Flash! --On The Hustler

Opening scene of this magnificent plot-thick novel-- descriptive of hippie era foggy San Francisco of the late 1960’s-- introduces us to some of the most fascinating characters you will ever meet. “They were going to kill me. They were discussing it in front of me! They had it planned. I even knew who my killer was! Who was going to give me the fix-- a guy I’d been friends with just the night before!--” They brought Alexander out to the Pacific ocean. “My killer came up to me! But he wouldn’t look me in the eye: “YOU!” Alexander said, in a voice flattened with disbelief. “Not you!” “She came to me! The wife of the Boss! If anybody I thought Delight would stick by me!” But no. Silhouetted on the beach, a figure, Delight. Her thin arms waved, a prophetess, denouncing him.