Blue Rondo
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Review
'The 50s atmosphere is acutely reproduced by John Lawton, and there is a ripe stench of corruption all around as lucrative post-war redevelopment gets under way...Classy stuff.' (Matthew Lewin GUARDIAN (23.4.05) )
'John Lawton has created, in Freddie Troy one of the most intriguing detectives in modern crime fiction...Lawton's writing is hypnotic...he deserves to be ranked with the best.' (Mike Ripley BIRMINGHAM POST (30.4.05) )
'The period atmosphere, illustrated with credible characters, is impeccable and the writing elegantly precise.' (Susanna Yager TELEGRAPH )
'[this] book has a pace and a flavour that is racy, rakish and addictive.' (LITERARY REVIEW (June 2005) )
'Lawton's fiction is clearly comparable to Jake Arnott's, both in the period it covers and in reworking the stories of real people. The difference is that whereas Arnott earnestly attempts a counter-history of the post-war decades, Lawton seems more intent on having fun with them through a kind of fantastic reinvention.' (John Dugdale SUNDAY TIMES (29.5.05) )
'It's a sprightly, captivating mix, stylishly written...This guy is seriously good.' (www.twbooks.co.uk ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
'John Lawton has created, in Freddie Troy one of the most intriguing detectives in modern crime fiction...Lawton's writing is hypnotic...he deserves to be ranked with the best.' (Mike Ripley BIRMINGHAM POST (30.4.05) )
'The period atmosphere, illustrated with credible characters, is impeccable and the writing elegantly precise.' (Susanna Yager TELEGRAPH )
'[this] book has a pace and a flavour that is racy, rakish and addictive.' (LITERARY REVIEW (June 2005) )
'Lawton's fiction is clearly comparable to Jake Arnott's, both in the period it covers and in reworking the stories of real people. The difference is that whereas Arnott earnestly attempts a counter-history of the post-war decades, Lawton seems more intent on having fun with them through a kind of fantastic reinvention.' (John Dugdale SUNDAY TIMES (29.5.05) )
'It's a sprightly, captivating mix, stylishly written...This guy is seriously good.' (www.twbooks.co.uk ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
www.twbooks.co.uk
'It's a sprightly, captivating mix, stylishly written...This guy is seriously good.'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If you yearn for stylish, sophisticated, suspenseful fiction, look no further. BLUE RONDO is a truly cracking read. Buy it today. Lawton has yet again crafted a perceptive and witty new story in his intelligent mystery thriller series about London policeman Frederick Troy.
The book starts in war-torn and bombed-out London in 1944 when Troy is a Scotland Yard police sergeant, and quickly moves on to 1959 where we find he is now a suprintendent in the Murder Squad - this is a copper not to be messed with...
The deep and dark plot weaves in and out of the worlds of ruthless East End gang warfare, post-war politics, international espionage, exhilarating police investigations, complex friendships and loyalties, promiscuous lovers - and much more. The subversive Troy is a delight as he keeps the multitude of sub plots glued together, building inexorably to a nail-biting conclusion that shocked me.
It reads brilliantly as a thought-provoking standalone story - then explore more of Lawton's Troy series. I urge you to read it - it's a treat - a rare piece of rich, rounded and plausible thriller fiction, a tour de force.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If you yearn for stylish, sophisticated, suspenseful fiction, look no further. BLUE RONDO is a truly cracking read. Buy it today. Lawton has yet again crafted a perceptive and witty new story in his intelligent mystery series about London policeman Frederick Troy.
The book starts in war-torn and bombed-out London in 1944 when Troy is a Scotland Yard police sergeant, and moves on to 1959 where we find he is a Superintendent in the Murder Squad - a copper not to mess with.
The deep and dark subversive plot weaves in and out of the worlds of ruthless East End gang warfare, post-war politics, international espionage, exhilarating police investigations, complex friendships and loyalties, promiscuous lovers - and much more, all set against a well researched 1950s backdrop. The subversive Troy is a delight as he keeps the multitude of sub plots glued together, building inexorably to a nail-biting conclusion that shocked me.
It reads brilliantly as a thought-provoking standalone story - then explore more of Lawton's brilliant Troy series. I urge you to read it. It's a treat - a rare piece of rich, rounded, inteligent and plausible thriller fiction, a tour de force.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having read and really enjoyed all the other books in the "Troy" series, I eagerly started to read this instalment, set mainly in the East End of London in 1959, although it commences with Troy learning how to handle various types of gun, directly after he was shot by Diana Brack at the end of one of the earlier novels in the series - which, and my memory fails me here, was either Black Out or Old Flames).
London is at a point where high-class, organised gangs own the streets and Scotland Yard are celebrating convicting Alfed Marx, a notorious gangland leader. However, it appears there is a new crew in town, with a series of several murders, involving the dismemberment of victims. The story continues with Troy trying to prove who he thinks are the brains behind the crime.
For me, the novel never really got into top gear, with a surprising amount of predicatability, which certainly has not been the case with earlier novels in the series, whilst the sex life of Troy becomes somewhat laughable, with previous girlfriends turning up all over the place, and new ones being added into the mix. Some of the scenes with these girlfriends are certainly "racy".
In summary, a disappointing instalment in anotherwise excellent series.
London is at a point where high-class, organised gangs own the streets and Scotland Yard are celebrating convicting Alfed Marx, a notorious gangland leader. However, it appears there is a new crew in town, with a series of several murders, involving the dismemberment of victims. The story continues with Troy trying to prove who he thinks are the brains behind the crime.
For me, the novel never really got into top gear, with a surprising amount of predicatability, which certainly has not been the case with earlier novels in the series, whilst the sex life of Troy becomes somewhat laughable, with previous girlfriends turning up all over the place, and new ones being added into the mix. Some of the scenes with these girlfriends are certainly "racy".
In summary, a disappointing instalment in anotherwise excellent series.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent addition to a series...
I don't usually review back list books because no one really wants to know about a book published five years ago. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Jill Meyer
Frederick Troy - Triumphs again
Another excellent novel in the Frederick Troy series, evocative story telling mixing historical fact with fiction.I would recommnend this and the other Troy stories every time.
Published on 4 Jan 2010 by Mr. Simon G. Hughes
Not Bad
As in all Lawton's works the period atmosphere is lovingly and effectively created. The plot of this particular novel is however more predictable that previous ones and the antics... Read more
Published on 8 Sep 2006 by Macavity
Lacks sparkle and pace
I found this very disappointing. The plot is thin and never lives up to the promise of a crime story set in the interesting post-war London gangland era. Read more
Published on 1 Jan 2006 by P. Lyons
Gripping Stuff
A brilliant, twisting detective story set mainly in 1950's London. Disturbing, subversive and yet with the ability to delight. An excellent read.
Published on 1 Jun 2005 by M. R. Middleton
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