The Goliath Bone by Mickey Spillane with Max Allan Collins
Spillane died in 2006, but his iconic detective Mike Hammer is still solving cases with the help of author Max Allan Collins who is finishing his unfinished work.
Mike Hammer is the quintessential New York PI. He’s not politically correct and doesn’t care to be. He calls it as he sees it and even though he’s getting ready (possibly) to retire, he’s still got it. In this book the thighbone of Goliath (yes, the Valley of Elah guy killed by that pipsqueak David) is found and brought to the United States for further study by young graduate students. Various factions want to get their hands on the bone and aren’t concerned with who dies in order for them to get it.
It was odd to me to hear Mike Hammer in modern day, post-9/11 New York City, but it worked. Hammer tracking al Queda terrorists was unique to say the least. Gritty, puzzling, and very New York, this is a fitting end to the Mike Hammer novels.
I definitely recommend this one on audio read by Stacy Keach, the best Mike Hammer.
Want to join our Mysterious Morning program? Just read some mysteries! If it’s a mystery that takes place in NYC then it fits this month’s sub-genre. Just keep in mind how the setting affects the mystery because that’ll be a major talking point in September.
September’s Mystery Type:
Crime in the Big Apple
Wednesday, September 7th
9:10am – 11:30am, Meeting Room A
