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John Harvey's one of those crime writers who rarely turns out a duff book, but never quite seems to make it through to the Premiership of novelists. So it's welcome news that he's been awarded a well-deserved CWA Diamond Dagger. And GONE TO GROUND offers up another strong performance that looks like the forerunner to a new series. It's a police procedural featuring DI Will Grayson and DS Helen Walker and certainly has the feel of a third series following on from Resnick and Frank Elder. Ironically, though, it's the times when the police are off-stage which work the best. Stephen Bryan is a gay academic who is found battered to death in his shower. Suspicion falls on his ex-boyfriend, who was less than happy about the end of their relationship. But the victim's sister Lesley becomes suspicious about a missing laptop that contained work in progress on Stephen's next book, a biography of 1950s film star Stella Leonard Lesley is one of the strongest characters in the book and in my view is more than strong enough to carry a series. She's got itchy feet, having spent some time in New Zealand. She's now back in Nottingham and has a slimebag of an ex-husband and an irascible boss to deal with. Lesley soon strikes up an unlikely friendship with Natalie Prince, great-niece of the dead actress. Natalie is another strong character, a mouthy young actress with drink and anger management issues, but who shows an appealing vulnerability beneath it. Lesley is soon on the trail of Natalie's aggressive businessman father Howard, who warned Stephen off writing the book and also has anger management issues (yeah, runs in the family!) The police presence is somewhat stilted in places, particularly in the first 50 pages where it takes Harvey some time to warm up. Both Will and Helen – and the former in particular – would benefit from some stronger characterisation. Will, his wife Lorraine and two children have moved out into the sticks, but he seems unable to deal with the thought of his wife going back to work part-time. And I think there is supposed to be unresolved sexual tensions between Will and Helen but again, it's a bit thin and needs inking in. So GONE TO GROUND is a promising start to what looks like a new series for Harvey. I was always rather fond of the Frank Elder books, but will be interested to see where this series goes to next. And I hope he finds a use for Lesley in future books!
Reviewed by Sharon Wheeler, January 2007
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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