(Kindle edition)
Title: LAST PUFFS
Author: Harley Mazuk
Publisher: New Pulp Press
Pages: 293
Genre: Mystery/Crime/Private Eye
Author: Harley Mazuk
Publisher: New Pulp Press
Pages: 293
Genre: Mystery/Crime/Private Eye
Frank Swiver and his college pal, Max Rabinowitz, both fall in love with Amanda Zingaro, courageous Republican guerilla, in the Spanish civil war. But the local fascists murder her and her father.
Eleven years later in San Francisco in 1949, Frank, traumatized by
the violence in Spain, has become a pacifist and makes a marginal living
as a private eye. Max who lost an eye in Spain but owes his life to
Frank, has pledged Frank eternal loyalty. He’s a loyal communist party
member and successful criminal attorney.
Frank takes on a case for Joan Spring,
half-Chinese wife of a wealthy banker. Joan seduces Frank to ensure his
loyalty. But Frank busts up a prostitution/white slavery ring at the
Lotus House a brothel in Chinatown, where Joan was keeping refugees from
Nanking prisoners.
Then Max sees a woman working in a Fresno cigar factory, who is a dead ringer for Amanda, and brings in Frank, who learns it is
Amanda. She has tracked the fascists who killed her father and left her
for dead from her village in Spain to California. Amanda wants Frank to
help her take revenge. And by the way, she says the ten-year-old boy
with her is Frank’s son.
Joan Spring turns out to be a Red Chinese secret agent, and she’s
drawn a line through Max’s name with a pencil. Can Frank save Max again?
Can he help Amanda avenge her father when he’s sworn off violence? Can
he protect her from her target’s daughter, the sadistic Veronica
Rios-Ortega? Join Frank Swiver in the swift-moving story, Last Puffs.
Praise:
.5 out of 5 stars Wonderful Read – Easy and Fun
February 10, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition| Verified Purchase
Frank Swiver is a detective. Murder investigations are his specialty.
He likes wine, loose women and fast cars. Not necessarily in that
order. Swiver inhabits an earlier world that is archaic and, without
doubt, politically incorrect by today’s standards. Harley Mazuk
recreates in Swiver a character from another era whose story is fun and
entertaining. Mazuk has an impressive knowledge of wines and cars which
permeate his narrative. As to his knowledge of women, I am not competent
to judge. I do know that the geography and time period portrayed is
well researched. There are many twists and turns to the plot as well as
an injection of espionage that keeps the reader guessing. Fans of old
fashion detective novels will enjoy this book. I know, I did.
— Amazon Reviewer
Eleven years later in San Francisco in 1949, Frank, traumatized by
the violence in Spain, has become a pacifist and makes a marginal living
as a private eye. Max who lost an eye in Spain but owes his life to
Frank, has pledged Frank eternal loyalty. He’s a loyal communist party
member and successful criminal attorney.
Frank takes on a case for Joan Spring,
half-Chinese wife of a wealthy banker. Joan seduces Frank to ensure his
loyalty. But Frank busts up a prostitution/white slavery ring at the
Lotus House a brothel in Chinatown, where Joan was keeping refugees from
Nanking prisoners.
Then Max sees a woman working in a Fresno cigar factory, who is a dead ringer for Amanda, and brings in Frank, who learns it is
Amanda. She has tracked the fascists who killed her father and left her
for dead from her village in Spain to California. Amanda wants Frank to
help her take revenge. And by the way, she says the ten-year-old boy
with her is Frank’s son.
Joan Spring turns out to be a Red Chinese secret agent, and she’s
drawn a line through Max’s name with a pencil. Can Frank save Max again?
Can he help Amanda avenge her father when he’s sworn off violence? Can
he protect her from her target’s daughter, the sadistic Veronica
Rios-Ortega? Join Frank Swiver in the swift-moving story, Last Puffs.
Praise:
.5 out of 5 stars Wonderful Read – Easy and Fun
February 10, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition| Verified Purchase
Frank Swiver is a detective. Murder investigations are his specialty.
He likes wine, loose women and fast cars. Not necessarily in that
order. Swiver inhabits an earlier world that is archaic and, without
doubt, politically incorrect by today’s standards. Harley Mazuk
recreates in Swiver a character from another era whose story is fun and
entertaining. Mazuk has an impressive knowledge of wines and cars which
permeate his narrative. As to his knowledge of women, I am not competent
to judge. I do know that the geography and time period portrayed is
well researched. There are many twists and turns to the plot as well as
an injection of espionage that keeps the reader guessing. Fans of old
fashion detective novels will enjoy this book. I know, I did.
— Amazon Reviewer
Order Your Copy!
Aragón, Spain, March 1938
There’d been a dusting of fresh
snow in the high ground during the night, and the captain wanted our squad,
which was nine men, to relieve an outpost on the crest of a hill, just up above
the tree line. Max Rabinowitz took point, and I followed, climbing steadily. It
was a cold, quiet morning, and we talked between ourselves about the ’38 baseball
season, and whether we’d be back in the States to see any games.
snow in the high ground during the night, and the captain wanted our squad,
which was nine men, to relieve an outpost on the crest of a hill, just up above
the tree line. Max Rabinowitz took point, and I followed, climbing steadily. It
was a cold, quiet morning, and we talked between ourselves about the ’38 baseball
season, and whether we’d be back in the States to see any games.
“I would like to see Hank Greenberg
and the Tigers play DiMaggio and the Yanks,” said Max. Max was dark-haired and
rangy, and I always thought he looked a bit like Cary Grant, though now after a
year in the field, there was nothing suave nor dapper in his appearance.
and the Tigers play DiMaggio and the Yanks,” said Max. Max was dark-haired and
rangy, and I always thought he looked a bit like Cary Grant, though now after a
year in the field, there was nothing suave nor dapper in his appearance.
“How about Ted Williams?” I said.
“We’ve already seen DiMaggio play in San Francisco
with the Seals.”
“We’ve already seen DiMaggio play in San Francisco
with the Seals.”
“We saw Williams play with the
Padres. Besides, he isn’t in the big leagues yet,” said Max.
Padres. Besides, he isn’t in the big leagues yet,” said Max.
“Yeah, but the Red Sox signed him.”
I walked along just off Max’s shoulder. I was about the same height as Max, six
feet, six-one, a little thinner, and looked at least as scruffy that morning. I
wore a burgundy scarf around my head and ears, under a dirty and battered grey
fedora. I scanned the virgin snow ahead of us with heavy-lidded eyes. The wind
was faint, just enough to pick up a feathery wisp of snow in spots and spin it
around.
I walked along just off Max’s shoulder. I was about the same height as Max, six
feet, six-one, a little thinner, and looked at least as scruffy that morning. I
wore a burgundy scarf around my head and ears, under a dirty and battered grey
fedora. I scanned the virgin snow ahead of us with heavy-lidded eyes. The wind
was faint, just enough to pick up a feathery wisp of snow in spots and spin it
around.
“He’s only about 19. I think
they’ll keep him down on the farm for ’38.”
they’ll keep him down on the farm for ’38.”
“I would like to see Bob Feller
pitch to your boy Greenberg,” I told Max.
pitch to your boy Greenberg,” I told Max.
Smitty came up between us. “Feller
throws 100 miles an hour, and he strikes out more than one per inning.”
throws 100 miles an hour, and he strikes out more than one per inning.”
“They say,” said Max, “he walks
almost one an inning,”
almost one an inning,”
“Keeps ‘em loose up there,” said
Smitty, who was from Cleveland.
“Hundred mile an hour heat and nobody knows where it’s going.”
Smitty, who was from Cleveland.
“Hundred mile an hour heat and nobody knows where it’s going.”
As the three of us stepped out of
the cover of the tree line, Smitty kind of hopped up on one leg and threw his arms
out. I wondered what sort of a weird little dance that was; then I heard the
automatic weapons fire coming down at us off the hill. It was a mechanical
chatter, rather than gunpowder explosions, and the wind had blown the sound
around the hills so that the bullets cut Smitty down before it had reached us.
Branches near us started to snap off and tumble earthwards. Max hit the snow on
his belly and rolled downhill to his right to get to cover behind a rock. I
motioned for the others to get back into the trees, and dove into a low spot in
the ground.
the cover of the tree line, Smitty kind of hopped up on one leg and threw his arms
out. I wondered what sort of a weird little dance that was; then I heard the
automatic weapons fire coming down at us off the hill. It was a mechanical
chatter, rather than gunpowder explosions, and the wind had blown the sound
around the hills so that the bullets cut Smitty down before it had reached us.
Branches near us started to snap off and tumble earthwards. Max hit the snow on
his belly and rolled downhill to his right to get to cover behind a rock. I
motioned for the others to get back into the trees, and dove into a low spot in
the ground.
When we could look up, we saw that
the fascists had overrun the outpost we’d been climbing up to the ridge to
relieve, and the firing was coming from there. We returned fire. I heard cries
in Spanish from behind me, a curse in a low voice, then a high-pitched prayer.
the fascists had overrun the outpost we’d been climbing up to the ridge to
relieve, and the firing was coming from there. We returned fire. I heard cries
in Spanish from behind me, a curse in a low voice, then a high-pitched prayer.
A potato-masher grenade came
flipping end-over-end down the hill toward me. It seemed like slow motion. It
hit a rock and bounced up. I could say a Hail Mary in about four seconds flat
in those days, and I said one then. The grenade sailed over my head; I heard it
explode, and felt a shower of dirt on my back. In front of me, Max was popping
up and firing one round with his Springfield,
then dropping behind the rock. I popped up and fired when he dropped down. I
thought we were doing pretty well taking turns, but grenades kept arcing over
our heads and bullets pinged into Max’s rock and raked the dirt beside me. Max
tried lobbing one of his grenades towards the machine gun, but his throw was
uphill, and he didn’t have an arm like DiMaggio.
flipping end-over-end down the hill toward me. It seemed like slow motion. It
hit a rock and bounced up. I could say a Hail Mary in about four seconds flat
in those days, and I said one then. The grenade sailed over my head; I heard it
explode, and felt a shower of dirt on my back. In front of me, Max was popping
up and firing one round with his Springfield,
then dropping behind the rock. I popped up and fired when he dropped down. I
thought we were doing pretty well taking turns, but grenades kept arcing over
our heads and bullets pinged into Max’s rock and raked the dirt beside me. Max
tried lobbing one of his grenades towards the machine gun, but his throw was
uphill, and he didn’t have an arm like DiMaggio.
After a few minutes of this, I
tried to aim and squeeze the trigger instead of popping off quick shots. Then I
didn’t hear anyone behind us firing anymore. I looked around and saw Rocco and
Pete sprawled in the grass. I called to a couple of the others.
tried to aim and squeeze the trigger instead of popping off quick shots. Then I
didn’t hear anyone behind us firing anymore. I looked around and saw Rocco and
Pete sprawled in the grass. I called to a couple of the others.
“Comrades…anyone…sound off.” Nada.
“Frank, this is bad,” Max yelled to
me.
me.
“I’d rather be facing Feller’s
fastballs,” I told him. “Maybe it’s time for us to dust.” Then we heard an
airplane motor. It grew louder, and the first plane, a Heinkel, zoomed over the
ridge seconds later. Max had risen to his feet and was scrambling down the
slope. He looked back over his shoulder at the plane just as a cannon shot from
the aircraft hit the rock he’d been behind. The explosion flipped Max in
mid-air and tossed him towards me. The ground under him ripped up and clods of
dirt flew towards us.
fastballs,” I told him. “Maybe it’s time for us to dust.” Then we heard an
airplane motor. It grew louder, and the first plane, a Heinkel, zoomed over the
ridge seconds later. Max had risen to his feet and was scrambling down the
slope. He looked back over his shoulder at the plane just as a cannon shot from
the aircraft hit the rock he’d been behind. The explosion flipped Max in
mid-air and tossed him towards me. The ground under him ripped up and clods of
dirt flew towards us.
The scene faded to black, but for
how long, I don’t know. When I opened my eyes, I was facing the sky but I
smelled the forest floor, earth and leaves. Truffles, perhaps? Max was on top
of me, limp, and it was quiet. No planes, no shooting. “Max,” I said, “we gotta
get up. Get off me.” I felt my voice in my head, but couldn’t hear it in my
ears. Max didn’t get up. I rolled him over next to me, and saw that his hat was
gone. The top of his head and the right
side of his face were a collage of blood and dirt. I shook him, and he gasped
for breath, earth falling out of his nostrils. He was still alive.
how long, I don’t know. When I opened my eyes, I was facing the sky but I
smelled the forest floor, earth and leaves. Truffles, perhaps? Max was on top
of me, limp, and it was quiet. No planes, no shooting. “Max,” I said, “we gotta
get up. Get off me.” I felt my voice in my head, but couldn’t hear it in my
ears. Max didn’t get up. I rolled him over next to me, and saw that his hat was
gone. The top of his head and the right
side of his face were a collage of blood and dirt. I shook him, and he gasped
for breath, earth falling out of his nostrils. He was still alive.
“Frank, Frank. I can’t see. I can’t
see.” It didn’t sound like Max, but there was no one else there.
see.” It didn’t sound like Max, but there was no one else there.
“Easy, Max.” I tried to rinse some
of the dirt, debris and blood off Max’s head with my canteen, then I ripped
open a compress from my pack and put it over his forehead and eyes. I wrapped more
dressing around his head to keep the bandage in place “Hold this on your face,
man. Don’t try to open your eyes.” I was afraid his right eyeball was going to
fall out. “Hold it tight.” Using the slope, I maneuvered him across my
shoulder, head down in front of me, and struggled to my feet. I took off at a
trot along the tree line.
of the dirt, debris and blood off Max’s head with my canteen, then I ripped
open a compress from my pack and put it over his forehead and eyes. I wrapped more
dressing around his head to keep the bandage in place “Hold this on your face,
man. Don’t try to open your eyes.” I was afraid his right eyeball was going to
fall out. “Hold it tight.” Using the slope, I maneuvered him across my
shoulder, head down in front of me, and struggled to my feet. I took off at a
trot along the tree line.
Our lines were behind us to the
east but it looked like the whole damned fascist army was charging down from
the outpost, headed that way, so I ran south. It was downhill and my momentum
carried us. The going was easy, but I felt panic building in my gut so I tried
to slow down. I slid on the snow, fell on my butt, and slammed into a tree and
dropped Max.
east but it looked like the whole damned fascist army was charging down from
the outpost, headed that way, so I ran south. It was downhill and my momentum
carried us. The going was easy, but I felt panic building in my gut so I tried
to slow down. I slid on the snow, fell on my butt, and slammed into a tree and
dropped Max.
“Frank, where are you? Am I dyin’?”
“I got you, Max. You caught some shrapnel
in the head from that plane. Say an act of contrition or something.”
in the head from that plane. Say an act of contrition or something.”
“I’m a Jew, you idiot.”
“Say it anyway.” I lifted the gauze
off his forehead and looked under it. His wound didn’t appear to be deep, but
the right eye was very bad, all blood and pulp, and the bone around it may have
been shattered. “Press on this, Max.” I pressed the bandage back against his
face and put his hand on it.
off his forehead and looked under it. His wound didn’t appear to be deep, but
the right eye was very bad, all blood and pulp, and the bone around it may have
been shattered. “Press on this, Max.” I pressed the bandage back against his
face and put his hand on it.
I hoisted him over my shoulder
again, and stepped off, forcing myself to keep my pace steady and not too fast.
We went on till the sun was high in the sky. I didn’t fall again, but my ankles
were burning, and my toes were pinched in my boots from going downhill. I
stopped twice, and opened our bota. I
washed my mouth out with the wine, a rustic red from Calatayud, then I cradled
Max’s head and opened his mouth. I squirted the wine in, squeezing the leather
skin, the way I’d squeezed the trigger of my rifle. Max coughed. He seemed only
half-conscious.
again, and stepped off, forcing myself to keep my pace steady and not too fast.
We went on till the sun was high in the sky. I didn’t fall again, but my ankles
were burning, and my toes were pinched in my boots from going downhill. I
stopped twice, and opened our bota. I
washed my mouth out with the wine, a rustic red from Calatayud, then I cradled
Max’s head and opened his mouth. I squirted the wine in, squeezing the leather
skin, the way I’d squeezed the trigger of my rifle. Max coughed. He seemed only
half-conscious.
I carried Max down the hill and to
the south, parallel to our lines, until we were deep in some woods. I was
scared and it wasn’t easy, but I would have done anything for Max. We had been
roommates and run around together at Berkeley.
We fell out of touch when he went to law school, and I started drinking, trying
to forget Cicilia. When Max re-connected with me in ’36, he tried to help me
sober up and get back on my feet. I’d come around for a while, but always, I’d
slip back into the abyss.
the south, parallel to our lines, until we were deep in some woods. I was
scared and it wasn’t easy, but I would have done anything for Max. We had been
roommates and run around together at Berkeley.
We fell out of touch when he went to law school, and I started drinking, trying
to forget Cicilia. When Max re-connected with me in ’36, he tried to help me
sober up and get back on my feet. I’d come around for a while, but always, I’d
slip back into the abyss.
Max was a red, even back in our
student days. I hadn’t been serious about my politics then. One evening to keep
me from drowning my demons, Max took me to a meeting about the Spanish Civil
War and the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. Before the night was over, we’d signed up
to fight in Spain.
Max didn’t have to. I think he did it to save me. Now I was going to save him.
student days. I hadn’t been serious about my politics then. One evening to keep
me from drowning my demons, Max took me to a meeting about the Spanish Civil
War and the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. Before the night was over, we’d signed up
to fight in Spain.
Max didn’t have to. I think he did it to save me. Now I was going to save him.
When the sun dropped behind the
hills, the woods quickly grew dark. There was a smell of pines, and the footing
was better—no snow or ice on the ground, which was hard and covered with dry
pine needles. Under the background din of war, the roar of artillery and
airplanes, I heard water down to my left. I turned towards it and a few minutes
later, came to a stream, probably flowing south to the Ebro.
It wasn’t night yet, but it was so dark under the tall trees, I would have walked
into the stream without seeing it if not for the sound of the water rushing
over the rocks. I put Max down on his back, head and shoulders downhill toward
the stream. The blood had dried; the gauze was stuck to his head. I scooped up
water with my hat and poured it on his face. The icy cold shocked him into
consciousness—and panic and pain.
hills, the woods quickly grew dark. There was a smell of pines, and the footing
was better—no snow or ice on the ground, which was hard and covered with dry
pine needles. Under the background din of war, the roar of artillery and
airplanes, I heard water down to my left. I turned towards it and a few minutes
later, came to a stream, probably flowing south to the Ebro.
It wasn’t night yet, but it was so dark under the tall trees, I would have walked
into the stream without seeing it if not for the sound of the water rushing
over the rocks. I put Max down on his back, head and shoulders downhill toward
the stream. The blood had dried; the gauze was stuck to his head. I scooped up
water with my hat and poured it on his face. The icy cold shocked him into
consciousness—and panic and pain.
“Morphine, Frank,” he moaned.
“Gimme the morphine.” But I had used our morphine one night weeks ago on guard
duty on a cold hillside. We did have a flask of Cardenal Mendoza Spanish
Brandy, and I gave him some, then I drank. I rinsed his wound good and put a
new bandage on it using Max’s kit this time. My legs felt weak and started to
shake with cold or exhaustion. I don’t know if I could have stood up then if the
Generalissimo had come down the hill
waving his pistoles. We were down
low, and there were some bare shrubs and young trees sheltering us on the
uphill slope. I fought my exhaustion and tried to keep watch as long as I
could. I had another swallow of brandy and pulled close to Max. My eyes closed,
and I fell asleep.
“Gimme the morphine.” But I had used our morphine one night weeks ago on guard
duty on a cold hillside. We did have a flask of Cardenal Mendoza Spanish
Brandy, and I gave him some, then I drank. I rinsed his wound good and put a
new bandage on it using Max’s kit this time. My legs felt weak and started to
shake with cold or exhaustion. I don’t know if I could have stood up then if the
Generalissimo had come down the hill
waving his pistoles. We were down
low, and there were some bare shrubs and young trees sheltering us on the
uphill slope. I fought my exhaustion and tried to keep watch as long as I
could. I had another swallow of brandy and pulled close to Max. My eyes closed,
and I fell asleep.
Harley Mazuk was born in Cleveland, the last year
that the Indians won the World Series. He majored in English literature
at Hiram College in Ohio, and Elphinstone College, Bombay, India. Harley
worked as a record salesman (vinyl) and later served the U.S.
Government in Information Technology and in communications, where he
honed his writing style as an editor and content provider for official
web sites.
Retired now, he likes to write pulp fiction, mostly private eye stories, several of which have appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. His first full length novel, White with Fish, Red with Murder, was released in 2017, and his newest, Last Puffs, just came out in January 2018.
Harley’s other passions are his wife Anastasia, their two children, reading, running, Italian cars, California wine and peace.
that the Indians won the World Series. He majored in English literature
at Hiram College in Ohio, and Elphinstone College, Bombay, India. Harley
worked as a record salesman (vinyl) and later served the U.S.
Government in Information Technology and in communications, where he
honed his writing style as an editor and content provider for official
web sites.
Retired now, he likes to write pulp fiction, mostly private eye stories, several of which have appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. His first full length novel, White with Fish, Red with Murder, was released in 2017, and his newest, Last Puffs, just came out in January 2018.
Harley’s other passions are his wife Anastasia, their two children, reading, running, Italian cars, California wine and peace.
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What an amazing plot, so many surprises, mystery and intrigue. It is a must read!
ReplyDeleteIt's great to hear from readers like you Rose-Marie. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. It reminds me of the dime store detective novels.
ReplyDeleteThat's high praise (I think) :-)
DeleteThanks, Kimberly!
Enjoyed the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteWell, if you liked that, I hope you'll try the whole book.
DeleteThanks for dropping by.
I would like to give thanks for all your really great writings, including Last Puffs. I wish the best in keeping up the good work in the future.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the excerpt.
ReplyDelete