Rating: 
Summary: Are we supposed to like this guy
Review: It's hard not to. A professional killer works his way onto our good side, while being not so good himself. Enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: Gischler is my new hero
Review: One of the most impressive debuts I've ever read, Gun Monkeys is a return to the two-fisted days of Mickey Spillaine and Richard Stark, with an important twist-it's funny as hell.The tone of the book is summed up in the very first line: "I turned the Chrysler onto the Florida Turnpike with Rollo Kramer's headless body in the trunk, and all the time I'm thinking I should've put some plastic down." If you believe, like I do, that this line is the perfect way to start a book, then buy Gun Monkeys right now. It's noir on nitrous oxide, and will keep you guessing, and laughing, from page one to the slam-bang finale.
Rating:
Summary: Entertains!
Review: Some special read. Gischler entertains the hell out of the reader, has you curling your toes on one page, laughing out of your chair the next. What great characters, too. A stone killer with heart as the hero. Dealing with a bunch of thugs, trying to stay alive. And the storyline, delving deep into Florida's underworld. Gischler knows too much. I wouldn't be surprised the FBI investigates him for some kind of pro hit man.
Rating:
Summary: exactly what you want from a crime novel
Review: The first sentence of "Gun Monkeys" is a perfect distillation of everything I'm always looking for in a crime novel: grisly, curt and most of all laugh-out-loud funny, without ever lapsing into cuteness. I've been recommending it to everyone I know who cares about this kind of book.
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Summary: Grit, guns, and stuffed bears.
Review: This book is a great read. It's told through the voice of Charlie Swift, a tough piece of gun toting mobster muscle. Charlie works throug the problems that confront him like Dick Tracy on the wrong side of the law. The violence combines with a dark sense of humor that gives this book a fun gritty feel. Charlie meets a gal pal named Marcie who does taxidermy with an artists touch. Whether your a noir fan or not, or even if you don't know what noir is, this book is a must read.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book, I've ordered more for friends
Review: This book is hard to put down, it holds your attention from the first paragraph. Funny, easy to follow storyline, believable characters. The language is a little strong, but I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery/thriller. I can hardly wait for Mr. Gischler to produce a second book.
Rating:
Summary: Tough as shoe leather with powder burns
Review: This guy Vic Gischler knows how to write prose that makes you keep reading, even when his main character's a professional killer. Let's say instead, especially when he's a professional killer. Charlie Swift is loyal to his boss, Stan, his mother, and his younger brother Danny and, as well, to his taxidermist girlfriend Marcie who also happens to be the widow of a guy Charlie had to put on ice. Seems like Charlie's boss goes missing. Seems like other guys in Charlie's crew are getting wasted, as in permanently. Seems like another guy, Beggar Johnson, wants to take over Stan's turf. Charlie manages to miss getting wiped out himself and goes after the guys who killed his compadre Bob. He's got friends--Lou the New Guy and Jimmy the Fix principally. And he's got his wits. Which are pretty sharp judging by the story here. OK, here's some sacrilege. Gischler claims to have read a lot of John McDonald and been heavily influenced by him, but for my money, he writes better than McDonald who in my opinion a lot of the time is hard to get through--clunky prose that's dated now. But VG's writing is smooth as silk and tough as shoe leather with powder burns. Nice job.
Rating:
Summary: Tough as shoe leather with powder burns
Review: This guy Vic Gischler knows how to write prose that makes you keep reading, even when his main character's a professional killer. Let's say instead, especially when he's a professional killer. Charlie Swift is loyal to his boss, Stan, his mother, and his younger brother Danny and, as well, to his taxidermist girlfriend Marcie who also happens to be the widow of a guy Charlie had to put on ice. Seems like Charlie's boss goes missing. Seems like other guys in Charlie's crew are getting wasted, as in permanently. Seems like another guy, Beggar Johnson, wants to take over Stan's turf. Charlie manages to miss getting wiped out himself and goes after the guys who killed his compadre Bob. He's got friends--Lou the New Guy and Jimmy the Fix principally. And he's got his wits. Which are pretty sharp judging by the story here. OK, here's some sacrilege. Gischler claims to have read a lot of John McDonald and been heavily influenced by him, but for my money, he writes better than McDonald who in my opinion a lot of the time is hard to get through--clunky prose that's dated now. But VG's writing is smooth as silk and tough as shoe leather with powder burns. Nice job.
Rating: 
Summary: Could have been terrific
Review: This is a darn good read--a page turner from first to last. I like the premise and the writing so much I hope the author will correct the flaw in his next book. I read every mystery I can get. Most are entertaining, some are terrific, a few are wonderful, and a handful are magic. I think this author can be terrific, but I expect the protagonist to not make stupid mistakes (such as returning to the same old place he told everybody else to leave--c'mon this is supposed to be an experienced pro) and a hit man to be up-to-date (no cell phone?). I look forward to the author's next book.
Rating:
Summary: Another Great Pulp Novel from Uglytown Press
Review: You just can't get good help these days, even when the job is something simple like whacking a midlevel hood named Rollo Kramer. Given his druthers, chief gun monkey Charlie Swift would never have picked the inept Blade Sanchez to accompany him on the job. But Charlie's boss Stan told Charlie to take Blade along as a favor to Miami crimeboss Beggar Johnson, and since
Charlie owes Stan for "every nickel hidden in [Charlie's] safe deposit box", Charlie doesn't see that he has much of a choice. So begins "Gun Monkeys", Victor Gischler's instant noir classic from Uglytown Press. Charlie's day starts off bad and gets steadily worse as someone decides to make a move on the aging Stan's territory, a business decision that involves whacking most of Charlie's crew. The only bright spot
in the day is Charlie's budding relationship with Rollo's widow Marcie. The widow Kramer is a tough, foxy redhead with an eye for Charlie and a talent for taxidermy. The latter trait has the fortunate effect of making her less squeamish around dead bodies, which is a good thing, considering. Charlie's attempts to find out what happened to Stan, even the score, and incidentally take care of his Mom and his kid brother, make for a great read. If you're a fan of the dark humor of "The Sopranos" or the tough talk of Richard Stark's "Parker" books, you'll love "Gun Monkeys."
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