by Kem Nunn
----------
This story centres on the inevitable converging of three different characters. They have all, each in their separate way, been dealt a raw deal in the card game of life. Sam Fahey lives on the American side of the Tijuana River, but is familiar with the Mexican side as well. He was once a great surfer, but is now an ex-con who is now keeping to himself, trying to make a living of what little life has left him with. He turns to alcohol and occasionally drugs to help him endure and escape.
Magdalena was born and orphaned on the Mexican side, then raised by nuns and schooled on the American side. She is determined to vindicate her mother's death by fighting that what is now claiming lives in Tijuana; the maquilladoras - foreign-owned factories polluting the air and rivers on the Mexican-American border.
Armando Santoya is a Mexican damaged by the same maquilladoras, poisoned by the work conditions he and his family suffers a tragedy. He sinks deeper into drug use and eventually his perverted mind finds Magdalena guilty of his suffering and marks her for death.
It is Santoya's first attempt at her life that throws Magdalena battered and bruised in front of Fahey. Despite his better judgement he takes her into her home, hoping he isn't bringing home trouble at the same time. As Magdalena tries to get closer to explaining the events that brought her to Fahey, they get closer and Fahey seems to start opening up to life. But Santoya is getting closer too, bringing along two other killers, and soon all their destinies will converge in a battle of life and death.
This is an absolutely stunning book. The voice of the book is in third person, which allows for a beautiful and sophisticated prose. Nunn drops you in the middle of the story, moving the time line ahead at the same time as backtracking to build up an understanding of why these destinies must be and must converge. You hold your breath and wish it wasn't so, but you understand that it is inevitable and that the final outcome is anyone's guess.
Kem Nunn has also written, in chronological order:
Tapping the Source (1984)
Unassigned Territory (1986)
Pomona Queen (1992)
The Dogs of Winter (1997)
Tijuana Straits (2004)
Wednesday 20 July 2005
Monday 18 July 2005
Men From Boys
a collection of short stories edited by John Harvey
----------
For obvious reasons I can't really relate the plot of this book, I can just quote John Harvey from his introduction to the book:
Now I'm no die hard short story fan. I believe that short stories can be infinitely more difficult to write than a full-length novel, that they demand more stylistically from the writer. There are writers who write wonderful novels who still can't put together a short story that works. But also there are writers whose style seems to be honed to a perfection not found in their full-length novels when they're forced to restrict themselves to the short story format. And then, of course, writers who excel at both.
Still, what I appreciate most about reading short story collections is the opportunity to sample writers I've not read before. In all I'd say that this collection offered both an enjoyable read, and that goes for most of the stories included, as well as introduced me to a few new writers whose work I'll be checking out.
The writers included in this book are:
Mark Billingham
As he is included in my 'Dependable' link list you might know how highly I think of this writer. Check out his website or try one of his books and find out for yourself.
Lawrence Block
For a long time, after having read one of his Matt Scudder books, I thought him too macho for me. But then someone gave me "Hit Man" and I now have a great appreciation for his writing.
Andrew Coburn
A new acquaintance for me, and one I'll certainly be looking into reading more from.
Michael Connelly
What can I say - he never lets you down.
Jeffery Deaver
A great writer of full-length novels, a master at short stories.
John Harvey
I haven't read as much of John Harvey as I would have liked, but what I have read I've enjoyed thoroughly. Try "In a True Light" or "Flesh&Blood".
Reginald Hill
Unfortunately I have a problem with both jumping in at the ninth or so book of a series, as well as starting to read a series after having already seen a TV version of the same. Unfortunately because every time I encounter Hill's writing I find it to be very good. Perhaps I should try to fight my hang-ups?
Bill James
I hadn't read anything by him before. What was included in this book was cut out of a full-length novel and I'm sorry to say it didn't entice me to look it up.
Dennis Lehane
A fantastic writer, his best-known book is probably the film (sic!) Mystic River. Personally I'm a huge fan of his Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro books.
Bill Moody
Another new find to be looked into.
George Pelecanos
I can't tell you how many insightful people have sung this writer's praise to me, but again someone whose work has come across too macho for me. The short story here really impressed me though, so I'll definitely give Pelecanos a new try.
Peter Robinson
Contrary to my normal habits I got into his Alan Banks series quite late on, but now I'm on the look out for every new release.
James Sallis
New to me, and I'm afraid I had trouble keeping focused on his contribution to this book.
John Straley
Another previously unknown. Very well written story, but the ending left me kind of clueless. My bad I'm sure.
Brian Thompson
I haven't read anything by him before, but enjoyed his story.
Don Winslow
I have been trying to find something by him, on recommendation from normally well-informed sources, but haven't managed to lay my hands on anything yet. Will certainly put in more of an effort now.
Daniel Woodrell
I have only read one of his books, "The Death of Sweet Mister", which was a wonderful book, as was his story in this collection.
----------
For obvious reasons I can't really relate the plot of this book, I can just quote John Harvey from his introduction to the book:
"Just men.
Men writing, for the most part, about what it is to be a man.
To succeed; to fail. To open one's eyes."
Now I'm no die hard short story fan. I believe that short stories can be infinitely more difficult to write than a full-length novel, that they demand more stylistically from the writer. There are writers who write wonderful novels who still can't put together a short story that works. But also there are writers whose style seems to be honed to a perfection not found in their full-length novels when they're forced to restrict themselves to the short story format. And then, of course, writers who excel at both.
Still, what I appreciate most about reading short story collections is the opportunity to sample writers I've not read before. In all I'd say that this collection offered both an enjoyable read, and that goes for most of the stories included, as well as introduced me to a few new writers whose work I'll be checking out.
The writers included in this book are:
Mark Billingham
As he is included in my 'Dependable' link list you might know how highly I think of this writer. Check out his website or try one of his books and find out for yourself.
Lawrence Block
For a long time, after having read one of his Matt Scudder books, I thought him too macho for me. But then someone gave me "Hit Man" and I now have a great appreciation for his writing.
Andrew Coburn
A new acquaintance for me, and one I'll certainly be looking into reading more from.
Michael Connelly
What can I say - he never lets you down.
Jeffery Deaver
A great writer of full-length novels, a master at short stories.
John Harvey
I haven't read as much of John Harvey as I would have liked, but what I have read I've enjoyed thoroughly. Try "In a True Light" or "Flesh&Blood".
Reginald Hill
Unfortunately I have a problem with both jumping in at the ninth or so book of a series, as well as starting to read a series after having already seen a TV version of the same. Unfortunately because every time I encounter Hill's writing I find it to be very good. Perhaps I should try to fight my hang-ups?
Bill James
I hadn't read anything by him before. What was included in this book was cut out of a full-length novel and I'm sorry to say it didn't entice me to look it up.
Dennis Lehane
A fantastic writer, his best-known book is probably the film (sic!) Mystic River. Personally I'm a huge fan of his Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro books.
Bill Moody
Another new find to be looked into.
George Pelecanos
I can't tell you how many insightful people have sung this writer's praise to me, but again someone whose work has come across too macho for me. The short story here really impressed me though, so I'll definitely give Pelecanos a new try.
Peter Robinson
Contrary to my normal habits I got into his Alan Banks series quite late on, but now I'm on the look out for every new release.
James Sallis
New to me, and I'm afraid I had trouble keeping focused on his contribution to this book.
John Straley
Another previously unknown. Very well written story, but the ending left me kind of clueless. My bad I'm sure.
Brian Thompson
I haven't read anything by him before, but enjoyed his story.
Don Winslow
I have been trying to find something by him, on recommendation from normally well-informed sources, but haven't managed to lay my hands on anything yet. Will certainly put in more of an effort now.
Daniel Woodrell
I have only read one of his books, "The Death of Sweet Mister", which was a wonderful book, as was his story in this collection.
Sunday 17 July 2005
The Black Angel
by John Connolly
----------
All is not well in the Parker household. Rachel struggles with memories of the past and forebodings of the future. She worries that Charlie’s vocation will keep bringing trouble to her and their daughter, Samantha. Charlie shares her forebodings, haunted by what happened to his late wife and child, haunted by their ghosts and the fear of it happening all over again. He tries to restrict his work to cases without potential complications, but it pains him to turn down those who might need his help the most. To him his work is not only a profession but also a calling.
Angel and Louis are in Maine, having stood up as Sam’s godfathers at her christening, when Louis’ aunt arrives. She has been in New York looking for her daughter, Louis’ cousin, Alice. Alice has distanced herself from her family, abusing drugs and selling herself on the streets. Many would argue that it was only a matter of time until her habits would have claimed her life, but she is blood to Louis and nothing is going to stop him from finding out what has happened to her. And nothing is going to stop Charlie from helping him, not even the risk of losing his family.
Their investigation will not only put them in touch with people who benefit from other’s misery but with something with its roots in the beginning of time. They learn of the Book of Enoch, the modern Santa Muerte cult, a Czech ossuary and people dealing in human remains as art. As Charlie has to face “The Believers” he is forced to face the question not only of whether they are what they believe to be but also that of what he believes himself to be.
It has been over a day since I finished this book, and I still find it hard to write about it. Partly this is because I worry about not being able to do it justice, partly because I can’t seem to get it to come to rest in my mind. This is a book filled with facts from various time periods and that takes you on a long journey through time and space. It awakens in you interests you never thought you’d have and forces you to ask yourself some very difficult questions.
John Connolly’s writing is immaculate; he describes even the most fantastic scenarios with such presence you feel it just has to have happened – just like that. He makes you feel fully informed, yet yearning to know more, to understand more. Reading his books you will feel fear, compassion, hate and love.
When you buy this book, if you’re lucky, you will also get a CD with music labelled Voices from the Dark. This is music selected by John Connolly as music that would be a fitting sound track to his Charlie Parker books. The songs selected are all painfully beautiful and reflects, at least for me, perfectly the moods conveyed by the books.
This series contains, in chronological order:
Every Dead Thing
Dark Hollow
The Killing Kind
The White Road
The Black Angel
Other books by John Connolly:
Bad Men
Nocturnes
----------
All is not well in the Parker household. Rachel struggles with memories of the past and forebodings of the future. She worries that Charlie’s vocation will keep bringing trouble to her and their daughter, Samantha. Charlie shares her forebodings, haunted by what happened to his late wife and child, haunted by their ghosts and the fear of it happening all over again. He tries to restrict his work to cases without potential complications, but it pains him to turn down those who might need his help the most. To him his work is not only a profession but also a calling.
Angel and Louis are in Maine, having stood up as Sam’s godfathers at her christening, when Louis’ aunt arrives. She has been in New York looking for her daughter, Louis’ cousin, Alice. Alice has distanced herself from her family, abusing drugs and selling herself on the streets. Many would argue that it was only a matter of time until her habits would have claimed her life, but she is blood to Louis and nothing is going to stop him from finding out what has happened to her. And nothing is going to stop Charlie from helping him, not even the risk of losing his family.
Their investigation will not only put them in touch with people who benefit from other’s misery but with something with its roots in the beginning of time. They learn of the Book of Enoch, the modern Santa Muerte cult, a Czech ossuary and people dealing in human remains as art. As Charlie has to face “The Believers” he is forced to face the question not only of whether they are what they believe to be but also that of what he believes himself to be.
It has been over a day since I finished this book, and I still find it hard to write about it. Partly this is because I worry about not being able to do it justice, partly because I can’t seem to get it to come to rest in my mind. This is a book filled with facts from various time periods and that takes you on a long journey through time and space. It awakens in you interests you never thought you’d have and forces you to ask yourself some very difficult questions.
John Connolly’s writing is immaculate; he describes even the most fantastic scenarios with such presence you feel it just has to have happened – just like that. He makes you feel fully informed, yet yearning to know more, to understand more. Reading his books you will feel fear, compassion, hate and love.
When you buy this book, if you’re lucky, you will also get a CD with music labelled Voices from the Dark. This is music selected by John Connolly as music that would be a fitting sound track to his Charlie Parker books. The songs selected are all painfully beautiful and reflects, at least for me, perfectly the moods conveyed by the books.
This series contains, in chronological order:
Every Dead Thing
Dark Hollow
The Killing Kind
The White Road
The Black Angel
Other books by John Connolly:
Bad Men
Nocturnes
Friday 15 July 2005
Den vidunderliga kärlekens historia
by Carl-Johan Vallgren
----------
"The Horrific Sufferings of the Mind Reading Monster Hercules Barefoot: His Wonderful Love and His Terrible Hatred"
The English title of this book is not only a mouthful, but also it pretty much sums up the book. The Swedish title is shorter and manages to say that this is the story of a fantastic, enormous, but yet in some respects monstrous love. ('Vidunderlig' means fantastic, but 'vidunder' means monster.)
This is a book that spans a century and most of Europe. It will take you to, among other places, bordellos, monasteries, a travelling freak show and the Vatican. Eventually it will also take you to the USA.
It is difficult to imagine Hercule Barefoot, and especially difficult to see him as a monster since we to a large extent are allowed inside his mind. Again we are reminded of the importance of not judging a book by its cover or a person by his or her appearance.
In Swedish the prose of this book is exhilarating. Vallgren is generous with the words, but still he doesn't drown you in them. Instead they bring you along the story like a frisky brook in springtime, painting vivid pictures of the people and surroundings the book puts you in contact with. Both the writing style and the story brings to mind books like "Forest of Hours" by Kerstin Ekman or "The Perfume" by Patrick Süskind and writers like Gabriel Garcia Marques and Robertson Davies.
I enjoyed this book immensely.
----------
"The Horrific Sufferings of the Mind Reading Monster Hercules Barefoot: His Wonderful Love and His Terrible Hatred"
The English title of this book is not only a mouthful, but also it pretty much sums up the book. The Swedish title is shorter and manages to say that this is the story of a fantastic, enormous, but yet in some respects monstrous love. ('Vidunderlig' means fantastic, but 'vidunder' means monster.)
This is a book that spans a century and most of Europe. It will take you to, among other places, bordellos, monasteries, a travelling freak show and the Vatican. Eventually it will also take you to the USA.
It is difficult to imagine Hercule Barefoot, and especially difficult to see him as a monster since we to a large extent are allowed inside his mind. Again we are reminded of the importance of not judging a book by its cover or a person by his or her appearance.
In Swedish the prose of this book is exhilarating. Vallgren is generous with the words, but still he doesn't drown you in them. Instead they bring you along the story like a frisky brook in springtime, painting vivid pictures of the people and surroundings the book puts you in contact with. Both the writing style and the story brings to mind books like "Forest of Hours" by Kerstin Ekman or "The Perfume" by Patrick Süskind and writers like Gabriel Garcia Marques and Robertson Davies.
I enjoyed this book immensely.
Thursday 14 July 2005
Theodor Kallifatides
One of the most beautiful books I can remember reading, back in the early 80's, was written by Theodor Kallifatides. Kallifatides was born in Greece in 1938, but came to Sweden in 1964. So it's all the more impressive that he ranks among the very best writers in Sweden. When I realised that he had published three crime novels I knew I had to read them.
Kallifatides has chosen a female lead character. Kristina Vendel is 33 years old and has a background as a philosophy student. Her team consists of one other female, Maria Valetieri, and two male officers, Thomas Roth and Östen Nilsson. These four characters compliment each other beautifully - both in their professional roles but also with their ages and background stories. These characters are all complex and interesting, as are their lives. They also develop and show new sides of themselves through the three books I have read.
The writer has also chosen the perfect setting for his police department. Huddinge is a suburb of Stockholm that encompasses a variety of living standards and life styles. A shopping centre, a university hospital, a commuter train to and from Stockholm, council estates, terraced houses, bungalows and even posh villas - you can find it all here. And it follows that you can find all kinds of people here as well.
The plot lines in these three books are quite varied and allows for destinies from different stations in life to be intertwined. The first book touches both on the import of prostitutes from Eastern Europe and members of high society. The second book starts off with the crash of a small propeller plane, works through finding the common denominator between the five passengers and identifying the sixth passenger to organ theft. The third book features a professional killer and takes the reader to both the horse race track and the Nobel Prize Award ceremony.
There is nothing obviously off kilter with these plot lines or the crimes depicted in these books. But the crimes do seem to be there more to allow the writer to express the moral dilemmas that can be facing us as humans today. These books are more about love, lost and found, and lust. What we are willing to do or overlook for the sake of love or lust. They are about the fine line between love and hate, or how the same person can be capable of both utter coldness and complete love depending on the situation or people involved.
I would not hesitate to recommend anyone to read these books, especially in Swedish, but I would not recommend them as good crime novels. Rather to people interested in exploring other people's minds and hearts and experiencing different view points on right and wrong, love and hate.
This series contains, in chronological order:
Ett enkelt brott - A Simple Crime (Harvell Press)
Den sjätte passageraren - The Sixth Passenger (Harvell Press)
I hennes blick - Not yet published in English
Kallifatides has chosen a female lead character. Kristina Vendel is 33 years old and has a background as a philosophy student. Her team consists of one other female, Maria Valetieri, and two male officers, Thomas Roth and Östen Nilsson. These four characters compliment each other beautifully - both in their professional roles but also with their ages and background stories. These characters are all complex and interesting, as are their lives. They also develop and show new sides of themselves through the three books I have read.
The writer has also chosen the perfect setting for his police department. Huddinge is a suburb of Stockholm that encompasses a variety of living standards and life styles. A shopping centre, a university hospital, a commuter train to and from Stockholm, council estates, terraced houses, bungalows and even posh villas - you can find it all here. And it follows that you can find all kinds of people here as well.
The plot lines in these three books are quite varied and allows for destinies from different stations in life to be intertwined. The first book touches both on the import of prostitutes from Eastern Europe and members of high society. The second book starts off with the crash of a small propeller plane, works through finding the common denominator between the five passengers and identifying the sixth passenger to organ theft. The third book features a professional killer and takes the reader to both the horse race track and the Nobel Prize Award ceremony.
There is nothing obviously off kilter with these plot lines or the crimes depicted in these books. But the crimes do seem to be there more to allow the writer to express the moral dilemmas that can be facing us as humans today. These books are more about love, lost and found, and lust. What we are willing to do or overlook for the sake of love or lust. They are about the fine line between love and hate, or how the same person can be capable of both utter coldness and complete love depending on the situation or people involved.
I would not hesitate to recommend anyone to read these books, especially in Swedish, but I would not recommend them as good crime novels. Rather to people interested in exploring other people's minds and hearts and experiencing different view points on right and wrong, love and hate.
This series contains, in chronological order:
Ett enkelt brott - A Simple Crime (Harvell Press)
Den sjätte passageraren - The Sixth Passenger (Harvell Press)
I hennes blick - Not yet published in English
The Twelfth Card
by Jeffery Deaver
----------
Sixteen-year-old Geneva Settle is an all-A-student from Harlem. As she is researching a term paper at the African-American Museum someone attempts to kill her. Through a combination of acute awareness, cleverness and perhaps a bit of luck Geneva gets away, but so does the assailant.
As Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs starts to investigate the scene both it and the way the perpetrator made his escape suggests that he is a professional killer and not what the left behind clues would suggest. Because the left behind clues are deliberately left behind and offers no leads to the man they are seeking.
So contrary to normal procedure Lincoln, Amelia and their team have to start looking at possible motives as well as following the meagre trace evidence. Could the motive be connected to the term paper Geneva is writing about her ancestor, Charles Singleton? Charles was a former slave who was active in the early civil rights movement.
Jeffery Deaver's books are cleverly written, there's no arguing with that. You keep turning the pages, trying to keep up with all the twists and turns of the plot and as much as you try to expect the unexpected you will still be surprised. Of course, after having read quite a few of his books you will start noticing some of the set ups and almost get annoyed with some of them.
Lincoln Rhyme is (obviously) still quadriplegic and in his wheelchair and part of the book is about his continuing struggles with coping with his situation. It is clear that he is an impressive person with a brilliant mind, but it is still a bit difficult to see what attracts Amelia so to this all too often moody and cantankerous man. At least from the insights we as readers are given of their life together they are either exchanging sarcastic remarks or meaningful looks.
Still, Jeffery Deaver can write and his books are well worth reading. This one especially, and what makes it so is the story about Charles Singleton. Here all obvious writer's tricks are left out and instead a story full of interesting and intriguing details is told.
This series contains, in chronological order:
The Bone Collector
The Coffin Dancer
The Empty Chair
Stone Monkey
The Vanished Man
The Twelfth Card
----------
Sixteen-year-old Geneva Settle is an all-A-student from Harlem. As she is researching a term paper at the African-American Museum someone attempts to kill her. Through a combination of acute awareness, cleverness and perhaps a bit of luck Geneva gets away, but so does the assailant.
As Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs starts to investigate the scene both it and the way the perpetrator made his escape suggests that he is a professional killer and not what the left behind clues would suggest. Because the left behind clues are deliberately left behind and offers no leads to the man they are seeking.
So contrary to normal procedure Lincoln, Amelia and their team have to start looking at possible motives as well as following the meagre trace evidence. Could the motive be connected to the term paper Geneva is writing about her ancestor, Charles Singleton? Charles was a former slave who was active in the early civil rights movement.
Jeffery Deaver's books are cleverly written, there's no arguing with that. You keep turning the pages, trying to keep up with all the twists and turns of the plot and as much as you try to expect the unexpected you will still be surprised. Of course, after having read quite a few of his books you will start noticing some of the set ups and almost get annoyed with some of them.
Lincoln Rhyme is (obviously) still quadriplegic and in his wheelchair and part of the book is about his continuing struggles with coping with his situation. It is clear that he is an impressive person with a brilliant mind, but it is still a bit difficult to see what attracts Amelia so to this all too often moody and cantankerous man. At least from the insights we as readers are given of their life together they are either exchanging sarcastic remarks or meaningful looks.
Still, Jeffery Deaver can write and his books are well worth reading. This one especially, and what makes it so is the story about Charles Singleton. Here all obvious writer's tricks are left out and instead a story full of interesting and intriguing details is told.
This series contains, in chronological order:
The Bone Collector
The Coffin Dancer
The Empty Chair
Stone Monkey
The Vanished Man
The Twelfth Card
Wednesday 13 July 2005
The Closers
by Michael Connelly
----------
Harry Bosch is back on the police force, and he knows now that this is where he needs to be.
Kiz Rider has been working on the sixth, that is to say with the top brass, but is now moving to work cold cases and has brought Harry on board as her partner.
The new chief of police changed the name of the department to Open-Unsolved because, as he tells Harry; "Those aren't cold cases, Detective. They never go cold. Not for some people." Harry feels that although the chief clearly warned him about his return not being guaranteed, he actually connected on some level with the man on top. They both could hear the chorus of forgotten voices and felt the need to respond in some way.
Each team in the Open-Unsolved department is assigned four or five blocks of years. Kiz and Harry have four blocks and a cold hit has just come in for a case from one of their years. In 1988 a sixteen-year-old girl was found shot several days after disappearing from her home. The gun was lying in the leafs by her left ankle and it is DNA taken from this gun that has now come up with a match.
Even before starting to re-examine the case Harry has a run-in with his former boss, Deputy Chief Irvin Irving, who has been pushed aside by the new chief. As they get deeper into the investigation Harry has to confront him again despite his warning that Harry's inevitable failure will be his ticket back in.
Harry can feel in his gut that there is more to this case than finding answers for those involved and closing the case. But that is still what he is working towards, because that is what he is; a closer.
As always, reading a Michael Connelly book is pure delight. He has this amazing ability to write with a language that flows so naturally you can ride on it effortlessly, concentrating on understanding and figuring out the complexities of the characters and the case at hand. He also plays fair with the reader, giving you all the information you need to keep pace with Harry and Kiz and their deductions. And I don't know if he does this on purpose, but he also allows you to make some connections ahead of Harry, but these are not so obvious you feel like pounding Harry on the head for not making them himself.
Michael Connelly stays on my "must read" list.
This series contains, in chronological order:
The Black Echo
The Black Ice
The Concrete Blonde
The Last Coyote
Trunk Music
Angels Flight
A Darkness More Than Night
City of Bones
Lost Light
The Narrows
The Closers
Other books by Michael Connelly:
The Poet (followed up in The Narrows)
Blood Work (losely connected to The Poet, and followed up in A Darkness...)
Void Moon
Chasing the Dime
----------
Harry Bosch is back on the police force, and he knows now that this is where he needs to be.
Kiz Rider has been working on the sixth, that is to say with the top brass, but is now moving to work cold cases and has brought Harry on board as her partner.
The new chief of police changed the name of the department to Open-Unsolved because, as he tells Harry; "Those aren't cold cases, Detective. They never go cold. Not for some people." Harry feels that although the chief clearly warned him about his return not being guaranteed, he actually connected on some level with the man on top. They both could hear the chorus of forgotten voices and felt the need to respond in some way.
Each team in the Open-Unsolved department is assigned four or five blocks of years. Kiz and Harry have four blocks and a cold hit has just come in for a case from one of their years. In 1988 a sixteen-year-old girl was found shot several days after disappearing from her home. The gun was lying in the leafs by her left ankle and it is DNA taken from this gun that has now come up with a match.
Even before starting to re-examine the case Harry has a run-in with his former boss, Deputy Chief Irvin Irving, who has been pushed aside by the new chief. As they get deeper into the investigation Harry has to confront him again despite his warning that Harry's inevitable failure will be his ticket back in.
Harry can feel in his gut that there is more to this case than finding answers for those involved and closing the case. But that is still what he is working towards, because that is what he is; a closer.
As always, reading a Michael Connelly book is pure delight. He has this amazing ability to write with a language that flows so naturally you can ride on it effortlessly, concentrating on understanding and figuring out the complexities of the characters and the case at hand. He also plays fair with the reader, giving you all the information you need to keep pace with Harry and Kiz and their deductions. And I don't know if he does this on purpose, but he also allows you to make some connections ahead of Harry, but these are not so obvious you feel like pounding Harry on the head for not making them himself.
Michael Connelly stays on my "must read" list.
This series contains, in chronological order:
The Black Echo
The Black Ice
The Concrete Blonde
The Last Coyote
Trunk Music
Angels Flight
A Darkness More Than Night
City of Bones
Lost Light
The Narrows
The Closers
Other books by Michael Connelly:
The Poet (followed up in The Narrows)
Blood Work (losely connected to The Poet, and followed up in A Darkness...)
Void Moon
Chasing the Dime
Sunday 3 July 2005
Driving Big Davie
by Colin Bateman
----------
This is my first encounter with Dan Starkey and my first book by Colin Bateman. The back cover blurb promised a combination of Irish wit and a Florida setting – how could I resist?
Dan Starkey has clearly been through a lot, and perhaps all his past adventures are described in earlier books. In this one however, he finds himself pretending to cope and moving on with his life. He has been reduced from being a journalist to working on a PR-project for the city of Belfast. He is attending court appointed counselling sessions. But he is reunited with his wife Patricia, which is all well enough, except that having a child together proves not to be as easy as one might hope.
And then Joe Strummer of The Clash dies and Dan’s best mate from the punk era; Big Davie, calls up. When Dan and Big Davie gets plastered together in their old home town Dan finds himself agreeing to go along on a two week vacation to Florida. Big Davie has, Dan is being told, been dumped and is left standing with already paid for tickets to the honeymoon.
Already on the flight Dan starts noticing inconsistencies in Davie’s story and once in Florida the trip turns into something completely different from a relaxing two weeks in the sun.
Through the first few chapters I couldn’t have been more pleased with myself for having picked up this book. The narrative was quick and funny, the types of word play and association digressions I really like, as well as references that I could relate to. But then further in the book Dan started to jump to conclusions and taking actions that really irked me, and I felt that there wasn’t really any storyline to hold the on their own funny episodes together. I also felt that some issues brought up in the book where far to tragic to be dealt with so flippantly.
But then the book sort of turned around again on me and I got back into it as a whacky ride. Also what had been dismissed a bit glibly was exposed to have more depth and importance, giving the book a bit more of the same.
As I put the book down I was quite happy having spent time reading it. I’ll probably be reading another Colin Bateman. I will not go looking for the earlier Dan Starkey novels though, at least not for a while. This is mostly because I feel in some ways that this book is more like a chapter in the life o Dan Starkey than a stand alone book. So much was revealed about his past life and adventures that I feel I will know how the earlier books ends even before reading them.
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This is my first encounter with Dan Starkey and my first book by Colin Bateman. The back cover blurb promised a combination of Irish wit and a Florida setting – how could I resist?
Dan Starkey has clearly been through a lot, and perhaps all his past adventures are described in earlier books. In this one however, he finds himself pretending to cope and moving on with his life. He has been reduced from being a journalist to working on a PR-project for the city of Belfast. He is attending court appointed counselling sessions. But he is reunited with his wife Patricia, which is all well enough, except that having a child together proves not to be as easy as one might hope.
And then Joe Strummer of The Clash dies and Dan’s best mate from the punk era; Big Davie, calls up. When Dan and Big Davie gets plastered together in their old home town Dan finds himself agreeing to go along on a two week vacation to Florida. Big Davie has, Dan is being told, been dumped and is left standing with already paid for tickets to the honeymoon.
Already on the flight Dan starts noticing inconsistencies in Davie’s story and once in Florida the trip turns into something completely different from a relaxing two weeks in the sun.
Through the first few chapters I couldn’t have been more pleased with myself for having picked up this book. The narrative was quick and funny, the types of word play and association digressions I really like, as well as references that I could relate to. But then further in the book Dan started to jump to conclusions and taking actions that really irked me, and I felt that there wasn’t really any storyline to hold the on their own funny episodes together. I also felt that some issues brought up in the book where far to tragic to be dealt with so flippantly.
But then the book sort of turned around again on me and I got back into it as a whacky ride. Also what had been dismissed a bit glibly was exposed to have more depth and importance, giving the book a bit more of the same.
As I put the book down I was quite happy having spent time reading it. I’ll probably be reading another Colin Bateman. I will not go looking for the earlier Dan Starkey novels though, at least not for a while. This is mostly because I feel in some ways that this book is more like a chapter in the life o Dan Starkey than a stand alone book. So much was revealed about his past life and adventures that I feel I will know how the earlier books ends even before reading them.
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