A couple of lively reads from Scott Phillips this week.
I read The Ice Harvest a fair few years ago, and truth be told can't remember too much about it, save that I must have enjoyed it a lot, because A. I kept hold of it and B. I continue to buy the author's books.
To date Phillips has published eight or so books and I think I have five of them. Time to dust something off and read it soon.
The Ice Harvest (2000)
The Walkaway (2002)
Cottonwood (2004)
The Adjustment (2010)
Rum, Sodomy and False Eyelashes (2010)
Rut (2010)
Rake (2013)
Hop Alley (2014)
Author's website is here, though it seems a while since it's has been updated.
His Facebook page is here.
The Ice Harvest (2000)
It is Christmas Eve in Wichita, Kansas and snowing steadily. The streets are deserted and most people have returned home for the festivities. But Charlie Arglist has to get out of town, and fast. This novel is a rollercoaster ride of black humour, and possibly, the last 24 hours in Charlie's life.
The Walkaway (2002)
The Ice Harvest, one of the most acclaimed noir debuts of 2000, is now followed by The Walkaway - both its prequel and sequel. Sidney's stepfather, Gunther Fahnstiel, got lucky in The Ice Harvest. Lucky to the tune of USD250,000 in untraceable notes. Ten years later he's escaped from the Lake Vista nursing home; confused, frail and desperate for a haircut. Sidney has prospered since his days running the bar at the Sweet Cage; he's now the owner, in fact, and strip clubs are big business. So a USD12,000 reward is posted for Gunther's safe return. The only problem is Gunther's just run into the daughter of an old flame and memories of dark deeds from decades before begin to surface...
Phillips isn't an author I know, Col. But these sound interesting, and I do like the Midwest US setting.
ReplyDeleteThere's a bit of variety in setting with his work Margot. Cottonwood, for example is set in Kansas in the 1870s - a bit of historical mystery fiction. Maybe there is something you fancy from him. I hope so.
DeleteI was just thinking about Scott Phillips recently, after finishing Cutter and Bone by Newton Thornburg. The Ice Harvest is the only book I have read as bleak as Cutter and Bone.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember too much about it Tracy. I do need to get back to reading some more of his books. Ditto Thornburg - Cutter and Bone is another one on the pile!
DeleteCol – I will keep an eye out for these two. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHopefully you cross paths with something from Phillips sooner rather than later, Elgin.
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