The Judas Pair (The First Lovejoy Mystery) [Paperback]

Jonathan Gash (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 2006

Winner of the CWA Creasey award for Best First Mystery of 1977 Lovejoy has a strictly thieves’ code of honor, he does repulsive things to food, and he’s a brute to his (many) girlfriends. But what he doesn’t know about antiques isn’t worth knowing, which has earned him a certain grudging respect among the grifters and antique-dealers of East Anglia. And it could earn him a glorious, wallet-fattening commission. A mysterious collector with money to burn wants Lovejoy to find the notorious “Judas pair,” a matched set of flintlock dueling pistols. They were made in the 18th century, the last of a scant handful of sets crafted by a brilliantly talented artisan. They were most recently used to murder the collector’s brother. As Lovejoy sees it, there is only one small problem: The legendary Judas pair never actually existed. Oh, and one other problem: The Judas pair may be strictly imaginary, mythical, an antique collector's version of the Philosopher’s Stone. But despite all that, someone is willing to kill to prevent Lovejoy from finding them. The 1st Lovejoy mystery

Editorial Reviews

Review

“One of the most likable rogues in mystery history” – Chicago Sun-Times --Chicago Sun-Times

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Felony & Mayhem (February 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193339725X
• ISBN-13: 978-1933397252
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,879,896 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The beginning of the collection, December 17, 2002

By 

Glen Engel Cox (Columbus, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Judas Pair (Lovejoy Mystery) (Paperback)

I finally found the first Lovejoy mystery--not that it is necessary to start reading these wonderful books here, but for the anal retentive like me who must read things in order, it's dreadfully important. The series starts off wild and wooly, too, quickly establishing both the method of Lovejoy's madness (an almost insatiable love for antiques) and his obvious mastery and gift for it. It also establishes what is to become the heart of the books, that wise-cracking attitude of Lovejoy's, direct to the reader, in which he doesn't hesitate to tell you his and the antiques world's trade secrets. Lovejoy isn't afraid to pass this info on because he knows it is of no matter-- the public (i.e, the reader, you and me) is still so dumb that even knowing how things work, we'll still be rubes.

For people whose only experience of Lovejoy is from the A&E series, the books may come as sort of a jolt. While some of the same characters are here, the tone and the interactions are very different (I'm reminded of the difference between Spenser: For Hire and the Parker novels). In this book, Lovejoy has a nervous breakdown, is almost burned and buried alive, and fights a duel with flintlocks in one of the most surprising endings of a mystery novel that has come along in a while (well, this was written in 1977, and I missed it then, so let's just say that it's one of the most surprising endings that I've read in a while).

I feel the urge upon me--read these books!--an urge that hasn't hit me in many years. It's the same urge that put me on to reading all of the Rex Stout and P.G. Wodehouse books. Lovejoy would be pleased--it's the urge of the collector.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique mystery, a wonderful read. Get it!, December 28, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Judas Pair (Lovejoy Mystery) (Paperback)

Lovejoy is a gem. This book is surely one of the best in the series and is the one that was responsible for initiating the Lovejoy television series. If you read only one book this year, make it this one.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a delight for an aquired taste!!, May 3, 2002

By 

Deborah MacGillivray "Author," (US & UK) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Judas Pair (Lovejoy Mystery) (Paperback)

This was the first Lovejoy, but I warn American viewers of the Lovejoy telly series NOT to expect the books to be like Ian McShane's Version. This Lovejoy is not quite so loveable. He is shifty, ready to cheat anyone, ready to step over the line if he thinks he cannot get caught, he has a temper, kids shove him around, all his old girlfriends - and there are legion - use him as babysitter. He has a very odd selection of friends - most of the telly characters do not show up to late in the series of books - he has very little respect for women as a whole, other than how he can use them, he barely pays his bills, loves animals, is a big mooch and lives on fried bread and tomato sandwiches. He lets people shove him around, only to turn around and stick up for the underdog.

All in all, at times you might find Lovejoy very unloveable if not downright disgusting.

Ah, but to those that stick with it, you soon find that Lovejoy is an acquired taste that can leaving you howling.

This first one revolved around a pair of missing antique dualing pistols. If you get through to the end and find yourself enjoying the book, you will want to read the rest in the series...though you will always find Lovejoy at times rather disgusting!!

Highly recommended for those wishing their mysteries laced with Brit wit and humour, and that is off the beaten path.