Sunday, February 22, 2015

5. Anything for a Quiet Life by Michael Gilbert

(written Dec 3, 2015 catching up)
I had completely forgotten about this book, thinking it was a novel. It's actually a series of short stories about a super sharp London lawyer who sets up shop in the country to take a break from things.  Really enjoyable mix of fun crime law and investigation with a dash of action.  Great local rural character as usual from Gilbert.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

4. Cause for Alarm by Eric Ambler

(written Dec 3, 2015 catching up)

Another one from the Intrigue quartert, A Cause for Alarm, stars a young engineer who desperate for work ends up running an arms factory in Italy.  It's a great telling of the naive guy slowly realizing the forces conspiring around him.  The adventure part of the story is a flight across frontiers, which was really cool.  Great book.

Friday, February 06, 2015

3. The Main by Trevanian

I bought this at a book sale on Avenue de Parc, which is the next big boulevard to the west of the real Main.  I have wanted to read it since I got here and even saw it once at Welch's.  But I got it here for a buck and the time was right.  Me and my adolescent reading buddies back in Lantzville went through a Trevanian phase, but we liked the over the top action stuff (Especially Shibumi) and I at least didn't find The Main appealing at the time.  It is kind of a dour, melacholy book, more concerned with painting a picture (possibly exaggerated and definitely florid) of what Trevanian clearly considers a very special culture corner of North America.  The pages turn quickly.