Rating: 
Summary: LETTING GO
Review: A gun is placed on the back of your head. Click, nothing happens. You know that you're dead. Click again, and you're still breathing. The weapon misfired and you've been given another chance for life. Now what do you do with it? Nameless has faced death many times in the past but when he barely escapes from this episode of death he is forced to re-evaluate his relationships (with wife and daughter) and his professional life. Let's face it, at age sixty you can't do the things that you used to and still come out alive. Now what? Bleeders explores the changes Nameless has to go through in reordering the priorities in his life. The catalyst for this is a failed scam attempt on his client. Her crank head husband attempts to extort $75,000 from her. Nameless intervenes and recovers the money. Unfortunately he is unable to return it to his client who is found dead. On finding the body, Nameless is beaten and has the money taken from him. Thus begins a series of events that leads Nameless into the bottom dregs of society. Angry, he is determined to have justice done for his client as he goes on his determined search for the man who nearly killed him. We witness a detective who explores all of the angles and finds that he shares just as much in common with these bleeders than he is willing to admit. Pronzini does a good job in presenting us with a Nameless who for the first time in his life has to step back and say is this worth it? As an old man of sixty with a wife and child can he still afford to play this tough detective game which can result in far more than beatings? The answer to that question as you move through the undercurrents of criminal activity will surprise you. Once again, Nameless is a far complex character than we would have ever thought. Enjoy this great thriller.
Rating:
Summary: Acting on Epiphanies
Review: Although Bleeders is a standalone story, you will enjoy the book more if you have also read Hoodwink, Shackles, Hardcase and Crazybone. Few will rate this as more than a three-star book unless they have read at least Crazybone. Bleeders can be considered to be the second book in a new section of the Nameless Detective series. If you enjoy Bleeders, be sure to also read Spook which is the next book. The title is one of Mr. Pronzini's best. He refers to literal bleeders, those who have been injured or killed in violent ways. He also means to refer to people who drain others in illegal ways such as blackmailers. Finally, he sees bleeders as those whose hearts are open to the troubles of others and empathize with them. The Nameless Detective falls in the last category. He has a hard time turning down those in need . . . even if he is not being paid. One of the book's more ingenious references is in the dedication:
"For Bill Pronzini
Without whom this series would never have been written." This series is clearly autobiographical in many ways as a note in Casefile indicates. That symmetry reaches an apex in Bleeders as both Mr. Pronzini and Nameless reach 60. Each book in the series hooks up with a different type of social problem and a different part of northern California. It was inevitable that one book would address illegal drugs and the harm that they do. Bleeders is that book. More than anything else, though, Bleeders is a study in psychology. Nameless has been reluctant to change anything about his life. Even after marrying, he retained his old apartment and sometimes stays there alone when he's on a case. Long after other detectives were using electronic surveillance equipment and on-line searches, Nameless was pounding the pavement to get his answers. In recent stories, he's been accommodating those areas more and more by asking others to help him. That leaves the tough guy parts of detection for him. But how much tough guy work can a man of 60 expect to do? Early in the book, Nameless has the kind of epiphany that few people have except those who have survived a long illness. How will it change his life? At first, he looks into doing what he always has done . . . tracking down the bad guys. Later, he realizes that more fundamental changes are called for. Although Nameless has married now and adopted a child, Emily, he hasn't really settled into family life. Can you imagine Sam Spade with a wife and child? He would have been much different. Mr. Pronzini is venturing into uncharted territory as he adopts noir mystery fiction to modern day family life. I find the work to be interesting and rewarding to consider, and look forward to the series continuing for many years to come. The mystery in this one isn't very mysterious. Nameless is being asked to drop off a blackmail payment for a client. Where a sophisticated detective would have dropped a tracking bug into the cash, Nameless stakes himself out and plans to trail whoever picks up the money. It's a great reference back to the first book in the series, The Snatch, in which Nameless is to make a kidnapping payoff. Nameless suspects that the reasons for blackmail relate back to drugs, and thinks he has it all scoped out. Soon, though, he realizes he has miscalculated when he puts both Emily and himself in the gravest danger. The action in the mystery goes downhill from there. As Nameless struggles with his experiences, his critical epiphany is late in coming. In the meantime, he takes you into the mean streets of San Francisco where you meet the scum of the earth. Most people will be disappointed with the ending to this story. That's why I graded it down one star. As I finished the book, I began to think about how dedicated professionals in whatever line of work can make more room for their families and those they love. Where can we all get the help we need?
Rating:
Summary: Acting on Epiphanies
Review: Although Bleeders is a standalone story, you will enjoy the book more if you have also read Hoodwink, Shackles, Hardcase and Crazybone. Few will rate this as more than a three-star book unless they have read at least Crazybone. Bleeders can be considered to be the second book in a new section of the Nameless Detective series. If you enjoy Bleeders, be sure to also read Spook which is the next book. The title is one of Mr. Pronzini's best. He refers to literal bleeders, those who have been injured or killed in violent ways. He also means to refer to people who drain others in illegal ways such as blackmailers. Finally, he sees bleeders as those whose hearts are open to the troubles of others and empathize with them. The Nameless Detective falls in the last category. He has a hard time turning down those in need . . . even if he is not being paid. One of the book's more ingenious references is in the dedication:
"For Bill Pronzini
Without whom this series would never have been written." This series is clearly autobiographical in many ways as a note in Casefile indicates. That symmetry reaches an apex in Bleeders as both Mr. Pronzini and Nameless reach 60. Each book in the series hooks up with a different type of social problem and a different part of northern California. It was inevitable that one book would address illegal drugs and the harm that they do. Bleeders is that book. More than anything else, though, Bleeders is a study in psychology. Nameless has been reluctant to change anything about his life. Even after marrying, he retained his old apartment and sometimes stays there alone when he's on a case. Long after other detectives were using electronic surveillance equipment and on-line searches, Nameless was pounding the pavement to get his answers. In recent stories, he's been accommodating those areas more and more by asking others to help him. That leaves the tough guy parts of detection for him. But how much tough guy work can a man of 60 expect to do? Early in the book, Nameless has the kind of epiphany that few people have except those who have survived a long illness. How will it change his life? At first, he looks into doing what he always has done . . . tracking down the bad guys. Later, he realizes that more fundamental changes are called for. Although Nameless has married now and adopted a child, Emily, he hasn't really settled into family life. Can you imagine Sam Spade with a wife and child? He would have been much different. Mr. Pronzini is venturing into uncharted territory as he adopts noir mystery fiction to modern day family life. I find the work to be interesting and rewarding to consider, and look forward to the series continuing for many years to come. The mystery in this one isn't very mysterious. Nameless is being asked to drop off a blackmail payment for a client. Where a sophisticated detective would have dropped a tracking bug into the cash, Nameless stakes himself out and plans to trail whoever picks up the money. It's a great reference back to the first book in the series, The Snatch, in which Nameless is to make a kidnapping payoff. Nameless suspects that the reasons for blackmail relate back to drugs, and thinks he has it all scoped out. Soon, though, he realizes he has miscalculated when he puts both Emily and himself in the gravest danger. The action in the mystery goes downhill from there. As Nameless struggles with his experiences, his critical epiphany is late in coming. In the meantime, he takes you into the mean streets of San Francisco where you meet the scum of the earth. Most people will be disappointed with the ending to this story. That's why I graded it down one star. As I finished the book, I began to think about how dedicated professionals in whatever line of work can make more room for their families and those they love. Where can we all get the help we need?
Rating: 
Summary: Bleeders
Review: Another good, solid book from a real pro. As always the pace is fast and the characters are interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Bleeders
Review: Bill Pronzini is by far my favorite mystery writer. Every time I hear that he has a new Nameless Detective novel coming out, I get excited in anticipation of reading it. "Bleeders" is the 27th novel in the series. Nameless helps his client Carolyn Dain recover $75,000 that her husband, Jay Cohalan, has obtained from scamming her. When he goes to return the money, he is met by a bald man who takes the money from him and tries to kill him. Luckily for Nameless, the gun jams and he is spared. He later finds his client dead on her bed from a gunshot wound. He begins his quest in pursuit of the bald man. "Bleeders" has a strong plot, and Pronzini is a master at placing the reader at the scene of the action. Nameless and Kerry, his wife, now have an adopted daughter, Emily (from "Crazybone"). That storyline is heart-warming and adds a dimension to the series that had not been there before. I noticed that the novel was dedicated to Bill Pronzini, and that there were references made to Nameless' possible retirement. I really hope that Nameless has at least a few more cases left in him. If not, thank you, Bill Pronzini for providing me with many hours of enjoyable reading!
Rating:
Summary: Bleeders
Review: Bill Pronzini is by far my favorite mystery writer. Every time I hear that he has a new Nameless Detective novel coming out, I get excited in anticipation of reading it. "Bleeders" is the 27th novel in the series. Nameless helps his client Carolyn Dain recover $75,000 that her husband, Jay Cohalan, has obtained from scamming her. When he goes to return the money, he is met by a bald man who takes the money from him and tries to kill him. Luckily for Nameless, the gun jams and he is spared. He later finds his client dead on her bed from a gunshot wound. He begins his quest in pursuit of the bald man. "Bleeders" has a strong plot, and Pronzini is a master at placing the reader at the scene of the action. Nameless and Kerry, his wife, now have an adopted daughter, Emily (from "Crazybone"). That storyline is heart-warming and adds a dimension to the series that had not been there before. I noticed that the novel was dedicated to Bill Pronzini, and that there were references made to Nameless' possible retirement. I really hope that Nameless has at least a few more cases left in him. If not, thank you, Bill Pronzini for providing me with many hours of enjoyable reading!
Rating:
Summary: This is it!
Review: Dear fellow Pronzini fans - yes, Bleeders is the last Nameless story. I had the good fortune to meet Pronzini at a book-signing event last summer, and he told us this book would be the end of the series. He said he felt he had taken Nameless as far as he could. I too am unhappy about this but I'm grateful for the exciting ride he's given us in all the books he's written. Bleeders is exceptional and a fitting end to the series. I dearly hope Pronzini will keep writing other novels. I can't imagine what I'd do if he didn't.
Rating:
Summary: Nameless Earns His Name
Review: From the moment one reads the dedication of this Nameless mystery, one realizes what a special book BLEEDERS is. Bill Pronzini dedicates BLEEDERS to himself "without whom this series would never have been written." As in the recent Nameless mysteries, Nameless is showing his age and his maturity. He is realizing that, while his work is important to him, there is more to life than merely running his PI agency. He is married now, of course, and he has an adopted daughter he acquired in the previous novel. His family responsibilities are becoming more and more important to him. The plotline of this story involves a grifting scheme that leads to murders. It nearly costs Nameless his life, too. As with all Pronzini works, the book moves far beyond the mystery genre and addresses serious moral themes. As always, Pronzini is a moralistic writer in the best senses of the term. The plot works fabulously, and the characters seem realistic. The interaction between everyone on stage couldn't work better. In the end, Nameless realizes his name is Daddy. It is bestowed on him by his adopted daughter, and he decides to make certain major life changes. While it is suggested throughout the work that BLEEDERS may mark the end of this long-running series, I hope the series continues. Bill Pronzini, in my opinion, is the finest mystery writer of his generation. The influence of this series will long be felt in the mystery genre. His Nameless character may now be Daddy to a little girl, yet he has always been the father of the private detectives created by those of us who have begun our writing careers in recent years.
Rating:
Summary: Nameless Earns His Name
Review: From the moment one reads the dedication of this Nameless mystery, one realizes what a special book BLEEDERS is. Bill Pronzini dedicates BLEEDERS to himself "without whom this series would never have been written." As in the recent Nameless mysteries, Nameless is showing his age and his maturity. He is realizing that, while his work is important to him, there is more to life than merely running his PI agency. He is married now, of course, and he has an adopted daughter he acquired in the previous novel. His family responsibilities are becoming more and more important to him. The plotline of this story involves a grifting scheme that leads to murders. It nearly costs Nameless his life, too. As with all Pronzini works, the book moves far beyond the mystery genre and addresses serious moral themes. As always, Pronzini is a moralistic writer in the best senses of the term. The plot works fabulously, and the characters seem realistic. The interaction between everyone on stage couldn't work better. In the end, Nameless realizes his name is Daddy. It is bestowed on him by his adopted daughter, and he decides to make certain major life changes. While it is suggested throughout the work that BLEEDERS may mark the end of this long-running series, I hope the series continues. Bill Pronzini, in my opinion, is the finest mystery writer of his generation. The influence of this series will long be felt in the mystery genre. His Nameless character may now be Daddy to a little girl, yet he has always been the father of the private detectives created by those of us who have begun our writing careers in recent years.
Rating:
Summary: And the last shall be first...
Review: I have read a couple of other books by Pronzini, but none in the "Nameless Dectective" series. This new one, "Bleeders", is apparently going to be the final effort in this group. It is a quick, interesting read, done by a veteran who knows how to hook us. Now I will have to go back and catch up on the earlier life of the main character. If you like Robert B. Parker or Lawrence Block, you will also like Pronzini.
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