CRIME FICTION

Crime fiction is one of my big distractions, especially the American school, which, like a lot of people, I got into through Raymond Chandler (I never had any time for English country house murders, Christie or Conan Doyle). I started off with Chandler's short stories and couldn't believe my luck when I realised there were seven or so full-length Marlowe novels, too. I have long since overdosed on him, though and will have to wait a long time before I dip in again.

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I have recently been re-reading James Lee Burke's Robicheaux novels. Of course, each one is pretty much the same story: the amoral sadist stalking the transient blues artist/ outsider, with a corrupt, old-money politician pulling strings in the background. And chivalrous Robicheaux himself, the tortured Southern gent, philosophising and battling the baddies and the booze. The atmosphere of pure Americana Burke conjures up has you practically smelling the New Orleans atmosphere. Between this and the undertow of mysticism that runs through the series, it's a pretty heady mix. I'm off for a po' boy sandwich and
a shot of bourbon now...

The other giant is George V. Higgins, one of my all time favourite writers. He died, much too soon, in 1999 but apart from his classic debut novel, The Friends of Eddie Coyle, every book he wrote between 1980 and 1987 was priceless. A Choice of Enemies may be my personal favourite, but I am also very fond of the first two Jerry Kennedy books, especially Penance for Jerry Kennedy. Higgins was a sharp Scorpio lawyer, for sure, but his Moon and Mercury in Sagittarius account for his arch dialogue and rich rhetorical irony.

I used to like Elmore Leonard, but I don't think I would ever re-read any of his books, and the last few he has put out, I couldn't even get through the first time. He gets so much acclaim, but he admits himself that George Higgins is the one who inspired him.

Lawrence Block's Matt Scudder mysteries must be the darkest crime fiction around. Block is pretty stylish and I like the mundane daily observations he makes; inconsequential stuff that you notice while walking round a big city. He lulls you in with the banality of it all, then hits you over the head with something really shocking and brutal. I hope the rumours that Harrison Ford is going to play Scudder are true - he would be perfect.

Dennis Lehane recieved a great deal of deserved acclaim for Mystic River - great book, great movie - but it seems to have taken it out of him. The book came out maybe four years ago and we haven't much from him since. The five Kenzie and Gennaro novels are all great books, up to date crime fiction for Generation X.