Gone to Ground
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Review
"John Harvey is one of my favourite authors. Whenever he has a new book out it goes straight to the top of my reading list."
-Author Peter Robinson
-Author Peter Robinson
"From the Hardcover edition." --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Book Description
'John Harvey is one of my favourite authors. Whenever he has a new book out it goes straight to the top of my reading list.' - Peter Robinson
--This text refers to the
Paperback
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
After the Frank Elder novels, John Harvey now offers police detectives Will Grayson and Helen Walker as the main characters in his latest novel.
The scene is set in Cambridge (and Nottingham), and the crimes are directed against homosexuals. An academic is murdered in his own house, and in town several homophobic attacks have occurred. As a sideline, there's the story of a rich entrepreneur who wants to fend of indiscreet interest in an actress who died years ago.
The storylines are presented in a sober,linear progression and they allow Harvey to excel in fluent dialogues and witty references to actuality and modern lifestyle.
On the whole, the complexity and the torment of the Resnick stories are absent, but also the somewhat bitter undertones of the Frank Elder novels.
Perhaps it's no coincidence that the main character, Will Grayson has two young children and tries to be a good husband.
Harvey subtly weaves in police procedures and scientific investigation, but they don't distract from the absorbing storytelling.
The tone of this novel is lighter and more optimistic. If you loved the other Harveys, you'll find yourself in familiar territory. If you're new to his work, this will make for an entertaining read, but it's not groundbreaking.
The scene is set in Cambridge (and Nottingham), and the crimes are directed against homosexuals. An academic is murdered in his own house, and in town several homophobic attacks have occurred. As a sideline, there's the story of a rich entrepreneur who wants to fend of indiscreet interest in an actress who died years ago.
The storylines are presented in a sober,linear progression and they allow Harvey to excel in fluent dialogues and witty references to actuality and modern lifestyle.
On the whole, the complexity and the torment of the Resnick stories are absent, but also the somewhat bitter undertones of the Frank Elder novels.
Perhaps it's no coincidence that the main character, Will Grayson has two young children and tries to be a good husband.
Harvey subtly weaves in police procedures and scientific investigation, but they don't distract from the absorbing storytelling.
The tone of this novel is lighter and more optimistic. If you loved the other Harveys, you'll find yourself in familiar territory. If you're new to his work, this will make for an entertaining read, but it's not groundbreaking.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the first John Harvey novel I have read so I start from a different position to the other reviewers who are long term fans.
"Gone to Ground" succeeds on many fronts, it is exceptionally well written, the dialogue is absolutely believable, and his descriptions of characters and background are succinct but fully rounded.
Above all it is his character development that impresses, he goes well beyond the needs of the plot to include incidents and background that brings everyone to life.
This is not only a fine crime novel, it is also about the characters, and even the minor ones are rounded out to a reasonable degree.
It would appear the novel represents a shift in Harvey's fiction, a move into new territory that does not always meets the expectations of his existing fans; however that may be it suits this new reader perfectly, I have already ordered his next book "Cold in Hand".
"Gone to Ground" succeeds on many fronts, it is exceptionally well written, the dialogue is absolutely believable, and his descriptions of characters and background are succinct but fully rounded.
Above all it is his character development that impresses, he goes well beyond the needs of the plot to include incidents and background that brings everyone to life.
This is not only a fine crime novel, it is also about the characters, and even the minor ones are rounded out to a reasonable degree.
It would appear the novel represents a shift in Harvey's fiction, a move into new territory that does not always meets the expectations of his existing fans; however that may be it suits this new reader perfectly, I have already ordered his next book "Cold in Hand".
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As a well known thriller writer said of John Harvey, "He writes the way we all wish we could." More than true. If you haven't given yourself the pleasure of reading a Harvey book, do it now. His prose is spare, his plotting is intricately wrought and quickly paced, his characters sharply drawn, affecting. Harvey's descriptive skill captures minds as well as eyes - can you not see "the ivory lozenge" of a doorbell?
A stand alone British police procedural following his enormously successful Charlie Resnick series, Gone to Ground reunites Will Grayson and Helen Walker (who were introduced in an earlier short story ). They're at the top of Cambridge's Major Investigation Team, and have worked together for three years. Now they're faced with a particularly heinous crime - the fatal beating of Stephen Bryan. This was an act so brutal that "the man's face...was like a glove that had been pulled inside out."
Bryan's lodging had been ransacked but what could a gay teacher have had that was worth murder? He was well thought of, apparently liked by his colleagues. When Grayson and Walker learn that Bryan has recently ended a relationship with former lover, Mark McKusick, they focus on him. A crime of jealousy and passion?
However, it's not long before other events catch their eyes - recent homophobic related gang beatings, threats made to Bryan demanding that he stop working on a book he was writing about Stella Leonard, a ` 50s film star. Bryan's sister, Lesley, a radio newscaster is frustrated by what she considers to be lack of results by police so she begins an investigation of her own. Enter Howard Prince, a zealous real estate broker married to Stella's apparently unstable sister, and Natalie Prince, a relative of Stella's and a young actress who has a tendency to run riot.
Together Lesley and Natalie make some astounding discoveries.
However, for this reader it's not the solving of the crime that lingers but the sheer delight in Harvey's telling which, at times, borders on the poetic. He's a consummate craftsman, a topnotch storyteller.
Highly recommended.
- Gail Cooke
A stand alone British police procedural following his enormously successful Charlie Resnick series, Gone to Ground reunites Will Grayson and Helen Walker (who were introduced in an earlier short story ). They're at the top of Cambridge's Major Investigation Team, and have worked together for three years. Now they're faced with a particularly heinous crime - the fatal beating of Stephen Bryan. This was an act so brutal that "the man's face...was like a glove that had been pulled inside out."
Bryan's lodging had been ransacked but what could a gay teacher have had that was worth murder? He was well thought of, apparently liked by his colleagues. When Grayson and Walker learn that Bryan has recently ended a relationship with former lover, Mark McKusick, they focus on him. A crime of jealousy and passion?
However, it's not long before other events catch their eyes - recent homophobic related gang beatings, threats made to Bryan demanding that he stop working on a book he was writing about Stella Leonard, a ` 50s film star. Bryan's sister, Lesley, a radio newscaster is frustrated by what she considers to be lack of results by police so she begins an investigation of her own. Enter Howard Prince, a zealous real estate broker married to Stella's apparently unstable sister, and Natalie Prince, a relative of Stella's and a young actress who has a tendency to run riot.
Together Lesley and Natalie make some astounding discoveries.
However, for this reader it's not the solving of the crime that lingers but the sheer delight in Harvey's telling which, at times, borders on the poetic. He's a consummate craftsman, a topnotch storyteller.
Highly recommended.
- Gail Cooke
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Enjoyable read
Another good read from the Womens Murder Club series. James Patterson at his best
Published 22 months ago by avid reader
Disappointed
I eventually got round to reading this novel. I had started reading it a couple of times only to be sidetracked. Read more
Published on 23 Mar 2009 by I. H. Robinson
I really enjoyed this book by John Harvey
I really enjoyed this book by John Harvey. Gone to Ground features the detectives Will Grayson and Helen Walker. Read more
Published on 8 Jun 2008 by Andy Capp
Why Oh Why?
This is the book that was described by the Guardian as 'classic stuff'. The author is described by Marcel Berlins of the Times unique, such that he 'knows of no other crime writer... Read more
Published on 9 April 2008 by Paul T Horgan
Disappointingly dull
I bought this book on the basis of the author's reputation for plot and realism, only to discover that all the plaudits were undeserved. The plot doesn't amount to much. Read more
Published on 22 Feb 2008 by R. H. Wright
"Violence that extreme, it suggests real danger, doesn't it?"
A solid mixture of British murder mystery and police procedural this novel orbits around the life a long-dead b-grade film actress and a modern day murder that at first appears to... Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2008 by Michael Leonard
Gone to lunch!
This is not the John Harvey we've come to love and respect. A very unconvincing novel which starts well and quickly falls apart. Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2008 by nickyb
Masterful crime fiction
This is another deeply satisfying and intelligent thriller by John Harvey. He writes so well, in a distinctive pared down style and even his minor characters are lovingly drawn. Read more
Published on 5 Feb 2008 by J. H. Bretts
Not so good
I had been looking forward to this book and must admit I was very disappointed. Perhaps having read the Resnick (5 Stars all) and Frank Elder (4 stars) novels and having no... Read more
Published on 9 Dec 2007 by myrydyn
Till the end
Having read most of the Resnick novel's, it was a pleasant surprise
to see 2 new characters in this novel. Read more
to see 2 new characters in this novel. Read more
Published on 28 Nov 2007 by Robert P. Splaine
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