Customer Reviews

Foul Matter

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I have enjoyed Martha Grimes for a number of years and was delighted with her jaunts off the beaten path (her entertaining Richard Jury mystery series) with Hotel Paradise and Cold Flat Junction. I cannot say that Foul Matter generated the same kind of delight. Characterization is a strong suite for Ms. Grimes, and in Foul Matter she never spends enough time with any character to do much more than present a sketch. She is writing about superficial characters, and, indeed, they come across as such. Not a loveable or particularly interesting one among them. Typically I find sentences of gold sprinkled here and there in her writing. Strangely enough, when she writes about a good writer in Foul Matter, I found little in the examples of Ned's writing that was nearly as good as when she is simply being herself. I know it is a spoof about the publishing industry; I wonder if anyone not in publishing will find it terribly entertaining. Books need people to inhabit them; this one is an idea not fully realized.

Martha Grimes's new book, "Foul Matter," is a funny and off-beat treatment of the corrupt, venal, and nasty side of the publishing industry. Paul Giverney is a best-selling author who can write his own ticket. He decides to change publishers, and he agrees to sign on with a house named Mackenzie-Haack on the condition that they drop a talented writer named Ned Isaly. Ned loves his craft and his characters live vividly in his head. He cares little about wealth and adulation. In short, he is the exact opposite of many of today's high-priced authors. Critics love Ned, but, alas, he does not command big publicity tours and his books are not displayed in the front window of major bookselling chains.

Paul Giverney negotiates a deal with an ambitious Mackenzie-Haack editor named Clive Esterhaus, who knows that getting Giverney would be a major coup for his publishing house and for him personally. Esterhaus's boss, Bobby Mackenzie, has no scruples about doing whatever it takes to get this hot author. He can actually see the dollar signs dancing in front of his eyes. To what lengths will Bobby go to get Giverney? How will Bobby get rid of Ned, who is under contract?

Grimes must know some reprehensible and unscrupulous publishing types, because her book is a scathing indictment of the business. Although the author is a bit heavy-handed in her distaste for the sordid aspects of publishing, she makes up for it with her deliciously deadpan humor and her amusingly eccentric characters. The two funniest individuals in the book are Karl and Candy, hit men with a conscience and an appreciation for a good book.

There is a farcical interlude in which Ned Isaly travels to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a virtual posse of his friends, acquaintances, and the omnipresent hit men follow him. Although everyone is trying to be incognito, all of these characters practically fall over one another. Grimes's wacky and whimsical sense of humor makes "Foul Matter" delightfully entertaining.

Best-selling author Paul Giverney is switching publishers, and most any acquisitions editor in New York would gnaw a limb off to sign him. While Paul isn't interested in self-mutilation, he does make an unusual demand of the house whose multi-million-dollar offer he's decided to accept: Mackenzie-Haack must drop one of its most valued authors--Ned Isaly, a better writer than Paul who sells far fewer books--as a prerequisite to signing Giverney. Unfortunately for Ned, "Mack-Haack" is not in a position to rip up his contract. It's far easier for the publisher to hire a pair of hit men to take Isaly out--thugs who turn out to be more discerning than your average performers of "wet work."

Foul Matter follows the sometimes comic results of Mackenzie-Haack's determination to sign Paul Giverney, and it follows Ned Isaly and his writer friends as they struggle variously with their novels. The book's premise, if implausible, is intriguing. Unfortunately, the book seems to be short a chapter or two. Grimes does finally answer the question readers have been asking themselves since the book's first chapter--why is Giverney gunning for Isaly?--although the payoff isn't really worth it. But the author leaves unanswered a more important question about Ned that develops in the book's course. Ultimately, then, Foul Matter is an unsatisfying read, though there is some fun to be had along the way.

Reviewed by Debra Hamel, author of Trying Neaira: The True Story of a Courtesan's Scandalous Life in Ancient Greece

At first I groaned that this was not going to be a Jury novel--I miss Melrose and Agatha! But once I got started, I could not put this one down. *Bloated*? Were that reviewer and I reading the same book? I loved the pacing, I appreciated the sly and subtle humor, and I admired the very human characterization. Way to go, Ms. Grimes

Martha Grimes brings us laughter, chuckles and chills in almost every page of this novel. It is a mystery of sorts. This is a send-up of the publishing world, and Martha Grimes seems to know it well. The outlandish character names, the spoof of the mafia,and the tale of evil and greediness. As someone said "I only hope she made it all up!".

Paul Giverney, a well published and powerful author, wants to leave his publishing house and move to another. He has mischief on his mind. Every publishing house is out to get him, but he chooses the less well known Mackenzie-Haack. Could this be a hint of things to come? His condition; Ned Islay, author that Mackenzie-Haack publishes, must be fired. The editor assigned to see him, Clive Esterhaus, is thunder-struck. Ned has an iron-clad contract- well, if he wanted Paul Giverney and his millions they would have to play. He goes to Bobby Mackenzie, the owner of the publishing house, and they discuss this issue. The iron-clad contract can not be changed, but another kind of contract can be made. Bobby hires two "hit" people to get rid of Ned Islay.

Ahh, now the fun begins. The hit people are a different type. They have to know everything about their contract. They also love books and publishing and authors. The funniest part of the book takes place in Pittsburgh with Ned Islay innocently making his rounds, and being followed just in case the "hit" can take place.

During all this time, what is Mr.Giverney really doing? Is he writing his next novel? Is he planning his next move? What of the editors and players within Mackenzie-Haack? What is really going on? Well, when the time comes you will laugh hysterically at the comings and goings and the fun and games and the life of a publishing house. Martha Grimes has done her best to keep us apprised of life inside the book publishing business. A quirky side of Maratha Grimes, or is this the real truth? Very much recommended. prisrob

The glowing reviews on the cover made this book sound like a fun read. It wasn't. This book really challenged my attention span, I kept wondering if it was ever going to get better. Summary: Mischevious writer sets up another one to be murdered, just for fun. The hit men, completely unbelievable cultured theatre lovers turn out to be the nicest people in the story. This was the first Martha Grimes I have read and I am in no hurry to try another. I happen to love subtle humor, but this was so subtle I missed it.

If you have ever worked in or around publishing or have ever been published you will laugh your way through Grimes' new novel.

Although there are a few rough edges, this book is impossibly hilarious, clever, depressing and hopeful, all at the same time.

If you are fairly literate and want to read something that will entertain you from page one, read this book. If, instead, you prefer a book that is dull as dust, don't bother. (But life is too short to waste time reading boring books.) I'm not a huge MG fan and I really enjoyed this book. I kept trying to steal time to read it. This is good stuff. Buy this book.

I am a huge fan of Martha Grimes and have enjoyed all of her other books, especially the Richard Jury series. I splurged and bought this book in hardcover as a special treat. For the first time, I was disappointed in a Grimes novel. I found the book hard to get into and the characters unsympathetic as well as difficult to keep straight. I had almost decided not to bother reading the rest of the book until the appearance of the two assassins. My advice is to purchase the paperback version. I would probably have rated this book lower if I didn't like Martha Grimes so much.

This is a very pleasant, Cozy-style novel with light-hearted humor about the money-grubbing publishing business. There is no gore or serious menace here; the ending is predictable. If made into a movie, one of the hit men could be played by Danny DeVito. I found it an enjoyable read, but too long. Lop off 100 pages, beef up the suspense, and it would have been a more exciting read.