Flesh Wounds: An Inspector Troy Novel

I don't usually review back list books because no one really wants to know about a book published five years ago. On the other hand, John Lawton's "Flesh Wounds" is a wonderful piece of his on-going Inspector Troy series, begun ten or so years ago. I reviewed for Vine Lawton's latest, "A Lily of the Field" a couple of weeks ago. I enjoyed the book, but felt I had rather entered a story-in-progress. I decided to order Lawton's back list and try to discover who was who, who killed who, who slept with who, and the many other "who", "what", and "when" questions raised by "Lily". "Flesh Wounds", set first in London of 1944 and finishing up in London of 1959. Rather different times for both the city and its citizens. Frederick Troy - a policeman in the last years of the war - has ascended to chief superintendent of "the Yard". (That's "New Scotland Yard" to you and me, the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police.) The post-war years in England had seen a rise in crime, as well as an almost continuing Tory government. Labour was itching to regain power after two straight electoral defeats, and Troy's brother, Sir Rod Troy was a shadow Labour minister. The Troy's, a family whose father had emigrated from Russia in the early part of the 20th century, were a wealthy family, represented in government, newspaper, and police circles. There are also a set of really crazy twin daughters in the family. There was another crazy set of gangster twins - this pair was male - who were partaking of a crime spree in London. Part of Frederick Troy's job is to arrest the Ryan brothers, suspects in several brutal crimes. But Frederick Troy doesn't have this story all to himself. Complicating his life are several women - both past and current lovers - as well as many police officers and officials working with Troy. Lawton juggles many on-going stories brilliantly. His story-telling and character development is excellent. This is a real winner of a novel, looking back and forward to an England of 50 years ago.

John Lawton does characters and dialogue well, and his setting of the story in late '50s London is well done. The story moves along a good pace and is full of interest. A very well written and interesting police procedural / thriller.

Interesting plot and engaging characters. Lawton always weaves historical characters and events into his stories; sometimes a fairly accurate rendition as a backdrop/secondary story device (Kruschev's state visit to the UK) and other times a fictionalized version as the main story theme (the Profumo Affair). - You can read the novels as presented without losing any understanding or, if you're a history buff like me, you can do some reseach on characters and events. Either way, Lawton's books are great reads; combining murder mystery and spy novel. This is the fifth in the Detective Inspector Troy series - I've read all five and am currently on number six, Second Violin. Lawton's the best writer since John Le Carre and is his equal. The books in the series don't follow a linear chronology - they skip back-and forth in time. Characters and events in an earlier publication are "introduced" in later books covering an earlier time period - don't worry, they all make sense and there are no spoilers. So, like Star Wars movies, do you read them in the order written or in the chronology of the story arc? If so, Flesh Wounds (book six) is the first episode and his first book, Black Out, is actually the third episode. I prefer to read them in the order written (as I have done with all of Alan Furst's novels) to see how his writing and character development evolve. Either way, you're in for a treat.

With each John Lawton book I think that besides Alan Furst, or Jo Nesbo, there is not a better writer around. After Flesh Wounds there is no doubt that Lawton is the absolute best writer in terms of character, plot, a myriad of themes, action and the incredible local color of London from pre WW2 to 1959 and beyond. This book is especially powerful in that the villains are especially evil even though we don't see much of them. We see Inspector Troy get blown up and shot all in the line of duty. But more important is the suspenseful way Lawton creates the story with his rich repeating characters who he weaves in and out of his book. Anyone who wants a challenge and joy of reading superb and satisfying crime lit, this is it, the kind you don't want to end, especially so as it is incredibly breath taking. Having said that, anyone interested in this book might try an earlier effort such as Second Violin, A Lily of the Field or Bluffing Churchill. Meeting the characters from these books will explain a lot.

Book arrived in good time - as advertised

Really liked this book- London in the late 50’s - crime and politics mixing. Interesting times covered by the book

Exeptionallly good condition for price.

Enjoyed the book. Good characters to follow.

Disappointing.