Nobody Move by Denis Johnson

Book Review by Mike Sullivan, for About.com

The Bottom Line

American noir. Could have been a unique segue for National Book Award-winning author Denis Johnson to sink his teeth into after the colossal Tree of Smoke. And it's not that Nobody Move doesn't have a bite, or that Johnson is taking on more than he can chew; it's just that there's not much meat here -- the little bit there is undercooked with too much blood and lust.

Pros

Taut, hard-boiled storytelling that keeps the character's actions and motivations pumping.
Johnson's writing still shines (or grimes) with his flair for sharp descriptions and wily phrases.

Cons

Nothing too gripping or thrilling; when the story starts to boil, it's too much too late.
While there's not much of a hero, Jimmy Luntz peaks some interest, but not enough.

Description

'Nobody Move' was released in April 2009.
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
196 Pages

Guide Review - 'Nobody Move' by Denis Johnson - Book Review

The American crime thriller. A classic genre that wears its stereotypes proudly on its sleeve. The "heroes" get the two name treatment: the quartet singing gambler, Jimmy Luntz; the divorcee embezzling beauty, Anita Desilvera. The villains get the one: the killer, Gambol; the kingpin, Juarez. Denis Johnson lives up to the stereotypes with Nobody Move. The story is quick and lean, grinding its characters to a grisly end. I guess I just wanted more.

One clue that I shouldn't have expected a new depth is that this was a serialized tale that first graced the pages of Playboy. Not that it short changes Johnson's crackling dialogue and metaphors. He obviously had a blast writing this one and you can see him smiling (and often the reader will too) every time Jimmy Luntz whips out one of his classic loser lines. But in the end, it doesn't add up to much, proving Johnson's gamble with crime fiction might have won him a little cash with the genre faithful, but no Monte Carlo-sized jackpot.

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