The author of 18 remarkable bestsellers, George V. Higgins is back with a stunning new story of a big-league Bay State contractor who hired ex-cons, operated on the raw edge of the law, and knew a secret that could blow the lid off a long-hidden political scandal. Or so Justice Department prosecutors thought when they began building a case of bribery against self-made millionaire Ken Farley.
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
The pleasures of this smart, tightly constructed novelHiggins's 18th book in as many yearsreside in its author's familiar gift for pungent dialogue and dead-on characterization. Once again, it is set in a version of Boston in which each character lives by a different code of honor, and some live by none. Gene Arbuckle's Navy career ended in the brig; now he is chauffeur to Ken Farley, a wealthy contractor who may soon be targeted for Federal indictment. When a case of justified assault lands him back in legal trouble, Arbuckle faces a brutal choice: he can go to jail, or trade information on Farley for his own freedom. Complicating matters is Farley's wife Nell, a paranoid schizophrenic whose wild accusations against her husband may not seem at all crazy to ambitious prosecutors. Unfolding in a series of long, anecdotal conversations, the novel initially seems like a series of detours, but the various plot lines merge with a narrative mastery in the final chapters. While not as suspenseful as some of his earlier work, Wonderful Years shows Higgins at the top of his form as a stylist. BOMC selection.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Master Of Dialogue,
By Franklin the Mouse (Gorham, ME USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Wonderful Years (Mass Market Paperback)
The late Mr. Higgins' material was not gimmicky material; no zombies, no talking dogs, no superheroes. This is gritty, Boston politics showing how people can become victims of circumstances beyond their control. The Justice Department official, Harry Dodge, has political ambitions and he believes that putting the squeeze on road contractor, Ken Farley, will help him meet his goals. Questionable behavior permeates this work. Nothing seems clear-cut. Sometimes I rooted for a character while, other times, I wanted the person to get some form of comeuppance. The ones, however, who really take it on the chin are prosecutors who keep beating the branches in hopes of something glorious falling into their hands. These are real people with everyday problems who are just trying to muddle along. Mr. Higgins was so good with writing very believeable dialogue, I had to keep reminding myself that this book was fiction. Read a true master of his craft. This book is one of my favorites.
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