The Fourth Durango

I really don't know why Ross Thomas is now a forgotten writer of the 70s and 80s. His work is phenomenal. With prose that is clean, spare and witty, he understands exactly what he wants you to see and perceive and what he feels you're not ready for yet. His characters are not saints, but neither are they totally sinners. Beyond the hooker with a heart of gold though. Way beyond. There's no sentimentality here.

This in some respects is a typical con-artist story in the sense that you can't trust anyone and you have to pay attention when characters appear. I did and while one bad guy wasn't a surprise the other eluded me and surprised me when revealed.

I loved the fact that the town was so poor, industry and tourism deprived that the Mayor show more and the Chief of Police hide criminals in order to raise money. While they did lie, cheat and manipulate themselves into their offices, they didn't keep all of the money for themselves. No, they actually did make the town better in spite of it being close to a federal prison. The mayor is one devious chick. I didn't like her, but I did sort of admire her methods.

I do wonder what's going to happen to the Judge. He was set up and did the time and now his career is ruined. Ditto for Vines. But they weren't angels either and I'm sure they'll figure out something. Especially since the Judge has hooked up with the new widow in town. Guys like that always land on their feet. show less

The first Ross Thomas I ever read, way back when the cover (no, not this one) somehow jumped out at me in the City Lbrary on Grand Parade in Cork. After that I grabbed every Ross Thomas book I ever saw and grew to bitterly regret the couple I loaned out that were never returned.

Durango is a remote California rown where the Maypr and the Chief of Police keep the civic funds topped up by keeping the odd wealthy fugitive safe. A disgraced former Jutice of a State Supreme Court just out of jail and his disbarred lawyer son-in-law may or may not be their next customers but there's a whole insanely complicated scheme at work and before long nice quiet, forgotten Durango is making headlines for all the wrong reasons, namely, moidah. Lotsa show more moidah.

Still as fresh and sharp and savage a thriller as the day I first cracked it open. show less

My second Ross Thomas book, and this one did not please as much as Chinaman's Chance, mostly because the central characters aren't quite as much fun. But Thomas is still a fine writer even in a pedestrian book.

Lite rörig historia men det flyter på bra och det finns vissa element noir som imponerar. Underhållande läsning är det.

The dialog is spare and the plot a little disappointing, but the characters are memorable and the story will stay with you for a long time.