KILL ME IF YOU CAN
By Mickey Spillane and Max Allan Collins
Titan Books
273 pgs
Once again writer Max Allan Collins has completed a Mike Hammer story left unfinished by the late Mickey Spillane. If you’re a Spillane fan, this is always a cause for celebration. Note, this volume is divided into two sections. The first being the actual novella length, “Kill Me If You Can,” and the second is a bonus collection of several Spillane short stories.
Whereas the novella itself is a fun read, it is very
formulaic and contains most of the iconic tropes most Hammer tales are known
for. The murder victim is an old Hammer acquaintance. The list of suspects
includes the usual group of mean, sadistic gangsters and lastly there’s the
drop-dead gorgeous femme fatale. A seductress who is both good and bad tempting
our tough guy hero to ignore his instincts and just put out the lights. Now
formulas are not inherently a bad thing. Every mystery series since Sherlock
Holmes came on the scene has use them; from Nero Wolfe to James Bond. Formulas
are those comfortable pieces we’ve come not only recognize, but also appreciate
when delving into the series’ latest entry. If you’re a bonafide fan, you’ll
see the climax coming a mile away.
The enjoyable surprises arrive in the book’s second half and
those short story gems. There are five total; several adapted from radio plays
and two featuring Hammer. Of the five, the standouts are “The Punk,” a grim,
honest look at dope addiction and “Tonight My Love,” delivering P.I. Hammer as
the knight in tarnished armor destined to rescue a certain damsel in distress.
The last line will put a smile on your face.
“Kill Me If You Can” is another great addition to the completist wish list. For Spillane fans, it’s Christmas come early this year.
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