Fifty Grand
Honor-bound as I am by my fervent belief in the mainstream media and everything they give us, I must obey the injunction on the back of my copy of Adrian McKinty's new novel, Fifty Grand: "This is an uncorrected proof. Any quotes for publication must be checked against the finished book."
Honor-bound as I am by said media's professed belief in full disclosure and avoiding even the appearance of impropriety, I hereby acknowledge that:
a) The author and I have for some time exchanged comments of a friendly nature on each other's blogs
b) He sent me the book, signed, with a note I presume he wrote himself
c) I have drunk Guinness in his sister's pub, and
d) Sod the mainstream media. I'm writing about the book anyhow.
I can't quote from the novel, but I will say that its prologue tiptoes to the precipice of death and peers over. And this prologue thing — McKinty makes votive offerings at the shrine of Ernest Hemingway, but I'd bet he's read an old horror tale or two as well. He knows how to lure a reader in.
More to come.
© Peter Rozovsky 2008
Honor-bound as I am by said media's professed belief in full disclosure and avoiding even the appearance of impropriety, I hereby acknowledge that:
a) The author and I have for some time exchanged comments of a friendly nature on each other's blogs
b) He sent me the book, signed, with a note I presume he wrote himself
c) I have drunk Guinness in his sister's pub, and
d) Sod the mainstream media. I'm writing about the book anyhow.
I can't quote from the novel, but I will say that its prologue tiptoes to the precipice of death and peers over. And this prologue thing — McKinty makes votive offerings at the shrine of Ernest Hemingway, but I'd bet he's read an old horror tale or two as well. He knows how to lure a reader in.
More to come.
© Peter Rozovsky 2008
Labels: Adrian McKinty
posted by Peter Rozovsky at 12:01 AM
23 Comments:
When is this out? Want, want now!!
It's out at the very end of April, at least according to the catalogues we get, which actually kicks it into the summer season. I'm going to try and finagle a galley too, though from our sales rep, and am glad to know these have been printed. Not that I wouldn't be happy to buy one, but I think I might see a galley a bit sooner--uncorrected proofs or no.
Peter, I'll be interested to read what you have to say about it, as long as it's not too spoilerish.
This smells good and meaty!
Paul, it's meaty, all right, and to my mind reminiscent of McKinty's Michael Forsythe novels: Dead I Well May Be, The Dead Yard, and The Bloomsday Dead. I recommend all, in the order given, if possible.
Here are some of my posts about McKinty and those three books. (Scroll down.)
Katherine, I don't know what part of Australia you're in, but why not go knock on McKinty's door and say, oh, I don't know, maybe: "Me want book!"
Seanag, I try hard to avoid spoilers. I think I'm giving away nothing if I suggest that you might like this if you liked the Michael Forsythe books. It has a strong prologue, as they do, and that prologue contains a funny line at an ultra-grim moment, also a characteristic of the Forsythe novels.
Where the hell's the postman with my copy?
gb
Sitting on the curb reading, I suspect, or peddling it.
I bet you're right! He's gonna get such a dig in the jaw.
Ah well, I've just started reading McFetridge's Everybody Knows This is Nowhere. That'll tide me over.
gb
Cheers Peter! I'll follow up on your tip!
At least he has good taste in books, Gerard.
I saw a copy of McFetridge's Dirty Sweet in the window at Murder Ink in Dublin. Good to see his work may be getting out and about over there.
It's tough to talk about Fifty Grand without spoilers, so, lucky enough to have read it, I'll just say, it's terrific.
And, once you start reading it you'll go right through to the end almost non-stop.
Too many spoilers on the back cover, according to McKinty, so I've tried to avoid it. I did catch one glimpse, though.
Ah man, I hate blurb spoilers. I tend to avoid back covers. I just go by recommendations and the odd impulse buy based on the cover illustration now.
Right, I'm going to get a beer now. Night, lads.
gb
Slainte!
A mere plane flight away. Ok, Macca, look out ....
>>Katherine, I don't know what part of Australia you're in, but why not go knock on McKinty's door and say, oh, I don't know, maybe: "Me want book!"<<
"Macca." I like that.
Peter
Greetings from Yogyakarta, Central Java (no that isnt a new rip off coffee from Starbucks). Internet is slightly patchy so I'd just like to say thanks for the shout out. Glad you got the book. Sorry the wallaby I smuggled with it didnt make it. Those Aussie customs men are pretty strict.
Anyway hope you like it.
Katie,
Yeah come by, Camden Street in St Kilda. Its the house next to the guy murdering the theme from the Pink Panther on his saxophone.
Just as well the wallaby didn't make it. I have heard that all those cute Australian animals are deadly and that even a koala will piss on a human at the drop of a har.
Adrian, by the time you return, your neighbor may have progressed beyond "Pink Panther" and moved on to something more advanced and, you know, difficult.
I've read it, Peter, and it's McKinty's best yet. Powerful, powerful stuff. If it doesn't make him a superstar, I'm hanging up my own quill. Cheers, Dec
Powerful, all right, and that's just the prologue. Literate, too. Good stuff. I think I'll go read a bit now just to ratchet up the tension before bed.
Just put it on pre-order at Amazon. Wanted to read it anyway but whey you wrote that it is "reminiscent of McKinty's Michael Forsythe novels" I knew I had to have it.
It may be most reminiscent of "The Bloomsday Dead." I may comment at greater length soon.
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