- Mass Market Paperback: 403 pages
- Publisher: McClelland & Stewart; Reprint edition (5 Oct 2010)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0771027230
- ISBN-13: 978-0771027239
- Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 2.4 x 17.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 184,780 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Snow Job
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
In bestselling Deverell’s latest hilarious mystery, Arthur Beauchamp moves to Ottawa, and all hell breaks loose
Arthur Beauchamp has followed his wife, the leader and first elected member of the Green Party, to Ottawa. But he hates it there: the cold, the politics, and his place in his wife’s shadow. So when a delegation of government officials from Bhashyistan is blown sky high on Bronson Avenue and the shares of a Calgary-based oil company promptly drop like a stone, Arthur is only too happy to jump to the defence of the missing suspected assassin.
Deverell’s latest Arthur Beauchamp novel cranks the wily old lawyer’s adventures up several notches, and then some. It’s wildly imaginative, utterly Canadian, and irresistibly funny.
From the Hardcover edition.
Arthur Beauchamp has followed his wife, the leader and first elected member of the Green Party, to Ottawa. But he hates it there: the cold, the politics, and his place in his wife’s shadow. So when a delegation of government officials from Bhashyistan is blown sky high on Bronson Avenue and the shares of a Calgary-based oil company promptly drop like a stone, Arthur is only too happy to jump to the defence of the missing suspected assassin.
Deverell’s latest Arthur Beauchamp novel cranks the wily old lawyer’s adventures up several notches, and then some. It’s wildly imaginative, utterly Canadian, and irresistibly funny.
From the Hardcover edition.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Kindle Edition
This isn't one of William Deverell's best books, but Deverell writes to such a high standard, that one of his poorer efforts is still miles in front of some of his fellow authors.
We see the return of Arthur Beauchamp (pronounced Beecham), a lawyer who has featured in previous Deverell stories. I think you get more out of this book if you understand the character and how it has developed over the years. In fact one of the sub plots of this story is Arthur trying to avoid his own biographer who is trying to write up the Beauchamp legacy, but not in a way that pleases Arthur.
The main plot revolves Arthur getting drawn into a international crisis which brings Canada onto the brink of war with a former Russian republic. It is now under the control of a dictatorial leader who blames a client of Arthur's for a terrorist incident which kills his diplomats whilst they are visiting Canada.
Previously, Arthur's client killed the dictators father in a similar way but was found not guilty due to the efforts of Brian Pomeroy - another Deverell recurring character, who has 'gone walkabout' in this story and can not be traced, so Arthur is dragged into an affair that gets murkier the deeper he digs.
It is a plot line that is too far fetched to keep the interest - usually Deverell's work is tightly controlled and twists and turns but remains set in the believable. This story contains twists and turns but the plots believability factor isn't there, which is a real shame, as the characters are intriguing and could have done with a tighter story line to exploit them better.
If you are a fan of Deverell's you will still enjoy the book - the characters will ensure that, but if this is your first Deverell, read a few of the earlier books to get a feel for the character and then you will enjoy this book more.
We see the return of Arthur Beauchamp (pronounced Beecham), a lawyer who has featured in previous Deverell stories. I think you get more out of this book if you understand the character and how it has developed over the years. In fact one of the sub plots of this story is Arthur trying to avoid his own biographer who is trying to write up the Beauchamp legacy, but not in a way that pleases Arthur.
The main plot revolves Arthur getting drawn into a international crisis which brings Canada onto the brink of war with a former Russian republic. It is now under the control of a dictatorial leader who blames a client of Arthur's for a terrorist incident which kills his diplomats whilst they are visiting Canada.
Previously, Arthur's client killed the dictators father in a similar way but was found not guilty due to the efforts of Brian Pomeroy - another Deverell recurring character, who has 'gone walkabout' in this story and can not be traced, so Arthur is dragged into an affair that gets murkier the deeper he digs.
It is a plot line that is too far fetched to keep the interest - usually Deverell's work is tightly controlled and twists and turns but remains set in the believable. This story contains twists and turns but the plots believability factor isn't there, which is a real shame, as the characters are intriguing and could have done with a tighter story line to exploit them better.
If you are a fan of Deverell's you will still enjoy the book - the characters will ensure that, but if this is your first Deverell, read a few of the earlier books to get a feel for the character and then you will enjoy this book more.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
First sentence: "I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that ... that thing over there, that statue or whatever you want to call it, is what the Criminal Code calls a disgusting object."
Canadian lawyer Arthur Beauchamp is 60 years old, married to the country's only Green Party MP, who is twenty years' his junior. Arthur wants nothing more than to retire on his farm on Garibaldi Island in Vancouver. Instead, he ends up becoming the lawyer for the family of Abzal Ehrzan, a man accused of killing six Bashystani cabinet ministers visiting Ottawa regarding a deal on the Bashistan oil fields.
I'm afraid this book lost me after 12 chapters. It wasn't that I didn't like the protagonist; I did. Arthur Beauchamp is a character who appealed to me from the very beginning. I liked the characters' introspective observations about himself, his younger wife and her still much younger staff.
The author's voice is one I always enjoy. He employs a wonderful use of vocabulary even though I found myself reading with the book in one hand and a dictionary in the other. The wry humor...""Farewell Reception," the embossed card read, an oxymoronic keepsake." often made me laugh.
There were two main reasons why I stopped reading. The first was redundancy--I don't know how many times, in those first 12 chapters, we were told about Arthur's divorce, descent into alcohol and the writing of his memories. The second reason was that the plot, as far as I read, rather plodded along without going anywhere particularly interesting. Add to those the fact the book is supposed to be a satirical look at Canadian politics. Not being Canadian, I know almost nothing about their politics so the satire was lost on me. That being said, I find myself intrigued by Mr. Deverell and would consider trying a different book by him ["April Fool" has been recommended].
SNOW JOB (Legal Mys-Arthur Beauchamp-Canada-Cont) - DNF
Deverell, William - Standalone
McClelland & Stewart; Reprint Edition ©2010, US Paperback - ISBN: 9780771027239
Canadian lawyer Arthur Beauchamp is 60 years old, married to the country's only Green Party MP, who is twenty years' his junior. Arthur wants nothing more than to retire on his farm on Garibaldi Island in Vancouver. Instead, he ends up becoming the lawyer for the family of Abzal Ehrzan, a man accused of killing six Bashystani cabinet ministers visiting Ottawa regarding a deal on the Bashistan oil fields.
I'm afraid this book lost me after 12 chapters. It wasn't that I didn't like the protagonist; I did. Arthur Beauchamp is a character who appealed to me from the very beginning. I liked the characters' introspective observations about himself, his younger wife and her still much younger staff.
The author's voice is one I always enjoy. He employs a wonderful use of vocabulary even though I found myself reading with the book in one hand and a dictionary in the other. The wry humor...""Farewell Reception," the embossed card read, an oxymoronic keepsake." often made me laugh.
There were two main reasons why I stopped reading. The first was redundancy--I don't know how many times, in those first 12 chapters, we were told about Arthur's divorce, descent into alcohol and the writing of his memories. The second reason was that the plot, as far as I read, rather plodded along without going anywhere particularly interesting. Add to those the fact the book is supposed to be a satirical look at Canadian politics. Not being Canadian, I know almost nothing about their politics so the satire was lost on me. That being said, I find myself intrigued by Mr. Deverell and would consider trying a different book by him ["April Fool" has been recommended].
SNOW JOB (Legal Mys-Arthur Beauchamp-Canada-Cont) - DNF
Deverell, William - Standalone
McClelland & Stewart; Reprint Edition ©2010, US Paperback - ISBN: 9780771027239
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Totally engaging characters and frankly... hilarious!
11 Dec 2010
Format:Mass Market Paperback
William Deverell is an absolute gem of a mystery writer... truly deserves better exposure to the American mystery reading public. While his books open up all imaginable variables in the law, lawyers and the justice(?) system, these are very far from being dry dull reads. I appreciate most of all Deverell's razor sharp wit (triggers laugh-out-loud hoots) and adore all of his profound and well developed characters, be they lawyers, woofers or Newfie poets (ya gotta read the books to find out...). This one's a hoot to read, perfect for holiday lounging time. Highly, highly recommeded, as are all of his previous books.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Island reading
6 Dec 2009
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is well written and a fun read. I especially enjoyed the parallels with current day Gulf Island life and Canadian politics.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Liked the author's voice; DNF'd after 12 chapters due to plot
8 Dec 2010
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
First sentence: "I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that ... that thing over there, that statue or whatever you want to call it, is what the Criminal Code calls a disgusting object."
Canadian lawyer Arthur Beauchamp is 60 years old, married to the country's only Green Party MP, who is twenty years' his junior. Arthur wants nothing more than to retire on his farm on Garibaldi Island in Vancouver. Instead, he ends up becoming the lawyer for the family of Abzal Ehrzan, a man accused of killing six Bashystani cabinet ministers visiting Ottawa regarding a deal on the Bashistan oil fields.
I'm afraid this book lost me after 12 chapters. It wasn't that I didn't like the protagonist; I did. Arthur Beauchamp is a character who appealed to me from the very beginning. I liked the characters' introspective observations about himself, his younger wife and her still much younger staff.
The author's voice is one I always enjoy. He employs a wonderful use of vocabulary even though I found myself reading with the book in one hand and a dictionary in the other. The wry humor...""Farewell Reception," the embossed card read, an oxymoronic keepsake." often made me laugh.
There were two main reasons why I stopped reading. The first was redundancy--I don't know how many times, in those first 12 chapters, we were told about Arthur's divorce, descent into alcohol and the writing of his memories. The second reason was that the plot, as far as I read, rather plodded along without going anywhere particularly interesting. Add to those the fact the book is supposed to be a satirical look at Canadian politics. Not being Canadian, I know almost nothing about their politics so the satire was lost on me. That being said, I find myself intrigued by Mr. Deverell and would consider trying a different book by him ["April Fool" has been recommended].
SNOW JOB (Legal Mys-Arthur Beauchamp-Canada-Cont) - DNF
Deverell, William - Standalone
McClelland & Stewart; Reprint Edition ©2010, US Paperback - ISBN: 9780771027239
Canadian lawyer Arthur Beauchamp is 60 years old, married to the country's only Green Party MP, who is twenty years' his junior. Arthur wants nothing more than to retire on his farm on Garibaldi Island in Vancouver. Instead, he ends up becoming the lawyer for the family of Abzal Ehrzan, a man accused of killing six Bashystani cabinet ministers visiting Ottawa regarding a deal on the Bashistan oil fields.
I'm afraid this book lost me after 12 chapters. It wasn't that I didn't like the protagonist; I did. Arthur Beauchamp is a character who appealed to me from the very beginning. I liked the characters' introspective observations about himself, his younger wife and her still much younger staff.
The author's voice is one I always enjoy. He employs a wonderful use of vocabulary even though I found myself reading with the book in one hand and a dictionary in the other. The wry humor...""Farewell Reception," the embossed card read, an oxymoronic keepsake." often made me laugh.
There were two main reasons why I stopped reading. The first was redundancy--I don't know how many times, in those first 12 chapters, we were told about Arthur's divorce, descent into alcohol and the writing of his memories. The second reason was that the plot, as far as I read, rather plodded along without going anywhere particularly interesting. Add to those the fact the book is supposed to be a satirical look at Canadian politics. Not being Canadian, I know almost nothing about their politics so the satire was lost on me. That being said, I find myself intrigued by Mr. Deverell and would consider trying a different book by him ["April Fool" has been recommended].
SNOW JOB (Legal Mys-Arthur Beauchamp-Canada-Cont) - DNF
Deverell, William - Standalone
McClelland & Stewart; Reprint Edition ©2010, US Paperback - ISBN: 9780771027239
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
