Two for the Money (2021) includes the first two Nolan novels: Bait Money (1973) and Blood Money (1973). The Nolan novels are a pastiche of “Richard Stark” (aka, Donald E. Westlake), the professional thief, Parker. Like Parker, Nolan is a craftsman of crime, executing heists with precision and caution. In Bait Money (aka, First and Last Time)–Max Allan Collins’ first published book–Nolan wants to retire from his criminal profession and work a legitimate job like running a nightclub.
But Nolan has baggage. Nearly 20 years ago, Nolan killed the brother of a Mafia member. Although time has passed, the Mafia member wants revenge on Nolan. Nolan realizes he needs to settle this score in order for his retirement to happen.
The deal Nolan works out requires Nolan to pull off another caper: a bank robbery. But, since professional thieves can’t work with Nolan because of Mafia rules, Nolan has to pull of the heist using two young man and a young woman who have never robbed a bank before. I enjoyed all the planning and complications that lead up to the crime. The aftermath of the robbery is explosive.
Blood Money continues the story with Nolan avenging the murder of two of his friends. But with his money stolen, Nolan needs to track down the murderers and the cash they took from him. Once again, the plot is twisty with plenty of surprises. If you like Richard Stark’s Parker novels, you’ll enjoy these wonderful pastiches! GRADE: B+
NOLAN SERIES:
1. Bait Money (1973)
2. Blood Money (1973)
3. Fly Paper (1981)
4. Hush Money (1981)
5. Hard Cash (1981)
6. Scratch Fever (1982)
7. Spree (1987)
8. Mourn the Living (1988)
9. Skim Deep (2020)
10. Double Down (2021)
I was just browsing through this at B&N. I have read all of Collin’s Nate Heller books and have liked them. I also like that Nolan resembles Lee Van Cleef.
Steve, one the characters in TWO FOR THE MONEY has a Lee Van Cleef poster on his wall.
Cool. I haven’t read enough of Collins’s work. Though I think I’d call that cover a Nice Try.
Todd, Mark Eastbrook did the cover for TWO FOR THE MONEY. I’d say it’s an effective effort that will sell some more copies.
My reading of Collins has been spotty, a couple of the Heller novels and a few in the Quarry series. No Nolans at all. Maybe I’ll try these.
Michael, if you like caper novels like those by Richard Stark/Donald E. Westlake you’ll enjoy the Nolan series.
Wait, There are two new ones? I missed that. I’ve got the first five inscribed by Collins from the 1983 and 1984 Bouchercons (I have the British first edition of BLOOD MONEY; at one point, the first two were plentiful in England) and have read them through #8.
Jeff, HARD CASE CRIME intends on publishing all the books in the NOLAN series.
OK, correction time. According to Wikipedia, the new one is SKIM DEEP, but DOUBLE DOWN is an anthology of the third and fourth books, FLY PAPER and HUSH MONEY. There will also be anthologies of books five and six (TOUGH TENDER) and seven and eight (MAD MONEY) coming out in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
Jeff, you would enjoy Max Allan Collins’s AFTERWORD in TWO FOR THE MONEY where Collins writes about how these to books were written.
MAC continues to impress but the @#$%^&! writes just too darned much. Just when I think I’ve caught up, I find he’s released a half dozen or so new books. As long as he keeps writing them, I’ll keep enjoying them.
As for Nolan, he’s been cool from the very beginning. IMHO, he’s the very best of the Parker clones. I’m looking forward to reading SKIM DEEP.
Jerry, I totally agree with you on the prolific Max Allan Collins! The only guy who pumps out more books is James Patterson (and he has a bunch of ghosts writing for him).
that reminds me I have to read at least one Parker coz I’ve heard so much about him.
Neeru, my favorite PARKER novel is SLAYGROUND. But I’m a fan of the entire series!