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Zero Cool

John Lange
Dorchester Publishing Co. (2008)
ISBN 0843959592
Reviewed by Narayan Radhakrishnan for RebeccasReads (1/08)

John Lange is a widely-read author. He is world famous. He is the brain behind some of the world’s biggest blockbuster movies and has a huge fan following, but most of you might be thinking-- if the author is so well-known, why can’t I place John Lange? Which are his other ‘bestselling works’ and ‘blockbuster movies’? Well the answer is simple--John Lange is a pseudonym and “Zero Cool” is a work which has remained out-of-print for close to 39 years. Under the Lange pseudonym the author also wrote thrillers like “Odds On,” “Easy Go,” “Scratch One,” “Drug Of Choice,” etc.-- which still remain out-of-print. Save for “Grave Descend” which was published in 2006 by Hard Case Crime, all other works remain out of print. Now enough suspense; without being a spoilsport let me give some clues about the man behind the Lange pseudonym.  I will not give a straight ‘disclosure’ but one fall’s easy ‘prey’ to the ‘sphere’ of suspense the author creates in his novels of ‘jurassic’ proportions  and we are left wondering what will happen ‘next.’ And my friend, if you still have not identified the man behind this pseudonym, it’s time you really brushed up your knowledge in mystery and thriller writing.

“Zero Cool” was first published in 1969 when Crich…oops I meant John Lange was still a student in medical school. Set in the era of the liberated Sixties, the plot, action and narration is reminiscent of the popular James Bond, Flint style action flicks which were huge hits of the day. And the author does not hide the fact that he was inspired by these books. Peter Ross is on vacation at Spain. He has just three things in mind, hot sun, hot beaches and hotter gals. Upon arrival at the beach, his attention turns to a girl in a slim bikini and he starts hitting upon her. But immediately a man comes and ‘warns’ the doctor that he should not do an autopsy-- and if he does it-- the doctor would be killed. Though Ross dismisses the words as raving of a mad man, immediately the next day, he is called…rather forced to do an autopsy on a criminal who died under mysterious circumstances. What follows is an archetypal, but classic novel of a man caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, and everyone knows what is going on save for Peter Ross. With a tight suspense plot, crisp narration and action (reminiscent more of Indiana Jones rather than James Bond), the novel is a fast page-turning read. The villains with names like The Professor and The Count (who has a penchant for cologne) the novel is one cool read. I especially enjoyed the part in the novel where the villain trains a falcon to attack and kill by the scent of cologne.

Another highlight of this edition of “Zero Cool” is that Lange has written a new prologue and epilogue to the novel, updating the book to 2008. The original story is now told in flashback which adds a bit of nostalgia while reading the novel.
I enjoyed the novel very, very much and Mr. Lange if you are reading this, one request-- please do republish “Odds On,” “Venom Business,” “Drug Of Choice,” “Scratch One,” and “Easy Go.”

“Zero Cool” is one cool read….an ultra cool read. Highly recommended.

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