Before reading this biography of Spillane I had only read a few of his Mike Hammer books and had watched the tv series, Mike Hammer. Certainly not much with which to judge a NWA Grand Master. Because the author of this book is Max Allan Collins, an author I do admire, I decided I needed to fill in the many blanks and find out what I have to catch up on. After reading Spillane: King of Pulp Fiction, my TBR list has grown. I have missed a lot.
I enjoyed the history of Mike Hammer shared within these pages but what I really found the most interesting was the man himself. The man his family and friends knew, the connection to the FBI and, yes, the beer commercials. He was so much more than his creation, Mike Hammer.
My thanks to the publisher Mysterious Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Mickey Spillane was a good friend the last ten or so years of his life. I visited Mickey many times each year and miss him and the conversations we had very much. The publisher was gracious to let me read a galley copy of Spillane, King of Pulp Fiction and all I can say is wow!
I hated for this book to end as it was a gateway to again be sitting and talking with Mickey.
As one blessed to have known Mickey, I have missed him greatly. For about ten years, I would spend hours sitting at the kitchen table or outside talking about everything from his childhood to vaudeville to flying, writing, family and friends. Max Allan Collins’ Spillane, King of Pulp Fiction was like sitting there visiting and talking to him. It was a great gift. Mr Collins writes about many of the things Mickey and I spoke about. As I read the book, I was there it seemed looking at, listening to and talking with my friend Mickey Spillane.
If you want to know who Mickey Spillane was, buy this book. It is like being with him and hearing him speak. I loved it and have have pre-ordered my hardback copy of this great book. Thank you Max Allan Collins.

As a biography, this was more a review of Mickey Spillane's writing than a thorough look at his life. The chronology of his personal life was presented almost as an afterthought only as it affected his writing. The pace of the book suffered because each book, movie. radio program, etc. was dissected in excruciating detail. Having said that I enjoyed the book and it inspired me to read more of his books, and watch old Mike Hammer movies and TV shows. And afterall, isn't that what a biography should be about. Strongly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Mysterious Press for an advanced reader copy.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Penzler Publications Mysterious Press for an advanced copy of this biography on one of the biggest publishing sensations of the 20th century, an author who changed a genre forever.

A little secret that bookstores and publishers don't want to admit is that genre books are the ones whose book sales keep the lights on for stores, and allows the New Yorker to write their articles about the top writers under 30 years old, authors that most people outside of publishing have no idea who they are. Knopf Books from Random House are known for the borzoi on their spines, their numerous Pulitzer and National Book Award winning books, but Ross Macdonald's Archer's mystery helped keep them in ink. Genre writers get short shrift, told they only write science fiction or mysteries, never get the praise, or get sniffed at say when up for a literary prize, even from fellow writers who really should know better. Mickey Spillane was one of those writers. Spillane's books sold over 225 million copies, changed a genre, gave birth to numerous movies and television shows, but he was never given the kudos he so richly deserved. Spillane: King of Pulp Fiction is a biography and an appreciation by fellow mystery writers Max Allan Collins and James L. Traylor which tells the story or a man who was both a writer and a force of nature who wrote and lived a very singular way.

Frank Morrison Spillane was born in 1918 in the Brooklyn, New York, the only child in his family. Reading was a huge influence on Spillane, starting with classic adventure novels, and moving on to anything he could get his hands on. As were airplanes, something which helped him later in life. He started his career writing for the comics, a huge business at the time which needed as much product as it could get. Spillane was writer, editor, and idea man, working with and against some comic legends like Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. During World War II he was a flight instructor, staying stateside, something that always bothered him. After the war he found a piece of property but lacking the down payment needed to write something quick and for a lot of dough. I, the Jury was the result the first Mike Hammer book, which due to the rise in the paperback market became a huge success. And a genre was born.

A wonderful biography about a man whose book's I have read but knew nothing about. And lived a life that was just fascinating. A man as tough as his character, and yet loved animals, people and was a Jehovah's Witness, with his own take on the religion. Collins, a longtime friend, collaborator, and mystery writer and scholar has written a well balanced book about the man, his writing and how he wrote and how he lived. This is no hagiography, this is a warts and all telling about a life with mistakes, maybe a little fiction when more interesting than the facts. Collins does a very good job of trying to get to the truth, even when the lie has become excepted. There is a lot of information about comic books, movies, publishing, even advertising which is told well but does slow down the story about the man. Every page has something interesting, and one gets a sense of not only what Spillane was like, but how it must have been to be around him. Exhilarating and exhausting is all I can think. What a wonderful life, and Collins and Traylor do a very good job of capturing it.

A great book on a writer that will never ever be again. A portrait of America, publishing, entertainment and even advertising when one guy could be all that, and more. Recommended for mystery fans both Max Allan Collins and Mickey Spillane fans, people who enjoy good biographies, and for those interested in mid-century America.

Mickey Spillane, the father of the hardboiled mystery genre, lived a life just as exciting as his famous character Mike Hammer. In addition to his writing, Spillane was an actor, circus performer, and worked with the FBI. After being both hated by critics and loved by readers, Spillane is finally receiving a literary biography that captures the full extent of his life and career. As a longtime Spillane and Hammer fan this couldn't have been a more rewarding read.

Do you think you know all about the writer Mickey Spillane ? No matter your answer this intimate biography Spillane: King of Pulp Fiction by Max Allan Collins & James L. Traylor will introduce you to the writer. Having read Spillane’s books for years, including the completed manuscripts with Max Allen Collins, including introductory notes by the latter, I thought I knew the author. This in depth work on the writer was eye opening.

Not only does the reader better understand the development of Spillane’s seminal character, Mike Hammer, through the writer’s foray in writing comic books, but also how the paperbacks of the post war reading opened up an audience for these books.

Why did Mickey Spillane take long breaks between books and how did his religious faith play a part were also answered through this in depth work. As well as the books the biographers go in depth into all the Spillane media including radio, television, films, and recordings.

This labor of love concludes with sections from the autobiography that the subject was developing. Spillane: King of Pulp Fiction offers a deep dive into the life and work of writer, Mickey Spillane, and will satisfy many a bibliophile!

Collins did incredibly thorough research on Spillane and his work. Each book and each movie are dissected and reviewed in and out and all the background action that was taking place around each was covered in great detail. The stories were interesting, but I think in order to really appreciate this book one would need to have a high level of familiarity with Spillane's work and with pulp and noir in general. I would have liked to see more information about Spillane's childhood and his family life, but it seems as though he was pretty tight-lipped about those things. Overall a really informative book but best enjoyed by those who are already Spillane fans.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.