Michael Van Rooy (1968–2011)

This book is aptly named in that it's the last Monty Haaviko book written by Michael Van Rooy so we only have this book and the two previous to remember Monty by. There was a fourth book planned by the author but he died suddenly of an apparent heart attack while touring to publicize this book in January 2011. I held off reading this book because it was the last but since it worked its way up to the top of the TBR pile now was the time to finish it.

Monty is mainly staying out of trouble babysitting a few children plus his own son, Fred but he will always be a criminal in his mind. So when he, his wife, his son and some family friends are out at the Winnipeg Ex and he realizes some hooligans are planning to torch the tent that holds the butterflies he doesn't go looking for a cop or other person in authority; he just handles the situation himself and no-one is the wiser. Later that same evening he does garner some attention when he uses his excellent hand-eye coordination to dunk cops into the tank with every ball he throws. A passing journalist recognizes him and does a short interview in which Monty mentions four wrongful convictions by the Winnipeg police. That brings a lot of attention to him, some of it negative, but also from people who think he would be a good candidate to head up the newly created police commission. He decides to go for the post especially since he is offered lots of money to throw the election to the ex-cop who is running. Of course, Monty would never really throw the election but he does have lots of fun pretending he will. What is not so much fun is when his wife is targeted by a vicious serial killer. She convinces him to keep campaigning while she stays at home surrounded by undercover cops who are hoping to flush the killer out.

The action in non-stop and Monty can deal out his own brand of justice which may not be strictly legal. As a Winnipegger I do love how Van Rooy name drops streets and businesses and locations in the city. I'll miss you Monty and Michael. If fictional characters have an afterlife I sure hope you two are together causing chaos.… (more)

I was very pleasantly surprised by the writing in this book. Michael Van Rooy is to be commended for an excellent first book. He has another in this series out now and I'm looking forward to reading it.

Sam Parker (aka Monty Haaviko) is trying to go straight after a life of crime. He, his wife Claire, son Fred and dog Renfield have just moved into a house in Winnipeg's north end when 3 young toughs break in. Sam kills all three of them. That is the start of his involvement with the Winnipeg police, especially Sergeant Enzio Walsh. Walsh wants to pin murder charges on Sam and he brings in two heavies to beat a confession out of him. Sam is hardened by his life of crime and also pretty smart so he just takes the beating and then uses the police brutality to get the charges dropped. Walsh is furious and vows to run Sam out of Winnipeg. Meanwhile the cousin of one of the people Sam killed, Robillard, is also after Sam for revenge. Life looks pretty bad for Sam and at times he is a heartbeat away from returning to his life of crime. In fact, he does commit a number of criminal acts (the most outrageous being stealing a change machine from a suburban mall) but they are just a means to the end of freeing himself from the threats and harassment of Walsh and Robillard.

I must say that Van Rooy gets the criminal mindset perfectly. Whether Sam/Monty can continue to walk that fine line between risky but essentially law-abiding behaviour and actual law-breaking remains to be seen. I really enjoyed the continual references to Winnipeg streets, areas, parks, stores etc. It was fun to mentally follow along with Sam as he traversed the city.… (more)