Thu 12 Jul 2018
ROSS THOMAS – Ah, Treachery! Mysterious Press, hardcover, 1994; paperback, November 1995.
Ross Thomas is one of my desert island authors, and I think one of the finest crime writers of this century, I always look forward to a new book from him, even though I think the quality of his putput has fallen markedly in the last few years.
Edd “Twodees” Partain was an Army Major once, but now he’s a clerk selling guns in Montana. His past catches up with him in the person of a Colonel who appears to tell him that a story is about to break that will dredge up things best forgotten, and he’s fired from his job.
He gets in touch with an old friend in Washington DC, and through him is hired by a big0time fundraiser to find some stolen money. Then his past and present begin to circle each other warily, rattling a whole closetful of skeletons in the process.
I don’t think that Ross Thomas can write a book I won’t like; at least he hasn’t yet. Running on autopilot he is still a better and more interesting writer than 90% of those plying the trade today. Unfortunately for those of us who cherish his classics — The Seersucker Whipsaw, The Fools in Town Are on Our Side, Chinaman’s Chance, etc. — autopilot seems all too close to the mark.
There is still the smooth, patented convoluted plot, and the usual group of slightly off-center. usually amoral characters, but… The books are slimmer than they used to be, and what’s missing is the depth of characterization that was once the strongest part of his novels. The characters here are enjoyable, but I doubt that you’ll find them memorable, and in Thomas’s prime they always were.
I enjoyed it, but I mourn for the Thomas of old. “Snif!”
July 12th, 2018 at 8:58 pm
It’s hard to think that there was a moment when we had Thomas, Elmore Leonard, Ed McBain, Bill Graniger, Wiliam de Andrea, Max Allan Collins, Bill Pronzini and others all writing at the same time, or how lucky we are some of them still are.
July 12th, 2018 at 9:50 pm
I liked this book more than Barry. Ross Thomas is one of two writers who never disappointed me (Vince Kohler was the other).
I did feel a little like Barry when I read Oliver Bleeck. I liked the books but I grew tired of self-loathing Philip St. Ives. But even the St. Ives books were better than most of the rest of fiction.
July 12th, 2018 at 11:33 pm
Forgot to mention there has been news about the USA network pilot based on Thomas’ BRIARPATCH.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/rosario-dawson-star-usa-network-sam-esmail-drama-briarpatch-1125950?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=THR%20Breaking%20News_2018-07-10%2010:00:00_lgoldberg&utm_term=hollywoodreporter_breakingnews
July 13th, 2018 at 6:59 pm
You know, if they manage to get this series up and running, it could turn out to be a really good one.
July 13th, 2018 at 8:04 am
Ross Thomas’s THE EIGHTH DWARF delighted me when I read it decades ago. I immediately found the rest of Toss Thomas’s books and read them. I agree with the opinion of the St. Ives books.
July 13th, 2018 at 11:19 am
I think Barry’s review illustrates very nicely the problem every reviewer eventually runs into: namely, how to handle a book by a favorite author that just isn’t up to par. I think he was disappointed and was able to say what he thought extremely well.
July 13th, 2018 at 9:24 pm
I got on the Thomas bandwagon with THE COLD WAR SWAP and never got off again. Even in a lower key he out wrote almost everyone else, the Hammett of the international intrigue/political thriller.
July 15th, 2018 at 1:55 pm
This reminds me how much I’ve enjoyed Thomas’s novels in years past. High time I got back to them!