George V. Higgins was a Boston attorney, journalist and novelist and one of my earliest ventures into crime fiction when I read his 1972 novel The Friends of Eddie Coyle, probably in the late 80's.This book was also turned into a well-regarded film starring Robert Mitchum in 1973.
I've read a few of Higgins books over the years, but none too recently. The last was a re-read of Eddie Coyle in 2011 and the year before that The Rat on Fire.
It's probably time to get back to him soon.
Higgins died in 1999 and with a with a novel posthumously published has 25 fiction titles to his name.
A City on a Hill
George Higgins's first venture into political fiction reads something like the Nixon White House Transcripts. His dialogues, which make up nearly the entire book, are elliptical, digressive, confusing and often seem implausible- even as the Nixon Tapes did. He can make you blush with embarrassment for the people you are eavesdropping on- embarrassment for their intimacies overheard and also for their banality. But part of Higgins's success is that the conversations in "A City on a Hill," including several that make your skin crawl, have the undeniable sound of primary-source material on life in Washington in the seventies.
Apparently from the reviews around this is one of his least regarded books.This one was published in 1975 originally.
Trust A novel of corruption, deceit and dishonour which opens in small-town America in the long hot summer of 1967. Earl Beale, psychopathic ex-basketball star, now a used-car salesman after being jailed for corruption, is indulging in a little profitable extra-curricular activity.
Definitely the more interesting looking of the two books, so I'll probably start here. Trust was published in 1989.
Col, I have passed up George V. Higgins' novels so often that I feel guilty. He wrote the kind of books I enjoy reading. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteWorth a look at at least one in my opinion. The Friends of Eddie Coyle would be my recommendation on what I have sampled so far.
DeleteThe Friends of Eddie Coyle has been in my wishlist for a long time. Thanks for the reminder Col.
ReplyDeleteJose - you're welcome. I look forward to your review when you get there! I'm going to keep an eye out for the film version myself now.
DeleteCol - I remember The Friends of Eddie Coyle! I hadn't thought about Higgins for years. It's time gave his work another visit too...
ReplyDeleteEddie Coyle was a great book Margot. I think he incorporates a lot of dialogue into his books to advance the plots - which I think was kind of unusual at the time.
DeleteI feel exactly as Margot does - I read one or two years ago, but feel I should try so more. I will follow your lead.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt I will uncover more as the logging continues. I'll probably have a bit more choice then.
DeleteThe Friends of Eddie Coyle is the only one I have ... and I will start there.
ReplyDeleteI think it's one of his best as well, so hopefully you enjoy it.
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