Pix (Vol. Book 24) (Harpur & Iles Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Bill James (Author)

Book Description

Series: Harpur & Iles Mysteries | Publication Date: September 21, 2009

The 24th novel in the Harpur & Iles series follows DCI Harpur into an illicit narcotics ring.

There’s intrigue right from the start of this new entry in Bill James’s Harpur and Iles series: A houseful of paintings is stolen and the body of a finely dressed stranger is discovered. Villainous drug dealers fight for dominance on Constable Iles and Detective Harpur’s turf. While the kingpins maneuver and scheme, Harpur is helped-or hindered?-by his very persistent daughters and by Iles’s irregular and perhaps illicit methods. In this fast-paced thriller, there’s no telling who will catch the next bullet.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Humor, dry and wry, distinguishes James's 24th police procedural to feature Det. Chief Supt. Colin Harpur and Asst. Chief Constable Desmond Iles (after 2007's Girls). Harpur and Iles's criminal nemeses, Mansel Shale and Ralph Ember, share control of the drug trade in their unnamed British port city, which is just fine with Iles so long as their business is conducted without too much violence. When Hilaire Wilfrid Chandor announces his intention of getting a piece of the pie by leaving a body in Manse's house and stealing his art collection, all parties go on alert for Manse's response. Nothing appears hidden from either crooks or cops, who often echo each other's thinking. Meryl Goss, who comes from London determined to find her boyfriend (Graham Trove, the mysterious body left in Manse's home), provides an extra catalyst to the drama. The cynical charm of James's mysteries is evident, from Chandor's bizarre calling card to the rough justice of the ending. (Sept.)
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Review

"'[Among] the most potent crime fiction in Britain and has created one of the most interesting cop duos around.' The Times 'One of the kings of the dark hill.' Val McDermid 'Deliciously unsavoury.' Guardian 'Quite brilliant.' Literary Review" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Countryman Press; First American Edition edition (September 21, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881508829
• ISBN-13: 978-0881508826
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,475,057 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:

5.0 out of 5 stars British Illes, April 14, 2010

By 

Montgomery James "montgomeryjames" (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pix (Vol. Book 24) (Harpur & Iles Mysteries) (Hardcover)

This is not really what one could call a mystery or a police procedural or anything else that's like anything else. The book is really about Mr. James's love affair with the British class system, his character's illusions about themselves and, above all, the English language. His continuing riff (over several chapters) on various people's reactions to a mauve shirt worn tie-less with a classic tailored suit by Mansel Shale to a dinner party astounds and delights, and one quickly realizes that Mr. James is an English prose stylist/satirist in the league of Jane Austen. For rock 'em and sock 'em, visit Ken Bruen; for a couple of hundred pages lived inside the heads of some of the queerest ducks in all England (and Wales), pick up PIX.

5.0 out of 5 stars Villains, Cops and Reality, March 1, 2011

By 

James Baar "author, 'The Real Thing and Other... (Providence, RI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Pix (Vol. Book 24) (Harpur & Iles Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Pix, Bill James' continuing stygian, hilarious chronicles of his favorite cops, Harpur and Iles, provide appropriate, cliff-hanging moments that ornament good, tough detective fiction. But, underneath the action,things get even better. James provides his specialty: the satiric exploration of the complex relationship of the villains, the police, the politicians and the good folk of Great Britain. James' masterly dialogue plays like a concerto throughout and ends with two Iles' trademark notes: advancement of the policy of "masterly inactivity" and the reminder that "things are in goodish hands." His.