Here are a few book series that have a tough, lone wolf hero who actually seems human.
Parker by Richard Stark. ‘The Hunter,’ ‘The Seventh,’ and ‘Firebreak’ Parker is a professional thief. He works with a rotating crew of specialists. Harlan Ellison said that the author was the best writer he knew of.
Easy Rawlins and Fearless Jones by Walter Mosley. ‘Fearless Jones’ and ‘The Devil In a Blue Dress.’ Both men operate in LA circa 1946 to 1980. Fearless’ adventures are narrated by his pal, a skinny bookstore owner who would rather avoid trouble, but rarely does. Easy is in more books, but they do team up occasionally.
Travis McGee by John D. MacDonald. ‘The Deep Blue Goodbye,’ and ‘A Tan and Sandy Silence.’ Trav is a Florida beach bum who lives in a houseboat he won in a poker game. When his retirement funds run low he reluctantly seeks out crime victims who are unable to go to the police. A con man who isn’t afraid of a fight.
Richard Stark is a pen name for Donald Westlake. He wrote tons of really smart funny mystery novels including the Dortmunder series - Parker but a sad sack.
If you like Parker you might really enjoy the Spenser novels by Robert Parker. He’s an ex boxer turned private eye that loves to cook, loves to read, has a strong moral compass, loves deeply, and was cool with gays and blacks when that was controversial for a Boston tough guy. His very smart girlfriend Susan is a full human outside of him.
[off topic]
Here are a few book series that have a tough, lone wolf hero who actually seems human.
Parker by Richard Stark. ‘The Hunter,’ ‘The Seventh,’ and ‘Firebreak’ Parker is a professional thief. He works with a rotating crew of specialists. Harlan Ellison said that the author was the best writer he knew of.
Easy Rawlins and Fearless Jones by Walter Mosley. ‘Fearless Jones’ and ‘The Devil In a Blue Dress.’ Both men operate in LA circa 1946 to 1980. Fearless’ adventures are narrated by his pal, a skinny bookstore owner who would rather avoid trouble, but rarely does. Easy is in more books, but they do team up occasionally.
Travis McGee by John D. MacDonald. ‘The Deep Blue Goodbye,’ and ‘A Tan and Sandy Silence.’ Trav is a Florida beach bum who lives in a houseboat he won in a poker game. When his retirement funds run low he reluctantly seeks out crime victims who are unable to go to the police. A con man who isn’t afraid of a fight.
Any of these is miles ahead of any Reacher book.
Hell yes brother.
Richard Stark is a pen name for Donald Westlake. He wrote tons of really smart funny mystery novels including the Dortmunder series - Parker but a sad sack.
If you like Parker you might really enjoy the Spenser novels by Robert Parker. He’s an ex boxer turned private eye that loves to cook, loves to read, has a strong moral compass, loves deeply, and was cool with gays and blacks when that was controversial for a Boston tough guy. His very smart girlfriend Susan is a full human outside of him.
The funny thing is that the first Dortmunder book started out as a Parker novel.
When the plot started getting too silly the writer realized that the Parker fans would hate the book, so he changed it to Dortmunder and Kelp.
I won’t say much but ‘Jimmy The Kid’ by Donald Westlake has a brief cameo by Richard Stark.