Justin Perry: The Assassin #02 - Vatican Kill

Justin Perry: The Assassin ran five total volumes from 1983 to 1985. The Pinnacle series was authored by George Harold “Hal” Bennett, an African-American writer that used the name John D. Revere. His other novels include This Passionate Land, a 1979 historical romance written under the pen name Harriet Janeway, and his satirical 1970 novel Lord of Dark Places. 

Missing the first book, I ventured into this bizarre men's action-adventure series with the sophomore effort Vatican Kill. In numerous backstories readers are brought up to speed on the titular hero. Justin Perry is a broad-shouldered, trim-waisted 36-year old assassin for the C.I.A.'s Death Squad. The terrorist organization he's been employed to fight is SADIF, which is fitting considering they murdered Justin's wife. As the book begins we learn that SADIF has launched Kill Venus, a spectacular attempt to destroy the planet with a missile. But, as Justin learns, this is just part of Bennett's insane plot. 

The second aspect of SADIF's Kill Venus part is to blow up the Vatican with 5,000 pounds of TNT. To kick off the fireworks, they plan on assassinating the King and Queen of Spain. Apparently this sequence of extraordinary events will launch Earth's Western Hemisphere into the Dark Ages. The whole operation is led by a pervert named Carl Werner, a Nazi that has catapulted himself into the limelight of various military and terrorist cells throughout the Cold War. Now he's planted in the Vatican as a Cardinal and it is up to Justin Perry to stop him.

As much as books like Roadblaster and TNT pushed the boundaries of over-the-top nonsense, Hal Bennett may have gone one step further and obliterated all traces of anything remotely plausible in a men's action-adventure novel. How on Earth did this get published?!?

Let's start with the guns. The book begins with Perry arming himself with a .38 revolver with a ridiculous silencer and a safety. Additionally, he takes this same gun with him to combat a small army of terrorists fortified in an underground cave. A six-shot revolver isn't exactly the best weapon for mass destruction. But, to top that he uses a .22 bolt-action rifle to shoot his targets at 500 yards away. Totally makes sense. 

In terms of character and interaction, Justin sports a giant boner through a fight with a gang of hungry dogs. Seriously, his throbbing erection nearly slows him down. There's also a woman that Justin has been banging his whole life. She's in the book on nearly every page as one of the surprise SADIF terrorists. She is consistently bringing Justin “around” or “back alive” by...sucking his milk. She's also there for a threesome with Justin and his partner. Justin also fantasizes throughout the book about the time he dressed like Donald Duck for a school event. He also is fixated on a train that derailed killing hundreds of passengers. Every momentous occasion to deliver some type of action is met with these boring bizarre flashbacks of Justin and the duck costume and the train derailment. It is uncanny.

Vatican Kill is certainly in my Top Ten for worst book I've ever read. It is a glorified new inductee into the Paperback Warrior Hall of Shame for many reasons – lame main character, zero action, illogical plot, cartoon villain, an uncommon fixation on the male penis, I can go on and on. This is absolutely the worst of the worst and I encourage you to steer clear of it. Avoid!

Paperback Warrior Podcast - Episode 119

In this podcast episode, Eric explores the infamous Amityville murders and their impact on pop culture through a deep dive into The Amityville Horror and its many paperback sequels and spinoffs that shaped haunted house fiction in the '80s and '90s. He also reviews Grady Hendrix’s novel How to Sell a Haunted House. Stream below, watch on YouTube HERE or download HERE.

Listen to "Episode 119: Amityville Paperbacks from Hell" on Spreaker.

The Revenger #03 - Vendetta Contract

Jon Messmann authored six volumes of a vigilante series titled The Revenger beginning in 1973. I really enjoy this character and Messmann's gritty delivery, an admiration that I conveyed in my Afterword for the series debut, The Revenger, reprinted by Brash Books in a brand new edition. All six books were originally published in paperback by Signet and all are available now in new physical and digital editions HERE. 

Vendetta Contract, originally published in 1973, finds protagonist Ben Martin in a small town 15 miles south of Indianapolis. It is here that he uses the name “Ben Bruzzi” to work as an industrial painter. He frequents a small diner where his girlfriend, Bianca Lanza, works the day shift as a waitress. He's hopeful that his prior tragedy – the murder of his family by mobsters – can finally become blurred after his triumphant hits on the mob in New York (The Revenger) and Chicago (Fire in the Streets). He's wanting a new life and this town and Bianca seem to have sparked the next chapter. 

Bianca, who knows Ben's past life, confesses that her brother is now involved with the Syndicate. He's gone missing and the mob is now sniffing after Bianca in a quest to locate him. She knows Ben can help but doesn't want to risk is life and their budding new relationship. Meanwhile, while Ben and Bianca are debating the next steps to help her brother, a think-tank meeting takes place between some of the Syndicate's Kingpins. Based on the recent Mob destruction in Chicago, the heavy hitters are wanting to hire an outside assassin to hunt and kill Ben. They choose a professional assassin named Corbet and pay him $300,000 to kill Ben and bring back his hand so they can match fingerprints. 

Vendetta Contract isn't just the best installment of The Revenger series. This could be one of the best men's action-adventure paperbacks I've ever read. Messmann's high-octane style delivers a mesmerizing cat-and-mouse chase across the country as Corbet hunts Ben. After explosive successful hits on mobsters in Indianapolis, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh, Ben takes to the streets as running prey. Messmann's writing provides thoughtful perspectives from both Ben and Corbet, including a sleazy foray into some really dark sexual places that only the 1970s could produce. 

If you enjoy point-of-impact assassin-thrillers by the likes of Robert Ludlum and Stephen Hunter then Vendetta Contract is an absolute must-read. The smooth calculated chase across America provides high-speed car chases, urban warfare, precise planning, and a emotional investment into the Ben Martin character that is nearly unmatched in terms of paperback heroes. This is the one to read.

Get it HERE.

Dirty Harry #04 - The Mexico Kill

I've had mixed reactions thus far of Warner Books' 12-book paperback series Dirty Harry. These books, published between 1981 and 1983, were authored by Leslie Alan Horvitz and Ric Meyers using the pseudonym of Dane Hartman. The series is based on the film character Harry Callahan, a fictional San Francisco detective portrayed by Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry, Magnum Force, and The Enforcer. 

In the opening pages of The Mexico Kill, the title's fourth installment, a five-man crew of a fishing trawler called the Hyacinth spot a distressed boat in the Pacific. As they approach the disabled ship they are told that something is wrong with the fuel line and the boat's passengers are needing a lift back to port. Once the passengers are moved aboard the Hyacinth they all pull out guns and overtake the small fishing crew. The whole thing was a violent ruse to steal a boat. 

The Hyacinth is owned by one of Callahan's old friends, a guy named Harold. Harold goes to Harry and explains that his fishing trawler went missing and has now been spotted in a local dock sporting a new name and a paint job. In a previous chapter, Harry gets into a gunfight and is suspended by the department while an investigation concludes. So, with nothing left to do Harry takes the case to investigate his friend's snafu with the boat job. 

The Mexico Kill is a rare look for a Dirty Harry book – nautical adventure. It came as a surprise to find Harry aboard a fishing trawler headed into Mexico to bait a group of smugglers preying on fishermen. There's a backstory with Harry's connection to Harold's wife and their upcoming divorce that eventually connects smoothly to the initial investigation that has Harry suspended. But, readers are here for action and this one delivers sinking ships, drug runners, a fortified Kingpin mansion, and enough targets for Harry to point his big 'ole .44 at. 

Admittedly, Dirty Harry got off to a real bad beginning with the first two installments. But, the fifth book, Family Skeletons, I found entertaining and now it is more of the same value and quality here with The Mexico Kill. Maybe this whole “make my day” thing is working out quite nicely. Recommended!

Get the book HERE.

Conversations - Paul Bishop

Acclaimed author, editor, and podcast host Paul Bishop joins Eric for a lively conversation about his latest book, 52 Weeks 52 Sherlock Holmes Novels. In this engaging discussion, Paul offers a thoughtful introduction to Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary detective, sharing tips on where newcomers should start, exploring why Sherlock Holmes remains timeless, and delving into the wide world of adaptations—from classic stories and novels to films, TV series, comics, and anime—that have kept the great sleuth alive for nearly 140 years. Stream the video below, on YouTube HERE or listen to just the audio HERE.

Ranking April Reads

Eric presents a Top Ten countdown of his favorite books from April, featuring book covers, publication details, and author biographies for each pick. Stream below or watch on YouTube HERE.

Bed of Fear

Douglas Duperrault (1928-2005) began his career in radio with WFLA in Tampa, Florida. While enjoying a long and successful career in radio broadcasting, promotions, and marketing, Duperrault also authored short stories for Spree magazine and wrote paperback originals. His sleaze novel Spotlight on Sin was packaged with Harry Whittington's Backwoods Shack and published by Lancer as a twofer paperback in 1954. Other novels like Trailer Camp Woman (1959), Army Tramp (1969), and Gang Mistress (1953) were published by the likes of Croydon Publications, Bedtime Books, and MacFadden. 

My first experience with the author is his 1959 sleaze paperback Bed of Fear. The book was originally published by Stanley Library and now exists in an all-new edition by Cutting Edge Books. It is available in both digital and physical versions and is also packaged in the digital omnibus Suburban Sins: Eight Full Novels and TV Noir: Three Full Length Novels. 

Twenty-something Jane Martin works diligently as a secretary for the fictional TV station KLKS. In an effort to work her way through the corporate shuffle she has to handle the workforce skirt-chasers that consistently attempt to bed her down. At home, she's left unsatisfied and unfulfilled by her domineering husband Dan, a drunk louse that serves as a placid lover. 

Bed of Fear is a mattress romp as Jane is led to different beds by the various men in her life. There's the young and handsome weatherman that lures her back to his place in a quest to lose his virginity to what he admires as the true love of his life. Jane's boss Joe takes her to bed in New York City on an advertising trip that descends into a torturous affair teetering with both pleasure and pain. There's also the insatiable neighbor Harry that watches with a close eye anytime Dan leaves Jane alone at home. 

Through 154 pages, Duperrault takes readers on a brisk and entertaining read as Jane determines the value of her life, the unending sacrifices she must make, and the commitments of marriage in an unstable relationship. Like any good sleaze novel, the author takes these characters through sexual escapades by describing feelings, tensions, and release without graphic references to the actual act. It's a wonderful talent shared by many authors of this era and Duperrault certainly holds his own with his contemporaries. Comparisons could be made to author Don Lee, another writer that Cutting Edge Books recently reprinted.

Get Bed of Fear HERE.