Hollywood Hardboil
In Hardcase, there's plenty of tough guy attitude, cold-blooded violence and colorful street characters, but, unfortunately, none of the emotional complexity and clever plot twists that marks the best work in this genre. Though it's not a bad novel, it's like watching a stock Hollywood shoot-em up without the Dolby soundtrack or the buttered popcorn. Mr. Simmons probably had a lot of fun writing this one, but his work in other genres is far superior.
