Monday, December 08, 2008

Ratcatcher -- James McGee

Matthew Hawkwood is a Bow Street Runner in the early 19th century. He's called on to investigate a stagecoach robbery and later to help out in the case of a disappearing clockmaker. It will surprise no reader of crime fiction that the two cases turn out to be related, though just how won't be quite so easy to figure out.

Ratcatcher has a lot going for it. The London setting is described in all its glory, from the high life to the low. Mostly low, and the sights, smells, sounds are everywhere. You want sex, adventure, duels, fisticuffs, fires, and derring-do? You got 'em, and in plenty.

The story became a little too James Bond in the 19th century for me, but it was a fine ride, and I've already ordered McGee's second book in the series, Resurrectionist, and I'm looking forward to see where it takes Hawkwood and the colorful cast of characters he hangs about with.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is indeed sad news. McGee was a promising talent. Diabetes is an insidious disease that can cause a myriad of health problems, many of them lethal.

George Kelley

J. Kingston Pierce said...

Hey Bill:

Bookgasm says that JOSEPH McGee died, not JAMES McGee. Fortunately, they're two different people. James McGee (aka Glen Moy) is already 58 years old and presumably has more books in him yet. Here's more information about him:

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/
m/james-mcgee/

Nonetheless, it is sad to hear that a promising young horror writer, John McGee, has passed away.

Cheers,
Jeff

Unknown said...

Thanks for that correction, Jeff. I wasn't awake, I guess. Still a very sad deal.

Paul Bishop said...

I've read the three titles in this series and enjoyed them. The second has a bit of a sophmore slump, but the third was the best of the three.

LJ said...

I, too, read all three books and felt each was better than the last. I certainly hope we see more from him, although there is no mention on Fantastic Fiction of a but coming out this year.