Quarry's List: Quarry

This is the 2nd book in the Quarry series, if you go by publication order. It's a fun, fast read with a few surprise twists I didn't see coming. More clever than the first book, but not as fast and polished as the later novels.I think of the first four Quarry books as the "old" series, all published in 1976-77. These novels must be read in order to make sense.1) Quarry (aka The Broker)2) Quarry's List (aka The Broker's Wife)3) Quarry's Deal (aka The Dealer)4) Quarry's Cut (aka The Slasher)The character was resurrected briefly in 1987's Primary Target (later re-titled Quarry's Vote). Primary Target was then repackaged in 2003, along with a few additional short stories, in a hard-to-find volume titled Quarry's Greatest Hits.The character made a more permanent comeback under the Hard Case Crime imprint in 2006, in what I think of as the "new" Quarry series. These novels skip around in time and fill in the gaps of Quarry's career. They don't necessarily need to be read in order.6) The Last Quarry7) The First Quarry8) Quarry in the Middle9) Quarry's Ex10) The Wrong Quarry (to be published in Jan 2014)

As detailed in the First Quarry, Quarry is a former Vietnam veteran whose real name is never disclosed to the reader. He comes back, finds his fiancé, Joanie, in bed with another guy, finds that guy working under his car and kicks the jack out, survives a murder trial, and is then recruited by a mysterious figure named the Broker to carry out hits and we don't mean hits in baseball.Quarry's List is the second book in the series, was first published in 1976, and details Quarry's adventures in the immediate aftermath of the Broker's death. Quarry has been laying low in his cottage for months, believing that someone will be sent to kill him, tying up loose ends. Quarry has been expecting a two-man team and, although he has a two-bedroom cottage, he sleeps in the fold-out couch in the loft, believing that it will get him better odds.After dealing with the assassination attempt, Quarry follows his leads to whoever is appearing to take over the Broker's business in Miluakee, believing that this is the person who ordered the hit on him. He sees that there is a two-man team watching a brick house.Quarry stays at the Concort Inn, a place where he used to meet the Broker. He liked to swim there. "Maybe I was an idiot," he explains, "coming back here, staying here again. Maybe I was just risking my ass, just so I could go swimming." Of course, it wouldn't be a Quarry book without a romantic interest and, as Quarry takes his swim, he hears a voice from behind him, "feminine, soft, so soft it didn't even echo in a room that threw sound around so thoroughly the barest ripple of the pool caused a tremor." She was a "good-looking woman of maybe twenty-eight, with white blond hair that hung to her shoulders and the sort of face you see on the covers of classy fashion magazines." Is this a coincidence or was she sent there to lure Quarry into a trap?The book reads quickly and perhaps too quickly as Quarry maneuvers between the Broker's replacement and the blonde (whoever she is) and tries to figure out how he will get out of this situation alive. There are great fight scenes throughout the book as Quarry deals with those who are planning to put a hit on him. In the end, the title makes sense, too.Like all Quarry books, it is a great read. Collins has a great ironic tone to the narrator's voice and it is not hard to accept that he is a hit man, perhaps one with certain morals and qualms.Highly recommended.

Initially Quarry was a one story deal, but it sucked so many of us in, including the author, that the Quarry character has developed into a likeable, slightly lovable assassin. It's set in the 70's, along with another 3, and 1 from the 80's. And there's more, w/the newest up for Jan '14 release. I like the historic element in all the author's books, that I've read anyway. Before cell phones, mainstream computerization and there's even reference to song, stories, trends from the era he writes in.Specifically, this book is about Quarry being the target of hit and his hunt for who ordered his death. He also switches the tables, while remaining a man not shy of eliminating a person, he comes from a different direction. There's also an important 'list' containing info others either want for info or destroying.Quarry's List less than 200 pages, but it's so chock full of info as to the direction Quarry is going as well as his wonderfully quick and sarcastic wit and his very matter-of-fact outlook."...it’s quite possible to believe in survival while placing no value in life and death." Quarry says...and lives by.Each book stands alone, though after reading #3 or 4, I went to author's website to get titles in order and start from the beginning(The Broker). Once you read the first, you'll either want to keep going, or not. There is no middle ground (even w/the author's other books, see Nathan Heller, historic novels you'll soak up for the inside track of widely discussed/disputed historic events.Maybe this review is more about the author than this book...so be it. I'm no Vine Reviewer...I just hope that anyone that has the slightest interest in this author, READ ANYTHING. Packed w/action, humor, sex (from a man's view) and at such an easy flow, when you put you head up, you'll wonder what day it is.

The second Quarry book and ticks in all the right places for me – characters, pace, story, setting, length, action.Quarry receives a visit during the night, less than friendly, but he deals effectively with the situation. We are privy to Quarry's thoughts....."Sharing a room with a dead man can be a less than pleasant experience, especially if the man’s bowels empty when he dies, as is common. All of a sudden you begin to understand how the tradition of flowers at funerals got started. But this corpse had better manners than most, and wasn’t smelling up the room at all. He was in fact, better company than a lot of people I’ve met."With a name from one of his visitors, Quarry goes hunting for an old colleague, Ash - Ash being in the same business as Quarry. Conducting a stakeout on Ash, Quarry learns that a hit is currently planned on an unidentified target and that Ash also has current plans afoot with mob lawyer, Curtis Brooks.After revealing himself to Ash, the pair chat somewhat philosophically over the fact that Ash set Quarry up for being hit. Ash reveals his ambitions for taking over The Broker’s business – The Broker now deceased (from our first book) being the middleman for Quarry and other hitmen: arranging contracts and taking a fee. Ash is seeking the Broker’s List – something essential to the continued smooth running of the death business. The thought is that Quarry either has the list or is an obstacle to finding it.An already interesting story, gets further complicated by the appearance on the scene of a young woman at Quarry’s hotel. Collins introduces a few more twists and surprises along the way, packing a helluva punch into a short book of 160-odd pages.5 from 5Quarry’s Deal, originally published in 1976 is next up.Bought for Kindle on Amazon UK a couple of years ago.

Quarry's "boss" - the Broker - betrayed him and ended up dead.now someone wants Quarry dead.he doesn't know who.but hes got a pretty good idea why.the long legged blonde ( on the cover ) is an added complication.someone seems to be trying to kill her as well. can Quarry trust her ?he finds out she was married to the "boss" he killedshe seems sweet enough.sweet and innocent but with women U can never tellshe might be dangerousvery dangerousthe twist at the end raises all kinds of questions about the dead "boss"s sexual tastes

Having just finished the first Quarry - I read this in one sitting.Quarry is a contract killer who ends up a bit on the lonely side with contract killers coming after him!Mr Collins weaves a powerful, interesting and dramatic story involving his lead character. It may be hard to like a contract killer who makes no excuses for his job but you end up liking him none the less. There is much humour and irony in Mr Collins writing and neither he or Quarry take themselves to seriously. There are lots of twists and turns but it is the his quality to absorb you that is his greatest strength.Mr Collins does not seem well known in the UK - but he should be and I'll do my best to help!

A good read

Well up to Collins standard