Eton Crop: A Harpur & Iles Mystery [Paperback]

Bill James (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2000 | Series: Harpur & Iles Mysteries

In the latest gripping Harpur & Iles mystery, the London syndicate tries to take over a choice operation, setting off a murderous rivalry with the local drug lords-and a fierce policy war among the police.

Pursued from the shadows, Simon Pilgrim fled in terror from the floating restaurant Eton Boating Song. In the bar on the Eton, he had the choice spot, discreetly purveying high-stakes drugs to the Eton's well-to-do patrons. Now he's dead, his throat cut, and the police know that the drug syndicates are in an all-out war, with the Eton as the prize. Naomi Anstruther, a cop, is sent undercover into this turbulent drug world. Right away she becomes an unknowing pawn in the rival criminals' plans-and in the complex struggle between Harpur and his rival, ACC Desmond Iles. When Naomi's cover is threatened, Harpur and Iles must act with lightning speed to salvage the operation and-in an explosion of violence-try to get her out alive. This is Bill James's most brilliantly plotted story yet, and the tension is high-wire to the last minute. "Bill James's Harpur and Iles books are deliciously un-savoury: a brilliant combination of almost Jacobean savagery and sexual betrayal with a tart comedy of contemporary manners."—John Harvey, Guardian "Although each book in the series, which is set in a nameless city north of London, stands on its own, they all add up to a stunning history of how crime has changed the fabric and character of British society."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In its last half-dozen titles, James's Harpur and Iles series has turned darker, concentrating on drug-related murders and betrayals. When an undercover officer named Raymond Street was killed several books ago, Assistant Chief Constable Desmond Iles took it very badly: blaming Chief Constable Mark Lane's uncompromising policies, he started a scorched earth campaign to push Lane into early retirement or the loony bin. In this 16th entry in this bleakly inventive series (after Lovely Mover, Forecasts, May 3), both ends seem imminent. "The Chief was noble and doomed, cripplingly fractured and toweringly honorable," writes James. "The evil was too much for him. The job had grown too much for him. Iles was too much for him." It's up to the burly, recently widowed Detective Chief Inspector Colin Harpur to try to save Lane's sanity by inserting another undercover cop, tough and ambitious Naomi Anstruther, into a drug operation run by former rivals who are joined in an uneasy alliance against the encroachments of a heavyweight London mob intent on making a floating restaurant (and popular upper-class drug-buying venue) called "The Eton Boating Song" its first local victory. Protecting Lane from the brilliant and vengeful Iles, shielding Naomi from the rival drug dealers and also from a particularly dangerous police psychiatrist, Harpur once again becomes a shaky, then ultimately sturdy tower of strength. Although each book in the series, which is set in a nameless city north of London, stands on its own, they all add up to a stunning history of how crime has changed the fabric and character of British society. (Nov.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

James' latest Harpur and Iles mystery displays the dark comedic moments, keen psychological insights, and taut plotting that have made this series so satisfying. Harpur and Iles' superior, Chief Lane, never a strong leader and always verging on nervous collapse, is terrified that the recent attempt by major muscle from London to take over the local drug market will result in an all-out war that will discredit him or, worse, send him over the edge. Harpur and Iles are torn between their desire to protect the chief and their fear that the chief's plan--to send policewoman Naomi Anstruther undercover to gather information--will result in disaster. They opt for supporting the chief, but when the London interlopers murder a local drug dealer, a gang war breaks out, bringing tragic consequences for everyone involved. A gripping installment in a superior series. Emily Melton --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; Reprint edition (November 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393320987
• ISBN-13: 978-0393320985
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,352,335 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars worth sticking with, April 20, 2000

By 

ANGELA FOSTER (australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eton Crop (Harpur & Iles Mysteries) (Hardcover)

This is a well written technical mystery which takes some time to get involved with .Then it becomes a page turner and climaxes beautifully into a highly original conclusion.The writing is ian banks/raymond chandler and should be read by those interested in original modern storytelling.

2.0 out of 5 stars Just got silly, January 18, 2012

By 

Paul Rooney "Paul Rooney" (Opotiki,New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eton Crop: A Harpur & Iles Mystery (Paperback)

A Harpur and Iles novel involving the placing of a undercover policewoman into local drug gangs.

Iles is still very funny and bent, Harpur seems to put up with it but at the end of the book , I just asked myself, what was the point, it just got silly and I knew I had wasted my time.