Blondes, Revolutionaries, And Bullets

Fit to Kill was the first of the ghost-written Mike Shayne novels. Robert Terrall wrote this one, a few others, and the last twenty. All of the ghost writers who wrote under the Halliday name were good, solid pulp writers. There is simply a different feel or rhythm to these books than those of the original Halliday, Dresser.

In Fit to Kill, no attempt was made to mimic earlier Shayne novels. Rather, an entirely different novel (at least the first part) was created, focusing on an American newspaper reporter (Tim Rourke) in an unnamed Latin American country dealing with a brutal dictatorship and a gang of revolutionaries. Of course, this being a pulp novel, Rourke also gets involved with a gorgeous curvy blonde and a mysterious package that everyone seems to want. The international intrigue that marks the first part of the novel eventually gives way to a Miami adventure where Shayne gets involved with smugglers, kidnappers, revolutionaries, thugs, and gamblers.

Overall, it's a good adventure read and works well. ( )

Tim Rourke has gone missing and Michael Shayne wants to know why. After receiving a telegram to meet Tim at the airport

Michael Shayne comes to meet his old friend, Tim Rourke, at the airport. The telegram hinted at a great scoop and an interesting blonde that Tim was going to share with Mike. But when Mike meets up with Tim, the blonde is nowhere in sight and Tim shakes him off in a rude and gruff manner. It wouldn't be so bad, but Tim looks like he got into a fight with a Mac truck...and lost.

Mike Shayne knows something is up and he is set to find out what and why. Broads, booze and bullets with a few flying fists are to be found in this mystery. ( )