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Cold in Hand | 
 enlarge | Author: John Harvey
Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd
Category: Book
List Price: £12.99
Buy New: £9.09
You Save: £3.90 (30%)
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.5
ISBN: 0434016942
EAN: 9780434016945
ASIN: 0434016942
Publication Date: January 31, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews: Read 7 more reviews...
 Guns on the Roof November 12, 2008
It's been ten years since Harvey last published a Charlie Resnick novel, and while his more recent Frank Elder series is OK, it's never grabbed me the way the ten Resnick books did. So it was with great surprise and delight that I stumbled upon this new entry in the Nottingham-set series. It opens with the ever-rumpled and aging copper Resnick shacked up with his much younger colleague Lynn Kellogg, who is rising quickly in the homicide division. On her way home one evening, she tries to break up a fight between teenage girls and ends up in the middle of a messy shooting, unable to prevent the death of one of the girls. Resnick, who has been marking time in the robbery unit, gets brought in to help investigate this murder.
Unfortunately, much of the story has a certain familiarity to it. The dead girl is black, and the cops are accused of dragging their feet as a result, and covering up for Lynn. Hardly a new theme in British crime fiction and TV, and Harvey does little to bring anything fresh to it. The story also becomes a vehicle for noting the increase in gun-related violence in Britain as well as painting a picture of the huge different in policework over the last 30 years. Meanwhile, the other main plotline involves a murder Lynn is investigating, and how it intertwines with a higher level customs investigation. All of these themes feel a little late to the party at this point, as any number of crime novels and TV shows have covered the same ground. Which is not to say the book is bad -- but simply that these elements are very familiar ones.
However -- halfway through, something rather spectacularly shocking occurs, and the story shifts away from Resnick, over to a female DCI from London. She has brought in to lead the investigation on this shocking act, and her no nonsense attitude invigorates the book and helps to ratchet up the tension. Along for the ride is her rather stock-figure deputy, a rough-hewn old-school headbanger who's there to provide the anti-PC commentary. As the story rolls along, one gets the sense that this odd couple is being set up as the protagonists for a new series. As they race around pursuing one angle, Resnick, after lurching around like a fool for a whole, slowly puts the pieces together on a different angle, and everything comes together in a rather grim conclusion. In tone and writing, the book is very much in keeping with the rest of the Resnick series (right down to the requisite jazz citations and itemized accounts of the contents of Resnick's refrigerator). However, it feels about ten years behind the times in terms of topicality, at least to me.
Hopefully we'll be seeing more of Harvey's new dynamic duo, and it seems pretty clear from the book's final pages that Resnick has at least a few more adventures to come.
Gripping and gritty story July 8, 2008
If you like realistic, sometimes brutal crime detective stories you'll like this book. A multi-stranded story and a cast of well-rounded characters keeps you gripped to the end. Personally, I find all the stuff about Resnick's taste in jazz music a bit boring as I don't know anything about that genre. Nevertheless, I like John Harvey's writing and always buy his latest book.
 Crime Novel of The Year? June 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Cold in Hand is an absolute belter of a novel from John Harvey. Returning to his much-loved character Charlie Resnick, Cold in Hand reminds you just why the original series of Resnick novels was so good. Put simply - you care about Resnick as a character, and boy does he go through the wringer in this story.
John Harvey is a hugely talented writer, but he's produced something above even his usually high standards here. Everything about the book works: superb storytelling, great characters, crackling dialogue, unexpected shocks, twists and turns - you really can't ask for more in a book. And at the heart of it all: the city of Nottingham - modern, fast-paced, violent, out of control - but still the place Resnick calls home.
As a long-standing fan of John Harvey's work, I've been a little disappointed by some of his recent previous efforts, which seemed to lack something despite being well-crafted. But Cold in Hand shows just what's he capable of - it's a cracking return to form.
An old friend returns May 6, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I was disappointed when Resnick disappeared from this authors main characters, but can understand that sometimes a writer has to develop other characters. I found that the Frank Elder books were not as good as I hoped and was therefore glad to see the resurrection of Resnick and to see the old familiar crew there. The book was as good as I hoped for, and did not disappoint.
You can feel the weariness in Resnick as he gets older, and copes with the greatest loss in his life. I wonder if the introduction of Shields and Ramsden, who really take over the second part of the book, and who are developed strongly set the path that author is going to take in the future. I for one think that there is great scope for these two characters in other books and hope that I am right.
Dont miss it - a great read,
One of John Harvey's best to date March 27, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I am quite a newcomer to this author's books featuring Resnick - I have only read 3 so far but I thought this book was excellent and I shall now buy the rest. It is quite sad in places though - hopefully we won't have seen the last of Resnick. I was quite disappointed with Gone to Ground and prefer the Resnick series or the Elder books. Plenty of detail and the author obviously knows Nottingham very well. Thank you for this book.
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