The third installment in the Joe Kurtz series presents what appears to be a sort of spoof of hard-boiled crime fiction.

The absurd plot endeavors to incorporate as many clichés of this sub-genre as feasible and push them to the extreme. It's not merely a shootout; rather, it escalates into a mini-war. The deranged serial killer is truly bonkers. The protagonist doesn't just endure a beating; he gets shot, beaten up, beaten up yet again, and then some more.

Nonetheless, it remains highly readable. There are numerous allusions to the previous books within this one, so it isn't an ideal starting point for the series.

Despite its exaggerated nature, the story manages to maintain a certain charm and entertainment value. The author's clever use of clichés in an over-the-top manner adds a unique flavor to the narrative.

Overall, while it may not be the best introduction to the Joe Kurtz series, it still offers an enjoyable read for fans of hard-boiled crime fiction with a sense of humor.

Me encanta Dan Simmons. He sido un fanático de su trabajo por mucho tiempo. Incluso este libro, que no es de los más originales que tiene, es encantador de leer. Sí, a pesar de que es una novela negra que empieza con alguien disparándole en la cabeza al protagonista, lo que inmediatamente atrae la atención del lector y lo lleva a querer saber qué sucederá a continuación.

Dos cosas me llamaron la atención durante y después de leer este libro. Primero, después de terminarlo, me percaté de que es la tercera parte de una serie. Debería haber empezado por el principio, pero bueno, pasé por la librería y vi en la vidriera "EL NUEVO LIBRO DE DAN SIMMONS" y no pude resistirme. Me atrapó la curiosidad y decidí darle una oportunidad.

Segundo, a pesar de que disfruté mucho el libro durante la lectura, olvidé por completo el 99% de la trama apenas terminado de leer. :/ No es entonces EL GRAN LIBRO en términos de dejar una impresión duradera. Pero sí muy entretenido. La escritura de Simmons es ágil y cautivadora, y me mantuvo enganchado desde el principio hasta el final. Aunque la trama no fue la más compleja o memorable, me divertí leyéndolo y eso es lo que importa en un libro de entretenimiento.

This is, without a doubt, the best installment of the Joe Kurtz trilogy. However, that doesn't necessarily mean it's an outstanding piece of literature.

In the end, it's simply a tough guy narrative, featuring a character who flouts all the rules, unafraid to get his hands dirty and straddle the line between good and not-so-good. Among the three Kurtz books, this one stands out for its superior world-building. It has an element of spookiness, which is, in fact, one of Simmons' strengths. So, it's understandable why this particular book is better than the other two.

Ultimately, you could choose to skip the entire Joe Kurtz series and not be any worse off. Nevertheless, these books aren't bad either. Just don't anticipate being completely amazed by a super-clever detective story.

Decent - not as quick and violent as the previous one. That's really an understatement.

There is a rather feeble introduction about warmth, which refers to an old lover. But beyond that, it's the curious relationship that Kurtz has with one of the mob bosses that truly perks the mind and makes one wonder what the future holds for the private investigator.

This relationship seems to be a key element that could potentially lead to many interesting developments. Will Kurtz be able to navigate this dangerous connection? Or will it lead him into more trouble?

As the story unfolds, we can only wait and see how this relationship impacts Kurtz and his investigations. It adds an extra layer of mystery and excitement to the plot, making it a truly engaging read.

I'm an ardent enthusiast of exquisitely crafted noir style hard boiled detective tales, and this particular one truly hits the mark in a big way.

The opening sentence, "On the day he was shot in the head, things were going strangely well for Joe Kurtz," immediately grabbed my attention and never let go. I have long been a devoted fan of Dan Simmons' sci-fi ventures, most notably "Olympos" and "Illium." So, when I discovered that he also wrote mysteries, I was eager to give it a shot.

He appears to effortlessly glide over all the clichés of the genre, without ever coming across as stale or uninteresting. His prose style is tight and concise, yet not overly simplistic. The pacing is excellent, making it a real page-turner. I'm definitely looking forward to delving into the rest of the Kurtz books.

I can't wait to see what other thrilling adventures and captivating mysteries Dan Simmons has in store for us in this series.

This is a really good conclusion to the series.

If you have read the earlier novels in the series, you will find that this one is more or less of the same style. However, it seems that Simmons was handling more elements and plotlines in this particular installment.

As a result, when everything finally came together towards the end, it was a more satisfying experience.

I am definitely keeping my fingers crossed that he will write another book in the series. But realistically speaking, I have my doubts.

Nonetheless, this final book has left a lasting impression and has wrapped up the series in a relatively good way.

It has managed to maintain the interest and engagement of the readers till the very end.

Overall, it's a worthy addition to the series and a book that fans of Simmons' work will surely enjoy.

**Original Article**: This is a good thing. It makes people happy.

**Expanded Article**: This is truly a good thing.

It has the power to bring joy and happiness to people.

When something good happens, it can have a profound impact on our emotions and well-being.

It can make us smile, laugh, and feel a sense of contentment.

Good things have a way of brightening up our days and making us forget about the difficulties and challenges that we may face.

They give us hope and inspiration, and they remind us that there is always something to look forward to.

Whether it's a small act of kindness or a major accomplishment, a good thing is always worth celebrating.

It enriches our lives and makes us better people.

So, let's always be on the lookout for good things and cherish them when they come our way.

Simmons is truly a master when it comes to writing. He has an uncanny ability to craft some incredibly exciting scenes that keep the readers on the edge of their seats.

Moreover, he is a genius at spinning some wheels within wheels, creating a complex and engaging narrative that keeps the audience guessing until the very end.

This book is the epic conclusion to the Kurtz trilogy, and it does not disappoint. It starts with a bang and ends with one too, leaving the readers with a sense of satisfaction and awe.

If you were a fan of the first two books in the trilogy, then you are sure to love this one as well. It ties up all the loose ends and provides a fitting conclusion to the story of Kurtz.

Overall, this is a must-read for anyone who loves a good adventure story with plenty of twists and turns. Simmons has once again proven himself to be one of the best writers in the business.

I do not know if anyone has mentioned this before.

Author Dan Simmons has shown great respect and homage to Westlake and his Parker character through three hard-boiled action novels. These novels center around the character of Joe Kurtz, who has a complex past as a private investigator and has also spent time in Attica prison.

The first novel in this series, titled Hardcase, is dedicated to Richard Stark/Donald Westlake, clearly indicating Simmons' admiration. In the third Kurtz novel, Hard as Nails, an interesting detail about Kurtz's father is revealed. Kurtz mentions that he did not know his father, but he was aware that his father was a career criminal thief. What's more, his father would go by a single name and had a particular habit of having sex with women after a job. This description is a clear reference to Parker, the character created by Westlake.

It is fascinating to see how Simmons weaves these connections and homages into his own works, adding depth and a sense of literary lineage to his stories.

Dan Simmons is an exiting author.

I have recently read some of his novels, and it usually takes me one or two days to finish them.

Although I don't usually have that much time, his books are so engaging that I can't put them down.

If you are a fan of criminal novels with serious action, I highly recommend Dan Simmons' works.

His stories are filled with thrilling plot twists, complex characters, and intense action scenes that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

Whether you are a seasoned reader of the genre or just looking for a great new book to read, Dan Simmons is definitely an author worth checking out.

I was all giddy after reading the first Joe Kurtz book by Simmons, believing it to be a reasonable substitute for the Parker series I had just completed. Simmons clearly loves Parker as much as I do and attempted to recapture that essence in this series. However, after reading this, the third and last (since it was written in 2003 and no more have followed, that's a safe assumption) book in the series, I was extremely disappointed.

Some of the issues I had with the previous books were magnified, and several new ones were added, making this book a very frustrating read. It starts off interestingly - Joe and his parole officer are shot in the parking lot. But then... it goes downhill. The only other positive aspect of the book is that the bad guys get their just deserts in the end, so at least that was partially satisfying.

One of the biggest problems I had was that Simmons has a tendency to make these stories FAR too complicated. Parker novels are sleek and elegant in their simplicity. The plots are like a bullet - once fired, they move swiftly towards the conclusion like an unstoppable force. You feel swept along with the action. Even if there are a few weak spots in the plot, the momentum carries you along to the ending. Hard Case (the first Kurtz) was like that. This one was NOT like that. To the point where the big reveal (which is so easy to anticipate) is more of a "finally" than a "wow!". And even then, the author never really explains why the final big baddie (there are several) shot at Peg O'Toole, the parole officer, in the first place.

This book had 300 pages, which is 50 more than the last one, and again, the added length works against it. These novels need to be sleek, not bulky and convoluted. Another big problem that annoyed me throughout the book was how every other character acts as if they had read the other two books in the series. We have his cop/ex-girlfriend who seems to know everything that happened in book one, the same with his Mafia girlfriend and the other Mafia guy. They relate details from that book that only the readers and Kurtz should know. We also have every character seem to know that the Dane (the super Hitman from book 1) is in town and might be looking for Kurtz. To the point where even Kurtz wonders if it's on a billboard somewhere. No, but it's impossible to believe that everyone knows about it.

Just page after page of things that made me think "lazy writing" right up to the end, which is almost a xerox copy of the first book. I suspect that may be why Simmons stopped writing these books; he realized he was in a rut after only 3 books. Which is odd considering there are so many better ways to end a book like this other than a deus ex machina rescuing the hero yet again. But Simmons seems to like the ending to be "it is over... not quite, the hero gets captured and is about to get shot and then... not quite...". In the end, a huge disappointment. I wasn't saying the first book was excellent literature, but it was fun. This one was not fun and quite irritating.

I've read a considerable number of these sorts of books.

And the solitary truly good aspect about this particular one is that, up until now, there isn't a sidekick or friend who almost has superpowers.

This is an extremely common device that is employed in many mysteries.

For instance, we have Hawk (from Spenser), Max-the-Silent (from Burke), and Joe Pike (from Elvis Cole).

Frankly, I'm completely sick of it.

It seems that every other mystery novel feels the need to include such a character, and it has become rather tiresome.

However, this book stands out for its lack of this overused trope, which gives it a refreshing quality.

I'm hoping that this trend continues and that the author manages to keep the story engaging without relying on the typical sidekick with extraordinary abilities.

It will be interesting to see how the plot develops without this common element.

Maybe this book will offer a new and unique perspective on the mystery genre.

Only time will tell.