Thu 10 Dec 2020
Stories I’m Reading: JAMES H. COBB “The Sound of Justice.â€
Posted by Steve under Stories I'm Reading[5] Comments
JAMES H. COBB “The Sound of Justice.†Kevin Pulaski #2. Novelette. First published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, July 2005. Probably never reprinted.
The Kevin Pulaski of the present is a retired veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, but when he was in high school, back in Indiana in 1949, that he would grow up to be a lawman was the furthest thing from his mind. He was, in fact, a hod-rodder of the first magnitude, and a JD? His reply, “Man, I was there when they first came out.â€
That he had an off-and-on relationship with the local authorities at the time doesn’t matter when a good buddy is accused of stealing a small fortune of jewelry from his girl friend’s father’s store. Kevin goes the preliminary trial on his own initiative, and part of the evidence he provides is… Well, this small excerpt should explain:
“I […turned] to face the judge’s desk. “I’m what you call establishing precedent. You see, Your Honor, every hot rod ever built has a kind of fingerprint. Something about it that is totally different from any other car in the world, the sound of its engine.â€
He demonstrates and his friend goes free. The story is cleanly told and not once pretentious. Even though I was never part of the hot rod culture in high school, I was fully aware of it, and I enjoyed this brief trip back in time.
The Kevin Pulaski series —
Road Bomb (ss) Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine Mar/Apr 2004
The Sound of Justice (nv) Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine July 2005
Framed (ss) Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine June 2006
Over the Edge (ss) Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine July 2007
Body and Fender (ss) Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine August 2008
Desert and Swamp (ss) Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine Mar/Apr 2009
and previously:
West on 66. Minotaur, hardcover, October 1999, and taking place in Pulaski’s days as a LA lawman.
December 10th, 2020 at 7:06 am
I liked all the Pulaski short stories. Except the first “Road Bomb”, of which I’ve never seen a copy. Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s good too.
I’ve long recommended them, on my list of best mysteries stories:
http://mikegrost.com/zbest.htm
I was disappointed that the series stopped appearing. Don’t know anything about reasons why.
December 10th, 2020 at 9:04 am
Cobb passed away in 2014, but he’d stopped writing before that, possibly for health reasons. I haven’t read any of the Pulaski short stories but loved WEST ON 66 and also the first couple of big techno-thrillers he wrote. Never got around to the others, though.
December 10th, 2020 at 9:42 am
That’s sad news, James, but thanks for letting us know. I wrote and posted this review early this morning and hadn’t gotten around to doing my usual research on the author himself.
Here’s a photo of him and a list of his books on the Fantastic Fiction website:
https://www.fantasticfiction.com/c/james-h-cobb/
I think I will order a copy of WEST ON 66. I also think that his estate might consider an ebook of his Pulaski short stories. I’d buy that right away.
PS. Here’s a description of WEST ON 66 from the Amazon webpage:
“A classic noir mystery in the tradition of Elmore Leonard. Set on Route 66 in 1958, a young detective becomes involved with a mysterious and beautiful woman, mobsters and a search for a cache of moolah.”
I can’t say no to a book like this!
December 10th, 2020 at 3:41 pm
My review of WEST ON 66 from ‘way back when: https://jamesreasoner.blogspot.com/2008/10/forgotten-books-west-on-66-james-h-cobb.html
December 10th, 2020 at 4:21 pm
I’d already ordered a copy OF WEST ON 66 before reading your review, James. Now I’m doubly glad I did. Thanks for the link!