Bang for the Buck

I just finished reading The Wheelman, a crime novel written by Duane Swierczynski, a former colleague at Men’s Health.

If you like reading crime novels, this one is worth a look. It’s faster, funnier, and more twisted than anything I can recall. I’m by no means up to speed on the genre, but I’m certain I’ve never read anything quite like this. The only book that comes close is The Death and Life of Bobby Z, which Duane lists here as one of his favorites. It’s like literary speed metal, if that makes any sense.

For the record, this makes two former colleagues from my early days at MH who’re now acclaimed novelists. Jennifer Haigh‘s second novel, Baker Towers, made the New York Times bestseller list, and her first, Mrs. Kimble, won a major award.

And hey, I knew ‘em back when they were just ridiculously talented magazine schlubs — exactly like me, except for the ridiculously talented part.

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