The Gutter and the Grave

September 19, 2005
First published as by "Curt Cannon" under the title I'm Cannon—For Hire
(1958), this revised reissue reminds readers that the late McBain had some serious noir chops. Betrayed by a dame, former PI Matt Cordell has fallen hard and become a bum in New York City's Bowery district. Cordell's decision to help old friend Johnny Bridges, a tailor, investigate petty larceny at his store soon leads to a series of murders and some steamy encounters with the "fair sex," including a femme fatale. A strong cast of characters—from rival private eye Dennis Knowles to tailor's assistant Dave Ryan—creates a tangled web of deceit, with lies piling up faster than tokens in a subway station. But the best thing about the novel is the hard-boiled Cordell as the archetypal noir antihero, fated to failure even in success. Of necessity, the story is dated, but the pleasure of following the exploits of a forefather of such later icons as Lawrence Block's Matthew Scudder more than compensates. Fittingly, McBain has come full circle with the re-release of this revamped early novel at the end of his long and distinguished career. Agent, Gelfman-Schneider.

Ed McBain's novels are like a comfortable pair of shoes-they fit well, and by the end of the day you're still glad you chose them. This one features Matt Cordell, a down-and-out former detective trying to put his life back together, who finds himself in the middle of a murder. Like the book, Richard Ferrone's reading is comfortable. Ferrone's style is all business, with a paced staccato delivery reminiscent of a classic radio program. The result is a performance in which the novel remains on center stage. And because this title is less than five hours long, it's ideal for short trips or a light listen on the beach. D.J.S. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine