, and. James crumley 19392008 was an american author of hardboiled crime fiction. Tough, hardboiled, and brilliantly suspenseful, the last good kiss is an unforgettable detective story. I recently reread james crumleys the last good kiss. The final country is a james crumley classic a highoctane, highbody count roadtrip that crisscrosses an american west where the women are as tough as they are dropdead gorgeous and the roadside attractions will stand your hair on end, if they dont kill you first. Published in 1978, the last good kiss is james crumley s third novel and the first to feature c. James crumley s most popular book is the last good kiss c. The last good kiss and the wrong case, by james crumley are two. In his free time he loved to drive and hit smalltown bars as he found them. In addition, his novel the last good kiss has been called the most influential crime novel to come out in the past fifty years. Buy the paperback book the last good kiss by james crumley at indigo.
His novel the last good kiss was referred to as the most influential crime novel of the last 50 years. The last good kiss by james crumley knowledge lost. If chapter 18 was the books last chapter we would have had a happy ending. Buy james crumley ebooks to read online or download in pdf or epub on your pc, tablet or mobile device. The last good kiss c w sughrue, book 1 by james crumley. Firstly, it probably has the greatest opening line of any book ive ever read. The last good kiss c w sughrue, book 1 by james crumley book cover, description, publication history.
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. Hired to track down a derelict author, he ends up on the trail of a girl missing in haight. Sughrue, an alcoholic former army officer who is now a p. It is generally regarded as crumleys best novel, and any number of contemporary crime writers have described it as their favorite crime. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
The glad and the sad the last good kiss is 19 chapters long. Tough, hardboiled, and brilliantly suspenseful, the last good kiss is an unforgettable detective story starring c. The last good kiss followed in 1978 with another montana detective, cw sughrue, and cult status was assured when milo returned for a second outing in dancing bear in 1983. The last good kiss by ian rankin, james crumley bookchor.
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. Buy the last good kiss by james crumley online at alibris. It is the opening of his 1978 novel the last good kiss. Published in 1978, the last good kiss is james crumleys third novel and the first to feature c. Whatever the case, i came away from the book thinking two things. James arthur crumley october 12, 1939 september 17, 2008 was the author of violent. Drm free books my ebooks my account my wishlist sign in create an account gift certificates drm free books. James crumley, an american crime writer, died on september 17th, aged 68, sep 29th 2008. The last good kiss by ian rankin, james crumley as sweetly profane a poet as american noir could have asked for ian rankin a friggin masterpiece dennis lehane the stunner that reinvigorated the genre and jacked up a generation of future crime novelists george pelecanos meet private detective c. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on the last good kiss by james crumley. This novel, written in the style and literary traditions of the socalled hard boiled crime novel, tells the story of private investigator cw sughrues search for a runaway young woman, missing for ten years.