Product Description

Included in the Fathers Day 2008 Bin -"Hotter than a smoking gun" Now bereft of both youth and ambition, Detective Inspector Ray Lennox is recovering from a mental breakdown induced by occupational stress and cocaine abuse, and a particularly horrifying child sex murder case back in Edinburgh. On vacation in Florida, his fianc 'e Trudi is only interested in planning their forthcoming wedding, and a bitter argument sees a deranged Lennox cast adrift in strip-mall Florida. He meets two women in a seedy bar, ending up at their apartment for a coke binge interrupted by two menacing strangers. After the ensuing brawl, Lennox finds himself alone with Tianna, the terrified ten-year-old daughter of one of the women, and a sheet of instructions that make him responsible for her immediate safety. Lennox takes her across the state to an exclusive marina on the Gulf of Mexico, and quickly suspects that he has stumbled into a hornet's nest: a gang of organized paedophiles, every bit as threatening as the monster that haunted him back in Edinburgh. His priority is to protect the abused girl, but can the edgy Lennox trust his own instincts?And can he negotiate her inappropriate sexuality, as well as his own mental fragility, while still trying to get to grips with the Edinburgh murder and the emotions it unleashes in him? A novel about the corruption and abuse of the human soul and the possibilities of redemption, Crime is a thrilling journey into the bright glamour of the Sunshine State and a seething underworld of utter darkness.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #142738 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

The Times, Doug Johnstone
'"Crime" is by some distance Welsh's most restrained and thoughtful work...Welsh's take is surprisingly considered and compassionate'.

Review
"One for readers with strong stomachs but soft hearts"

Review
`A good, old-fashioned cop drama... written with the pace and drive of a much-younger Welsh'

Customer Reviews

Very Good
Welsh has never let me down with a novel or short story, and he kept up the great work here. Any other author right now that seems to be putting out a lot of work has chucked out glorified novellas and called them novels. I really can't say a single bad thing about this book. It is a true mature novel. The character development was great. The writing itself was brilliant. Welsh created scenes that made you feel exactly how he wanted you to. If you want Trainspotting part 47 or Filth part 2 don't bother with this because it is completely different. I am not a guy who gives you the entire synopsis in a review, all I can say is that if you want a great, great book to spend some uncomfortable time with, this is one to get.

Surprised at the negativity, to be honest.....
I have to say that I was rather surprised to see the less than complementary reviews about this book. Yes, perhaps it is a departure from his normal writings, but this novel retains enough of Mr Welsh's innovative style and dark humour to leave fans satisfied. I thought it was an excellent novel that shows maturity and hope for more, and quickly. Actually, what I would really like to read is a prequel to "Filth", so if you don't mind....

Disappointing, shoddy and out of his depth
I was very disappointed with 'Crime.' Welsh has been off the boil for a while now, and I was hoping 'Crime' might be a return to form. The novel starts promisingly enough, but one soon senses Welsh is out of his depth in attempting both the Florida setting and the serious theme of child abuse. The real failure is the character of Tianna - the abused child screwed up copper Ray Lennox tries to save - she was wholly unbelievable and I was never convinced by her friendship with Lennox. Most of the dialogue between this couple was totally unconvincing - one sensed Welsh was really struggling with his subject. Likewise, the writing became increasingly sloppy, with a tendency to tell rather than show and an overall preferance for crude observations and generalisations. There were some promising moments, but 'Crime' has none of the black humour or gritty authenticity of Welsh's wonderful early work.