Okay, so I finally cracked open *The Last Good Kiss* after seeing it hyped as a 'crime fiction masterpiece.' Spoiler: It totally lives up to the rep. C.W. Sughrue is the kind of detective who makes bad decisions look cool—think whiskey for breakfast and chain-smoking through shootouts.

The plot? Messy in the best way. Starts with tracking down a drunk author (who’s chilling with an alcoholic bulldog, because why not?) and spirals into a decade-old missing persons case. The mystery’s solid, but the real magic is Sughrue’s chaotic road trip through dive bars and dodgy motels. Feels like Hunter S. Thompson hijacked a Raymond Chandler novel.

Warning: This isn’t cozy mystery territory. There’s cursing, violence, and enough bourbon to drown a horse. But if you dig hardboiled detectives with zero filter (and a soft spot for dysfunctional sidekicks), this one’s a riot. Also, that bulldog? MVP.

Downside: The 70s vibes are STRONG—some dated bits might make you cringe. But honestly? It just adds to the charm. Already hunting down more Crumley books.