so yes, then, for regular readers (blessed be you) i have finished some more reading. not just one novel, of course, but also not as many as three (or five, look you see). just the regular two (2), which is the point where i tend to stop, pause and reflect and make some notes here. hence the title of this post, and to go further, indeed, i slightly "mixed up" a bit reading places. but, let me not give all the excitement all at once.
to stick with tradition, or simply the way that i have always gone done this kind of post, yes, sure, a look at the books what i (most recently) read, followed by some spoiler free overview comments. which shall probably be sufficient for most, but further musings shall of course follow below.
whilst there was never any doubt that i was going to read it, i had certain reservations about The Dirty South off of John Connolly, for it was a "prequel". it soon became clear, however, that this was to be one of the very best stories in the Charlie Parker "universe" or series. as for Taken, or if you will #taken, it is the most recent (possibly final) of the 'Max Wolfe' series of books off of Tony Parsons. it was a straightforward, you get what you pay for Tony Parsons read.
provenance of my copy? well, that familiar sticker says it all. Morrisons, for the price marked. alas, sadly, no not from by their cigarette counter as i used to, they don't have books there no more. just a regular shelf with regular shop stuff. since this was, or is, a John Connolly novel, it just got bought on sight, as in no preference as to where i got it.
but what of the plot? well, it starts with protagonist Charlie Parker say in a somewhat reflective mood when he gets a phone call. the call comes from someone he had not thought of in years, and when he had presumed to never hear of again. it's a call which brings back, kind of, the first "case" Parker ever worked (sort of), after departing the police to seek an indiscriminate blend of justice and vengeance against whoever brutally murdered his (first) wife and (first) daughter. so yes, kind of a prequel, happening more or less before the first novel off of John Connolly, Every Dead Thing.
to give more of this first case (of sorts) is something i am reluctant to do. why, after all, spoil the surprise and suspense of what was truly an excellent read. but, safe to say, this happens in that, for us around the world, near "mythical" south part of the USA, where it's all family, blood, intrigue, money, the impoverished and so on. yes, bits and parts play out like the "cliche" one has come to associate with novels, indeed films and TV shows, set in similar, but it doesn't stop it being good. great, in fact.
seeing as the Charlie Parker story (saga) has being going from amazing strength to strength in the last few novels it was, initially, disappointing to discover a pause on the tale. i don't really care for interviews or notes, for if the novelist (or artist) can't convey it in the work itself, they have failed. well, whatever reason for a "prequel", it has indeed turned out to be a most excellent diversion. bring forth the continuation, though, but maybe (possibly) something in this throwback to the past will be reflected in a novel yet to come. indeed i do appreciate that the next Connolly novel, set more in the modern, is now out, but only as a hardback adventure. sure i was tempted, like i have been by the Paula Hawkins and the second off of tall one out of Pointless, but i just prefer reading paperbacks.
now, then, the provenance of this copy was a bit of the unexpected, and different. sure, it was either Tesco or Morrisons, but off of their charity donation shelf. i had missed it on initial publication. usually whenever a new Parsons of Tony novel arrives, whatever paper he is working for presently goes great guns to make sure it is plugged, flogged, what have you. that didn't happen here, and i never actually saw it on a shelf. fortunate, then, for me, that someone did see it on a shelf, bought it, read it and decided to kindly donate it to be sold again in such a way that it could raise funds for a good cause. the recommended donation was 50p (sterling), but i just placed a reasonably shiny £1 coin in the jar and thanked my good luck at getting to read this. well, if it is good luck to have done so.
plot? it's another 'Max Wolfe' novel, the copper what "bends" the rules to get the job done, but it seems forever ok, as he is one of the "good guys" and so entitled to do so. right, so, a beautiful lady is abducted just outside her home. she just happens to be the daughter of a former no-nonsense old school copper. the present day coppers believe that the intended victim was her flatmate, who just happens to be the current girlfriend of a notorious old school East End "only killed their own sort" gangster. so, yeah, Tony had his full tilt cliche chart out when he was mapping all of this.
if one stops to think as they read this, alarm bells ring at how callous and disposable Parsons is with some relatively sensitive subjects and disturbing crimes. things that one might reasonably expect the constabulary to carry out a serious investigation of are just casually dropped in favour of the main case written of. but, maybe that's a point being made. also, the way in which certain (very) serious incidents that feature coppers in criminal acts appear to be presented as being quite all right to cover up and move on. usually with a "well, because" reason given.
best, usually, with Parsons, not to stop and think. to be honest, his tabloid journalist quality of writing makes all of his stuff extremely easy to read and take in. one may be inclined to label it all as a kind of lazy form of reading, but that feels like a slur or insult. if what wants is a fast paced, exciting story that's straightforward to read and digest, this is it at its finest.
looking at his web stuff and it seems that Parsons has moved away from further Max Wolfe novels, for the time being. perhaps he has been unable to sell off film or tv rights, and from novel one it always felt it was the novels existed for this reason. well, perhaps i shall have a gander at what he does next. if, of course, i manage to find it on a shelf anywhere.
anyway, that would be all of that for these two, then. sorry if i have been scant on details, i had no wish to spoil the Connolly and everything of the Parsons one is what it says on the cover.
yes, i certainly shall continue reading novels, and there is little chance of me reading something and not making a comment (or two) here not long after.
be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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