Barrington Street Blues (A Collins-Burke Mystery) [Hardcover]

Anne Emery (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2008 | Series: A Collins-Burke Mystery

A rich man and a poor man are found dead of gunshot wounds outside a seedy bar on Barrington Street. The police declare it a murder-suicide, but bluesman/lawyer Monty Collins suspects it's a double murder. Helped by his friend, Father Brennan Burke, and hindered by his femme fatale law partner, Felicia Morgan, Monty explores the dark side of Halifax society: hookers, drug addicts, boozers, gamblers and people desperate to cover up a series of parties that got way out of hand. A threat of blackmail, and turmoil with his estranged wife Maura, have Monty singing the blues, lashing out at his closest friends, and spending far too much time in the bars of Halifax.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Highly  recommended."  —Library Journal

"The writing is lean, linear, and concise . . . [the] understated treatment of setting gives credence to the theory that less detail can often mean more mood. . . . However, it is perhaps Emery's use of character dialogue that gives the book its weight, masterfully chronicling Collins's descent into his own personal underworld."  —Atlantic Books Today

"This is a wonderful yarn, full of amazingly colourful characters, dialogue that sweeps across the pages like a tsunami, a story that will keep you reading late into the night, and a plot as devious as a lawyer's mind."  —Waterloo Region Record

"Emery makes it easy to root for Monty, who solves not only the mystery that pays the bills, but also the one that tugs at his heart."  —Quill and Quire

"Anne Emery has given readers so much to feast upon in her latest novel. . . . She dares to challenge those readers who are so fond of anticipating the outcome of the plot. Barrington Street Blues should earn Anne Emery the right to fly first class from this point on."  —The Chronicle-Herald

"Emery builds on the strength of her first two novels to create another memorable tale."  —Shelf Life

"Arthur Ellis award–winning author Anne Emery succeeds admirably in bringing readers a compelling tale of crime and punishment involving characters of real substance and believability."  —Scene Magazine

"Combines a strong sense of place with a layered plot that holds your interest from the very first page. Deftly combing action and crackly dialogue, Anne Emery is an author to watch for."  —The Sherbrooke Record

About the Author

Anne Emery is a graduate of Dalhousie Law School. She has worked as a lawyer, legal affairs reporter, and researcher. She is the author of Obit and Sign of the Cross, winner of the 2006 Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel. She lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 280 pages
• Publisher: ECW Press (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550228137
• ISBN-13: 978-1550228137
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,154,206 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)