Hard Case Crime’s latest omnibus in their Nolan series includes Fly Paper (1981) the third novel in the Nolan series and Hush Money (1981) the fourth novel in the Nolan series. Max Allan Collins’s informative “Introduction” provides the backstory to these novels and their context in the Nolan series.
Fly Paper concerns the attempt by a desperate man to hijack a plane and hold it for ransom. The hijacker’s Bad Luck includes having Nolan, a professional thief and all-around hardass, on the plane. The hijacking scheme takes a surprising turn because of Nolan’s canny interference. GRADE: B
The second novel in Double Down is Hush Money. A Vietnam veteran returns from the war seeking vengeance on the local crime family who caused his father’s and mother’s death. The Chicago Family (aka, Mafia) approaches Nolan with a proposition: they would pay Nolan $100,000 to settle the dispute between the veteran assassin and the local crime family.
Nolan knows how to locate the assassin and has a bargaining chip to expedite the agreement. But the local crime family has other ideas in defiance of the Chicago Mob. Double-crosses abound!
Hush Money expands the character of Nolan. Yes, Nolan’s expertise as a thief helps his chances to avert more killings, but when the unexpected happens, Nolan knows how to deal with it. You can read my review of the first two Nolan novels here. If you’re a fan of caper novels and suspense, the Nolan series features action and surprising plots and plenty of thrills for your Summer enjoyment. GRADE: A-
As you probably know, I am a mega-Max Allan Collins fan. It’s great to see these two books available again.
Jerry, you will love the Introduction to DOUBLE DOWN where Max Allan Collins writes about the genesis of FLY PAPER and HUSH MONEY.
Have read and enjoyed several of his books.
Patti, I always marvel at prolific writers like Max Allan Collins who can keep the quality of their work high.
I’ve read them all. I have inscribed copies of the first five Nolan books from the early ’80s. By coincidence, I recently read the new one, SKIM DEEP, which I enjoyed more than I’d expected to. I expected them to be like the later Quaarys, which seemed very dated to me, but it was very good.
Jeff, I read the Nolan books when they were first published. On re-reading the first four books, I believe they hold up well. I have the Quarries, but I’m far behind on reading them. Max Allan Collins writes novels faster than I can read them!
Very 70s cover.
Rick, I completely agree! The wonderful cover on DOUBLE DOWN–done by Mark Eastbrook–captures the essence of the novel. I like Eastbrook’s rendering of Nolan as Lee Van Cleef!