John Farrow (2)

crosses, double-crosses and triple-crosses in Montreal, where the Hells Angels and the Mafia are teaming up with the Russians to carve up the underworld whilst betraying each other. Meanwhile Cinq-Mars from City police is working almost on his own and to his own version of the rules to control the investigation of various murders. He has to juggle corruption from within, dirty cops, CIA infiltrating the Hells Angels, betrayals and negotiations on all sides, whilst getting older.[return][return]Had difficulty with Cinq-Marns, and part of it was the author's way of referring to him - throughout the book his moniker changed, from the familiar "Emile", through Cinq-Mars right up to Sergeant-Detective Cinq Mars. It was as if the author either went through waves of linking/being comfortable with his creation, to not knowing/linking him very much (similar to Cornwell suddenly changing from "Kay" to "Scarpetta" part way through her series).[return]Overall, reasonable book, lot of strings to be pulled together, a modicum of violence.… (mehr)

This 9th entry in the Cinq-Mars series is as good as the best of its predecessors. In this case, it is a bit of a locked room mystery. Which one of 7 inmates plus a guard murdered the 8th inmate in a progressive prison housing arrangement? We get to see Cinq-Mars one-on-one with each of the ladies as he uses his powers of deduction to find the murderer. And the final confrontation with all the suspects, while one of them is holding another at knifepoint, is a genuine tour-de-force that proves how good a writer Farrow is. It is absolutely riveting. The book, which takes place when Cinq-Mars was 50, also shows his whirlwind romance with his soon-to-be wife, Sandra, an American horse breeder. (No, she doesn't get kidnaped here, in case those who have read all the other books were wondering.)

Seriously, this is the best written, most intriguing detective series I have ever read. It is head-and-shoulders above 99% of everything that has been written in the genre, and Cinq-Mars is a character for the ages. Please read this book--well, actually, read the other eight in order first. You won't regret the investment in time. There is never a dull moment and your knowledge of all things Quebec will grow painlessly by leaps and bounds.… (mehr)

If you were startled by a loud bang a few days ago, my apologies. That was the sound of my hand slamming the “request” button when I saw this pop up on Netgalley. Farrow’s series featuring Montréal cop Émile Cinq-Mars has become a favourite & I was thrilled to get my paws on the latest instalment.

Once again, the author has switched things up in terms of chronology & location. Émile is now close to retirement & was shunted to the suburbs as a result of office politics. So he was grateful when the new Chief of Police brought him back downtown. That was before he got his latest assignment.

Émile is dispatched to the women’s prison in Joliette. It’s a progressive place where inmates live communally in groups of eight instead of separate cells. And it was all going swimmingly until one of the women was found dead. She was killed while seven other prisoners & one guard were on the premises. It’s literally a locked room murder mystery…..think Agatha Christie, prison style. Seems straightforward enough, right?

Ha! Not a chance. Hidden agendas, secret alliances, debts owed…..all these & more are slowly revealed as we (and Émile) get to know the ladies of Joliette. They take turns narrating much of the story & just a heads-up…..keep in mind these are women who’ve earned a spot in federal prison. There are no charm school graduates here & their dialogue reflects that reality.

At first glance, you’d think their living situation might allow them to relax. They wear their own clothes, prepare meals together, divvy up chores, etc. But the thing about living in cells is not only are you locked in, others are locked out. Their current arrangement means easy access & there is an underlying tension that only ramps up as things progress. The scenes between inmates somehow manage to feel both intimate & claustrophobic. Power plays & shifting loyalties upset the pecking order & pretty soon the situation resembles a cross between Big Brother & Survivor.

And that’s just the stuff happening inside the prison. Émile also has to deal with issues on the outside & as more characters are added to the mix, we begin to see there is much more at stake than catching a killer. The story is set in the early 1990’s & in an interesting twist, includes a plot line that serves as a prelude to real life events that erupted in 1994.

To be honest, it took me a while to get fully hooked & I chalk that up to 2 things. First, my non-existent attention span. The book begins by introducing & following the women of Joliette. There’s a lot of dialogue & history to get through so although not much happens, a crucial framework is created. The second thing was just me missing one of my favourite characters……Montréal, itself. Scenes mostly alternate between the prison & Émile’s small motel room. It gives the whole book an insular feel that magnifies how far he is from home (on several levels). It’s necessary to pull him out of his normal environment but I missed the city’s diverse neighbourhoods & colourful characters found in previous books.

Happily, another of my faves is front & centre & that would be Émile. He’s a little more world weary, perhaps slightly jaded but has learned to pick his battles & let the rest go. He’s always been aware words can be a weapon as fatal as any knife & chooses them with care. But he has to be on top of his game to wade through the conversations plus what’s left unsaid to find the clues needed to identify the killer. He remains an intriguing & enigmatic character & I can’t wait to see where the author takes him next.… (mehr)