shamus

Have the world-weary shamus and the former Aztec capital lost their noir juju?

The heroes are typically amateur or private detectives, possibly quirky, often women, sometimes a couple; they aren’t likely to suffer the afflictions common to the hard-boiled shamus — depression, rage, alcoholism, untreated trauma.

Philip Marlowe at quarterback, Easy Rawlins at strong safety, and a fierce defensive line of framed shamuses.

And as the Honolulu-based shamus Thomas Magnum, a journeyman actor named Tom Selleck made himself a star on the strength of a twinkling smile and a modest gift for self-deprecating humor.

It doesn’t take much to lure the old shamus out of a seclusion, which he isn’t much enjoying anyhow.