Review: Enormous fun, and highly recommended
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 3, 2012
This little jewel of a crime caper novel features a rogues' gallery cast of genre favourites. Likeable ex-Mob lawyers rub up against sleazy record-label coke peddlers; stoner geeks come a cropper in Vegas fleapits; strong, silent bodyguards prove themselves heroes; and tough-as-nails female cops with complex pasts beat the macho pigs at their own game. If these tropes sound familiar, they're meant to be. Henry Simpson's novel is pure entertainment, a romp in the spirit of Elmore Leonard, Richard Stark's Parker books, even Ed McBain's 87th Precinct series.The plot's airtight, as far as I can tell. The characterisation is succinct and sharp, the dialogue gritty and quickfire, and often hilarious. The writing is a delight. Simpson writes like a pro with several decades' worth of experience under his belt: evocatively, flowingly and with a terrific sense of pace.My only quibble - and it's big enough to keep me from giving the novel five stars - concerns the length. For once, I don't mean it's too long; quite the reverse. There are so many richly evoked personalities in the cast that they feel too big for the story. Sandra Lawler, my favourite character, has a terrific backstory that comes to light gradually, and especially towards the end. But it could have been played out much more, as could those of Joey Costa, Roman (another superb character), and even the despicable Swan.I'd urge you to buy and read Joey Costa's New Game. It's snappy, riproaring fun, and I'm looking forward to Henry Simpson's next book.