The Girl with the Long Green Heart

First published in 1965, this is another pulp classic from Lawrence Block, now resurrected by the folks at Hard Case Crime. The main protagonist, Johnny Hayden, is fresh out of the slammer and determined to never go back. He's toiling away at a job in a bowling alley, making peanuts but attempting t......more

Even after taking the fall, after doing a bit in the big house (San Quentin aka Q, to be specific), it's hard for a born confidence man to keep it on the straight and narrow. That's not to say that our man, Johnny Hayden isn't trying. But, giving up the grift is never easy. The ingredients a......more

After doing a stretch in San Quentin, Johnny Hayden decides to commit to a quiet life in middle management. While saving up to buy a local motel and quietly completing a correspondence course in hospitality, Johnny is approached by an old friend with a con to end all cons. Reluctant at first, Johnny......more

Pulpy Tagline!: "From the top of her beautiful, brilliant head, to the pit of her merciless soul, she was filled with larceny." (Gold Medal edition) Everyone likes reading about con artists. Stories about people using their brains and wits as weapons to fool someone and get away with it are prett......more

It’s a Lawrence Block so expect the unexpected if you can imagine what that might be. i.e. What's up is down and what's down is up. Johnny, the primary protagonist who was recently released from prison and Doug, the secondary, are both grifters. Doug sells Johnny the flawless, can't go wrong grift. J......more