Review: English Mystery, Definitely not a "cosy"
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 01 25, 2013
Weekend in Weighton by Terry Murphy starts out action packed and continues that way.  The main character is a young man still not found his niche, until he decides to end his unemployment by starting a detective firm.  His total detective education is watching classic detective movies.  Lucky for him, his first client is a dame in trouble.  Unfortunately, she ends up murdered with him as the police's favourite suspect.  In order to save his own skin and prove his detecting abilities he is forced to solve the case in one intense weekend.The book has all the usual noir crew: inept cops, corrupt politicians, a racketeer, mysterious visitors from out of town, a beautiful and unobtainable woman and a dead body or two.  Then there is the other movie favourite: chases on foot, on bike, on jet skis.Set in a Northern England town, Weighton, the book gave me cultural whiplash.  At times, I thought perhaps it was a comedy.  Is there really organized crime and casinos in small towns?  Eddie G is actually Edward to his mom, with whom he lives. He is forever wise cracking Bogart -like comments, much to the puzzlement of some of his listeners.  In addition, unlike his heroes, he practically never drinks in this novel.  In one pub scene, he relaxes with mineral water and since he does not have an office, there is no bottle in the bottom drawer.  Moreover, unlike his role models, he is not really a cynical hard-boiled has-been.The book is very fast paced; making me tired just reading it.  There are many characters, various setbacks for Eddie.  The author considerately gave the day and time at the very beginning of each chapter.  Nice to know that there is a sequel.  Now that I know his world, I can visit again.