This series is billed as “men’s action” which often means grisly violence, poor plotting, and an over-emphasis on sexual encounters that borders on the type of pornographic literature one would expect to find in so-called men’s magazines. However, it as a pleasant surprise to find a series that reminded me of nothing so much as Parker’s Spenser for Hire series. The relationship between former cop and unlicensed private investigator Hardman and his pal, Hump, a former NFL player, was very reflective of the relationship between Spenser and Hawk in that series. Further, Mr. Dennis also likes to reflect on cooking and meals in a less irritating frequency than that of the Spenser novels.
What makes this book more interesting is an actual mystery. It is written using 70’s language and therefore limited to 70’s technology (phones) and also utilizes some negative racial attitudes of the period. The mystery is well-plotted and keeps the reader guessing nearly to the end. Hardman seems to rely heavily on his old police buddy network, often refusing to share information with them. The detective work is hard work. It is following one lead at a time and seeing where the trail leads and Hardman and Hump handle it rather well. Hardman is no sissy boy, but neither is he a character who is willing to risk his life needlessly.
The one thing I didn’t like is that one point Hardman and Hump act as drug mules— semi-consistent with some of the 70’s thought that drugs weren’t hurting anybody important– that it was a problem for the inner cities.
The presentation for this audio adaption was very well done. I never felt the reader was mispronouncing words or going too far with dramatization so that the material seemed melodramatic. The accents and voices he chose to use fit the story and the setting perfectly. This was a fine dramatization.