Pimp for the Dead

Hardman, Book 4

By: Ralph Dennis

Narrated by: Shawn Compton

Length: 5 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Jim Hardman was an Atlanta cop until he was wrongly accused of corruption and thrown off the force. Now he works as an unlicensed PI, trouble-shooter, and bodyguard...often partnered with his drinking buddy Hump Evans, a black, ex-NFL player who supports his playboy lifestyle by working as hired muscle.

A small-town farmer hires Hardman to find his teenage daughter who ran off to Atlanta to become a model...and ended up a hooker. It’s fast work for Hardman, but she’s gunned down minutes after he finds her. To hunt her killer, Hardman and Hump Evans take a deep dive into a bottomless cesspool of vice and greed that could drown them.

This new edition includes an introduction by Joe R. Lansdale, author of the Hap & Leonard novels, and an afterword by Paul Bishop, author and retired LAPD homicide detective.

“Among the best series books around.” (Philadelphia Daily News)

“Expert writing, plus good plotting, and an unusual degree of sensitivity." (New York Times)

©2018 Adventures in Television, Inc (P)2019 Adventures in Television, Inc

Wayward Farmgirl

This is the 3rd Hardman book I have read. I am not sure how I missed #2. Jim Hardman and Hump Evans are hired by a farmer whose daughter seemingly came to the big city to attend charm/beauty school. It turns out she never did attend and ended up working as a prostitute. Jim does manage to find her, but she eventually winds up dead. While trying to find out who murdered her Jim and Hump enter the world of bar fights, seedy characters, and pimps trying to take over the areas prostitution. Once again I quite enjoyed the story and narration. I look forward to the next book in the series.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Fast Moving Thrill

Here we go again! Former Atlanta cop, Jim Hardman and his buddy Hump Evans, circa 1970's become involved in another situation that satisfyingly takes the reader on one heck of a joy ride.

This time Jim is hired by the father of a nice girl who is now a streetwalker. This is the doorway into a case that evolves into Hardman getting mixed up, with various seedy characters, cheats and liars as a man is trying to move in and take over all of the prostitution in the area.

Author, Ralph Dennis, never wastes a word on a page, yet the economy should not be confused with brevity. This is no "Spencer" big print wide margins book, but every word on every page matters conjuring up the imagery and plot the reader needs to keep the pages turning.

For most of the work I listened via audible. It is such a delight when the right narrator is hired. Shawn Compton is perfect for the Hardman series, specifically Ralph Dennis' writing. The words on the page are delivered in the tone that accents the story. What a wonderful series!

This book could be read out of order in the series, why do that? Begin with #1 and move to #4! You will not be disappointed.

Solid ex-cop / PI story

I reviewed this from AudioBookBoom in exchange for an honest review.

Hardman is an ex-cop come PI, hired by a father who's daughter has gone missing. Hardman enters into the world of 70's Atlanta prostitution and pimping to track the girl down with some interesting twists and turns along the way.

The hardman series of books are a product of the 70's which have stood the test of time surprisingly well. There are small elements of dialog within the book that reveal attitudes of the 70's but it certainly doesn't overpower the overall story.

The choice of narrator is perfect for this book genre. I'd certainly go back and read another Hardman book now

A Great Hardman Mystery

I received this book for free. I am voluntarily leaving this review and all opinions expressed herein are my own.

This is the fourth book in the Hardman series. It is a standalone story [no cliffhanger ending]. While you could read the series in any order, you should start with the first book in the series which introduces the characters and enjoy their development as the series progresses. Warning: This series was first written in the 70's and republished by Brash books. It has the vernacular and viewpoints of that time period.

Here, Hardman and his partner Hump are hired by a farmer whose daughter came to the city to enroll in a school for modeling but has disappeared. Hardman finds her working as a prostitute but before he can get her in touch with her father, she is murdered. Hardman then begins the investigation into her death.

Although this story takes place in the 70's, the topic of sex slavery is current today. I really enjoy Hardman and Hump -their comical interactions and their anti-conventional hero status. The story is well-written and at times, heartbreaking. I look forward to the rest of the series.

The narrator is a perfect compliment to the written word. I am a big fan!

I could not wait to continue this listen!

When I saw that the fourth book in this series was available, I got absolutely giddy. Hardman and Hump ride again!!!!

As the title says, this whodunnit involves street walkers. That part of it was a tad unpleasant but the story was never too graphic. We got glimpses into the destructive mindset and that was the catalyst to all the fun Hardman and Hump had tracking down the bad guys. I liked that Art, the trusted cop friend, was along for more of the fun this time. (Which helped since both Hardman and Hump took some physical abuse.).

When it was all said and done, the good guys remained triumphant (albeit bruised and battered.)

Shawn Compton is the perfect narrator for this series. Hardman is a slightly overweight ex-cop. Hump is a very large former NFL football player. Both of them were well-narrated.

I didn't look to see if there was a book five. I didn't want to be disappointed. Fingers crossed.

70's Crime fiction

Pimp for the Dead: Hardman, Book 4.. Step back in time, suspend political correctness - And be Entertained.
If you haven't read or listened to any of the Hardman series and love noir crime fiction then you will be entertained. Gritty tales of crime in the south set in the 70's. Hardman & Hump Evans are two unconventional heroes who you'll soon love..,
I was given a free copy of this audiobook at my own request, and voluntarily leave this review.

Time Travel Trip to the 1970's with Cops & Ex-Cops

The Long Lost Ralph Dennis paperback novels have been resurrected in the form of Audiobooks. You can't smell or feel the dogeared yellowed pages as you hold it in your hands, but you can hear the dialogue of 1970's Atlanta Cops, Pimps, Gangsters, Hookers, and Beer Guzzling Ex-cops as they dodge bullets and trade punches while tracking down a killer, or killers unknown. Ralph Dennis weaves a tale that takes us through back alleys, dive bars, cheap hotels, luxury suites, and abandoned warehouses, with a new surprise at every turn. Then suddenly he wraps it up, and reveals the killer... and the story ends. Somehow I missed "WhoDunnit" and why... but he wrapped it up... put a bow on it... and grabbed another Beer, before heading home to feed the cat.

The Prologue and Epilogue were modern day essays on the Genre, Author, and cultural events during the time the story was written. A History Lesson, if you will... which really seemed out of place.