Spine # 889
“She wore an old blue denim shirt that must have belonged to her father. It was washed until it was salty, gray-streaked and lifeless. Her collar was open deeply at her throat and I found myself staring at her, my gaze magnetized by that triangle of soft gold flesh. Her dungarees were flesh tight and as faded as that blue shirt. On her it looked like Dior.“
Harry Whittington, Backwoods Tramp
Jake Richards is a washed-up ballplayer who worked in payroll until three thugs robbed the business of $100,000, leaving him without the money or his job.
An insurance man named Sklute meets up with Jake to inquire about the incident and offers him a share if they team up to recover the lost cash. Jake initially declines, but during their conversation, a spark of memory ignites, revealing his instinctive recollection of the identity of the man who committed the crime. He had encountered the man prior to the robbery, and his voice and attitude were unforgettable—it was none other than Marv Pooser, the one who stole the money.
Determined to find Marv and the money, Jake ventures into the swamps of Florida. However, his arrival is met with hostility as he gets his ass kicked by some locals and tormented by a woman named Lilly, a captivating yet enigmatic figure. Lilly serves as the femme fatale in the story, but she is more than just a seductive trickster—she is a strong woman seeking an escape from the swamp on her own terms. Anyone or anything that stands in her way is in for trouble.
As Jake finds himself infatuated with Lilly, he also suspects that she may know where Marv is hiding. She holds the key to his arch-nemesis, the money, and perhaps even the most intense sexual experience of his life.
Backwoods Tramp, later reprinted by Black Lizard as A Moment to Prey, is an excellent example of “swamp noir” meaning crime with a gator or two. What makes the book particularly captivating are the two main male characters and how their insecurities manifest into deviant, if not abhorrent, behaviors. Caught in their crossfire is Lilly. Lilly, in my opinion, is the strongest character as she wields the most power even though she doesn’t realize how much pull she has until the end. You can see this in a few other noir books and movies when the leading lady character reveals that she’s been dealt the best hand all along. Unfortunately, it’s usually realized in the wake of a tragedy.
Whittington also throws in some sleazy and dirty turns which made the book a delight. It will surprise and sometimes revolt you. Too many of the Fawcett Gold Medal crime novels are too melodramatic. Backwoods Tramp is not. It’s a sordid romp through the swamp, and I enjoyed every page.
C.D. Baxter’s Quick Review of Backwoods Tramp
Story – Great
Cover Eye Candy – Museum Quality
Platinum Pulp Level
Gold Medal Book Blog 