Just finished 'The Last Good Kiss' and wow—what a trip! This isn't your typical detective novel. C.W. Sughrue is a mess of a protagonist (Vietnam vet, heavy drinker, chaotic energy), but somehow you root for him anyway.

The plot starts simple: find a missing alcoholic author. Then it spirals into a decade-old disappearance case, bar fights, and an alcoholic bulldog (yes, really). The mystery almost takes a backseat to the gritty, poetic chaos of Sughrue's journey.

Fair warning: this book is *not* for the faint of heart. Drugs, sex, violence—it’s all here, wrapped in Crumley’s sharp, almost lyrical writing. Fans of Raymond Chandler or Hunter S. Thompson will vibe hard with this.

Personal take? Loved it, but it’s exhausting in the best way. Like drinking whiskey straight—harsh at first, but you keep coming back for more. Already hunting down Crumley’s other books!