Mad Money (Two books in the Nolan series) by Max Allan Collins

Hard Case Crime completes their re-publishing of all of Max Allan Collins’ “Nolan” books with this Mad Money two-fer. I’ve enjoyed every one of the Nolan yarns, but this dual entry may, in fact, top the list.

The first book in this volume is Spree which comes in as the longest of the Nolan stories. Many readers consider this one the best and I probably find myself among them, although I hesitate to take anything away from the others as all of them are just absolutely top-notch.

Spree is the penultimate Nolan novel, at least as far as chronology is concerned. Nolan finds himself in a comfortable place, having gone straight as owner/manager of his own restaurant/club, located in the Brady Eighty shopping mall during the 1980s. His relationship with Sherry is solid and appears to be headed to a more long-term commitment. Meanwhile, his sidekick, Jon, is finally tasting some minor success with his lifelong dream of writing and drawing his very own comic book series. Unfortunately, that notorious family from the past, the Comforts, have reared their head again, this time led by Coleman Comfort and his son Lyle. Coleman, seeking revenge for several deaths of his family members at Nolan’s hands, makes his play, forcing Nolan to mastermind a truly ambitious heist of the entire 50-store Brady Eighty mall. A wonderful heist story, this one also reaches deep on an emotional level, with some wonderful new characters as well as several intensely dangerous scenes.

The second book in this volume, Mourn the Living is, reportedly, Max Allan Collins’ very first novel, written when he was an undergrad in 1967 or ’68, although it wasn’t published until 2001. I had always heard that the entire Nolan series was MAC’s tribute to the “Parker” series by Richard Stark (Donald E. Westlake), and I could really see the style similarities here. This one is pure Nolan with no Jon, no Sherry, and, in fact, acts as Nolan’s origin story. Previous novels have made reference to the events depicted here, especially how Nolan finds himself refusing to carry out an order from “The Family” and has to go on the run. The plot stems from an old friend from the Family named Sid Tisor. Sid’s daughter is dead, the victim of a long fall from a rooftop. Sid wants Nolan to investigate to see if she actually fell…or was pushed. It’s likely LSD and/or heroin was involved. This story is largely one of Nolan acting as PI, investigating and solving the mystery. A nice twist at the end that I should have seen coming, but didn’t, makes this one another fine read.

Together, these two books make a fine pair of bookends for the series, although MAC did provide a follow-up in 2020 with Skim Deep. I still have that one to read but I will add that these books, for the most part, read very well in this Hard Case Crime publication order. I am glad, however, that I saved Skim Deep until the final one, since it was written last and takes place after Spree. I don’t know if there will ever be any more Nolan stories written but if so, I plan to be first in line for my copy, regardless of when it takes place in the timeline.

The Big Bundle (Nate Heller #18) by Max Allan Collins

In 1953, six-year-old Bobby Greenlease, the son of a multi-millionaire auto dealer was kidnapped from a Catholic pre-school located in Kansas City, Missouri. The ransom demand was the largest in American history at the time, $600,000 (the titular “big bundle”). Enter private investigator Nathan Heller, who’s worked with movie stars, mob bosses, and presidents and been on the periphery of some of the biggest national secrets and scandals of U.S. history. Heller quickly works the case on behalf of young Billy’s parents, following the money to solve it and find some sort of justice for Billy’s family.

But not complete justice as it turns out. Five years have passed and less than half of the ransom money has been recovered. It’s now 1958 and Nathan Heller once again finds himself working the case, this time to try and discover what happened to the missing dough. Can it be tied up in Jimmy Hoffa’s exploits even as Robert Kennedy seeks to find some way to charge Hoffa with a crime? Or perhaps a cab driver who took one of the original kidnappers to the Coral Court Motel had tipped off local mobster Joseph G. Costello. Or maybe a couple of dirty cops are behind it all.

This is the eighteenth book in Max Allan Collins’ Nate Heller series. The very first novel, True Detective, was written back in 1983 and won the Shamus award for best PI novel that year. While there might be some benefit in reading them in order, they were not written/published in chronological order so each novel can easily stand alone. These books are hard-boiled, true-crime detective novels with a fascinating protagonist. Indeed, Heller himself, doesn’t always take the high road but tends towards shades of gray. Regardless, he’s a man seeking justice, even though, just like in history, he doesn’t always find it. These novels are extremely well-researched and to read one is to absorb real history of the middle of the American 20th century in a very readable and enjoyable way.

Despite this being the eighteenth novel in the series it is the first to be published by Hard Case Crime which seems like the perfect match. I had a wonderful time reading it and am now kicking myself for not having read each and every one of the others in the series. But, I will be sure to remedy that.

361 by Donald E. Westlake

This is a stand-alone early novel (only his third published book) by the prolific Donald E. Westlake.  I came in to it with no expectations, content to know it was a Westlake novel and had some sort of mob plot line.  Suffice it to say that my faith in this author's ability to deliver the goods is secure.

Originally published in the early 1960's this is a story about a young man, Ray Kelly, recently discharged from the Air Force and now back home in New York, intent upon reconnecting with his father, brother and his brother's new wife and child.  But when his father is murdered in front of him, Ray begins a wild ride that forces him to take on the mob...from the inside.  The author is developing some of the characteristics that he has become well known for in later years, especially his penchant for surprises.  Just when you think you know where this is going, it takes a different direction.  

As an aside, there were two passages that were of interest, outside the plot of the novel.  The first: there is a scene in which Ray Kelly is forced to wait around and do nothing for several days, so he buys four novels to help pass the time.  He calls them "adventure mysteries".  But Ray soon discards them (actually rips them apart) because he thinks the main characters don't change at all, they don't grow with the experiences they endure.  Since Ray, himself is going through a similar type of "adventure mystery" and he feels the experience is changing him a lot...the books just aren't realistic for him.  But what I found really interesting is that he talks about the authors' need to keep the character from growing/changing because they need to keep them around for the next book in the series.  Westlake, himself, of course would go on to write series with the same lead character, such as Parker (as Richard Stark) and Dortmunder. Does he follow his own axiom from this book?

The second interesting item, just a tidbit, really, and not intended to be humorous at all, was when several characters were standing around talking about how unlikely it was that a certain event would come to pass (no spoilers here).  Keep in mind this was written in 1961 or 62. One of the characters said that it was about as likely to happen as marijuana becoming legal to smoke.  The times certainly do change.

Another keeper from Donald E. Westlake.

Tough Tender by Max Allan Collins

“Tough Tender” collects the 5th and 6th novels in Max Allan Collins’ Nolan series, originally written in the mid 1970's - 80's but with a complicated publishing history. Nolan, former member of the Chicago branch of “The Family” and an accomplished master of the heist, is trying to retire. But as another iconic character once said, “Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in.” But this time, it’s not The Family that’s pulling Nolan back in again; it’s a former mark.

The first book in this double edition, “Hard Cash” acts as a sequel to the very first book in the series, “Bait Money” in which Nolan works with a group of young would-be thieves to knock over the First National Bank of Port City, Iowa. Now, the very same bank president, prodded by the lovely Julie, hires Nolan to rob it again. Nolan is assisted by his young protégé, Jon and together they must navigate the pitfalls of the operation. Nolan and Jon are plunged into one unexpected twist after another, but a heist is a heist and they never let go of their goal of securing the prize.

The second novel in this double collection, “Scratch Fever” is a direct sequel to “Hard Cash”. It takes place roughly one year later and opens with Jon now the lead in a local club-scene rock & roll band. In the audience, he spies somebody he thought dead, a character from the previous book and somebody who is destined to cause havoc and mayhem in his life. The stakes are high and Jon is soon fighting for his life. Other dangerous characters from previous books show up – hitmen out for revenge. This time it’s Nolan to the rescue in a nail-biting cat & mouse yarn that really keeps the pages turning. 

Nolan is a great character and as MAC writes in the introduction, these stories provide “low-life villains who retain a recognizable humanity.” Hard Cash is meant to combine “the caper novel with the James M. Cain sex melodrama”. Nolan is a tough guy, supremely competent, and willing to take whatever steps are necessary. But throughout, he does, indeed, have that inner core of honor that keeps him sympathetic to the reader. Jon, is also a wonderful sidekick character who tends to take on prominent roles in their various schemes all while dreaming of one day being a successful writer and artist in the world of comics. Gotta love it.

All the Nolan novels can technically be read as stand-alones, but I would recommend they be read in order of publication due to some recurring characters and situations, as evidenced by the two novels presented here. Thankfully, Hard Case Crime has committed to producing all the Nolan books in new, beautifully rendered double editions. Can’t wait for the final pairing still to come.

Two for the Money by Max Allan Collins

Nolan. No first name given. Tough guy. Resume includes managing nightclubs for the Chicago branch of “The Family” and also a professional thief – a true master. Of note: he once killed an incompetent mobster who also happened to be the brother of an underboss. Not good.

Nolan has been laying low for over a decade, dodging his former employers. He’s nearing 50 years of age but his hard life makes him feel closer to 80.  So, when a friend offers to broker a deal to grant Nolan a clean slate with The Family, he feels he must take them up on the offer. The deal turns out to be one last job. A bank robbery that Nolan must carry out along with three rookies who are little more than college age juvenile delinquents. But the rewards are high; not just the take from the bank but also that promised clean slate. If only Nolan could trust the deal.

This book combines the first two novels in the Nolan series by Max Allan Collins: “Bait Money” and “Blood Money”. Collins makes it clear in the afterward that he considers these two books to really be one larger novel and indeed, that’s the way this reads. This combined book was first published by Hard Case Crime in 2004 (with unspectacular cover art) but thankfully the publisher has committed to re-publishing the entire Nolan series with new cover art, beginning with this volume. In reading the first half of this book, I was amazed to discover it was actually Max Allan Collins’ very first published novel, written back in 1969-70 while he was a college student himself. But it reads like a veteran writer’s work, all the way through. It’s clearly an homage to Richard Stark’s (Donald Westlake’s) Parker series, readily admitted to by Collins in the afterword. In fact, Collins sought out Westlake’s approval before continuing the Nolan series.

As for the story itself, it’s a wonderful read. The first part is a gripping heist novel with all the meticulous planning and unforeseen snags that occur in the best of that genre. The second part is a little more character-driven but with just as many edge-of-your-seat scenes to keep the pages turning. Together, the larger story really creates an unforgettable character, Nolan, a hardened criminal with a code that makes you want to root for him all the more. Bring on the next one pronto!