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Magic City Blues
When low-level legbreaker Kincaid takes on a new assignment, he discovers it’s not really a step up — it’s a setup. The deal was supposed to be Protect Abby Doyle, the daughter of Birmingham, Alabama’s most dangerous crime lord. But when Abby’s fiancé is found murdered, Kincaid is forced to team up with BPD detective Laura D’Agostino to find the killer and protect Abby at all costs … even from her own father. The killer’s trail winds through Birmingham — the city streets, the back alleys, the world-class food scene and the hole-in-the-wall clubs and bars — and the white-flight suburbs that surround the city, as Kincaid and D’Agostino uncover secrets that everyone would prefer left alone. But Kincaid doesn’t care about secrets. He’s been hired to do a job, and he’ll see it through or die trying. Thrown together by circumstance, Kincaid and D’Agostino explore their unexpected feelings for one another while chasing down the killer and untangling a land swindle in North Birmingham that’s been in the making for more than a decade. But their relationship may not survive the explosive ending that sees Kincaid stand alone against the toughest crime lord the city has ever known. “A twisty, propulsive read led by a witty, compelling narrator. I couldn’t put it down!” — Cassandra Rose Clarke , author of Star’s End and The Mad Scientist’s Daughter “The action comes early and often in Magic City Blues and the energy of this spellbinding novel cannot be denied. Bobby Mathews is a first-rate writer point blank and the crime poet laureate of Birmingham. A master craftsman of new-south noir, who deftly balances crackling dialogue, sly humor, grit and tenderness with smart and wily plotting paired with hard-boiled suspense and the kind of complicated (anti) hero in Kincaid we can all get behind. Somewhere at the great poker game in the sky, Donald Westlake, Robert Parker and James Crumley are raising a glass to Magic City Blues … as should we all.” — Peter Farris , award-winning author of Last Call for the Living and The Devil Himself “ Magic City Blues is a straight shot of classic crime fiction reminiscent of Donald Westlake and Robert B. Parker. With one-liners galore, and sharp, punchy writing, Bobby Mathews’ latest novel is not to be missed!” — Eli Cranor , author of Don’t Know Tough and Ozark Dogs “Calling back to the best of Robert B. Parker with a wit that reminded me of Gregory MacDonald, Bobby Mathews introduces two great characters in his page-turner Magic City Blues . The first is veteran-turned-low-level-street-thug Kincaid, and the second is the city of Birmingham, Alabama, a city that has deserved its time as a worthy crime-fiction locale. It’s a city of barbecue and soul food, of racism and gentrification, of power and money and secrets – the perfect setting for what will hopefully be an ongoing series of novels.” — Jordan Harper , Edgar-winning author of She Rides Shotgun and Last King of California “ Magic City Blues is a slick, fast-moving crime novel that fans of Robert B. Parker and Donald Westlake will want to get their hands on. Murder, blackmail, romance—this story has it all. With just the perfect mix of brawn and brains, bodyguard-for-hire Kincaid is a narrator you won’t soon forget as he navigates the seedy underbelly of Birmingham, dealing out ass-kicking justice and wit in equal manner. Bobby Mathews pulls no punches with this burner.” — Scott Blackburn , author of It Dies With You
256 pages, Paperback
Published February 23, 2023
7 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Bobby Mathews
23 books47 followersBobby Mathews attended Troy University, where he majored in journalism and minored in theater and English. His checkered past includes stints as a reporter and editor for daily newspapers, where he won awards for his writing, editing and leadership. No, he has no idea what the contest judges were smoking, either.
He's also been a bartender, paralegal, and bum, occupations—or sidelines—that creep into his stories and novels.
"I write weird stories about monumentally fucked-up people," he says. "That's what interests me. I hope it interests other readers, too."
Mathews lives in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with his wife and sons.
He's also been a bartender, paralegal, and bum, occupations—or sidelines—that creep into his stories and novels.
"I write weird stories about monumentally fucked-up people," he says. "That's what interests me. I hope it interests other readers, too."
Mathews lives in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with his wife and sons.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 2, 2023
Bobby Mathews has a gift for writing noir crime stories about genuinely tough guys with glaring vulnerabilities that make them as human as the guy eating that roast beef sandwich by himself at the diner (probably with his back to the wall). Kincaid, the world-weary single-named (cf. Spenser) professional enforcer is another great example of the type. Hired by a crime boss to protect his daughter from unnamed enemies, Kincaid quickly comes to realize that the job is going to be a hell of a lot more hazardous than he bargained for, and not just because he's wandered into the middle of a major mob rivalry with at least three deadly opposing sides. And then there's the daughter he's supposed to protect. Not only is she a handful, but she's got secrets you won't believe.
Things become even more complicated when Kincaid falls for the wrong woman for a man in his profession--the equally tough Laura D'Agostino, a detective for the Birmingham PD. The criminal/cop matchup is, of course, doomed from the outset in this noir thriller. I'm not a huge fan of romance in modern crime novels, but I know that many readers are, and Mathews handles this one with maturity and taste.
One of my favorite parts of this book is the way Mathews has brought in the city of Birmingham, Alabama as a major character in the story. This book is a many ways a celebration of Birmingham, but it also exposes the city's warts and flaws. Kincaid may be tough, but the city he lives in is tougher.
I think the character of Kincaid has a lot of potential. If Mathews ever decides to continue his story in a follow-up, I'm in!
Things become even more complicated when Kincaid falls for the wrong woman for a man in his profession--the equally tough Laura D'Agostino, a detective for the Birmingham PD. The criminal/cop matchup is, of course, doomed from the outset in this noir thriller. I'm not a huge fan of romance in modern crime novels, but I know that many readers are, and Mathews handles this one with maturity and taste.
One of my favorite parts of this book is the way Mathews has brought in the city of Birmingham, Alabama as a major character in the story. This book is a many ways a celebration of Birmingham, but it also exposes the city's warts and flaws. Kincaid may be tough, but the city he lives in is tougher.
I think the character of Kincaid has a lot of potential. If Mathews ever decides to continue his story in a follow-up, I'm in!
March 24, 2023
An old friend.
That was Bobby’s intent according to the acknowledgments. This book is an old friend. A friend come to stay. A friend who sits down and picks up the friendship—been awhile since you last talked—like you never hit pause.
What I’m saying is, this was good. Sentences that flow with no drag.
What I’m saying is, if Parker’s family decides to find someone new to write Spencer, Bobby’s name might be in the running. Should be in the running. Should be the guy because this is like reading a Spencer-like PI novel.
I hate PI novels. It’s over done. Exhausted. 80s came and cleared them off the shelf. There were guys who did it right. And then there were dozens of tour buses of guys who did it wrong. Bobby’s new, but old, fits in like an new hand in an old glove. Like it was meant for him. Like the genre is better for it.
I gush, but for good reasons. You make your own decision. Sure it’s full of what you expect from a PI novel and sure that’s been overdone to the point of being hammered dogshit but yet, here’s Bobby repurposing the meat and making it new.
That was Bobby’s intent according to the acknowledgments. This book is an old friend. A friend come to stay. A friend who sits down and picks up the friendship—been awhile since you last talked—like you never hit pause.
What I’m saying is, this was good. Sentences that flow with no drag.
What I’m saying is, if Parker’s family decides to find someone new to write Spencer, Bobby’s name might be in the running. Should be in the running. Should be the guy because this is like reading a Spencer-like PI novel.
I hate PI novels. It’s over done. Exhausted. 80s came and cleared them off the shelf. There were guys who did it right. And then there were dozens of tour buses of guys who did it wrong. Bobby’s new, but old, fits in like an new hand in an old glove. Like it was meant for him. Like the genre is better for it.
I gush, but for good reasons. You make your own decision. Sure it’s full of what you expect from a PI novel and sure that’s been overdone to the point of being hammered dogshit but yet, here’s Bobby repurposing the meat and making it new.
March 6, 2023
4.5 stars. A gritty crime thriller with an emotional core. Bobby Mathews keeps getting better.
March 11, 2023
My second book by Mathews, and I have enjoyed both immensely.
June 29, 2025
I loved the characters but the plot didn’t hold together - too many unanswered questions. The book needed an editor, also. Too many typos and wrong words
March 1, 2023
Magic City Blues is a novel dripping with action, apprehension, and authenticity. With a violent plotline complex enough to keep a seasoned crime reader engaged, it is the personalities and relationships that kept me captivated. Like other gifted writers before him, Bobby Mathews turns his beloved city into a character all its own, driving the story forward to its dramatic finale.
Kincaid, a veteran and low-level enforcer, had thought the toughest part of his new protection gig was going to be keeping his eyes (and hands, if he was lucky) off Abby Doyle. Hired by Abby’s father, Birmingham’s criminal kingpin, Kincaid soon realizes he is facing dangers from all angles, including a few he never wanted to even imagine.
When BPD detective Laura D’Agostino is assigned to find the killer of Abby’s fiancé, Kincaid is confronted with the last thing he thought possible; his own long dormant emotions. As the unlikely pair chase down leads through the urban center of Birmingham and its surrounding suburbs, they uncover horrific secrets, double dealing, and death at every turn. The only real question is if they can stay alive long enough to finish the job.
At first glance, I was tempted to label Mathews’s writing style as streamlined, but it’s so much more than that. While the prose is shorn of any superfluous verbiage, you can tell that he has poured over each word to find the single most impactful descriptor in each sentence. It is this attention to detail in both his setting depictions and witty dialogue that had me staying up into the early hours of the morning to see what happened next.
You can go ahead and add Bobby’s name to the list of authors leading the revival of what I’ve seen called ‘new southern noir’. Call it whatever you will, but if you have even a passing interest in crime fiction, start picking up these books and this one in particular. We are privileged to be reading at a time when there is an abundance of deeply talented writers producing amazing work centered in the south, many with a focus on breaking down historical stereotypes and illuminating the mercurial transitional period many southern cities find themselves in at the present. Don’t make the mistake of missing out.
Fans of historical giants like Robert B. Parker or our contemporary greats like Ace Atkins and S.A. Cosby, this is a book for you.
Kincaid, a veteran and low-level enforcer, had thought the toughest part of his new protection gig was going to be keeping his eyes (and hands, if he was lucky) off Abby Doyle. Hired by Abby’s father, Birmingham’s criminal kingpin, Kincaid soon realizes he is facing dangers from all angles, including a few he never wanted to even imagine.
When BPD detective Laura D’Agostino is assigned to find the killer of Abby’s fiancé, Kincaid is confronted with the last thing he thought possible; his own long dormant emotions. As the unlikely pair chase down leads through the urban center of Birmingham and its surrounding suburbs, they uncover horrific secrets, double dealing, and death at every turn. The only real question is if they can stay alive long enough to finish the job.
At first glance, I was tempted to label Mathews’s writing style as streamlined, but it’s so much more than that. While the prose is shorn of any superfluous verbiage, you can tell that he has poured over each word to find the single most impactful descriptor in each sentence. It is this attention to detail in both his setting depictions and witty dialogue that had me staying up into the early hours of the morning to see what happened next.
You can go ahead and add Bobby’s name to the list of authors leading the revival of what I’ve seen called ‘new southern noir’. Call it whatever you will, but if you have even a passing interest in crime fiction, start picking up these books and this one in particular. We are privileged to be reading at a time when there is an abundance of deeply talented writers producing amazing work centered in the south, many with a focus on breaking down historical stereotypes and illuminating the mercurial transitional period many southern cities find themselves in at the present. Don’t make the mistake of missing out.
Fans of historical giants like Robert B. Parker or our contemporary greats like Ace Atkins and S.A. Cosby, this is a book for you.
November 21, 2023
The story of a veteran turned thug for hire, a cop with decent taste in whisky, and a development deal that's as cracked and crooked as a small-town sidewalk.
This book is *fun.* Given the subject matter yes, that sounds a bit odd, but this book is fun.
Sometimes you just want to read about a universe in which the worst kind of people in this world finally see justice - and sometimes that justice comes in the form of a man named Kincaid with really good reflexes and a talent for twisting knee caps.
I wouldn't have minded a slightly longer ending, but I finished this story in less than 2 days, was hooked from the start, and enjoyed it the whole way through. Definitely recommend for fans of the genre, Mathews takes you on a great ride.
This book is *fun.* Given the subject matter yes, that sounds a bit odd, but this book is fun.
Sometimes you just want to read about a universe in which the worst kind of people in this world finally see justice - and sometimes that justice comes in the form of a man named Kincaid with really good reflexes and a talent for twisting knee caps.
I wouldn't have minded a slightly longer ending, but I finished this story in less than 2 days, was hooked from the start, and enjoyed it the whole way through. Definitely recommend for fans of the genre, Mathews takes you on a great ride.
March 27, 2023
In "Living the Gimmick". Bobby Mathews immersed the reader in the world of pro-wrestling. It was strange and exhilarating. This time, he takes us for a breathless tour of Birmingham, Alabama. We see the city, the good, the very bad and the unspeakably ugly that populate it through the eyes of Kincaid - enforcer, head-knocker, muscle for hire. It starts with a simple assignment: Protect my daughter, says a local big-time crook. Protect her from what, or rather from whom? That turns out to be a much more complex question than Kincaid envisioned. There's always the risk of being hurt in a job like that and Kincaid gets hurt a lot. He also responds in kind. But there's more than knocks in "Magic City Blues". The relationship between Kincaid and Laura D'Agostino, the cop, gives the story its heart, a big, bewildered heart. Who would have thought that love could swipe the tough guy off his feet, and the tough girl too! This is great writing, fast, colorful and evocative. Oh, and did I mention Kincaid knows his way around a kitchen? I tore through this book in one night and one day. A speed that (almost) matches D'Agostino's behind the wheel of a car.
April 8, 2023
This novel is classified as crime fiction. And it is with hardboiled Kincaid willing to battle with ice-cold killers and ruthless crime lords. But it’s also a love story. A devotional to the city of Birmingham, the heart if not the soul of Alabama. The affection Mathews shows for his literary influences throughout this well-written modern pulp novel. Kincaid himself is a romantic at heart and on the page when he falls for the worst person a professional thug should…a police detective. I felt the love for the Magic City, the genre, and the reader from beginning to end. A passionate crime novel worthy of your time.
November 8, 2024
Magic City Blues is the perfect gritty crime thriller that manages to be compulsively addictive to read, while having a secret emotional, vulnerable center that will surprise you over and over again.
Just when you think that the P.I. genre has been done to death, Bobby Mathews comes along with a story that has you falling head over heels in love with Kincaid - a tough as nails, devil may care P.I. on the outside, and a romantic with unshakeable personal morals on the inside. Kincaid might be one of the best characters I've read all year - he manages to be funny, sarcastic, sweet and absolutely brutal and all of it feels utterly legitimate and honest.
This book is just really delicious crime noir - Kincaid whose been hired by a crime boss to protect his daughter, and who quickly comes to realize that the situation if far more complicated and dangerous than he could have imagined. Throw in nonstop action, twists, secrets, lies and a little dangerous liaison romance between him and the cop who ends up tangled in the mess alongside him, and you have some of the best reading you'll do all year.
For a crime thriller, this plot served up way more twists than I was expecting and I am not mad about it. The only thing I loved more than that was how gorgeously Bobby writes Birmingham as the setting for the book, and in a way that makes the city shine as if it's a character all it's own in the story. I've never been, but after this book, I feel like I have, and that is an art form in an of itself.
No spoilers for this one, because truly it's just too much fun to devour not knowing how it's going to implode on itself, but this is a book that you can't sleep on. It is the perfect kind of plot as the seasons change and you want to hide out and be entertained all day. Put it on those holiday wish lists!
Just when you think that the P.I. genre has been done to death, Bobby Mathews comes along with a story that has you falling head over heels in love with Kincaid - a tough as nails, devil may care P.I. on the outside, and a romantic with unshakeable personal morals on the inside. Kincaid might be one of the best characters I've read all year - he manages to be funny, sarcastic, sweet and absolutely brutal and all of it feels utterly legitimate and honest.
This book is just really delicious crime noir - Kincaid whose been hired by a crime boss to protect his daughter, and who quickly comes to realize that the situation if far more complicated and dangerous than he could have imagined. Throw in nonstop action, twists, secrets, lies and a little dangerous liaison romance between him and the cop who ends up tangled in the mess alongside him, and you have some of the best reading you'll do all year.
For a crime thriller, this plot served up way more twists than I was expecting and I am not mad about it. The only thing I loved more than that was how gorgeously Bobby writes Birmingham as the setting for the book, and in a way that makes the city shine as if it's a character all it's own in the story. I've never been, but after this book, I feel like I have, and that is an art form in an of itself.
No spoilers for this one, because truly it's just too much fun to devour not knowing how it's going to implode on itself, but this is a book that you can't sleep on. It is the perfect kind of plot as the seasons change and you want to hide out and be entertained all day. Put it on those holiday wish lists!
August 2, 2023
This is a great private eye novel, even if the hero-narrator isn't technically a private eye. Kincaid is a professional goon hired by a crime lord to protect the crime lord's daughter unknown assassins. Things take a bad turn fairly quickly when the daughter's boyfriend is murdered. The daughter disappears without a trace, but Kinkaid befriends a cop named Laura D'Agostino and the search for the daughter begins. There is plenty of action, romance, social commentary, and no shortage of intrigue.
This is a fast read that doesn't feel the least bit rushed. Without getting bogged down, Mathews can have Kinkaid pause to appreciate the people around him, describe sports with enthusiasm, and write a cooking scene so well you can almost taste food. And then there are the descriptions about the story's setting in Birmingham, Alabama. I've never read a crime story set in Birmingham before, have you? You'll wonder why there haven't been more after reading this book.
Final word: we get two great heroes in Kinkaid and D'Agostino and I won't be surprised if there are more adventures about them in their future.
This is a fast read that doesn't feel the least bit rushed. Without getting bogged down, Mathews can have Kinkaid pause to appreciate the people around him, describe sports with enthusiasm, and write a cooking scene so well you can almost taste food. And then there are the descriptions about the story's setting in Birmingham, Alabama. I've never read a crime story set in Birmingham before, have you? You'll wonder why there haven't been more after reading this book.
Final word: we get two great heroes in Kinkaid and D'Agostino and I won't be surprised if there are more adventures about them in their future.
May 26, 2023
Having recently read another of Mathews' novels, 'Living the Gimmick' (which was spectacular), I really wanted to love Magic City Blues, but maybe I went into it with my expectations a little too high. It's not a bad novel at all, but it wasn't nearly as strong as I wanted it to be. I wanted more character development for Kincaid, but it just wasn't there. We know he's basically muscle-for-hire for the criminal underworld, and we're given the short-version of how he earned that role, but it doesn't go much deeper than that. I was also sometimes annoyed by the character's repeated mentions on how 'tough' he is (quotes like, "If I hadn't been so tough, I might have shivered a little" or "If I weren't so goddamned tough, I might have cried") or how desirable he is ("Usually seeing me in my underwear makes even the strongest women undress, but D'Agostino was made of sterner stuff"). Aside from it making the character a little less likeable (for me at least), it comes off as overcompensating and kind of ingenuine.
There were also elements of the story that either didn't make sense or at the very least, not explained very well. Why did Doyle hire Kincaid in the first place when he already had Ralph to protect Abby? Who killed Britt and why? Why was this powerful crime boss Doyle trying to take out Kincaid single-handedly in the end without any backup whatsoever?
All of my own nit-picking about the story aside, there was a lot that I DID like about the story too, I just would have liked to have seen some of the ideas a bit more fleshed out. I think Mathews has a lot of talent and I look forward to reading more from him.
There were also elements of the story that either didn't make sense or at the very least, not explained very well. Why did Doyle hire Kincaid in the first place when he already had Ralph to protect Abby? Who killed Britt and why? Why was this powerful crime boss Doyle trying to take out Kincaid single-handedly in the end without any backup whatsoever?
All of my own nit-picking about the story aside, there was a lot that I DID like about the story too, I just would have liked to have seen some of the ideas a bit more fleshed out. I think Mathews has a lot of talent and I look forward to reading more from him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2023
Great characters, sparkling dialogue and an edgy mystery with a Southern twist make Magic City Blues one of the books I’ve most enjoyed this year.
Ex-veteran Kincaid is hired by a powerful criminal to protect his daughter. Kincaid is drawn toward an unusual relationship with Police officer Laura D’Agostino, People start getting killed and a complicated web begins to unravel that will keep you enthralled ‘til the end.
Magic City Blues is distinct, complex and original. Bobby Mathews is a bright new star of the genre and I’m looking forward to reading more from him.
Ex-veteran Kincaid is hired by a powerful criminal to protect his daughter. Kincaid is drawn toward an unusual relationship with Police officer Laura D’Agostino, People start getting killed and a complicated web begins to unravel that will keep you enthralled ‘til the end.
Magic City Blues is distinct, complex and original. Bobby Mathews is a bright new star of the genre and I’m looking forward to reading more from him.
February 22, 2024
If Dashiell Hammet had been born in Alabama instead of Maryland, Sam Spade would've sounded a lot like Bobby Mathews's hero Kincaid. An enforcer and "odd job man," Kincaid is tough as nails with a gooey center for a good cause. The mystery plot is excellent and had me guessing until the end and the action is non-stop. I even enjoyed the love story between Kincaid and D'Agostino. Hoping this is a series.
December 21, 2024
I do not understand the high reviews for this novel.
Sorry- but this a very meh read. Third rate characters and dialogue. Boring city (sorry Birmingham) and some real lame character development. This started out with a pet peeve of mine. Two main characters fall in love/lust in about one paragraph. I get the “odd couple” vibe, but please invest in some story telling besides wise cracking and “wolfish smiles” (EVERYONE gave wolfish smiles in this story.)
That’s it for me.
Sorry- but this a very meh read. Third rate characters and dialogue. Boring city (sorry Birmingham) and some real lame character development. This started out with a pet peeve of mine. Two main characters fall in love/lust in about one paragraph. I get the “odd couple” vibe, but please invest in some story telling besides wise cracking and “wolfish smiles” (EVERYONE gave wolfish smiles in this story.)
That’s it for me.
March 31, 2023
A thoroughly enjoyable novel from start to finish. Mr. Mathew’s has created two of my new favorite characters, low-level leg-breaker Kincaid and BPD detective Laura D'Agostino. The plot flows with action, great dialogue and laughs🤣.
This is a must read and would make a great streaming series! Come on Netflix’s!
This is a must read and would make a great streaming series! Come on Netflix’s!
June 28, 2023
This is one of my favorite reads of the year. It strikes a perfect balance. It's just hard-core noir enough. The protagonist is tough enough, but also snappy and clever enough. The bad guys are great. Actually, all the characters are well fleshed out and interesting. The dialogue is top-drawer noir. What an entertaining book! Go read it.
January 13, 2025
It all comes together in the Magic City
Mobsters, real estate moguls, freelance enforcers, and cops all come together in this one. If you like action and unforeseeable twists and turns, you'll love this one. Good knowledge of Birmingham is evident, and the flavor of that city comes through. Enjoy this adventure, I did!
Mobsters, real estate moguls, freelance enforcers, and cops all come together in this one. If you like action and unforeseeable twists and turns, you'll love this one. Good knowledge of Birmingham is evident, and the flavor of that city comes through. Enjoy this adventure, I did!
July 20, 2023
The story smells of booze and bad decisions. The kind of book you can feel in your teeth when you put it down. Matthews shows us the underbelly of Birmingham through Kincaid's eyes, and you won't be able to look away.
March 15, 2025
This was so good - I didn’t want it to end! The characters were honest and I fell in love with them. It had enough noir and action that it made my head swim! Looking forward to reading more from this author.
March 31, 2023
Devoured this in two sittings. Enjoyed the hell out of it. Loved Kincaid, made me wanna see Birmingham and mentions of Drive By Truckers and Isbell were a bonus. I highly recommend this one.
September 3, 2024
A really surprising and enjoyable read. It was great to hear the author's perspective on the story.
September 10, 2024
This was a gripping story with great characters. I stayed up way too late finishing it because I couldn't put it down.
September 25, 2025
It was fun seeing the local references to my own city; however, the relationships in the book felt unrealistic. Wouldn't recommend it to any serious mystery reader.
January 23, 2026
This was an enjoyable crime drama. Liked the uncommon Alabama setting, and thought the main characters were excellent. Sort of a Southern spin on Chinatown.
October 11, 2024
"it ain't just what you do, it's how you look while you're doing it"
This line comes early in Magic City Blues, and it's a pretty good mantra for the novel.
Bobby Mathews has created a great character in Kincaid, and this is a solid crime novel that ticks all the right boxes. A wise-cracking PI (well actually he's an enforcer/tooth-chipper) who gets to move through high society and the low down dirty of Birmingham, Alabama.
You get the usual suspects - the ditzy rich girl, the female cop who can mix it up with the fellas, the meathead muscle, an assortment of slimy bad guys - but they've got enough idiosyncrasies to stop the book from getting stale.
There is a vivid sense of place in this book - an essential part of old-school crime fiction. I've never been to Birmingham but already feel like I know it. The specifics of the writing are what help make it universal.
The plot rolls along with a few twists and turns that subvert the usual tropes. About midway through, it really ratchets up and gets a lot darker than I was expecting given the breezy narration. Yet somehow Mathews never breaks the spell.
Definitely recommended for fans of crime/detective fiction. Mathews doesn't reinvent the wheel, but he's created one hell of a ride.
This line comes early in Magic City Blues, and it's a pretty good mantra for the novel.
Bobby Mathews has created a great character in Kincaid, and this is a solid crime novel that ticks all the right boxes. A wise-cracking PI (well actually he's an enforcer/tooth-chipper) who gets to move through high society and the low down dirty of Birmingham, Alabama.
You get the usual suspects - the ditzy rich girl, the female cop who can mix it up with the fellas, the meathead muscle, an assortment of slimy bad guys - but they've got enough idiosyncrasies to stop the book from getting stale.
There is a vivid sense of place in this book - an essential part of old-school crime fiction. I've never been to Birmingham but already feel like I know it. The specifics of the writing are what help make it universal.
The plot rolls along with a few twists and turns that subvert the usual tropes. About midway through, it really ratchets up and gets a lot darker than I was expecting given the breezy narration. Yet somehow Mathews never breaks the spell.
Definitely recommended for fans of crime/detective fiction. Mathews doesn't reinvent the wheel, but he's created one hell of a ride.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews