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'The most expansive, ironical and funny novel of the series' (David Isaacson, Daily Telegraph )
'The popularity of Arnott’s work rests on his fluent, readable style and strong storytelling. While challenging the hype surrounding the genre, he avoids hypocrisy by stopping just short of glamorising his subject matter.' (New Statesman )
'Arnott delivers a beacon-bright satire . . . a literary triumph' (Metro )
'Arnott's satire is right on the money' (Observer )
'Arnott's clever, style-conscious book is brutally authentic, yet at the same time ironically "knowing", with an almost satirical attitude to gangster entertainment and the cult of criminal celebrity. Its total readability consolidates his status as a blue-chip crime writer'. (Sunday Times )
'Arnott has a sharp sense of humour and a real concern for the consequences of crime on his characters and society.' (Daily Telegraph )
'Arnott is both witty and gritty.' (Daily Telegraph )
Observer on TRUECRIME
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Inferior, but still very entertaining,
By
This review is from: Truecrime (Paperback)
TRUECRIME is a worthy successor to THE LONG FIRM and HE KILLS COPPERS (the latter, in my opinion, one of the single best books on England and English culture to ever be published), although it is perhaps the weakest of Arnott's loosely connected gangland trilogy.I read Arnott's first two novels last year (when I was 21), back to back, and - although I was enthralled and gripped by the atmosphere of THE LONG FIRM and the sublimely handled plot of HE KILLS COPPERS - thus found that a lot of those books' density went over my young head (refrences being pointed out by others). Arnott's period pieces were received by young readers purely for their stylistic, thematic and narrative content. Not so TRUECRIME, which is set mostly in 1995, with the rise of Britpop, New Labour and gangster chic providing the colourful backdrop. Historically more immediate, the overwhelming amount of references - Guy Ritchie, Dave Courteney, Lenny McLean, Ministry of Sound, to name but a few - this time cast a strange shadow over Arnott's writing. Is he the immense literary talent some have claimed, or is he merely bringing together a wealth of thinly-veiled references and calling it a 'novel'? Though TRUECRIME is a fast, witty and blistering read, readers might find themselves playing 'spot-the-reference' instead of following the three stories that Arnott dexterously weaves together. With multiple first-person narratives, TRUECRIME is a closer relation stylistically to Arnott's debut, THE LONG FIRM, but by keeping it down to three voices this time, Arnott creates a tighter, more intimate world that readers soon get lost in. There is no doubting Arnott's ability to string sentences together, which he does better than 9 out of 10 writers with publishing deals. What is in question with TRUECRIME is his ability to construct his own unique, 3D world, one without heavy-handed references (his affinity for intertextuality - not least his fascination with Bertolt Brecht - does wear thin by the end of this book). Too often he falls back on real-life references, even though his gift for characterisation is arguably at its strongest here. Most definitely worth a read, as it is one of the most entertaining books of this year from one of the most consistently thrilling writers of the last decade (only John King tops Arnott for me). It will be very interesting to see what he does next.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book,
By mrtbm "mrtbm" (UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Truecrime (Paperback)
Read the triology long after they first came out...not sure why so many reviewers dislike this one. Thought Truecrime was brilliant. A superb critique of the underbelly of contemporary life, not just cashing in on it or glamourisisng it. Couldn't put it down. Again, as with the previous Arnott books there are the excellent characters of fiction mixed with the backdrop of real life references that gives the book a very real feel to it. As a one time long time London resident really could relate to the settings and the stories....so on a personal level was quite thought provoking. A fine finish to a fantastic trilogy.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fitting end to enjoyable trilogy,
By Oldevers (Nottingham, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Truecrime (Paperback)
truecrime provides a fitting end to Jake Arnott's highly-enjoyable The Long Firm trilogy by bringing it all the way from the 60s to the rave culture, glamourised Lock Stock gangsters and Cool Britannia of the 90s.
Like its two predeccesors truecrime weaves multiple narratives and plots skilfully into one. Arnott's hallmarks are all in evidence as he places his characters againt the backdrop of real events and twists them into his own gripping plot using the voices of three different storytellers. Characterisation is definitely one of his strengths, whether it be the struggling actress, the posh boys struggling to look like ganagsters, the wizened old hack or the criminals. There is also a large dose of irony in the stories being told here, with public perceptions being blown apart by reality and parody aplenty, particularly of those seeking to become famous.
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