Buckle your seat belts! This is going to be a wild ride! We take a deep dive into "Blacktop Wasteland" by SA Cosby, a novel we both describe as a modern classic. Cosby takes us on a journey through the rural hills of Virginia for an exhilarating, timely work that highlights everything modern noir crime fiction has to offer. Get in touch with the show: [email protected] Find us on Facebook and join our Facebook group to discuss these books with other listeners. Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noi...
Apr 03, 2021•57 min
In Episode 45, we revisit to one of the masters of hardboiled detective crime fiction, Raymond Chandler, and his acclaimed second novel, Farewell, My Lovely. Damn, this book is boozy. (And racist!) But also rich with memorable secondary characters (Moose Malloy & Jessie Florian) & Marloweian one-liners. It's a classic example of hardboiled detective fiction that finds Chandler at his most Chandleresque. Get in touch with the show: Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboile...
Mar 08, 2021•54 min
We follow up our discussion of Spy Fiction from E52 with more in-depth reviews of books we read for the show. Books covered: 'A Coffin for Dimitrios' by Eric Ambler 'The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare' by GK Chesterton 'Moonraker' by Ian Fleming 'Spies of the Balkans' and 'Red Gold' by Alan Furst 'The Spy In the Ointment' by Donald Westlake 'The Quiet American' by Graham Greene 'Agent Running in the Field' by John Le Carre 'The Berlin Memorandum' and 'The 9th Directive' by Adam Hall 'Slow Hor...
Feb 08, 2021•55 min
From the shadows, we emerge to discuss the huge topic of spy fiction. We look at this genre in broad strokes, covering nearly a century of spy novels. I'm sure we've missed a lot, so if you have books we should have covered, get in touch. Please find us on Facebook at Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction. Join our Facebook Group or find the Point Blank group on GoodReads. Send us an email: [email protected]
Jan 27, 2021•1 hr 7 min
Enjoy this mini-episode review of the 2011 film adaptation of John Le Carré's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Our last episode of 2020. We'll see you next year with a fully rendered episode dedicated to spy fiction.
Dec 14, 2020•28 min
Hello Blankers! In this episode we celebrate our semicentennial by regaling you with memories of our first three years & by answering tough questions about personal favorite (and least favorite) novels, authors, characters, and settings from the first 50 episodes.
Nov 17, 2020•1 hr 1 min
We made it to 50! In this golden anniversary of a show we return to the gritty, noir world of Jim Thompson with "Pop. 1280." It's another take on the corrupt sheriff that Thompson writes so well. Which character is more menacing; Lou Ford or Nick Corey? Which is the better novel? Tune in to find out. Get in touch with the show: Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detectiv...
Oct 14, 2020•1 hr 3 min
In Episode 49, we dive deep into Attica Locke’s contemporary soon-to-be classic Bluebird, Bluebird. Justin reviews the western noir film Blood on the Moon, and we go five rounds in Five Round Burst. Get in touch with the show: Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Website: www.pointblankpodcast.com Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreo...
Sep 07, 2020•1 hr 6 min
In Episode 48, we introduce Attica Locke's contemporary rural noir soon-to-be classic, Bluebird, Bluebird. We look more closely at rural noir -- what it is and who the major players are -- in Subject Unknown and take a close look at Chris McGinley's beautiful & disturbing short story collection, Coal Black. Finally, Kurt offers us up a Forgotten Classic, and we talk a bit about Attica Locke's early yet successful career. Get in touch with the show: [email protected] Twitter: @pointbla...
Aug 16, 2020•1 hr 1 min
Hi Blankers! This is our second of two episodes dedicated to Hawaiian Noir. Our deep dive is the short, gritty Yakudoshi: Age of Calamity by Chris McKinney, an under-heralded Hawaiian author who should be getting far more attention than he does. We also feature a review of Scott Kikkawa's first novel, Kona Winds, a historical detective story set in 1950s Honolulu we both enjoyed. Get in touch with the show: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir...
Jul 22, 2020•57 min
Welcome to episode 46! We head out into the Pacific for a look at Hawaiian Noir. For our featured book this time we focus on "For a Song" by Rodney Morales a classic detective tale with a lot of local flavor. In Subject Unknown and 5 Round Burst we focus on more reasons to enjoy Hawaiian Noir. This is part 1 of a 2 part look at the crime fiction of the islands. Get in touch with the show: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fic...
Jun 30, 2020•1 hr 17 min
In Episode 45 we do a deep dive of Richard Stark’s The Hunter. Did we like it? Yes, but. . . Also in this episode, Justin discusses two classic noir films in Cinema Spotlight, and we get back to basics in Five Round Burst. Get in touch with the show: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Website: www.pointblankpodcast....
May 25, 2020•53 min
Hey, Blankers! In Episode 44 we introduce Richard Stark's The Hunter, featuring the antihero of antiheroes, no-sense thief & miscreant Parker. Wrong Parker once, and you best watch your back. Also in this episode, Kurt shares a Forgotten Classic, Nightmare Alley, we chat about Crime Fiction in the age of Pandemic, & we learn a bit about prolific-as-hell Donald Westlake. Get in Touch! Join our Goodreads Group Visit our Patreon Email Us Facebook Twitter Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Pod...
May 17, 2020•52 min
Greetings Blankers! In Episode 43, we dive deep into Philip K Dick’s sci-fi-noir classic, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? In Forgotten Classics, Kurt puts Home is the Sailor by Day Keene to the test. We also review 5 books in 5 minutes during 5 Round Burst. Get in Touch! Join our Goodreads Group Visit our Patreon Email Us Facebook Twitter Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!...
Apr 25, 2020•59 min
Hello Blankers! Here is another short episode for these very difficult times. I (Kurt) am on my own this time looking at two classic noir era films which cover pandemics. "Panic in the Streets" and "The Killer That Stalked New York" are both from 1950 and feature some interesting noir takes on the issue. I enjoyed watching them and I hope you gain something from them as well. Wash your hands and keep your distance! Note: Maybe don't watch these if you are already stressed about our current situa...
Apr 09, 2020•14 min
Greetings Blankers! In Episode 42, don your jet packs because we are going "back to the future" with our introduction to Philip K Dick's sci-fi-noir classic Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? In Subject Unknown, we discuss Neo-Noir, particularly Sci-Fi Noir. For our Featured Review, we spend time with Dan Stout's terrific Titanshade , and Kurt also sheds light on Philip K. Dick: was he a paranoid drug-fueled narc, a genius, or both? Get in Touch! Join our Goodreads Group Visit our Patreon Emai...
Mar 31, 2020•1 hr 1 min
Hello Point Blank Listeners. Odds are you are under some type of stay at home order or doing some sort of social distancing. We've got you covered with a mini-episode. We both watched "Riot in Cell Block 11." It's a classic prison noir film that we both enjoyed. We talk about the film without any major spoilers, and it's pretty easy to find online for free viewing. Enjoy!
Mar 23, 2020•23 min
Welcome to Point Blank! This time around we share another round of Coca-Cola with Paco Ignacio Taibo II as we take a deep dive into An Easy Thing. We both loved this book and can't stop talking about it. In Cinema Spotlight, we still can't get away from Paco as we look at a documentary based on Paco's Che biography. It just happens to be hosted by Paco as well! In 5 Round Burst we look at fiction with a strong connection to Mexican Noir. Get in touch with the show: [email protected] Twitt...
Mar 07, 2020•1 hr 18 min
Welcome to Point Blank! Grab your Coke and cigarettes (It's the fuel for both our writer and our detective this episode.) and join us for a discussion of "An Easy Thing" by Paco Ignacio Taibo II. I think we are both in love with Paco's writing and he's a pretty interesting person as well. We'll introduce his work and his life as well as have a discussion about Mexican Noir. Will this episode reveal a Forgotten Classic? Join us and see. Get in touch with the show. [email protected] Twitter...
Feb 16, 2020•1 hr 7 min
Welcome to Point Blank! We return to Sao Paulo, diving deep into Leighton Gage's Blood of the WIcked, the first Chief Inspector Mario Silva investigation. We'll also reflect on City of God (2003), a Brazilian crime film that both of us agree is a modern classic, and we give you five Brazilian crime fiction hard hitters in Five Round Burst. Get in touch with the show: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://p...
Jan 20, 2020•1 hr 1 min
Welcome to Point Blank! In this episode we travel down to the beautiful beaches, massive cities, and humid jungles of Brazil to explore Brazilian Noir. We'll introduce Leighton Gage's 'Blood of the WIcked' the first Chief Inspector Mario Silva investigation. We'll take a look at some of the crime fiction books of the decade, and see if 'Carny Kill' is really a forgotten classic. We also ask, "Just who the hell is Leighton Gage?" Put on your swimsuit and join us on the beach. Get in touch with th...
Dec 28, 2019•1 hr
Welcome to the second part of our feature on Natsuo Kirino's noir classic Out. We dive deep into the text and discuss the good and the less good. Warning: spoilers aplenty so read ahead. We also review Akira Kurosawa's film noir classic Stray Dog, look back at Black Mask's lesser known young sibling, Manhunt Magazine, and give you five kill shots in Five Round Burst. Get in touch with the show! [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detecti...
Dec 12, 2019•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 37
In Episode 36, we head as far east as we're going to go on on our Noir Trip Around the World as we take you to the industrial wastelands of working class Tokyo with our introduction to Natsuo Kirino's very popular and controversial crime noir, Out. In Subject Unknown, we chat about Japanese Noir, and Kurt shares a Dog Eared Classic. Get in touch with the show. [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction www.pointblankpodcast.co...
Nov 19, 2019•50 min
Welcome to Point Blank Podcast! In Episode 35, we take a close look at two sisters; ones a killer, the other cleans up the mess. We travel to Lagos, Nigeria a place think with a gritty noir feel where we cover Oyinkan Braithwaite's wildly popular "My Sister, The Serial Killer." We look at the work of a nearly forgotten female mystery writer from the 1950s, Helen Nielsen. In my opinion her work deserves to be remembered. A number of books are on target in 5 Round burst and that's it for Nigeria. ...
Oct 24, 2019•1 hr 4 min
Welcome to Point Blank Podcast! In Episode 34, we are off to Nigeria for a look at the riveting tale of two sisters, "My Sister, the Serial Killer" by Oyinkan Braithwaite From the title you'd probably guess one is in fact a killer, and the other gets really good at cleaning up the mess. We introduce Braithwaite's novel and review a Halloween Treat, "Blood Sugar" by Daniel Kraus. "Blood Sugar" offers a narrator unlike anything we've read recently and made as both crave a supermilk. (See our revie...
Oct 14, 2019•1 hr
Welcome to Point Blank Podcast! In Episode 33, we take a deep dive into the cold blue waters of Jean-Claude Izzo's stunningly fresh and sensual hardboiled classic, Total Chaos. We review a couple films from Guild Cinema's 16th Annual Film Noir Fest. And, yes, we also pull the trigger on 5 Round Burst. Get in touch with the show! [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction www.pointblankpodcast.com Support the show: Patreon: htt...
Aug 31, 2019•56 min
We've packed our bags and hopped the pond to explore the noir of the Mediterranean focusing in on Marseilles, France. We introduce 'Total Chaos' by Jean-Claude Izzo and the broader topic of Mediterranean Noir. In 'Well Thumbed Classics' we cover two collections one featuring the Western Noir of Harry Whittington and the other the work of Bernice Carey. We also take a closer look into the life of Jean-Claude Izzo. Get in touch with the show. [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Faceb...
Aug 19, 2019•57 min
Gather 'round for part 2 of our episode on Cormac McCarthy's border noir classic, No Country for Old Men. In Well Thumbed Classics, Kurt reviews Black Wings Has My Angel by Elliott Chaze. In Five Round Burst, we review 5 strong books, including two by Gabino Iglesias. Get in touch with the show: Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Email: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Don't forget to check us out on Goodreads or visit our Patreon site if you'd like t...
Jul 15, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 31
Welcome back to Point Blank! In this episode we introduce 'No Country For Old Men' and Cormac McCarthy. We also discuss the broad topic of Western and Border Noir. Justin reviews 'Mystery Tribune.' Get in touch with the show: Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Email: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Don't forget to check us out on Goodreads or visit our Patreon site if you'd like to help out the show....
Jun 28, 2019•59 min
Just a quick update on the show. We need a short early summer break and we can all do some summer reading.
Jun 11, 2019•2 min
