# VIII: A Tip on Kid Cooper explained — Red Harvest

> Chapter companion for Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett.

## What happens

The narrator writes reports, then receives a call from Dinah Brand asking him to visit Max Thaler. After dinner, he is shot at in his hotel room. He moves rooms and goes to Dinah's apartment, where Thaler warns him to leave Poisonville, but the narrator refuses, declaring his intent to even the score with Noonan and the city. Thaler gives a tip on the upcoming fight: Kid Cooper will knock out Ike Bush in the sixth round.

## Themes in this chapter

### Violence and Moral Decay

The narrator is shot at in his hotel room, illustrating the pervasive violence and moral decay of Poisonville.

### Deception and Manipulation

Noonan's feigned concern and Thaler's ambiguous advice highlight the constant manipulation in the city.

### Justice vs. Revenge

The narrator's declared intent to 'even up' with Poisonville blurs the line between justice and personal revenge.

## Character check-ins

### The Narrator

Writes reports, survives an assassination attempt, and defiantly declares war on Poisonville.

### Dinah Brand

Calls the narrator to arrange a meeting with Thaler; lounges at home, indifferent to the narrator's stubbornness.

### Max Thaler

Whisper warns the narrator to leave town but gives a tip on the Kid Cooper fight.

### Dan Rolff

Plays pinochle with Thaler and fetches drinks.

### Noonan

Calls after the shooting, offering police protection and feigning concern.

## Key lines

> I’ve got my chance now, and I’m going to even up.

The narrator states he will take revenge for how Poisonville has treated him.

_Declares his personal vendetta against the city._

> any bet on the main event would be good if its maker remembered that Kid Cooper would probably knock Ike Bush out in the sixth round.

Thaler tips that Kid Cooper will defeat Ike Bush by knockout in the sixth round.

_Foreshadows the fight and Bush's fate._

> A bullet kissed a hole in the doorframe close to my noodle.

A bullet narrowly misses the narrator's head as he enters his hotel room.

_Describes the assassination attempt._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/red_harvest_se/chapters/viii-a-tip-on-kid-cooper
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/red_harvest_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/red_harvest_se/chapters