Customer Reviews

The Take (DI Joe Faraday)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Hurley's novel seems a bit stiff if you're used to reading Rankin or some of the American tough-guy procedurals. The mystery aspect of this piece involves two investigations, a missing quack and a exhibitionist who dresses as one (by hiding behind a Donald Duck mask). All the while these cases are being handled, DI Joe Faraday is trying to impose some form of contrition on a young driver whose irresponsibility caused a fatal car wreck that ended the life of his close friend and office assistant, Vanessa. (The driver was talking on his cell phone! I shudder to think what Faraday would have to say about the state of American drivers blabbling all through traffic day in and day out.) Anyway, this story unfolds through plot machinations that are not unusual for the police procedural genre, but the depth of characterization was highly enjoyable. If you're a fan of detective/thriller/police procedurals, and if you enjoy glimpses into the English mannerisms and dialect found throughout particular cities in the UK, then I recommend you give Faraday and his colleagues in the Portsmouth CID a go. I am curious about the first book in this series, as this second one seemed to focus on very personal moments (read: vendettas) in the lives of the characters. Perhaps the initial outing had a bit more punch and more of a compelling crime in the forefront (?)

I have read both this book and the earlier Turnstone which are the first two books in a series of police procedurals set in Plymouth, England. Mr. Hurley bears comparison with John Harvey, Ian Rankin and the early Michael Connolly. Hurley's protagonist, Joe Faraday, and other characters are as well drawn and quirky as any of their characters. The stories move along and the plots hang together. They would appeal to anyone who likes procedurals or was a fan of the TV show Homicide. Highly recommended.

Graham Hurley is unfortunately one of those British mystery writers who for some unfathomable reason is not published in the USA. His marvelous, realistic novels are not flashy and simple enough to sell zillion copies. In the society on the verge of colapse, DI Joe Faraday desperately tries to do his job.The cases that he deals with are dreary, the bosses make things worse, and other policemen are more trouble than they are worth.
I fell in love with these beautifuly written procedurals, and I managed to slowly get a hold of all of them. Great writer and exceptional books.

Stop - put that mouse down now. Walk slowly away from the keyboard. If you enjoy contemporary 'British detective' stories don't waste your time on this book. The characters are cardboard, the dialog(ue) stilted and unbelievable - the plot so tedious that your eyes glaze over. I suggest you head over to one of the 'Bill Slider' tales to see how this type of modern detective story should be written.

It is not the waste of money I object to, so much as the hassle of getting the dings out of the wall caused by my throwing this book across the room.

[If you have read Jasper fforde then the title 'Caversham Heights' says it all - if you haven't, then a quick 'search' will explain all.]