Lovely Mover: A Harpur & Iles Mystery

Rating:
Summary: One of the best
Review: Bill James is one of the greatest discoveries for consumers of myrsteries since the early Elmore Leonard or the early Michael Connolly. All James' books are top class, and some are just superb. Tom Edsall

Rating:
Summary: London is coming, London is coming
Review: Eleri ap Vaughan is murdered by Keith Vine. She thought of switching her supplier from Vine to a London Gang. An example was needed and a point made. But now there is a vacancy in the setup and this vacuum needs filling.

A suave scout appears from London, dressed metropolitan-like and walking like a Lovely Mover. Our old acquaintance Panicky Ralf Ember enters the melee and big supplier Barney wants things cleaned up in his favour. Before that can happen, Vine kills two associates, and somebody (Lovely Mover?) kills Vine.

Detective Chief Inspector Colin Harpur is busy as always, straddling a multitude of fences. He actually is paid handsome money by Vine, calling it essential undercover work.

The story slouches along. Progress is made by intuition and gut feeling, and knowledge is obtained by osmosis. This makes for an unsatisfactory procedure. Pity.

Rating:
Summary: Not quite up to the earlier entries in this fine series
Review: I have read every entry in the Harpur and Iles series and James is one of the finest writers in the trade. His dialogue has no equal, anywhere and I compare him favorably to the great Elmore Leonard. His villains, just a bit more immoral than the coppers who are after them, are definitely the best in the business. This latest entry is just a bit below the best he has done and I think I know the reason. I miss Iles and his rapier and brutal wit. He takes a back seat here and I think he adds the perfect touch to the less cynical Harpur. Even then, James at less than his absolute best, stands heads and shoulders over most in this genre. I am dying to see a movie made of one of this series. I see Bob Hoskins and Michael Caine at each others throats trying to outwit the other. I might add that I am glad to see "Panicking Ralph" back in the series. He is one terrific character!!!