Ed Gorman wrote: “Chaze is known in pulp circles for his flawless novel Black Wings Has My Angel, which many people feel is the single best novel Gold Medal published during its heyday.” Ed Gorman is right. But Elliott Chaze also wrote some other fine novels like Wettermark. Cliff Wettermark is a struggling reporter in a small town in Mississippi. His health is failing and so is his marriage. Wettermark decides to turn his fortunes around by robbing a bank. The ending Chaze comes up with its noirish outlandishness is worthy of Quentin Tarantino. Wettermark is a book worth seeking out and losing yourself in.
I read one of his – Mr. Yesterday – in 1986 but have no memory of it whatsoever.
This one sounds worth looking for. Good choice.
I jsut ordered it from the library.
I love the internet!
And WETTERMARK is only 159 pages, Jeff. I read it while I was advising students. I love the Internet, too!
Another one to sek out. Thanks!
WETTERMARK is well worth seeking out, Dan.
I hope Hard Case Crime reprints BLACK WINGS HAS MY ANGEL someday.
Or Stark House or Ramble House or some other small press, Drongo. BLACK WINGS HAS MY ANGEL is a classic that should be in-print.
Actually, Black Wings Has My Angel has been reprinted twice recently.
A nice cloth edition can be yours for $80
http://www.centipedepress.com/blackwings.html
and at Munseys, although there are numerous typos
http://www.munseys.com/detail/mode/title/black_wings
Thanks for the information, Cameron! I’m glad the book is available after disappearing for many years.