Pimp for the Dead: 4 (Hardman Thriller)

Ralph Dennis did something right when he wrote his Jim Hardman series -- something that caused me to plow through the first four books in the series in less than a week. Good thing there's another eight. What he does -- is he knows how to tell a story and keep the reader's attention. The Hardman series has been described as a meld of men's adventure and private eye tales set against a lurid background of mid-70's Atlanta, a gritty town filled with bars, wannabe hippie street kids, runaways, pimps, and hustlers.Hardman is an ex-cop who took the fall when a reform wave hit the Department. He's 40, a bit on the pudgy side, and he has no PI license, but from time to time he does favors for friends with his buddy Hump Evans, a 270-pound ex football player whose knees gave out to early but is still quick as anything and worth an army of tough guys all by his lonesome. Hardman and Hump aren't necessarily into working the 9 to 5, but are always on alert for a case that might pay off and finance their non ambitious lifestyles.This one is all about the farmer's daughter come to the big city to pursue her dreams of a modeling career, but only to end up with the runaways and throwaways on the evening stroll. Hardman is of course hired to find her and hopefully rescue her. But, things go sideways from there and Hardman and Hump find themselves in the middle of more then they bargained for. On the way, between the shootouts, the bar fights, and the manhunts, we get the sense of how prostitution isn't necessarily a victimless crime, how these young girls are preyed upon, and taken advantage of.All in all, just straight out quality action-packed fiction.

I've become such a fan of the Jim Hardman and Hump Evans novels by Ralph Dennis. Thus far, they're getting better with each one. The first was a solid start, two was really good, three had been my favorite until Pimp For The Dead, which to me is the best yet. I highly recommend it and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Hardman allows us to stretch our experience a little further with things we may understand and may have observed, but only experience in his pages. Truly a lot of fun. Remarkably good writing

Another super adventure for Hardman. Jim and his pals do it again. Excitement a great plot. Twists and turns too.

If you like good old detective books with out sex with a lot of action and twist and turns you Will love these