Today, New York Times bestselling author James Reasoner—well known to readers for his many acclaimed Western novels and his long-running blog, Rough Edges—reviewed the latest Stark House collection, for which I was fortunate to write the introduction. Reasoner may be best recognized for his Westerns, but his passion for classic crime fiction and pulp literature shines through in his thoughtful reviews. Over the years, his blog has become a trusted resource for aficionados hoping to discover overlooked gems and forgotten classics from all corners of popular fiction.
Earlier this year, Reasoner shared his enthusiasm for Stark House’s reissue of William Ard’s Shakedown / The Blonde and Johnny Malloy, which features my introduction “Ben Kerr and The Two Johnnies.” In that review, published September 3, 2025, Reasoner praised Ard’s work for its “breezy, entertaining style,” “fast-paced” storytelling, and memorable cast of characters. He later followed up with an equally positive review of The Blonde and Johnny Malloy, highlighting the contrast between the two novels and their enduring appeal for fans of hardboiled fiction.
Now, Reasoner turns his attention to Stark House’s latest double volume: “Stark House recently reprinted two of Webb’s stand-alone novels in a handsome double volume, THE DEADLY COMBO and ONE FOR MY DAME. THE DEADLY COMBO is both a fast-paced, violent, hardboiled mystery and a love letter to jazz music, all at the same time. I stayed up later than I normally do to finish it, and that takes a pretty compelling book at my age. The Stark House double volume, complete with a top-notch introduction by Nicholas Litchfield, is available in e-book and paperback editions on Amazon.” You can read his review of the collection on his blog, Rough Edges, found here.