Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, & Detective Fiction

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: pointblanknoir@gmail.com 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...

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 Ar...

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 pointblanknoir@gmail.com

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 Ja...

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 St...

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 M...

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 s...

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,...

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: pointblanknoir@gmail.com

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.c...

  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/pointblank...