Book picks similar to
Fire in the Flesh by David Goodis


crime
genre_mysteries_c<br/>rime_espionage
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crime-noir

Carn


Patrick McCabe - 1993
    Carn is the story of two women; Josie Keenan, who returns to Carn, Ireland, the provincial hometown she once left behind, and Sadie Rooney, a factory worker who dreams of leaving. As the two women strike up a friendship--fueled by hopes to better their lives, yet inextricably tied to the tenuous fate of Carn--each must confront the hard truths of her past and future. And despite its own attempt to thrive, the town itself cannot escape the daily reminders of Ireland's endless legacy of violence and unrest.Written in the raw, unsparing prose that marks McCabe's fiction, Carn is the timeless story of a small town struggling to break away from its bleak past, and the lives of two women aching to escape the forces that shaped them.

Waiting for the End of the World


Madison Smartt Bell - 1985
    A New York City photographer working at Bellevue falls in with a gang of terrorists and is witness to a series of violent, inexplicable events.

Three by Cain: Serenade/Love's Lovely Counterfeit/The Butterfly


James M. Cain - 1989
    Cain hammered high art out of the crude matter of betrayal, bloodshed, and perversity.

The Ring of Brightest Angels Around Heaven: A Novella and Stories


Rick Moody - 1995
    They include "The Preliminary Notes", "The Apocalypse of Bob Paisner", and "Primary Sources". The title piece was awarded the Aga Khan Prize for Best Fiction published in the "Paris Review" during 1994.

Black Orchids/The Silent Speaker


Rex Stout - 1941
    In this double helping of classic Nero Wolfe mysteries, Stout presents the arrogant, gourmandizing, sedentary sleuth and his trusty man-about-town, Archie Goodwin, with a pair of delectable murders that no connoisseur of the whodunit could possibly resist.BLACK ORCHIDS Not much can get Wolfe to leave his comfortable brownstone, but the showing of a rare black orchid lures him to a flower show. Unfortunately, the much-anticipated event is soon overshadowed by a murder as daring as it is sudden. It's a case of weeding out a cunning killer who can turn up anywhere--and Wolfe must do it quickly. Because a second case awaits his urgent attention: a society widow on a mailing list of poison-pen letters leading to a plot as dark as any orchid Wolfe has ever encountered.THE SILENT SPEAKERWhen a government power broker scheduled to speak before an influential group of millionaires turns up dead, Nero Wolfe grudgingly takes the case--even as his own financial affairs teeter toward ruin. Soon a second victim is discovered, a missing stenographer's tape causes a panic, and a dead man speaks, after a fashion. As the business world demands answers, the great detective baits a trap to net a killer worth his weight in gold.

A Suspension of Mercy


Patricia Highsmith - 1965
    Of course he has; he's a mystery-script writer. But when Alicia takes a long, unannounced vacation, Sydney seizes the opportunity to perfect his artistic method.With her characteristic precision and unrivaled sensitivity to the inner tremblings of human character, Patricia Highsmith shockingly portrays Sydney's descent into the treacherous world of his own fictions. Once again Highsmith proves herself to be a master at depicting the unsettling forces that boil beneath the surface of everyday life.

Cop Hater


Ed McBain - 1956
    But when his partner becomes victim number two, it looks like open-and-shut grudge killings. That is, until a third detective buys it.ED MCBAIN'S FIRST 87th PRECINCT NOVEL

So Many Doors


Oakley Hall - 1950
    It begins with a beautiful woman dead, murdered—Vassilia Caroline Baird, known to all simply as V. That’s where this extraordinary novel begins. But the story it tells begins years earlier, on a struggling farm in the shadow of the Great Depression and among the brawling "cat skinners" of Southern California, driving graders and bulldozers to tame the American West. And the story that unfolds, in the masterful hands of acclaimed author Oakley Hall, is a lyrical outpouring of hunger and grief, of jealousy and corruption, of raw sexual yearning and the tragedy of the destroyed lives it leaves in its wake. Unpublished for more than half a century, SO MANY DOORS is Hall’s masterpiece, an excoriating vision of human nature at its most brutal, and one of the most powerful books you will ever read.

The Black Dahlia


James Ellroy - 1987
    The victim makes headlines as the Black Dahlia—and so begins the greatest manhunt in California history. Caught up in the investigation are Bucky Bleichert and Lee Blanchard: Warrants Squad cops, friends, and rivals in love with the same woman. But both are obsessed with the Dahlia—driven by dark needs to know everything about her past, to capture her killer, to possess the woman even in death. Their quest will take them on a hellish journey through the underbelly of postwar Hollywood, to the core of the dead girl's twisted life, past the extremes of their own psyches—into a region of total madness.

Amazons: An Intimate Memoir By The First Woman To Play In The National Hockey League


Cleo Birdwell - 1980
    In this fictional memoir, Birdwell plays for the New York Rangers hockey team and relates her experiences as the team's goaltender.

Ek Sanjhne Sarname


Kaajal Oza Vaidya
    The emotions of women from different places and their sentiments with these sentiments a new eras story is woven in vivid shades.

There Should Have Been Castles


Herman Raucher - 1978
    They were two scared kids in love – and reaching for the stars…That’s how it was for Ben and Ginnie in 1951.Ben, the writer who couldn’t seem to make it.Ginnie, the dancer who couldn’t seem to miss.Together the world was theirs for the asking.In the exhilarating world of show biz,from the neon glamour of New York to the starry glitter of Hollywood,it was love and glory – pure, intense, and perfect – all the way.Together they soared on wings of joy and laughter – until it all came flying apart.Could an enchanted love like theirs end, become mere memory, when it deserved minstrels and bold knights on white chargers and pennants flapping gaily from tall towers?

Gulf Coast Girl


Charles Williams - 1955
    On the boat, a coffee pot is still warm. Clearly, the boat has not been abandoned for long. But what has happened to its occupants? The answer lies in a log book in which our protagonist, Bill Manning, has written his story.

The Angel of Death: An Extreme Horror Novel (A Glimpse into Hell, #2)


Wade H. Garrett - 2014
    Summary:This is book two in the, A Glimpse into Hell, series. The main character, Seth Coker, has invited a reporter, Wyatt Carter, to go on a road trip across America. Seth takes the man on a journey into his twisted world of vengeance filled with the most unimaginable and barbaric things that could only be found in the deepest and darkest parts of hell.The streets are no longer a safe haven for the wicked with Seth lurking in the shadows of the dark, waiting to bestow the most sadistic and over the top inhumane acts of vengeance that will stagger the mind.Offering up heart-pumping tales of revenge, suspense and horror in all its guises, this book is filled with dark humor, political incorrectness, gruesome and sadistic acts from beginning to end. Warning- may be disturbing to sensitive readers.- Originality –From the sheer ingenuity of the story to the appropriateness of the punishments makes this one of the most original story lines on the market.- Politically Incorrect –If you’re a P.C. type person, do not read this book. This also pertains to rapists, molesters and weirdoes--you'll just get your feelings hurt and leave a low rating with a BS review.- Gruesome and Horrifying -This book is not for the meek. Seth will take you on a journey through his twisted world of vengeance that is filled with the most gruesome and horrifying things imaginable and unimaginable.- Cruel and Unusual -If you like filthy sick, over the top sadistic inhumane acts of revenge that stagger the mind, this book will not disappoint.- Dark Humor -If you like gore and dark humor, this book will make you laugh and gag at the same time.- Suspense -From front to back, The Angel of Death is filled with one intense moment after another that is interwoven in a story line filled with humor. From the horrifying punishments of the mind and flesh to the main character’s unpredictable persona, it will keep you turning the page. - Disturbing -So disturbing that it was difficult for my editor to stomach the content.- Fascinating -The punishments that Seth bestows on deserving criminals are not only very sadistic and gruesome, but cleverly inventive, unusual and shocking as well.- Mind Rape -The sick and twisted images in this book will be implanted into your mind, causing your brain to feel it has been assaulted.A brief comment from the author:I had a certain vision when I started writing The Angel of Death. I knew I wanted plenty of gore and dark humor, similar to The Angel of Vengeance, but I didn’t want to be repetitive and I wanted to portray Seth differently. I wanted him out of the gloomy chamber and mixed in with society. I wanted to humanize him, if possible. This book introduces another major character, Wyatt Carter, who brings Seth’s character to a completely new level. The chemistry between Seth and Wyatt far exceeded my expectations, resulting in a relatable story. From the beginning, this novel took a life of its own. It is a rollercoaster ride filled with mild-to-extreme gore, off-color comedy, dark humor, passion, and the most violent, sadistic and barbaric behavior imaginable. It also turned out to be very long, 635 Kindle pages, which wasn’t intentional, but as I stated, the story took a life of its own.My subject matter and humor is not for everyone, especially criminals (particularly molesters and rapists), and people that believe criminals have rights, or even people that are sensitive to extreme gore. I know this will occasionally cost me a low rating and BS review, even though I posted numerous warnings. In addition, I welcome advice from my readers. I write because of you, so I listen to criticism and praise. I’ve tried to create the best quality read possible, but unfortunately, most of us indie authors don't have the means to hire an expensive editing agency like the mainstream authors/ publishers use, and some of us rely on friends, family, fans and individuals that charge a reasonable fee. I can read a sentence ten times with a mistake, and my brain plugs in the correct word, even if it’s missing, so I’m useless as a proofreader. Even though I used editing software and numerous people have proofread it, there could be some errors remaining. If anyone wants to proofread/ edit my book(s), please email me.If you like The Angel of Death, please leave a review. The more positive reviews, the higher it is on Amazon’s search list, resulting in more people finding it. I truly appreciate the positive reviews, comments and support that I have been receiving, and that is the reason that I wrote this book, the second one in this series, and will continue writing as long as there are people that appreciate my work.If you have any questions, comments or advice, please feel free to contact me at wade.garrett.777@gmail.com.Best wishes,Wade H. Garrett ** Sold Exclusively on Amazon **

They Don't Dance Much


James Ross - 1940
    Boll weevils have devoured his cotton crop, his chickens have stopped laying eggs, and everything he owns is mortgaged — even his cow. He has no money, no prospects, and nothing to do but hang around filling stations, wondering where his next drink will come from. As far as hooch goes, there's no place like Smut Milligan's, where Breath of Spring moonshine sells for a dollar a pint. A bootlegger with an entrepreneurial spirit, Milligan has plans to open a roadhouse, and he asks Jack to run the till. The music will be hot, the liquor cheap, and the clientele rough. But the only thing stronger than Milligan's hooch is his greed, and Jack is slowly drawn into the middle of Smut's dalliances with a married woman, the machinations of corrupt town officials — and a savage act of murder.