Publisher's Weekly Review
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. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Booklist Review
Born Salvatore Lombino, his name legally changed to Evan Hunter, the writer best known as Ed McBain had just proofed the galleys of this reprint when he died on July 6. Originally published under another pseudonym (Curt Cannon) with a title he hated ( I'm Cannon--for Hire0 ), this edition, we're told, restores the book to the author's original vision. A plot summary begs for pulpy hyperbole: Matt Cordell was a private detective with a thriving practice and a beautiful wife--until he found his wife in another man's arms! Now he's a Bowery bum, haunted by her betrayal! When an old friend hires him to find a thief, Cordell is snared in a web of death and deceit--and the arms of a dame who just might snap him out of his funk!0 Under his half-dozen monikers, Hunter wrote more than 100 novels, as well as screenplays, short stories, teleplays, stage plays, and even children's books. Ironically, while he reserved his legal name for his more literary efforts, it's the McBain name and novels that will endure: the 87th Precinct series is considered a benchmark for police procedurals. But it's a testament to the depth of his talent that this little-known noir, practically forgotten since its 1958 publication, delivers intrigue, excitement, and humor that plenty of today's writers would kill for. --Keir Graff Copyright 2005 Booklist
Library Journal Review
Bad lucks sticks to Matt Cordell like lint on his cheap suit. Cordell's once-promising career as a private investigator vanishes after he comes home unexpectedly and finds his not-so-blushing bride of only two months in bed with his partner, whom he beats half to death with the butt of a .45. With his marriage and operator's license just memories, Matt tries to douse the torch he still carries for the woman by downing enough cheap booze to float a battleship, leaving him homeless and living from bottle to bottle. When a childhood friend asks for help on a minor case, Matt is reluctant, but after they discover a corpse, he's in, like it or not. McBain's 1958 story is a minor outing in his sterling career but gets extra points for employing mature but realistic language. Narrator Richard Ferrone gives Matt a good showing, but many of his other characterizations sound similar, including several of the women. VERDICT Hard-core McBain/PI devotees will find enough to enjoy here, while this may prove only a minor distraction-albeit a quick one-for other mystery hounds. Buy accordingly.-Mike Rogers, -Library Journal (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
