Fast One (1933) by Paul Cain is a hardboiled crime novel that stands as one of the starkest and most relentless works of the noir genre. Set in the seedy underworld of Depression-era Los Angeles, the novel follows Gerry Kells — a cold, calculating gambler and fixer — as he becomes entangled in a brutal power struggle between corrupt politicians, gangsters, and rival crime syndicates.
Told in a clipped, ultra-minimalist style, Fast One strips the crime novel down to its bare essentials: violence, betrayal, and survival. Cain's prose is lean and fast-paced, mirroring the cold detachment of his antihero and the ruthless world he navigates. There are no heroes here — only shifting alliances, double-crosses, and a protagonist who plays the game with deadly precision.
Often compared to the works of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, Fast One is unique for its unflinching tone and refusal to moralize. It is a cornerstone of American noir fiction, praised for its raw energy and stylistic purity, and remains a cult classic for fans of gritty, uncompromising crime literature.
Contents:
Fast One Lead Party
Velvet
The Heat
The Dark
