Robert Terrall is not well known under his real name, but he has been an extremely prolific writer under a number of pen names including Robert Kyle and Brett Halliday ( continuing the Mike Shayne series) . In all, Terrall wrote five Ben Gates PI novels. This novel was originally published in 1960 and has been republished in 2007 by Hard Case Crime. Notably, both the 1960 version and the
2007 reissue feature terrific Robert McGinnis covers, but different
ones!

Ben Gates is a NYC PI who has a number of associates. Here, he is hired to watch wedding presents and ends up drinking coffee with knockout drops. When he comes to, a bracelet, and a substantial sum of money are missing and two people have lost their lives. This all takes place in a small country town and the local authorities don't want Gates poking his nose into it. What proceeds then is a typical PI novel of the era with Gates
determined to clear his name and solve the mystery. There are a lot of twists and turns in the plot and the action slows at times. Gates uncovers blackmail, bigamy, pornography, and other sleazy matters.
Terrall's work is at its best when Gates encounters the numerous femme fatales in this book. His wry sense of humor well serves the story in counting the buttons coming undone on one woman's dress
and his interest being piqued as another tries to gain his attention. ( )

I'm a huge fan of the Hard Case crime circulation, but there was something about this one I couldn't get into. The character of Ben was alright - a good detective with some witty lines and an intriguing brain - but it just seemed flat to me. It was almost like a series that I hopped in the middle of, where not enough explanation of the personality was given for me to care about the main man.

Actually, I didn't cozy up to many of them. It's hard to put my finger on, but each lacked warmth, or humor, or something appealing enough to sit up and take notice. It's a short story - 220 pages - but it took me quite awhile to finish it. Mystery wise the story isn't bad and is rich with twists, close encounters, dead end trails, and tight suspense...yet it never kept my attention the way I would have liked it to.

Surprisingly most people seem to disagree with me here, as I've only seen good ratings for this one so far. Maybe it's one of those times when the chemistry just isn't right for the reader and author. I'm in no way banning Robert Terrall's books from my future reading adventures, yet I won't be drooling in anticipation either.

( )

Another excavation of a minor pulp classic by Hard Case Crime, Kill Now, Pay Later is a rollicking ride from conspiracy to conspiracy and from nubile woman to nubile woman. The brisk pace leaves little time for characterization and the details of the locations used are limited, but there are plenty of suspects and secrets surrounding the Pope family and their associates. Best read fast. ( )

A very entertaining pulp crime story, where Ben Gates has to roll up an apparently clear-cut case to save his reputation. ( )