Jonathan Latimer was a significant figure in the development of the hard-boiled genre, primarily known for his private investigator, Bill Crane. His narratives delved into the darker aspects of human nature with a distinctive style that immersed readers in intricate plots. The author's approach to writing was particularly influential in shaping the gritty, realistic tone that defined the genre.
In a gripping tale of mystery and suspense, a determined investigator delves into a series of chilling events linked to an unsolved crime. As she uncovers dark secrets and confronts her own fears, the tension escalates, revealing unexpected connections between the past and present. The narrative weaves together elements of crime, psychological depth, and emotional turmoil, creating a captivating atmosphere that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Themes of redemption and the struggle against inner demons resonate throughout the story.
Just days from meeting the reaper, a convicted murderer hires Chicago’s most hard-boiled PI to save his neck—before the executioner can claim it. Robert Westland’s date with the executioner is just around the corner when he finally decides to fight the murder rap sending him to the electric chair. Framed for his wife’s grisly demise, Westland is in a bind, and his last hope is Bill Crane, a booze-soaked detective who’s as ruthless with a quip as he is when trawling the streets for Chicago’s most brutal criminal element. Crane’s got just six days to suss out the real killer—he sets his sights on a cast of oddball characters, aided by a lime squeezer, a quart of whiskey, a monkey wrench, a taxicab, a stopwatch, and a deep sea diver… but in 1930s Chicago, everyone’s got a secret, and the pressure is on for Crane to separate the dangerous from the truly homicidal before it’s too late. Chicago crime beat journalist-turned-novelist Jonathan Latimer blends hardboiled detective fiction with a shot of screwball comedy in the fast-moving, realistic 1935 baffler Headed for a Hearse, an exciting combination of the macabre and the humorous. Includes discussion guide questions for use in book clubs.
