Chris Haslam

Sidney Starman is nearing the end of his life but has some unfinished business in Spain to take care of. 70 years previously he had been involved in the Spanish civil war and managed to find himself the sole remaining member of a group who knew the whereabouts of a stash of missing gold. He recruits two would-be conmen to do the donkey work of getting him across Spain to the actual location and the task of loading up all of that lovely shiny stuff when they get there. Things don't quite go to plan though and they end up staggering from one adventure to the next while attempting to reach their destination. Even when they arrive, their troubles aren't over as there are still some people around that remember the name of Sidney Starman and without a great deal of affection for it.

This is not an out-and-out comedy caper but there is enough humour to bring an occasional smile as we follow Sid's current and past adventures as each step brings him closer to what he left behind. While not being anything too special this is an easily read adventure yarn by an author dubbed the British Hiassen.… (altro)

After reading its predecessor, Twelve Step Fandango, I was tempted not to bother with this one but I'm so glad I did. If the last was similar in style to Carl Hiaasen then Alligator Strip reads like a well crafted Elmore Leonard.

Still surviving on what he can grift, Martin is just about making ends meet in Marrakech when into his life butts an American with a proposition. The fact that he's just saved him from a run-in with local law enforcement and probable deportation back to Spain means Martin has to listen to his pitch. What's on offer sounds too good to be true but as he's pretty much exhausted most of his options in Morroco he decides to go before he gets thrown out.

Arriving in America, getting thrown off the bus Martin gets a lift from Brad Luck when he's hitching a ride to go meet his new employer. Brad confides he's on his way to kill his ex-fiancée who he believes is responsible for the recent incarceration he's just served. On reaching the trailer-park where she's living Martin just about manages to put Brad off from performing the deed. He meets the intended victim, Sherry-Lee Lewis, and it's love at first sight. Things are not looking too good when he finally hooks up with Gene (his new employer) as he's having his home/office repossessed at the time. Despite this little setback and after an initial test they decide to go ahead with the plan anyway. They set up base in the very trailer park where Martin hopes that fortune and love will prosper and start laying the groundwork for their sting operation.

What follows is a fine example of the crime-caper genre with plenty of chuckles along the way. You don't need to have read the earlier book in the series to enjoy this one. There are a few passing references but nothing that's essential to the plot here. Recommended to fans of Elmore Leonard's books such as Rum Punch, Out of Sight etc. 4*'s… (altro)

Martin Brock is close to the bottom rung of the ladder when it comes to drug-dealing crime lords. He sells cocaine to holidaymakers on the Costa del Sol while living in a castle with a bunch of other of life's drop-outs and those with things to run away from. He has a dream of making one big deal and riding off into the sunset on a motorbike. It looks like this might become a reality when an old acquaintance turns up and promptly expires on his couch leaving him a bike that has a large stash of high grade cocaine hidden under the seat. The problems start when some unpleasant Frenchmen turn up and want their drugs back.

Martin is not a nice guy but everyone else we encounter in this story is even worse so when the bad things start to happen to him you can't help feel a little bit of sympathy. His plans just never seem to work out. Even his girlfriend calls him a loser. Can he survive until the end of the book? Can he come out on top if he does?… (altro)