GUN IN CHEEK is a treasure trove of such gems, a delightful exploration of what the author refers to as "alternative crime fiction." Less kindly put, it is a unique crash course in the worst English and American crime fiction of the twentieth century.Every category of mystery fiction is represented: the private eye, the stately home, the arch-villain, the gentleman sleuth, the amateur spy, and many others who have blossomed from the genre. Within these categories, in what can only be called a labor of love, Bill Pronzini discusses, digests, and shares the best of the worst---adding a wonderfully comprehensive bibliography for advanced and dedicated devotees.GUN IN CHEEK is an amusing and pleasurable reading experience as well as an enlightening guide to hardboiled potboilers.