“[Gil Brewer] was living the life of one of his characters–drowning in debt, in alcohol, in his own paranoia, burning bridges as fast as he built them. He was constantly chased by demons of his own making.” (p. 8)

Stark House has reprinted over 20 of Gil Brewer’s works and this new omnibus edition brings Play It Hard (1960) and The Vengeful Virgin (1958) to a new audience. In his excellent introduction, “Noir Anoesis,” Brandon Barrows sums up Gil Brewer’s tortured existence and his struggles with his writing career. Brewer wanted to be a “literary” writer but after a series of rejections, he turned to the paperback original market with successful sales to Gold Medal and Monarch Press.

Brewer came up with plots that instantly gripped his readers. Take Play It Hard for example: Steve Nolan, a boozer, prone to violence, and recently married, wakes up next to a strange woman who claims she is his wife. No one believes Nolan–they believe the fake wife!

Then Brewer conjures up an 18-year-old vengeful virgin, Shirley, who is tired of taking care of her demanding, wealthy invalid stepfather. Shirley hires Jack Ruxton, an owner of a TV sales and repair business, to install new TVs to entertain her stepfather. Shirley throws herself at Ruxton…and he eventually goes along with her plan to get rid of her stepfather. While Ruxton is tempted by women and tempted by money, he doesn’t realize the danger he is in as events reduce the original plan to a desperate situation that completely unravels.

In Play It Hard and The Vengeful Virgin Gil Brewer shows that no other noir author does desperation and dread better than he does! GRADE: B (for both novels)

The first time I heard Me’Shell NdegeOcello was in 1994 when she and John Mellencamp released a cover version of Van Morrison’s “Wild Night.” I loved it! But then Me’Shell NdegeOcello seemingly disappeared and I only rediscovered her again after hearing she just released an album of cover versions performed as “reimagined” duets with guest vocalists.

Synonym has 15 songs. I’m familiar with most of them. I liked “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) with Cynthia Erivo. Chaka Khan does a nice job on “Islands in the Stream.” “Gold Ring” with Brandi Carlisle is well done, too.

If you’re in the mood for a great sounding cover album, Synonym has a lot going for it. GRADE: B+ (For both CDs)

TRACK LIST:

John Mellencamp* With Me’Shell NdegéOcello–	Wild Night	3:28
	John Mellencamp*–	Dance Naked (Live Mix)	3:09
	John Mellencamp*–	When Jesus Left Birmingham	3:56
	John Mellencamp*–	Love And Happiness (London Club Mix)	6:28
	John Mellencamp*–	Small Town (Acoustic)	4:11

TRACK LIST:

1. “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” w/ Cynthia Erivo – originally by Aretha Franklin & George Michael (1986 album track, 1987 single)
2. “Don’t You Want Me” w/ Cat Power – The Human League (1981 album track, 1981 single)
3. “Don’t Stop the Music” w/ Nick Hakim & Robert Glasper – Rihanna (2007 album track, 2007 single)
4. “Islands in the Stream” w/ Chaka Khan – Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton (1983 single, 1983 album track)
5. “It Ain’t Me Babe” w/ Madison Cunningham – Bob Dylan (1964 album track)
6. “Always on Time” w/ Laura Lee (5) – Ja Rule feat. Ashanti (2001 album track, 2001 single)
7. “Be Real Black for Me” w/ Emily King & Lizz Wright – Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway (1972 album track)
8. “Don’t Look Any Further” w/ Lianne La Havas – Dennis Edwards feat. Siedah Garrett (1984 single, 1984 album track)
9. “The Closer I Get to You” w/ Destin Conrad & Moses Sumney – Roberta Flack with Donny Hathaway (1977 album track, 1978 single)
10. “Golden Ring” w/ Brandi Carlile – George Jones & Tammy Wynette (1976 single, 1976 album track)
11. “I Got You Babe” w/ Anohni – Sonny & Cher (1965 single, 1965 album track)
12. “Here We Come (Here He Comes)” w/ Evann McIntosh – Brian Eno (1977 album track as “Here He Comes”)
13. “Guilty” w/ Ink (4) – Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb (1980 album track, 1980 single)
14. “Hunger Strike” w/ Willow (52) – Temple Of The Dog (1991 album track, 1992 single)
15. “With God on Our Side” w/ Bill Callahan & Chris Thile – Bob Dylan (1964 album track)

The Lady Was a Tramp (aka Murder at Midnight) collects the private eye stories of Pat Raffigan. Harry Whittington–one of Bill Crider’s favorite writers–wrote for newspaper syndication in the 1940s and 50s. In each one of these Raffigan stores the tall, good looking private investigator matches wits and determination with a wild series of clever criminals. Ruffian gets conked on the head in nearly every story. He’s also is lied to, shot at, beaten and tossed into dark alleys, and generally takes a lot of physical punishment. But the handsome Raffigan never gives up until the case is solved–and he seldom gets paid.

“The Lady Was a Tramp”–the first story in this new Stark House edition–starts with the body of a young woman named Gladys Price who has been murdered in Lover’s Lane. Her date, Carl Hobson, is found in the car with Gladys Price. He was knocked unconscious with the murder weapon–a pistol–which was tossed in the bushes nearby. Carl claims he’s innocent, but he’s the Prime Suspect.

Carl’s mother tries to hire Pat Raffigan to prove her son’s innocence. But she can’t afford to pay Raffigan’s rates. Instead, Raffigan takes on the case for Gladys’ wealthy father, who wants him to prove that Carl is the killer, and can afford to pay for that proof. But the more Raffigan investigates, the more Gladys’ sordid past provides a different, darker story.

I also enjoyed “The Case of the Red-Headed Girls.” Raffigan is hired by the parents of a young women–a red-head–who entered a Beauty Contest but has disappeared. Raffigan finds a sinister side to the Beauty Contest–and a number of dead bodies.

All of the Raffigan stories feature violence, Red Herrings, and clever plots. In his “Introduction” David Laurence Wilson speculates on why Whittington abandoned Pat Raffigan and moved on to other genres. One look at the “Harry Whittington Bibliography” shows what happened after Pat Raffigan: over 170 novels written for several publishers in a myriad of genres.

Stark House has reprinted 16 Harry Whittington novels. In The Lady Was a Tramp–with Armand Seguso’s great cover artwork–Harry Whittington’s pulp era noir story-telling is on full display. The relentless action punctuated by dead bodies challenges Pat Raffigan’s wits to solve the cases before the danger overwhelms him! You need to buckle your seatbelt when you read these stories! GRADE: B+

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• Introduction by David Laurence Wilson — 7
• The Pat Raffigan Short Stories & Novelettes (A collection of 6 uncollected detective capers originally written for newspaper syndication), including: — 19
• The Lady Was a Tramp (The full-length 1951 noir novel originally published by Handy-Books. — 20
• What Happened in Suite 421 — 102
• The Two-Timing Wife — 116
• The Case of the Red-Headed Girls — 133
• Blond in the Bay — 149
• The Case of the Homicidal Blonde — 164
• The Case of the Haunted Bier — 180
• Harry Whittington Bibliography — 200

How to Eat an Elephant is based on Sarah Longwell’s eight years of qualitative field research and hundreds of focus groups with ordinary Americans across the political spectrum. Rather than relying on standard pundit guesswork, Longwell uses direct quotes and emotional vernacular from voters themselves to illustrate what voters are concerned about.

With the Mid-Term Elections right around the corner, the fate of our country is in the hands of the American Citizens. But…who will vote? Who will stay home? Who will automatically do what Trump tells them to do?

“Longwell lays out the playbook for building a coalition big enough, bold enough, and tough enough to defeat authoritarian populism for good. Not with a single election. Not by doing another poll or debating the benefits of being more progressive or more moderate, but by building something new: A modern pro-democracy movement that can create its own communications infrastructure—just like the right has done for decades—achieve narrative dominance, elevate more compelling leaders, and talk to voters like adults.”

Hopefully, the Democrats can take back the House. If they can also win the Senate, we’re one step closer to stopping the Trump madness that is ruining our country. Longwell provides a political blueprint on how to win Elections even in Red States! GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

There’s Something About Sarah: Foreword by Jonathan V. Last — ix

Introduction — 1

PART I: WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE

1. Listen — 21
2. The Elephant in the Room — 37
3. Focus Groupie — 48
4. ABC: Always Be Communicating — 57
5. The Great American Media Crack-Up — 64

PART II: WHO ARE THESE VOTERS, AND WHAT DO THEY WANT?

6. Anatomy of a Swing Voter — 85

7. It’s the Affordability, Stupid — 107

8. Border Blues — 119

9. Persuasion and Its Possibilities — 136

10. Trans-America — 146

11. Republicans are from Mars; Democrats are fromVenus — 159

12. Character Doesn’t Count — 175

13. Trump’s Children — 188

14. Conspiracyland — 199

PART III: WE’RE NOT GOING BACK

15. A Lesbian Former Republican, a Black Presidential Candidate, and Darth Vader’s Daughter Walk into a Bar . . . — 221

16. RIP GOP — 236

PART IV: CONCEPTS OF A PLAN

17. Wartime Generals — 257

18. Offense — 269

19. Put a Quarter in the Machine — 278

Conclusion: The One You Feed — 288

Acknowledgements — 303

NOTES — 307

INDEX — 309

The 5-1 Buffalo Bills are coming off their Bye Week. The 4-3 BALTIMORE RAVENS come to town with rumors that the often injured star Quarterback Lamar Jackson will start. The Bills are favored by 3 points. I expect this to be a close game.

How will your favorite NFL team do today?

Richard Laymon (1947-2001) wrote 67 books, mostly horror novels under his own name and some psuedonymns from 1980 to 2008. To wrap up this month of Halloween and Horror stories, I chose Laymon’s The Beast House from 1986. The Beast House is the second book in The Beast House series.

The Beast House is a creepy structure where 15 people have been killed over a number of years…by a Beast. The Beast House is located outside Malcasa, California. A young girl, Janice Crogan, writes to successful horror writer Gorman Hardy offering to share the secret stories of The Beast House in return for half of the profits of the projected best selling book. Little does Janice know that Gorman plans to get the facts of the story and cheat Janice out of the money.

The Beast House is run by a bizarre couple who offers tours to tourists. Most people think The Beast House is a huge hoax. They don’t believe The Beast exists. But…they are very wrong!

Richard Laymon knows how to amp up the fear and horror as the death count starts to mount. What better way to get ready for Halloween than to read this spooky tale! GRADE: B

THE BEAST HOUSE CHRONICLES SERIES:

The Cellar (1980)

The Beast House (1986)

The Midnight Tour (1998)

Friday Night in Beast House (2001)

I was just 10 years old when I started listening to Julie London sing her songs on the radio. Her voice was beautiful and I couldn’t wait to hear her sing another song. Over the years, I’ve listened to Julie London vinyl albums and later music CDs on a regular basis.

Here are two of my favorite Julie London albums: The Best of Julie London and All Through the Night.

The Best of Julie London includes some of my favorite Julie London songs: “‘Round Midnight,” “In the Still of the Night,” “The Thrill is Gone,” and “I’m in the Mood for Love.”

I love Cole Porter songs, especially when Julie London is singing them! “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” is a typical Cole Porter song with plenty of innuendo. “You Do Something to Me” is as sensual as can be! And Julie pours her heart out on “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye.”

If you haven’t listened to Julie London in a while, she’s still waiting for you… GRADE: A (for both)

TRACK LIST:

Cry Me A River	2:58
		In The Middle Of A Kiss	2:21
		You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To	2:17
		No Moon At All	1:54
		June In January	2:10
		‘Round Midnight	2:56
		In The Still Of The Night	2:43
		My Heart Belongs To Daddy	2:44
		Invitation To The Blues	2:58
		Easy Street	3:15
		Go Slow	2:16
		The Thrill Is Gone	3:23
		I Surrender, Dear	3:47
		Two Sleepy People	3:14
		A Cottage For Sale	2:36
		Daddy	2:14
		Gone With The Wind	2:08
		I’m In The Mood For Love	2:32

TRACK LIST:

		I’ve Got You Under My Skin	3:00
		You Do Something To Me	2:15
		Get Out Of Town	2:55
		All Through The Night	4:32
		So In Love	4:03
		At Long Last Love	3:27
		Easy To Love	2:27
		My Heart Belongs To Daddy	2:45
		Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye	3:20
		In The Still Of The Night	2:34

All of these stories suck. I mean literally! Poppy Z. Brite returns with a sequel to her Love In Vein vampire anthology (you can read my review of Love in Vein I here.). Love in Vein II‘s best stories are “First Date” by Richard Laymon about a horny young couple who decide to visit a cemetery at night for a frolic. You can make a good guess at what happens…

Neil Gaiman’s “Snow, Glass, Apples” blends a Queen’s problems ruling a declining kingdom after the death of her husband with a rapacious daughter who has her own deadly agenda.

If your Halloween could use a little spice, you’ll find the stories in both Love in Vain I & II can remedy that situation. GRADE: B

Table of Contents:

• Snow, Glass, Apples – (1995) – short story by Neil Gaiman
• Bela’s Plot – (1997) – short story by Caitlín R. Kiernan
• Armies of the Heart – (1997) – short story by Christopher Fowler
• Whispers in Walled Tombs – (1997) – short story by O’Neil De Noux
• Ceilings and Sky – (1997) – short story by Lucy Taylor
• The Fly Room – (1997) – novelette by Thom Metzger
• The Subtle Ties That Bind – (1997) – short story by David Niall Wilson
• When Memory Fails – (1997) – novelette by Roberta Lannes
• The I of the Eye of the Worm – (1997) – short story by Janet Berliner and George Guthridge
• Stigmata – (1997) – short story by Jean-Daniel Brèque (trans. of Stigmates)
• The Dripping of Sundered Wineskins – (1997) – novella by Brian Hodge
• I’m Not Well, But I’m Better – (1997) – short story by Pat Califia
• Kingyo no fun – (1997) – novelette by Nicholas Royle
• First Date – (1997) – novelette by Richard Laymon
• To Have You with Me – (1997) – short story by Randy Fox
• Dusting the Flowers – (1997) – novelette by David J. Schow
• Bloodlight – (1997) – short story by Stephen Mark Rainey
• The Privilege of the Dead – (1997) – short story by Thomas S. Roche