LA Noire!

[Mr G]

Sure haven't. For the most part I've stuck with novels from the more acclaimed pulp authors--Chandler, Hammett, Spillane, James M. Cain, Max Allan Collins and so on. There's so much great content from those authors that anything else to me is sort of peripheral as far as the essence of the genre, but I'm willing to give anything enjoyable a shot. Have any in particular you'd recommend?

This Christmas I picked up the Lizard collection of Black Mask detective stories (http://www.amazon.com/Black-Lizard-Stories-Vintage-Original/dp/0307455432/), from the pivotal classic crime publication way back in the day, which showcases a lot of the most definitive types of stories from the era, including a lot of works that would go on to become widely celebrated in their prototype, serialized forms. I haven't dug in yet but it's on my to-do list and it'll be a pleasure for me to check off. They also have another compilation of stories that's supposed to serve as a introductory grouping for new readers being initiated to the style, and I've read enough of the authors in both to be able to vouch for their being good reads.

On an unrelated note, bonus points to Mr. G for using the proper past tense form of the word, "sneaked."

I'll be picking up that collection you mentioned. :thumbs:

If you're willing to deviate from the more well-known authors you might consider trying Earl Derr Biggers's House Without a Key. It's unusual for its portrayal of a non-caucasian detective and for its Hawaiian setting. I'll admit I do not have much experience with the mystery genre so it might not be to your taste.

Are Hammett's Continental Op stories enjoyable?

 

[Hell Kaiser Andy]

Just finished the game, personally I expected it to be better.

 

[KingRanger]

Just finished the game, personally I expected it to be better.

In what way better?

 

[Hell Kaiser Andy]

I felt some parts could have been better, some of the cases could have worked out better and some just had you running around after you find the right suspect but can't charge the person yet.

 

[KingRanger]

I felt some parts could have been better, some of the cases could have worked out better and some just had you running around after you find the right suspect but can't charge the person yet.

The cases where very good IMO. This game is not about action, and I think that puts some people off. They see rockstar and they think GTA action. The running around is to find clues and such.

 

[Hell Kaiser Andy]

It's just annoying when you could end it but simply didn't have enough evidence to go through. Heck the warning shot thing in chases, I think you have like 3 chases where it can be used.

 

[Bolt]

Are Hammett's Continental Op stories enjoyable?

They are. Not as much so as something like The Maltese Falcon, which would go on to be considered the quintessential pulp detective story, but they all feature Hammett's distinct prose and are very unique and well-told in their own right, especially Red Harvest, which is probably the grittiest thing Hammett ever wrote and served as the inspiration for the Kurosawa film Yojimbo and Sergio Leone's A Fistul of Dollars. The Thin Man is another good title, the first and only to showcase the sleuthing abilities of the detective couple Nick and Nora Charles, which are a bit more removed from the hard-boiled tradition but are very witty and entertaining in their own right (not dissimilar from the "softer" English detective style) and offer a welcome departure from more standard pulp mysteries. All come with days of praise and are pretty short reads, which gives you no excuse not to read them.

It's just annoying when you could end it but simply didn't have enough evidence to go through.

Welcome to the exciting world of law enforcement.

 

[Jacky392000]

just completed The Naked City, not sure if I wanna buy A Slip of a Tongue...

 

[Mr G]

just completed The Naked City, not sure if I wanna buy A Slip of a Tongue...

How was "The Naked City"? I don't have that one, but I do have "The Consul's Car" and "A Slip of the Tongue". I haven't played either yet though.

 

[Jacky392000]

I just gotta say... it was a long-winded case. :laugh: The Slip of the Tongue will probably be the same. the final 3 questions were so tricky! I also downloaded the badge pursuit and chicago piano bonus weapon off the store, but I doubt I'll be bothered to complete the former.