WARNING: Adult content...Today I'm well chuffed to welcome my good friend Al' - a 'Brit Grit' cockney geezer, who's a dab hand with pen & ink... little cockney rhyming slang joke there... no? Okay. Over to you Al...
Alan Griffith's Crime Fiction Choice
HARD BITE by ANONYMOUS-9 - Beat to a Pulp, Dec.2008.
Recently I’ve been privileged to be one of the few hot-off-the-press readers to peek at Anonymous-9’s completed novel length manuscript of Hard Bite. And, in my humble opinion, a humdinger of a novel it is. Tightly plotted and twisty narrative, great characters, a page turner….
But I digress because today I’d like to beg a few minutes of your time to acquaint you with the original, award winning short story.
When Col kindly asked me to write a few words for this feature I immediately thought of Hard Bite. Why? Well, when I first read this story it just struck a chord. Had me thinking, Hell, I wish I could write like that. And, whenever I re-read this story (which I do) it inspires me to try…
I like to kill people.
It's important to admit the truth to yourself, even if you lie to others, and I do a lot of lying in my line of work. Inside my head, I try to keep the truth black and white, no grey area: I like to kill. I love to kill, people.
So starts Anonymous-9’s Spinetingler award winning short story Hard Bite; published online at Beat to a Pulp and in print within the BTAP Round One anthology.
Did the voice get your attention? Grab you by the throat and shake you a little? Mulling over a decision: Should I connect with this nut job and keep reading?
I think it did.
Because for me it is the voice of A-9’s wise-cracking protagonist that is the key to this brilliantly told story.
As the piece unfolds you realise that this is not just a cold hearted, deranged and cynical psychopath but, after a cruel blow by fate, a wheelchair bound cripple. Who is hell-bent on bringing righteous vengeance to evil people.
What do you do with your life motherfucker???? ..........Sorry, I rant sometimes. Sorry, buddy. Keep reading. Please.
The killer is talking to you. Calling you buddy so you will set aside any preconceived ideas or prejudice; engage and listen to his story.
And, what an original tale it is.
A Los Angeles rock n roll ride: A hardboiled narrative, pared to the bone; sprinkled with deliciously dark and tragic humour. Spiced with a thirteen-year-old capuchin monkey helper with a porn habit, a rental chic that lets our killer hero have his wicked way free once a week, a transsexual surprised in the shower and a fight-dog execution scene.
I kill for extremely personal reasons. Starting with the individual who hit me with his black BMW, carrying me ten blocks on the grille, braking so I'd fall off, and gunning over top of me, shattering my neck, crushing my left arm and feet, and squashing my large intestine to mush. I can't digest much of anything, but my dick still works. Go figger.
But for me it is all about the voice.
Don’t just take my word for it; check it out. And when you have been blown away by Hard Bite check out M-N-S (n): murder-necrophilia-suicide at Plots with Guns and The Master Bedroom also at Beat to a Pulp.
Hard Bite is not just a one off. Anonymous-9 is a seriously talented writer, transcending the Crime and Horror genres. This mysterious lady has been nominated for a Spinetingler award for Best Short Story on the Web twice over (2009 & 2010); winning it once (2009).
My hat is doffed to you, A-9 and thanks for the entertainment!
And thank you, Al!
BIO:
Alan Griffiths, a rookie writer, hails from the badlands of South London, England. His fictional crimes can be found on websites such as: A Twist of Noir, Thrillers, Killers n Chillers and Radgepacket Online. His story, ‘Concrete Jungle’, features in the e-book anthology Discount Noir published by Untreed Reads. ‘Say Hello, Wave Goodbye’ will be published in the forthcoming Byker Books anthology: Radgepacket – Tales from the Inner Cities Volume 5. His literary hero is Ernie Wise and when the mood takes him he blogs at: http://britgrit.blogspot.com/
8 comments:
Nice shout, Alan. I've had contact with A-9 and she seems a great lady. I've read a couple of her stories but Hard Bite I missed. Thanks for the link. I'll put that "miss" right.
Great review, Alan and a great series, Col.
You truly are two of the good guys!
Great choice of review Alan which thoroughly leaves me wanting to read more.
Twisting and twisted all the way. Sublime.
Top choice. A-9 is a brilliant writer and that is one of her best stories.
Thank you so much for the kind words. Col and Alan, this is why I love the online crime-writing community. The affection and support for fellow-writers is profoundly touching.
Thank you!
Anonymous-9
One of the great short stories of the last few years. Can't wait to read the novel.
It's a story that keeps the reader coming back. Just wait for the novel!
Col- I love this feature.
Alan- Thanks a million for this post. Just the snippets you posted have sold me. Love the voice, big time. ANON-9 seems like my kind of writer, for sure. Going to start my recon on her now and can't wait.
Patti, Al and Sean Patrick, so kind of you to drop by and say hello. Col and Alan make a great team and have so much happening in their respective careers. Impressive!
Anonymous-9
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