{"id":43185,"date":"2026-11-10T07:21:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T12:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/?p=43185"},"modified":"2026-11-09T21:18:26","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T02:18:26","slug":"quarrys-reunion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/?p=43185","title":{"rendered":"QUARRY’S REUNION by Max Allan Collins \/ Z-View"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

QUARRY’S REUNION<\/a> by Max Allan Collins<\/strong><\/p>\n

First sentences\u2026<\/p>\n

\n

I hadn’t killed anybody for money, or for free for that matter, in a long time.\u00a0 So seeing her, and knowing that one option would be to snuff her out like a candle’s flame, I wondered what, if any, other options I had.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Overview:\u00a0 Beware of Spoilers\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jack Keller was one of the many aliases the professional contract killer known as Quarry used over the years.\u00a0 Quarry wasn’t his real name, but the one he used for… business purposes.<\/p>\n

After a stint as a marine sniper, Quarry was recruited by the Broker, to join a stable of mostly ex-military men who killed for money.\u00a0 Quarry became a target when he refused to murder without question.\u00a0 Quarry survived, took down the Broker and went out on his own.\u00a0 For the next couple of decades, Quarry used his skills to protect people.<\/p>\n

But that was years ago.<\/p>\n

Now retired, Quarry is known as Jack Keller, a quiet affable widower.\u00a0 So when Quarry’s high school sweetheart, Mary Ann Kemper, reaches out to him, he’s surprised. Complicating matters is the fact that Mary Ann appears to know about his “life” as Quarry.<\/p>\n

Mary Ann needs help \u2014 the very kind Quarry is an expert at providing.\u00a0 Someone wants Mary Ann’s daughter dead.\u00a0 There are several suspects, but as bodies pile up (not all caused by Quarry), time is running out.<\/p>\n

+++<\/p>\n

I am a HUGE fan of Max Allan Collins’ Nate Heller novels.\u00a0 QUARRY’S REUNION is my first Quarry novel. If, like me, you’re new to the character, don’t worry.\u00a0 Collins quickly brings readers up to speed. QUARRY’S REUNION is the perfect jumping on tale for a series that started fifty years ago.<\/p>\n

QUARRY’S REUNION is an easy, fun read.\u00a0 As the yarn unfolded, it reminded me of something Lawrence Block might have written. (THAT is a great compliment.)\u00a0 It wasn’t until I finished the novel that it occurred to me that Quarry’s “Keller” alias was probably a tip of the fedora to Block and his hitman character.<\/p>\n

In QUARRY’S REUNION Max Allan Collins did something unexpected. Just as the story is barreling along \u2014 with the suspects known and the casualties mounting \u2014 Collins shifts tone. What started as a pulp revenge tale transforms from a “whodunit” into a “how-and-why- he\/she-dunit,” in the best Rex Stout \/ Nero Wolfe tradition. Genius. Pure genius.<\/p>\n

The beautiful cover by Paul Mann is a bonus!<\/p>\n

QUARRY’S REUNION gets my highest recommendation.<\/p>\n

Rating:<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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