The Reversal

I got my beautiful limited edition bySCV Publications in early september and it has been killing me waiting for Orion to release the UK Hardcover this month. I bought it from Waterstones and it was a nice bonus ( even if somewhat redundant under the circumstances) to find it was signed and with extra material. But ultimately I was disappointed. How come?
First let me say that a poor book by Michael Connelly is better than most author's best. But this is a poor Connelly effort and no mistake. Some time ago Connelly revealed he had been writing a Bosch-Haller double header which he put to one side when the idea for The Scarecrow came into his head. This feels like a book he may have put to one side. The story centres mostly on Haller and his decision to switch from defence to prosecution (the reversal of the title) in order to make sure a convicted child killer, who had recently won his appeal, stays behind bars. Bosch has a bit part as Haller's investigator.
Part of my difficulty with the book was that I felt Haller never really shares Bosch's urgency in putting the perp away and as a result we don't feel that urgency. Result- no tension. Not good for a thriller.The author gives us lots of information about the way lawyers work the trial system to get their favoured result but I just didn't find this interesting.
The Scarecrow was everything this book wasn't and it's certainly easy to see why Connelly put The Reversal aside to complete it. It is a high watermark in his stand-alone books, perhaps in all his work. But, with The Reversal and the equally disappointing Nine Dragons, he is batting nought for two.

Rag and Bone

I have just started reading Rag and Bone, the fifth in James R Benn's series of WWII mysteries.
I took a chance on the first in the series, Billy Boyle, because it was published by the dependable Soho Press and have read every one since.
The hero ,Boyle, is a young Irish-American detective who, through family connections, ends up as personal investigator to General Eisenhower, by which device Benn, a keen historian apparently, is able to deposit Boyle in various significant periods of the war. The historical research is certainly impressive and the author appears to have mastered the facts. Benn is particularly convincing when describing the complexities of executing a war,and of showing the tensions which arise when nations with competing agendas are forced to come together as allies. Employing principal characters from different nations, Benn is able to explore not just the respective fortunes of each country but also the personal cost to individuals.
All the covers are done by Daniel Cosgrove and have a great matinee serial flavour to them.
I have some gripes though. Boyle pursues a romance with the glamorous Diane, an upper-class english spy involved in dangerous behind-the-lines missions. It is strangely chaste, especially in a context where the two lovers never know if they will see each other again. He is not the stereotypical GI "oversexed and over here".
Secondly the british characters are for the most part one dimensional, bumbling toffs who are more concerned with good manners than winning a war. In Evil for Evil, the fourth in the series, Boyle has to tangle with the IRA, something he struggles with because of Irish Bostonian upbringing. Here I sense Benn is trying to be even-handed in his exploration of American sympathy for the cause, which has engendered much shame since 9/11, but he doesn't quite manage it. Still, this is an American series, by an American author, presumably intended for an American audience and it hasn't put me off continuing with the series so I won't make too much of it.

The books don't have the moral exploration of Philip Kerr's Berlin Noir, or the poetic style of Alan Faust, but if you are looking for a fine adventure series with good historical detail ,you won't go far wrong.

Upcoming goodness

Now that it's autumn and my summer holiday is just a fading memory, the nights are drawing in, and the opportunities for breaking 80 are becoming scarce it's some consolation to know there are things to look forward to:
The Immorality Engine, George Mann;
Johnny Halloween, Norman Partridge;
Campus Tramp, Lawrence Block;
The Nearest Exit, Olen Steinhauer;
Copping Squid, Michael Shea;
Dread Island, Joe R Lansdale;
Deadman's Road, Joe R lansdale;
Hyenas, Joe R Lansdale;
Yes Sir it's nice to know there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Day one

Having made, for me, the herculean effort of getting up at 7am to watch the morning foursomes, it was particularly disappointing to see only three and a half hours golf all day. I pity the punters who forked out £150 to see it live.
No points are yet on the board and it would be rash to draw too many conclusions but some things are undeniable. Clearly the early spin from Europe that Harrington had found his form in the practice rounds was just an attempt to take the pressure of Monty. If ever there were a passenger it was Padraig. The rejigged schedule means he is sure to feature again before the sunday singles, something that would otherwise be unthinkable.
McIlroy was another notable failure, entirely anonymous alongside GMac. Whereas for America Cink and Dustin Johnson in particular exceeded expectations. On a day where the conditions clearly favoured Europe this was a concern.
But still no matches are completed and everything is to play for but Europe needs to do better. Much better