Quarry’s Deal
Book 3 of Quarry: The Series
By Max Allan Collins
ISBN 978-1-78329-887-7
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Scott
Synopsis: 
BEHIND THE DOORS OF AN ILLEGAL CASINO,
WILL QUARRY FIND LADY LUCK…OR A LADY KILLER?
Putting his plan in motion to target other hitmen, Quarry follows one from steamy Florida to the sober Midwest. But this killer isn’t a man at all – she’s a sloe-eyed beauty, as dangerous in bed as she is deadly on the job. Has Quarry finally met his match?
NOW A CINEMAX TELEVISION SERIES!
The longest-running series from Max Allan Collins, author of Road to Perdition, and the first ever to feature a hitman as the main character, the Quarry novels tell the story of a paid assassin with a rebellious streak and an unlikely taste for justice. Once a Marine sniper, Quarry found a new home stateside with a group of contract killers. But some men aren’t made for taking orders – and when Quarry strikes off on his own, god help the man on the other side of his nine-millimeter..
Review:
In the world of republishing, the original Quarry novels are back, and Quarry’s Deal is here with a vengeance. Quarry is out for himself this time round and instead of being a hitman, he makes a deal to protect those who have who have entered the sights right out of the pages of Quarry’s List (also available from Hard Case Crime). Being a hitman, Quarry knows what to look for and page after pulse pounding page the web of deceit and lies unfolds neatly and pleasantly. In his afterword Max Albert Collins says this was his favorite of his Quarry sequels and it’s easy to see why. The book keeps you reading until the final mysteries are uncovered.
The writing in Quarry’s Deal flows more naturally this time round. Collins has got a firm grasp of his character and his environs, which makes suspension of belief much easier. More carefully plotted out than any of the previous novels, Quarry’s Deal comes out on top this time round. Written in the first person, from the viewpoint of Quarry (he now doesn’t appear to have a real name – he burnt his name from the hit list) Collins now engages the senses: sight, sound, smells, tastes – he really enamors the reader with a buzzing sensation of the world through Quarry. You can see the level of comfort with the character and how he acts. There is power and force behind the wording and otherwise brutal scenes seem the norm (as casual as bumping off your best friend). To the well trained pulp aficionado, Quarry is the penultimate anti-hero; the bad guy you root for in the movies. The one who solves problems, not just ponders them.
The plot is to be commended. Quarry’s Deal finally puts Quarry in the true role of the anti-hero protecting the people who have a hit on them for a tidy profit. The role suits the storyline which starts out simple, then leaves you in the wakes of mystery, swimming desperately against the tide, before tidying it all up in the end. Tidy is the key word here. No facet of the mystery is left to the reader’s imagination. It’s like an open and closed book – straight as an arrow through to the end. Nothing is left unresolved and readers can happily put down a satisfying book. Written in the seventies the book is as relevant today as it was back then, perhaps more so with the cyberpunk high-tech, low-life, corporate society we live in, and the criminal element that lurks in its recesses.
Character-wise, Quarry is Quarry. Fully realized in Quarry’s Deal, the character comes to his own, as we delve deeper into the psyche of a cold-blooded killer. He has redeeming qualities, however. He is a professional liar, rarely drinks, doesn’t smoke, he is a Vietnam vet, whose motto seems to be: if I were doing this hit, how would I set it up? – And what can I do to stop it? That’s the anti-hero for you in a nutshell. Protecting Mr. Tree is the least of his worries when he winds up sleeping with the enemy. But Quarry in this novel, keeps his professional composure and deals with problems anyway he can; even if it comes down to killing. The supporting cast of characters read delightfully well, as seen through Quarry’s eyes, and because of the nature of pulp fiction, you always get a glimpse into the minds of each of the characters. The hitmen themselves are fully fleshed out, shall we say, friends and enemies, and each leaves a lasting impression on the reader.
Overall, Quarry’s Deal has been the best in the reprinted series from the seventies. Hard Case Crime has more in the works with Quarry, so readers who may have missed the first two books, Quarry, and Quarry’s List have time to catch up. It’s a definitely a surefire keeper in the hands of “true crime,” pulp fiction, an owner of the two fore mentioned books, and lovers of the anti-hero in a film noir setting, Quarry’s Deal is definitely a must read. It’s pulp fiction at its finest.
