Flesh and Blood

My first book by John Harvey. I approached with a positive feeling, given my preference for British authors generally. Nice, engaging writing style and interesting characters. Really liked Elder the main protagonist, came across realistically as an early retired, somewhat disappointed, disillusioned police detective who feels compelled to dig up some of his past. Fair suspense but a bit meandering at times. Didn't like the ending, felt a bit rushed without enough focus on the main villains and their associates - how they ended up. Inserting a personal angle with about 10% left came across as an afterthought and, I think, was partly why the ending seemed rushed. I skimmed through the last 10%. Still, I enjoyed the book and will read show more another in this series. I haven't read any of his Charlie Resnick series but will probably have a go at that as well. I wonder if the ending inspired the ending of one of the Girl With the Dragon Tatoo books which came out a few years later? show less

Frank Elder, retired detective, is drawn out of retirement by old ghosts. Harvey tracks the devastation of the lives of those who have lost people and who've not had closure on these losses, and while Elder's impact on their lives is ostensibly regarding an old case, a new mystery unfolds. Flesh & Blood is more about the characters than the crime, and while ending comes on a bit abruptly, he writes living characters who are more interesting than the banal thuggishness of the crime. Excellent, and heartbreaking.

I read the second in this series (Ash & Bones) a few weeks back and thoroughly enjoyed it. So, when I saw this on the remainder table at the local newsagent, it simply had to come home with me. And it did not disappoint.

Flesh and Blood is a gripping, superbly written, atmospheric and mature crime novel.

Retired policeman Frank Elder is a great new protagonist. Like the best fictional policemen, he fits the mould perfectly and yet has touches of originality to him that make him nicely distinct. I'll be glad, indeed, to go back and read Harvey's previous Charlie Resnick series because he's clearly a master at writing about crime and criminals, creating atmosphere, and plotting.

Harvey's such a good writer. In this book Frank Elder, separated from his wife and his career in the police, finds himself revisiting a case from the past when a suspect is released from prison. There's a sympathetic but unsentimental portrait of the damaged young criminal as well as new crimes that may be his work. It's not Charlie Resnick, but it's a close second.

First outing for retired Detective Inspector, Frank Elder. Still plagued by the unresolved case of the disappearance of Susan Blacklock, he starts reinvestigating. Soon all hell breaks loose and his daughter gets caught up with tragic consequences. While tautly written, there was a lot of detail of rape, torture & violence with particularly nasty male characters. The detailed sex scenes (of Elder and the missing girl's mother) also appeared to be male fantasy. Can see why Harvey is a well-respected crime writer but won't be rushing to read any more.

I've always thoroughly enjoyed John Harvey's writing. I've read all the Charlie Resnick books, so I thought I would try the first in the Frank Elder series.I certainly wasn't disappointed. Harvey always has such great characterizations about believable characters. In addition to the crime(s) being investigated, there is such good interplay between all the characters. We learn about Elder's ex-wife and 16-year old daughter, Kate. I think Kate is a major character in the next book of this series as well.I couldn't really put this book down. It wasn't available on the Kindle, so I had to read in the old-fashioned way. It's a really good English procedural. I will start on the second in the series very soon.

Frank Elder is a detective who took early retirement, one of his old cases comes back into the news, a paroled killer goes missing, and a girl is found murdered. Elder's family are drawn into the case and a classic race against time ensues.

John Harvey is my favourite British crime writer. His new series, of which this is the first book, is even better than his Resnick series. Flesh and Blood won the CWA Silver Dagger Award and his books are suddenly far easier to find in the book shops. He effortlessly conjures up atmosphere, and in this book he does it especially well to evoke the world of traveling fairs, and his flowing and concise writing is always a pleasure to read. I have the next book in the series high on my unread pile.