The Hard-Boiled Detective Series by Ben Solomon Review

Ok, I know I don't normally put a whole series up as a review, and  I'm not really doing it here either as I'll be reviewing "No. 3: Simeon Von Runck" rather than the series itself but as the series is an on-line subscription rather than a traditional book it makes sense to use the series as the post title rather than the story itself.

I know I probably explained that really badly so pop along to thehardboileddetective.com if you want to find out more about how that manages to work.

Title: No. 3: Simeon Von Runck

Author: Ben Solomon

My Rating: 3.5/5

Part of a series? Yes, this is part of the The Hard-Boiled Detective on-line sbscription series.

Genre(s): Retro detective, Crime. 

Description/Blurb:

The Hard-Boiled Detective Statement Series goes back to the school of old-school detective fiction. There isn’t really a set time period so in your head it could be anything from the 1920’s to the 1950’s as you follow the cases of the P.I. who “seeks truth, justice, and sometimes a living”. The stories are the detective’s statements to the police, in his own words of course.

No 003: Simeon Von Runck: "Have you ever planned a murder?" That's one hell of an opener. And it makes for one hell of a party game. Or is it a game?

My review: 

My first thought after reading this short story was, ‘well I’m guessing “Sometimes my line of work calls for it” might just be out detective’s catchphrase’ I admit that’s not the most useful first thought when I’m trying to write a review but the P.I. does say it a couple of times, it might even turn into some sort of joke.

Anyway, this was quite a good little story, it wasn’t dark or ‘heavy’ and it’s easily readable in a lunch break if you feel like escaping a little. The detective was the stereotypical old style detective though, with all of the language and mannerisms you’d expect from a 1940’s movie policeman, so bear that in mind if you’re thinking of taking out a subscription. If you don’t like that sort of character then this series really isn’t for you. However if you are the type who enjoys old timey detective novels where the crimes are of the traditional type rather like a condensed version of Sherlock Holmes where the clues are easier to spot and follow, then these stories might just be for you. So basically at times it feels a bit corny, but this story was a bit of good fun that could be easily read to assume yourself on a commute or lunch break.

The author has a couple of samples up on the Hard-Boiled Detective website if you want to sample some of his work.