You'd Better Believe It

Rating:
Summary: Cops: 1; Crooks: 0
Review: Detective Chief Superintendent Colin Harpur, he of the double vision - one eye on nookie, the other on the perps - goes after the bad guys. Of course they are no local small fry, but heavy hitters out of London. He has the help of Detective Garland and assorted whistle blowers, Lamb being preeminent among them. Harpur solves the case, of course, with panache, fortitude, tenacity and courage.

This book was first published in 1985 and is the first one in a long series of Harpur mysteries. It is written extremely well and is utterly believably. The action is fast paced and tightly constructed with a novel plot.

Please keep the series going!

Rating:
Summary: Addictive Series
Review: Reading Bill James' Harper and Iles mystery series can be addictive to your reading health. Going cold turkey does not work; they are fascinating, the dialogue crackles, the plots never formulaic [unlike James' more well known namesake, P.D.James] and the characters especially the long suffering Harper and the demonic, sweet talking "Des" Iles wholly believable and wonderfully crafted.

Rating:
Summary: A good beginning of a great series
Review: This is the first book in the Harpur & Iles detective series, although this debut novel mostly focuses on Colin Harpur. Through the use of many informants, Colin with the help of his precinct tries to spoil a robbery of the Lloyds Bank Branch of his town (which is never mentioned, an any of the novels). The characters come from many different walks of life, and the look into Harpur's not-exactly-angelic personal life is a nice touch. A great start to a series that gets even better after this.

Rating:
Summary: A good beginning of a great series
Review: This is the first book in the Harpur & Iles detective series, although this debut novel mostly focuses on Colin Harpur. Through the use of many informants, Colin with the help of his precinct tries to spoil a robbery of the Lloyds Bank Branch of his town (which is never mentioned, an any of the novels). The characters come from many different walks of life, and the look into Harpur's not-exactly-angelic personal life is a nice touch. A great start to a series that gets even better after this.