Written in the 1970s and published posthumously in 1993, this ambitious Florida novel was Mr. Willeford's longest book (per the rear cover's copy). The loose plot follows the fates of four male friends as they cover up a murder, chase skirts, and get each others backs. Cast in a noirish tone, Custard offers a great deal more. It's social gaze at surviving in hot, nasty Florida, entertaining us with the story's wicked, satirical, and humorous turns. I've read a few of Mr. Willeford's books and still like the Hoke Moseley quartet and Burnt Orange Heresy a bit more, but this vintage crime novel ranks as a gem of its own.

Sort of like four short novels; the second one is by far my favorite and the most riveting ... The first is great; and the last two are very bleak. Perhaps the most cynical of Willefords books that I've read; although it's centered around a punchline and set up like a joke. Probably not the book of his I'd recommend to first time readers, but I still enjoyed it highly nonetheless.

He writes really well, and he's seems to have one hell of a grasp of psychology, but the plot was ridiculous. I give him points for his willingness to throw in the crimes without even tossing a passing nod at plausibility or credibility. That takes guts.

I used to love Charles Willeford books but it seems my tastes have evolved. Still a good hard boiled tale of Miami but the men are not any I would even glance at. Perhaps that’s the point. Plenty of things to learn all around.

I have no idea why this man is not more famous.

Loved this book but I'm a big Willeford fan. Crazy title and cover that doesn't really match the book.

Ben was right about this one. I can’t necessarily endorse his plan to move to Miami and model his life off these guys (stewardae beware), but it was a great book.

Had picked this up thinking it was a reissue of a Willeford pulp novel from the 50s. Instead it's an engaging examination of male friendship set in the seedy Miami those readers familiar with the Hoke Mosley novels recognize. A quite different story from what I was expecting and a real pleasant surprise. Recommended.

Halfway through I was thinking this is my favorite Willeford --I mean, it was just that good. At the end I felt like Willeford didn't get to finish it before he died. Don't get me wrong, it's definitely a complete novel, but I think the switch to third person in part 3 suggests that what is presented in part 3 is not the final draft, but a "working" account of the story. At any rate, the book kinda drags near the end, and I have the feeling Willeford didn't get the chance to hone it before he died.

Miami in the 70s! Dexies, shag carpet, misogyny: it was a simpler time.

I was excited to read this one as I was very impressed with Pick-Up, the first book I read by Charles Willeford. And, though this one doesn't feature the classic noir feel of the aforementioned book, it's still worth a read.

Willeford 's tale is set in the swingin' seventies (before herpes raised its ugly head), and is more a tale of playboys on the make than a crime novel. I was somewhat horrified by the way the four male characters talk about women (though maybe it's very realistic - I don't know. I don't know if I want to know.) Some of it makes a former president's "locker room talk" seem tame by comparison.

The book at first seems like an interconnected series of short stories, but they do finally get around to discussing the thing that happened in Part One. AND, Willeford wraps things up with what's got to be one of the most PERFECT endings ever.

This is the July read for the Pulp Fiction Group - https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

Join us if you'd like . . .

I've read a lot of bleak books and this may be the bleakest. Highly recommend.