Enter "The Criminalist"

My first column for the Barnes & Noble Review under the banner of "The Criminalist" - which allows me to indulge in some fantasy that the pesky forensic science master's degree might get some airing out in the foreseeable future - takes a long look at what has become one of my all-time favorite crime novels, FALLING ANGEL by William Hjortsberg, first published in 1978. It's also the first piece in what I hope will be an unofficial series on crime fiction published in the 70s, which I view as a decade of transition that hasn't properly received its due in the critical canon. It will, I think, but the time hasn't come. I've already built up a small shortlist of books from this decade I want to write about - at greater length or for the first time - but very much want to entertain suggestions, so please leave comments here or even better, with the piece directly.

As for FALLING ANGEL, I'd wanted to read this book for a long time, and not just because I enjoyed ANGEL HEART, the 1987 movie more or less based on the story, but because reviews and trusted friends had nothing but glowing things to say about it. And when I finally did read the book, it blew me away, and a second read only accentuated its damn-near-perfect plot construction and description of New York City, ca. 1959, full of beautiful but faded archictecture and underground evil beneath the glamorous facades. I had to stop myself a lot from quoting pages and pages  of Hjortsberg's prose because it was such a pleasure to discover these sentences.

As for the future direction of "The Criminalist", the opening salvo should provide a clue to its dual linked aims: "to talk about new books that I love and hope others will love as well, and to shine a light on unjustly neglected books and authors from the past. My focus will always be crime, but it might not always be fiction, nor always for adults, nor books entirely in prose." And expect a few other surprises as the column develops over the next little while, too.

Finally, that gobsmackingly lovely illustration? It's the genius work of Thea Brine.

Comments

[Dana King]

Great article. ANGEL HEART has been a favorite of mine since the first time saw it; I'll have to keep an eye open for the book.

Funny (to me) for this post to come out today, as I just started re-reading THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE last night. having learned a little about writing since my first go-round, it's even better this time.

Crumley's opening sentence has to be one of the ten greatest ever.

[Richard S. Wheeler]

Gatz Hjortsberg is great. He's completing a massive biography of Richard Brautigan for Knopf.

[Marcus Sakey]

Nice piece, Sarah! The book sounds great--I'll grab a copy this afternoon.

If you're a looking for 70's stuff, one I loved was CUTTER AND BONE.

[Bill Crider]

I still have the first pb printing of this one that I bought way back when. Great cover for a fine book.

[Joe Meyers]

Excellent piece on an old favorite of mine.
I second Marcus Sakey's motion - I too love Newton Thornburg's 'Cutter & Bone" and the movie that was made from it, 'Cutter's Way.'

[Dean Bryant]

Great choice. The signed first of this one occupies a special spot on my shelves.

And a great idea for a column.

I would humbly suggest the criminally overlooked "City of the Dead" by Herbert Lieberman (1976) -- a great forensic thriller, and a forefather to Cornwell and Reichs.

[Ali]

EXCELLENT 1

Hjortsberg book is a great start Sarah, but I think you need to mention sHUtTeR iSlaNd at some point

Ali

[Cornelia Read]

Way cool, and I'm loving the portrait!

[Debbie Johnson]

Congratulations on your first column for B&N Review. I have the book Angel Heart and also loved the movie. I was going to watch it last night but couldn't figure out the DVD player!

[Sean Chercover]

Very nice, Sarah! Congrats on the gig. And I love the graphic. Way cool, you are.