Kyle Decker's debut novel, THIS RANCID MILL, is living, printed proof that the noir, hardboiled PI, murder mystery genre is alive and well. This guy shows the influence of Mickey Spillane, Lawrence Block, James Crumley, and maybe even a bit of Frederick Busch. Spillane had his Hammer, Block had Scudder, Crumley his Milo and Sughrue, and Busch his sad and grieving Jack (in GIRLS and NORTH). Decker gives us a considerably younger hero (or maybe anti hero) in twenty-two year-old Alex Damage, college dropout, world-weary veteran of the punk rock scene in 1981 Los Angeles. With his blue Mohawk and torn leather jacket, Alex has found his niche as an unlicensed private investigator in the seedier sublevels of the punk gangs and bands of greater LA.

In the opening pages, Damage is shocked by the death of Jerry Rash, charismatic front man for Bad Chemicals, a rising young punk band he had admired. Found dead at the Starwood night club of an apparent drug overdose, it soon becomes apparent that there was a high level conspiracy to murder the young singer, a plot which involved a Congressman, the drug kingpin Eddie Nash, and even the porn star John Holmes. Yes, Nash and Holmes are real people, the former notorious for his part in the Wonderland murders in Laurel Canyon, and the latter celebrated for the size of his organ and his role as the tireless Johnny Wadd in a series of porn films.

Hired by Rash's girlfriend, Zii, to find out the truth about his death, Alex soon finds himself enmeshed in a dangerous web of deceit and lies which quickly spirals in violence. The criminal underbelly of LA is dramatically exposed, with scenes of sadistic sex, kidnapping, shootings, savage beatings, torture, and even a beheading, as Alex draws ever closer to those responsible for Rash's death.

Decker obviously knows his LA setting, the unrelentingly profane language, and the era of punk rock in the early eighties, making side references to actual bands like The Germs and Bad Religion. He also gives a subtle nod to his influences, with throwaway mentions of Matt Scudder and Mike Hammer. Bottom line: Kyle Decker is one helluva fine writer who will keep you in suspense, turning pages deep into the night. And , since the book has the subtitle, AN ALEX DAMAGE NOVEL, I strongly suspect we haven't seen the last of this guy. Keep 'em coming, Kyle. I devoured this book. Very highly recommended.

- Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir, BOOKLOVER ( )