Cloak and Dagger Challenge #99
Monthly Key Word: Blue
Date Finished: July 14, 2018

A retired cop, now a part-time private investigator, in a small Florida town is brought in by the local police to pose as a hitman for hire by the wife of a local wealthy businessman. The man quickly switches sides, as does the reader, and works with her to snuff the husband and get the dough.

A updated and twisted version of Double Indemnity and the Postman Always Rings Twice, both of which are referenced, this Block mystery is tough and seamy, with little moral value. I really liked it. It was very difficult to put down and moved along nicely. I’m not used to anything set after the 1980s, so the use of cell phones and Google searches was strange, but Block was able to show that a good, noir story can still be told.