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Published Feb 2012
368 pages
Genre: Short Stories
Publication Information
John Harvey has been described as the master of British crime fiction: From the mean streets of London to the jazz clubs and clip joints of Soho, this is a world of broken families, revenge killings, and prostitution; drugs, guns, and corruption; a world of overstretched police forces and underpaid detectives; men and women who strive nonetheless for a kind of justice; a world in which everything, even friendship, has a price.
Featuring characters like Frank Elder, who tried to turn his back on police work and failed; Jack Kiley, ex-cop and now a London-based PI; and the renowned jazz-loving and much-loved Detective Inspector Charlie Resnick, John Harvey's finely crafted vignettes perfectly encapsulate life in the badlands of contemporary Britain.
"Starred Review. The 18 crime stories in this sterling collection show Harvey, winner of the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger Award for sustained excellence, at the top of his game." - Publishers Weekly
"Is there a better short-story writer around than Harvey? Probably not. His introduction not only provides a fine overview of his work but may send readers in search of James Crumley's output." - Kirkus Reviews
"The architecture of Harvey's storytelling begs to be admired, with its multiple narratives, shifting time lines, and elaborate plot details. Harvey's touch is so subtle, his style so seductive." - New York Times Book Review
"Anyone in search of explanations for recent English events, ranging from the phone-hacking scandal to the London riots, will find much to think about in these dark, masterly stories." - Library Journal
"Don't expect many happy endings – but there's a genuine sympathy for the characters that makes these hard-boiled stories palatable." - The Independent (UK)
"Thrilling and atmospheric." - The Guardian (UK)
"Reveals modern England in all its most depressing messiness while engaging the reader with characters whose warmth and humanity give real pleasure." - Times Literary Supplement (UK)
This information about A Darker Shade of Blue was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
John Harvey is the author of the richly praised Charlie Resnick novels and a Cartier Diamond Dagger winner. His first novel featuring Detective Inspector Frank Elder, Flesh and Blood, won the CWA Silver Dagger in 2004 and a Barry Award for the Best British Crime Novel published in the U.S. Visit him online at http://mellotone.co.uk/.
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