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The Rat on Fire [Mass Market Paperback]

George V. Higgins (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)


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Book Description

January 12, 1982
A riveting, blistering novel about the shady side of the law and the business side of the Boston underworld by the one and only George V. Higgins.
 
Jerry Fein is a small-time lawyer, occasional booking agent, and full-time slumlord. But he’s nobody’s fool. So when the tenants of his dilapidated buildings refuse to pay rent because of rats, Jerry knows just the man to help him—Leo Proctor, a professional arsonist, who can make a fire marshal look the other way for a little cash. But the heat is on over at the police station as well, and a couple of cops are suddenly feeling pressure from their superiors to produce tangible results, and something has got to give.
 
Full of showboating politicians, hardnosed cops, and lawyers a little too familiar with both sides of the law, The Rat on Fire is another Higgins masterpiece and an unflinching portrait of the Boston crime world.  
--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

 
 “Mr. Higgins at his best.”—Atlantic Monthly 
 
  “If you are a Higgins fan, you should jump at this one.”—Houston Chronicle

"Aspiring writers of any genre, not just legal suspense, would be wise to read lots of George Higgins." --John Grisham
 
"George V. Higgins was a brilliant writer." --Robert P. Parker 
 
 “Higgins deserves to stand in the company of the likes of Chandler and Hammett as one of the true innovators in crime fiction.” —Scott Turow
 
"Higgins can plot a whole book like one long chase scene. He can write dialogue so authentic it spits." —Life
 
"The Balzac of the Boston underworld. ... Higgins is almost uniquely blessed with a gift for voices, each of them ... as distinctive as a fingerprint."—The New Yorker
 
“One of the great crime writers of the twentieth century.” —Kansas City Star --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

About the Author

George V Higgins was born in Brockton, Mass, in 1939. After several years as a reporter, he obtained a law degree and went on to become Assistant DA in Boston. This was followed by a period of private practice, during which he defended Gordon Liddy, the Watergate conspirator, and Black Panther Eldridge Cleaver, before becoming a full-time author. He wrote over 25 books in total. He died in November 1999. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

  • Mass Market Paperback: 160 pages
  • Publisher: Ballantine Books; First Edition edition (January 12, 1982)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0345299019
  • ISBN-13: 978-0345299017
  • Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,375,702 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

6 Reviews
5 star:
 (3)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars "Rat" on target, March 2, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: The Rat on Fire (Paperback)
This novel deals with some would-be arsonists, a corrupt fire marshal, and the cops trying to catch them. It's a good, ingenious story, but the real reason to read it is the side-splitting dialogue. Politically incorrect, but hilarious. The Rat on Fire is one of the funniest books I've ever read. I will always be grateful to this book because it cheered me up at a time when I badly needed cheering up. The only flaw is on the very first page, where Higgins shifts scene a bit too abruptly, which is momentarily confusing. Nonetheless, I would recommend this book to anyone with a sense of humor. One of Higgins' best..
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, tragic, and compelling, February 25, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: The Rat on Fire (Paperback)
A small but complex story. The dialogue is hilarious, the characters interesting. Get your hands on a copy while you still can.
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5.0 out of 5 stars G.V. HIGGINS GEM!!, May 4, 2011
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Rat on Fire (Paperback)
George V. Higgins' book, "The Rat On Fire' was excellent.
It did not sell well when written and was hard to find...
I ordered thru Amazon and got the best price from a book
dealer in England. Highly recommend the book to other
readers.
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