Now's the Time by
John Harvey
hbk out September 99
Published by Slow Dancer Press
at £16.99
With his sequence of ten novels featuring Nottingham cop Charlie Resnick, John Harvey created one of the most interesting police detective series in contemporary British fiction. There is nothing glamorous in his world, just an honest take on society at its worst, and occasionally human nature
at its best.
But although Resnick is the central character of the novels, there has always been the air of an ensemble piece about Harvey's work, with other members of his squad as likely to take the crucial role in any
investigation. It's not only Resnick who is affected and afflicted by what happens around him.
There will be no more Resnick novels, but Harvery has given his starving fans this collection of twelve short stories. Not only is it a fascinating journey in itself but it also casts an oblique light on several of the minor characters who crop up in one or more of the novels. Both as a treat for existing fans and a bite-sized introduction to Resnick's world for new
readers, this is a must.
(
Val McDermid
- Gold Dagger winner & creator of Lindsay Gordon, Kate Brannigan & Tony Hill)
