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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Introducing the Nameless Detective, 1 July 2004
In 1971, author Bill Pronzini was only 27 when he wrote The Snatch, building on a shorter and different version of the story that appeared in the May 1969 issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine under the same title. With the publication of this book, one of detective fiction's great characters was born with full fledged power and authenticity. If you have not yet read the Nameless Detective novels by Mr. Pronzini, you have a major treat ahead of you. Many of these are now out-of-print, so be sure to check your library for holdings in near-by cities.The Nameless Detective is referred to that way because Mr. Pronzini never supplies a name until late in the series. I won't reveal that name here. Mr. Pronzini presents a world in which many men take evil actions to further selfish interests, and many women and children suffer because of that selfishness. The police and private investigators suffer along with the victims, for evil-doing has painful consequences for everyone. Mr. Pronzini's plots are complex, yet he provides plenty of clues to help you identify the evil-doer on your own. Despite the transparency of many plots, he successfully uses plot complications to keep the action interesting and fresh. But the reason to read the books is because of the character development for the Nameless Detective. Nameless is a former police officer in San Francisco who collects pulp fiction about tough private detectives. Drawn to the complex imagery of the strong, silent hero who rights wrongs, Nameless tries to live that role. But he has trouble getting clients, and operating as a one-man shop causes him to lead a lonely existence. In his personal life, his career keeps women at a distance. Like a medieval knight errant, he sticks to his vows and pursues doing the right thing . . . even when it doesn't pay. At the same time, he's very aware of art, culture and popular trends. And he doesn't like much of what he sees. The books are also written in the pulp fiction style, but with greater style of language and plot. The whole experience is like looking at an image in a series of mirrors that reflect into infinity. These books are a must for those who love the noir style, and the modern fans of tough detectives with a heart of gold like Spenser. In The Snatch, wealthy real estate developer Louis Martinetti contacts the Nameless Detective when Martinetti's nine-year-old son is kidnapped and held for a $300,000 ransom that Martinetti doesn't have the money to pay. The kidnapper has insisted that the money be delivered by a third party, and Nameless has been recommended as being reliable. Nameless knows that Martinetti should get the police involved, but reluctantly agrees to deliver the money (after Martinetti raises it by borrowing from a friend). That decision leads him into a dangerous path full of danger, betrayal and righting wrongs. Perhaps because the story was rewritten so thoroughly, the dimensions of the mystery are deliciously more complex than what you are used to reading. The challenges for Nameless are beyond what most could bear. Yet he perseveres . . . duty above all. This is a great book to read on a dark night with the wind howling, and a chill in the air. You'll feel a chill in your bones before you are done. After you finish enjoying this superb story, think about how you can run your life so that your loved ones will always be safe.
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