A reader, Michael L., recommended James Crumley’s The Last Good Kiss
Crumley’s detective hero/antihero is C.W. Sughrue, a war veteran and possibly unreliable narrator (so maybe he’s not a war veteran) who handles unglamorous P.I. jobs like spying on wayward spouses for divorce cases or locating deadbeats for bill collectors. While retrieving a wayward author named Trahearne for the man’s ex-wife, Sughrue starts a brawl and shooting match that ends with him earning a job to locate a woman, Betty Sue, who’s been missing for ten years. Betty Sue was in San Francisco with a boyfriend when their car became stuck in traffic, at which point she opened the car door, walked away, and was never heard from again.
The pursuit of Betty Sue is the main plot point that drives the novel forward, but it’s the layering, mostly around Trahearne, that makes the novel so rewarding. Trahearne is a war veteran who fought at Guadalcanal, published three pulpy novels and some volumes of poetry, and lives on an estate in Montana with his wife, his ex-wife, and his mother, running off on semi-regular benders, one of which puts him on Sughrue’s radar. When the two men strike up an odd friendship and Sughrue’s hired to find Betty Sue, Trahearne cajoles Sughrue into letting him tag along, which is when the layering – and the lying, because no one in this story seems to tell the truth at first or even second blush – begins.
Sughrue might be the fourth- or fifth-most interesting character in his own book, which separates this from the best of Chandler, whose novels always revolved around Philip Marlowe. Sughrue certainly mimics Marlowe’s exterior toughness, dry wit, and natural cynicism (especially around the motives of others), but I didn’t find him compelling – he often takes a backseat to the beer-swilling bulldog Fireball, whose loyalty to his owner may merely reflect a desire to protect his main enabler. Trahearne is the real star of the book, complex enough to border on the ridiculous, an emotional train wreck on the inside with a buffoonish exterior. Sughrue makes his presence felt, but more as the machine that makes the other characters go; his best scene is his assault on a house in Colorado where he’s trying to rescue a kidnapping victim, and he has to deal with the house’s defenses and the idiocy of his overbearing, heavily-armed sidekick.
It doesn’t measure up to the best Chandler – which, for me, would start with Farewell, My Lovely – but it’s a quick read that was hard to put down but never insulted my intelligence while holding my attention.
Side note: I’m shocked that this was never made into a film. It certainly has all of the elements to satisfy a major studio – sex, violence, humor, sharply-drawn characters – but has the smart dialogue and layered plotting of a good Coen Brothers movie.
Next up: Carol Shields’ novel The Stone Diaries
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I’m burying the lede here a little, but I want to thank everyone who’s offered kind words and positive thoughts after this week’s rumor regarding me. I have no comment on the rumor itself, of course, but so many of you have written via one method or another, including a number of readers who have never reached out to me before, that I want to make it clear how much I appreciate your messages and your continued readership over the last five-plus years. This job would not be half as much fun without you guys.
Have a safe and happy New Year’s celebration tonight. If you choose to drink, please give the keys to someone who hasn’t.
Keith,
Love all of your writings from baseball to literature. I was wondering about a few authors that would seem to be up your alley, and whether you have read any works by either Richard Ford, David James Duncan, or Wally Lamb?
Ford did the Sportswriter series…the best of which is Independence Day…my favorite book of all time. Duncan has written only two novels that I know of, my favorite being The Brothers K. I believe that Lamb’s best work, is I Know This Much Is True, a hauntingly satisfying book, reminiscent of Russo.
I also read The Magicians after reading your review. I was wondering if you ever read the sequel, The Magician King? I actually enjoyed it even more then the first book.
All of the best for a happy New Year to you and your family and best of luck in your future career endeavors.
Doug
Happy New Year, Keith-
Thanks for the opinions, analysis and recipes. Best of luck to you and the family in 2012-
I read this after I heard a Crumley interview on Fresh Air, right after he died – probably about the same time it was recommended to you. I was pretty knocked out by it – though I agree that Sughrue is far from the most interesting character here. Which becomes a problem in the later books – I liked this enough to buy most of Crumleys works, thinking I’d devour them the same way I did Hammett & Chandler & Macdonald (Ross, not John). But honestly I haven’t been able to finish any of the other Crumley mysteries.
I think you hit on what sets THE LAST GOOD KISS apart – the characters draw you in in ways that just compel you to keep reading. But for a series of books the center is critical – and unlike the Marlowe or Archer – Surghue isn’t a compelling enough figure to make one (or at least me) keep coming back. The only thing you don’t say that I’d add is that Crumley writes women with a complexity that’s equal to his men – which is a rare quality for most hard boiled material (though I think that’s also true of Macdonald).
You’re right, too, about it being perfect for film. I think I had a friend research the rights situation with it back when I read it – and she said it either was or is under option (possibly with a script by Crumley, who was also a screenwriter). But even if the option has lapsed – there may very well be so much $ tied up in turnaround costs that trying to get it going again would be a non-starter. Also Hollywood’s attention span is about as short as a two year old’s. Once something stalls everyone’s on to the next “new” thing. But yes – the Coen bros would be perfect for it – and might have the juice to get it going.
I don’t often have time to keep up with your blog here – but I’m impressed with it when I do, both in terms of the commentaries and the simple fact that you are able to take on so much in addition to the baseball writing and all the work you must do in that regard. The last thing you need is probably someone suggesting a book you’d be perfect to write – but I can’t imagine anyone who’d be more appropriate to write a book about baseball fiction. Most books of literary criticism have little commercial appeal – but I actually think a comprehensive look at baseball fiction from ALIBI IKE to THE ART OF FIELDING (which I haven’t read yet) might be something that could actually get some pub if it’s release were timed with the beginning of a baseball season.
Anyway, great stuff. I’m going to check out your archive for thoughts on books I don’t have time to read. 🙂
Hi Keith,
Just wanted to say happy holidays to you and your family. I read your blog occasionally, although I primarily know you through your baseball coverage, which I absolutely love. If you get a godfather offer from the Astros (or anyone else for that matter) I know you have to do what’s best for your family, but please understand that you are one of the top 5 journalists covering baseball today (I’ll let you, Neyer, Keri, and Posnanski sort out who is number 1), and will be missed by millions of readers.
No matter what you decide, thank you for making baseball fans everywhere a bit more knowledgable, and being entertaining as hell along the way.
Hi Keith, and Happy New Year.
First time poster on this site. Love your writing on ESPN. I live in Australia, so some of your food writing is 6 months ahead of time for me (casseroles and roasts just don’t work in the middle of an Aussie summer!), but that’s OK, I just archive it all. I don’t agree with everything you write (for example, I’m a big Murakami fan, and loved After Dark), but it is never dull reading your blog. You really must go to Melbourne (i saw it on your travel list), it is the culinary capital of Australia (despite what Sydney-siders say). Lots of Asian and European fusion styles and the seafood Down Under is sensational. If you like beer, the try any of the Murray’s range – no-one here drinks Fosters – or James Squires Pilsner (called, for some reason, four widows) and there are literally hundreds of very good wines (a side trip to the Yarra valley is a must).
In passing, good luck on your Astro’s opportunity. Although reading the most of the comments on the rumour on Houston’s web page are negative, I think you would be great there. In any case, I wish you and your family the very best for 2012.
Tony – basking in 27C heat at the moment!
Keith – if you do leave ESPN, that will be the last of Insider for me. Selfishly, I hope you keep writing and opining. If you do go to work for a team, I will cheer for that team!