About this title: The master of absurdist postmodern pulp fiction ("Elle") returns with his long-awaited follow up to the acclaimed "Plainclothes Naked," in his most hallucinogenic work yet.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Description: Like New. 2009-Hardcover-May contain minor shelf-wear. Otherwise, volume un-read and in "As-New" condition. -Used-Like New-Hall Street Books proudly ships from Brooklyn, NY. All orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours, M-F. 100% money back No-Worry guarantee with expedited delivery and delivery confirmation available. read more
Binding: book Hardcover
Publisher: William Morrow & Co
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780060506650ISBN:0060506652
Description: Brand New. Brand new. Never read or owned. May have a remainder mark. 408 pages. 9.30 x 6.30 x 1.80 in. 19.8 oz. A follow-up to--Plainclothes Naked. find addict and private investigator Manny Rubert investigating an elderly California inmate's claims that he is the notorious Nazi torturer, Joseph Mengele; a morally grueling case that challenges Rubert's understandings of history and identity. Down-and-out ex-cop and not-quite-reformed addict Manny Rupert accepts a job going undercover to find ... read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: William Morrow
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780060506650ISBN:0060506652
Description: New. Brand New! Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
Edition: First Edition
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Morrow. W. M., New York, New York, U.S.A.
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780060506650ISBN:0060506652
Description: New in New jacket. SIGNED. Signed by Author AN OUTSTANDING COPY-SIGNED by the AUTHOR on the Title page. Author's Signature only. A First edition, First printing, with the corresponding number line. Book is in Fine condition. Boards are clean, not bumped. Fore edges are clean. Interior is clean and legible. Not remaindered. Dust Jacket is in Fine condition. Not chipped or crinkled. Not price clipped. Dust Jacket is covered by Mylar Brodart. Thanks and Enjoy. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: William Morrow
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780060506650ISBN:0060506652
Description: New, Publisher overstock, may have small remainder mark. Excellent condition, never read, purchased from publisher as excess inventory. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: William Morrow
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780060506650ISBN:0060506652
Description: New, Publisher overstock, may have small remainder mark. Excellent condition, never read, purchased from publisher as excess inventory. read more
Edition: 1st edition
Binding: Hardback
Publisher: WILLIAM MORROW & CO
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780060506650ISBN:0060506652
Description: New. The master of absurdist postmodern pulp fiction ("Elle") returns with his long-awaited follow up to the acclaimed "Plainclothes Naked, " in his most hallucinogenic work yet. read more
Description: Fine. 0060506652 March 2009 NY: HarperCollins First edition, first printing, mint, new/unread in a flawless dustjacket, signed by the author. read more
Edition: First Edition, First Printing
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: William Morrow/Harper Collins Publishers, Inc., New York, NY, U.S.A.
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780060506650ISBN:0060506652
Description: As New in Fine jacket. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. Signed by Author Signed by author and dated 4-26-09 on title page in black fountain ink. As new, in fine, mylar-protected dust jacket. read more
"I received this book free through the LibraryThing Early Readers Program.
Manny Rupert, an addict, a cop kicked off the force, an the ex-husband of a murderer, is back for round two. This time he's been hired to go undercover in San Quentin and determine whether a sick old man in for vehicular manslaughter is really who he claims to be-the infamous Nazi Doctor of Death, Joseph Mengele.
That's where Pain Killers starts, but where it goes is on an insane, gritty, noir venture through the darkest parts of society. Pain Killers is a humorous black romp if by humorous you mean "Oh my God they went there" and by romp you mean going by limo from prison snail back love shack to Christian porn sets to meth houses and mansions and back again. This novel is, to steal a line, truly, truly outrageous.
Stahl's humor is not for everyone, possibly not for anyone that possesses an iota of sensitivity about religion, psychology, the human condition, addiction, sex, or just about any subject. But there's a sort of victorious feel to seeing character so truly messed up still intelligent and stubborn and taking on the face of human evil. There's more talking than action, so the pace is not forceful or fast. At times the conversations while interesting and amusing come off as off topic, when the point is to solve a mystery. And the WTF factor is, at times, very high. But it's a wild ride, different from everything else out there which certainly has an audience in today's marketplace."
"Stahl seems to be trying to include as much shock value as he can lately. The idea is intriguing. His returning detective Manny Rupert is hired by an old Jew to determine if a crazy guy in San Quentin who claims to be Joseph Mengele is really the infamous Auschwitz doctor. It's a twisted tale of addiction, blasphemous fetish porn, violence, and Nazi-like experiments. Not much redeeming value. Pure pulp."
"I have a nasty habit of discovering excellent series in the middle. Very seldom am I lucky enough to read a novel with characters and situations that I thoroughly enjoy, and then later discover that they have been carried over into new novels. Instead, what often happens is that I find out a book I liked is from the middle (or sometimes end) of an excellent series, and I am forced to backtrack and collect the previous books.
Needless to say, I was not lucky enough to catch Manny Rupert, Jerry Stahl's flighty ex-cop drug addict turned private detective, in his first book, Plainclothes Naked. However, Pain Killers is only the second novel in a what will hopefully be a longer series.
Stahl's writing has always had an edge to it. Not surprising, considering that his real life exploits (as recounted in Permanent Midnight: A Memoir) have been a tad edgy themselves. But it isn't the edge that makes Stahl's writing so good. It is the way he manages to combine it with a dark humor that doesn't flinch at the ugliness unfolding around it. A drug addict ex-policeman posing as prison rehab counselor in order to investigate a possible ex-Nazi in hiding shouldn't be funny. But then Stahl throws lines at you like "If I were a pedophile, I'd paint kittens." He knows what shouldn't be funny, and he knows how to make you laugh at it.
Manny Rupert isn't the kind of hero you root for because he's one of the good guys. He's the guy you root for because, as depraved as he is, he's nowhere near as bad as the people he is surrounded by. Besides, at least he can see the humor of it all, as bitter as it may be. If you're like me, and prefer your leading man to be less than perfect, you'll definitely want to pick up a copy of Pain Killers."
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