Rate this book

Good Bait (2012)

by John Harvey(Favorite Author)

3.22 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0434021628 (ISBN13: 9780434021628)

languge

English

genre

Mystery & Thriller

publisher

William Heinemann

series

DCI Karen Shields

review 1: Another well written police procedural from Harvey. The main character, DCI Karen Shields, is not as well drawn as his other main protagonist, Charlie Resnick, although unfortunately the last Resnick novel has been written. Sometimes it is difficult for a male writer to write from a woman's point of view and that does show here. Still, the book interweaves two related plots expertly and gives us a sharply drawn portrait of Eastern European gangsters and their families.
review 2: John Harvey can really write so much better than a lot of crime/mystery writers. I'm thinking his early years in poetry helped him hone the ability to write precise, tight, evocative prose. That said, I must admit I've enjoyed the other novels I read by him more than this one, though... more I definitely like the new heroine, Karen Shields, a black British detective of Jamaican heritage, not only for her character but also for the perspective it allows. I also like the working relationship and friendship she has with her white, middle-aged, old-school male DS, Ramsden. I also liked the parallel plot with the other inspector whose name escapes me now. I am not a big fan of organized crime plots, however, so that was where I lost some interest in this book. There were also an inordinate number of minor characters (mostly murdered gang members or their pals) that I gave up on trying to keep sorted out. I am hoping this will be the beginning of a series with a range of plots in the future. less

Download links for: Good Bait

Advertising