Porno Valley by Philip Elliott

Porno Valley is the latest novel from award-winning author Philip Elliott, a fast-paced book of hard-boiled, crime fiction. The book description from the publisher describes it best: “It’s the year 2000 and 78-year-old Mickey O’Rourke has been a Los Angeles PI for a very long time. He’d thought he’d seen it all until the disappearance of porn star Jeffrey Strokes sends him from the sex-filled studios of the San Fernando Valley to the desperate streets of Compton where Mickey’s final case becomes his biggest test.” In addition to O’Rourke, there are several key (mostly bad) players: Jemeka, Ray-Ray, Richie, Alabama, Riccardo, Marcellus, and so many more. There are many sordid decisions, double-crosses, and violent moves which makes for a fast and fun read.

Elliott is a skilled writer with an excellent ability to turn a phrase. His similes are beautiful at times. The dialog is brisk and true. And the exposition is light-weight and very similar to screenplay action. Comparisons to Elmore Leonard are not far from the mark. If there was one detraction, then it is Elliott’s admiration for Quentin Tarantino flicks which he unabashedly wears on his sleeves, even naming some of his characters after Tarantino characters (Alabama and Marcellus). Elliott doesn’t need to do this as his work is strong enough to stand on its own without the direct reference. His 78-year old protagonist, Mickey O’Rourke, could carry a whole other novel of literary fiction if Elliott ever chose to do so, his deep well of remorse and grief for his recently deceased wife and his cantankerous demeanor towards the others in his orbit would make a worthy character to explore in-depth in a character-driven work. Porno Valley is an exceptional follow-up to his previous novel, Nobody Move. If you’re looking for a fun and fast read with fully formed characters scheming in a heart-pounding plot, then you can’t do any better than this indie marvel of a crime novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and I highly recommend it. I would give this novel 5 stars.

Buy the paperback on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/152/9781999086848