I Am the Boss of Number 2 To celebrate the release of the long awaited follow up to Captain Cooker the second Cooke novel (don''t call them books) - Best Laid Plans of Idiots and Fuck-Ups - we bring you a list some of our favorite pulp fiction that skips the boring parts, focusing on the 2nd in a series. Not so much sequels but second entries in an ongoing series.* Yeah, we probably missed your favorite, but you already know that one. Best vintage noir classic book - The Outfit - Richard Stark. Why?  It is a Parker novel, don’t judge the character Parker on the shitty Jason Statham flick**.  Parker is the man and he is at his bad ass best as he takes on the mob. It is classic Parker, he has a great plan, things go to hell, but he uses his brains and his brawn to end up on top. Best recent noir book with a female protagonist - Diesel Therapy - Greg Barth. Why?  It is a Selena novel. Don’t judge Selena on the movie bearing her name either (Like the ...

Free Sample Friday is back. Get a taste of the new Cooke novel Best Laid Plans of Idiots and Fuck Up's. He caught his reflection in the driver’s side window. In the hazy, yellow, light the blood on his shirt looked black. He looked like a battlefield surgeon, or a patient. The gash in his upper right side, which had begun throbbing as if the two sides of the knife width gap were trying to pull themselves together, made him feel like the latter. Cooke curled the handcuff hanging from his right wrist into his palm and focused on filling the tank. The girl with half a face sitting in the front seat continued to text him as he pumped gas with his one fully operational arm. He ignored the device vibrating in his pocket. He had chosen the farthest pump, used his credit card so he did not have to go near the brightly lit convenience store. His appearance alone would have someone making a call to the cops. Inside the car was worse. Three dead bodies, two in the trunk and one in the b...

The new Cooke novel is finally here. Nothing more needs to be said. Best Laid Plans of Idiots and Fuck-Ups

Booze Break Both fans of the podcast may have noticed there is no new episode this week. Good news is we are going to bring out new episodes, but we will be on hiatus the next couple of weeks as we spend time drinking . . .I mean preparing for the next set of episodes. Even more good news is this is not one of those pop culture current events type podcasts which age faster than milk left in the sun, no reason for those of you (and there are a lot of you) unfamiliar with the show not to g o back and listen to the entire Camp Hendrix saga while you are waiting. Even more good news, we are still going to do some flash fiction episodes. If you have some a thousand words or less falling under the broad category of pulp fiction, send it our way (it can be something previously published). We’ll read it the way only we can on the podcast (give it a listen to see what we mean, though we plan to be even better) and throw in a plug for whatever projects you have going. Basically in exchange fo...

Hey kids, need a last minute Father’s Day Gift? We are here for ya. Dad’s love the mob, Las Vegas, and Fishing. All of which are there for him in the first half of Double Tap - Two Shots of Central California Noir - Set-Up by Chris Davis. You know what else Dad’s love? The 80’s, because many of them were alive then, and young. Unlike now when they are only kind of alive, and old. They are nostalgic for the old days and the second half of Double Tap goes back to the 80’s. Dad’s can spend time reminiscing about the porn, crystal meth and the awesome Defender video game from his younger days while reading Fiero by Todd Morr. This will not anger Mom near as much as actually getting him porn, meth and video games, trust me on this (I have great kids). Even better it’s only .99 cents on E-Book, and only 6.99 for a paperback. Leaving plenty of money to buy yourself something (not meth). Like maybe The Walking Funeral - Hell Book 1 by Bodies Myers, also only a buck for e-b...

Put the needle to Motley Crue's Shout at the Devil and get a taste of the eighties with a bit of Todd Morr's Fiero on this Free Sample Friday. Chapter 6 - Grey – Salinas    "So this Chollo is saying 'no hablo', while he shows me his right hand and I know something is up."    "Like maybe he is telling the truth, no shortage of guys around here that don't speak English," the girl in the halter top told Grey as he bagged up her twelve pack of Shaffer and carton of Kools. She did not quite have the body anymore for the top she was wearing, but Grey was at the age where he could not be so picky. Actually, he was happy for anyone, no matter what the gender or body shape, who would listen to his stories from his days riding a black and white and keeping order over on the East side.    "Probably couldn't, but I was speaking the international language."    "International language? Like love?"    "No, the other inte...

This week on Free Sample Friday we give you a taste of the 'Bakersfield Sound of Low Life Lit' with a bit from the Christopher Davis half of Double Tap. Setup “Fuck Jonesy,” Marzano said, from the passenger seat of a late model Mercedes. Just the other side of the glass, it was dark, black hole dark. There was no light other than what little the instrument panel offered. “I don’t like the idea of Gianola sending us up here in the first place." “Don’t worry Marty,” the driver said, smiling. “Danny G sent us up here to keep an eye on things for him, it’s easy money, Marty.” Martin Marzano had a Colt 1911 in his hand looking the piece over somewhat. The passenger slid the weapon back into a nylon holster under his arm. “Yeah,” he said. “I guess that you’re right, Jonesy. Maybe the boss has decided to give the two of us a promotion, huh?” Silvio Valentini—known to all as, Jonesy—laughed. “That’s it, Marty,” he said. “A promotion is what...