NOIR BURLESQUE by Enrico Marini / Z-View
NOIR BURLESQUE by Enrico Marini (writer/artist)
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Terry Cole agreed to one job to pay of his brother-in-law’s debt to a gangster named Rex. It was a jewelry store robbery. The heist went sideways when the getaway driver panicked and left early. Terry made it out, but the haul came up short. There wasn’t enough to cancel the debt.
To make matters worse, Terry discovers that Rex’s fiancée is Terry’s former lover. Terry knew her as Debbie, but she now goes by Caprice. Caprice is gaining a reputation as a burlesque entertainer. Caprice dreams of stardom and Rex has the money and pull to help her get it. Still, the attraction to Terry is still there. And Terry feels the same. Caprice loves the sex with Terry, but loves the idea of stardom more.
Rex learns of their past relationship and believes that they’ve started seeing each other. (They have. But is it lust or love?) Rex orders Terry to do another job to finish paying off his brother-in-law’s debt. It’s a suicide mission to rip off Rex’s competition — an Italian mobster. If Terry is successful, Rex will kill him.
Terry is outmaneuvered and outgunned. Or is he? Terry has a secret and a plan that just might save his life.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
If you’re a fan of crime fiction and film noir, NOIR BURLESQUE is for you. It’s obvious that Enrico Marini loves the genre. Set in the 1950s, Marini checks off all the boxes expected for a fun crime story. It’s got the stoic tough guy anti-hero, the sexy former lover who is as apt to shoot you as she is to make love to you, the jealous crime boss, the little tough guy and the big dumb lug henchmen. It’s got sex (more than in older film noir, but nothing too graphic). And more than a couple of twists.
I’ve been a fan of Marini’s art for a while, but this is the first story I’ve read by him. I hope it won’t be my last. (And I’d love to see more NOIR BURLESQUE tales.)
NOIR BURLESQUE by Enrico Marini (writer/artist) rates 5 of 5 stars.
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