David Goodis Books

Pulp fiction is characterized by its sensational and often gritty storytelling, featuring a diverse range of characters such as detectives, criminals, and femme fatales. This genre embraces fast-paced plots filled with twists and turns, often reflecting the darker sides of society. It delves into themes of morality, survival, and the human condition, appealing to readers looking for thrilling escapism. With its vivid imagery and sharp dialogue, pulp fiction captures the essence of mid-20th century popular culture.

Set in a world where darkness brings danger, the story follows a group of survivors navigating the challenges of a perpetual night. As they confront terrifying creatures and unravel secrets of their past, themes of survival, trust, and the human spirit emerge. The characters' journeys highlight their resilience and the bonds they forge in the face of adversity. With a gripping narrative, the book explores how fear can both unite and divide, ultimately leading to a fight for hope and light in a seemingly hopeless landscape.

They Gave Him Back His Badge, and Sent Him Down Into the Brutal Throbbing Heart of the Slums. Crooked ex-cop Corey Bradford turns out to be an ideal candidate for an underground police unit known as the Night Squad. First published 1961.

The narrative revolves around a traumatic moment where the protagonist grapples with the aftermath of violence. Vivid memories of a gun, a confrontation, and the chaos of an explosion haunt him, suggesting themes of guilt, memory, and the psychological impact of life-altering events. As he navigates the consequences of this pivotal incident, the story delves into the complexities of human emotions and the struggle for redemption.

Their vacation in paradise became a descent into hell. Their marriage on the rocks, James and Cora Bevan flew to Jamaica for a last chance at patching things up. But in the slums of Kingston James found himself fighting for his life - while Cora found her own path to destruction, in the arms of another man.

Once upon a time Eddie played concert piano to reverent audiences at Carnegie Hall. Now he bangs out honky-tonk for drunks in a dive in Philadelphia. But then two people walk into Eddie's life—the first promising Eddie a future, the other dragging him back into a treacherous past.Shoot the Piano Player is a bittersweet and nerve-racking exploration of different kinds of loyalty: the kind a man owes his family, no matter how bad that family is; the kind a man owes a woman; and, ultimately, the loyalty he owes himself. The result is a moody thriller that, like the best hard-boiled fiction, carries a moral depth charge.

They say that a man needs a woman to go to hell with. Cassidy had two. One was Mildred, the wife who kept him chained with ties of fear and jealousy and paralyzing sexual need. The other was Doris, a frail angel with a 100-proof halo and a bottle instead of a harp. With those two, Cassidy found that the ride to hell could be twice as fast. Cassidy's Girl has all the traits that made its author a virtuoso of the hard-boiled: a fiercely compelling ploy; characters who self-destruct in spectacularly unpredictable ways; and an insider's knowledge of all the routes to the bottom.

SOMEBODY’S DONE FORCalvin Jander is just about done for when his boat capsizes and he's forced to tread water, hoping for a sight of land. When he does find the shore, he's just barely alive. And that's when Vera finds him. She takes him to her shack, gets him some clothes and food. Then Jander's real trouble starts, because Vera is Hebden's daughter.Hebden and his two partners are holed up in a deserted house on a lonely stretch of New Jersey coastline, and they aren't welcoming visitors. When they discover Jander, it's all he can do to keep them from killing him. But as Vera gradually begins to get under his skin, death by shotgun begins to look like the easy way out.

Parry n'a pas tué. Mais les apparences sont contre lui, et le juge le condamne a la détention perpétuelle. Mal nourri, sans femme, sans gin, sans foyer, loin des lumieres étincelantes, des foules et de tout ce qu'il aime, il ne lui reste plus qu'a attendre la vieillesse en contemplant les barreaux de sa cage. Mais il refuse de se soumettre et s'évade, engageant une bataille désespérée et solitaire contre le destin, contre la peur, contre les flics et les mouchards, contre les maîtres chanteurs et les bons citoyens.