Body Blows: A Joe Grundy Mystery [Paperback]

Marc Strange (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 22, 2009 | Series: A Joe Grundy Mystery

Ex-boxer Joe Grundy is embroiled in the intrigues of his own boss, millionaire Leo Alexander, the owner of Vancouver's Lord Douglas Hotel. Somebody has murdered Leo's live-in servant and not-so-secret lover, and Grundy has to get to the bottom of the incident in order to clear the man he's forged a bond with since first coming to work for him as security for the hotel. But Leo's past serves up more surprises than Grundy bargained for

It seems Leo has had a life full of death, jilted mistresses, spurned spouses, sharp business deals, and explosive relationships with estranged children. Another corpse pops up, Leo is arrested and jailed, and Grundy takes more hits to his body and psyche than perhaps even he can handle.

Thoughts of real and imagined death are stalking the corridors of the Lord Douglas, and Joe Grundy has to keep swinging to stay alive and remain sane.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Fast-paced and hard-hitting, Body Blows is classic hard-boiled, with colourful characters, snappy dialogue and a cynical point of view. If you like Hemingway, you’ll like Marc Strange."

From the Inside Flap

When the live-in servant and not-so-secret lover of ex-boxer Joe Grundy's millionaire boss Leo Alexander turns up murdered, it's up to Joe to get to the bottom of the incident in order to clear Leo's name. But Leo's past serves up more surprises than Grundy bargains for.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Dundurn (June 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1554883903
• ISBN-13: 978-1554883905
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #837,462 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great to know you don't have to choose between quality and genre, June 17, 2010

By 

David B. Schlosser "dbschlosser" (Davidson, NC, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Body Blows: A Joe Grundy Mystery (Paperback)

I chose this book after it won an 2010 Edgar award from Mystery Writers of America for Best Paperback Original. I was not disappointed - this book is a great read. The characterization is a delight to unravel along with the solution to the mystery, which is deftly plotted. I was particularly impressed with the dialogue, which is snappy and evocative without being too clever by half or sounding wedged into a scene simply to achieve a one-liner. Marc Strange deserves great credit for respecting his readers enough to treat them to style that matches the substance of his story.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars familiar feel, July 12, 2010

By 

John Bowes (Oxford, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Body Blows: A Joe Grundy Mystery (Paperback)

If you appreciate the old masters, Chandler, Hammett, et al, you will be comfortable here. A modern Vancouver setting with a good solid hero doing good work. This makes me look for more by this author.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I Love A Good Boxer, May 17, 2011

By 

madscientist_13 "B. Thomas" (TN) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Body Blows: A Joe Grundy Mystery (Paperback)

Mysterious deaths, lots of money and a dysfunctional family-what more could you ask for?

I have to say that I enjoyed this novel, mostly because of the characters. I thought that Joe Grundy was an expertly crafted character and the way that he was interwoven into the fabric of narrative made that story so readable that I was hooked from the word go. I love a good case of family dysfunction too, but then again, who doesn't?

On the down side, I found that as the story progressed towards the end it became a little predictable and I am always a little annoyed when I can figure out who done it before the big reveal, but that wasn't really that big of an issue with this book. It didn't take away from the enjoyment at all because it wasn't even the conclusion of the story, which I liked even more. I have to say I recommend this book, it makes for a surprisingly good, and fast, read.