Prose that hums like a limousine
The latest and possible last novel in Corris’ detective series is more than just riveting action, writes
Paula Green.
Peter Corris has written all manner of highly regarded books, but his chief claim to fame I suspect are his Cliff Hardy detective novels. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Crime Writers Association of Australia on the back of this outstanding series. Corris’ latest Hardy novel, Win, Lose
or Draw, includes a dedication to his wife which slightly unsettled me: ‘‘The first one was for her and so is the last.’’ It seems the series is coming to an end, which puts Cliff Hardy in a somewhat vulnerable position.
Hardy is a B-grade sleuth who has a recently discovered daughter in his life, an unhealthy bank balance and a soft spot for Somerset Maugham short stories. His latest client, Gerard Fonteyn, is super rich, with multiple business interests including cruise ships and eco-tourism.
Fonteyn’s daughter, Juliana, goes missing. She is perfect in every way, with excellent grades and a warm disposition until inexplicable grumpiness tarnishes her teenage years. She heads off one day to ‘‘veg out’’ and is not seen again. Her absence makes Fonteyn feel like a pauper. Neither A-grade detectives nor the police have made any progress, so Fonteyn changes tack with maverick Hardy.
Hardy is as cool as a cucumber. Despite being down on his luck, he seems to have all the right connections, all the right physical moves and a brain that conjures up shrewd plans. He ends up following hot and cold trails that lead to drugs, yachts and the sex trade.
However, I can’t simply pitch this as a riveting action novel. Hardy is complex: tough, street-smart and driven by a strong sense of right and wrong. He avoids violence if he can. He wants to solve things but he also wants to salvage things.
I gobbled this book in a flash because the writing feels like a limousine. It just hums. I did question Juliana’s back story because she felt like a writer’s pawn in an intricate plot and I didn’t believe in her as I believed in Hardy.
Then again gobsmacking things happen to people. Sad that this might be Hardy’s last appearance.