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A Crang Mystery #5
Take Five
It's been twenty years since Crang, the Toronto criminal lawyer with the single name and the smart mouth, last sleuthed his way through deep trouble and tricky cases. Now Crang has returned, and, as usual, he's got big problems.
A client has skipped out on him, still owing Crang a very large fee. The client, a woman of great beauty and even greater treachery, just happens to be the co-mastermind of the biggest marijuana grow-op business in Canadian drug history.
Crang cuts a few legal corners in his hunt for the fleeing client, but she soon becomes only the most elusive of his worries. Along the way, Crang finds himself confronting a major Toronto mob boss, a thug intent on maiming him, and an ugly case of murder. Will Crang survive the onslaught? Sometimes he can't help wondering.
A client has skipped out on him, still owing Crang a very large fee. The client, a woman of great beauty and even greater treachery, just happens to be the co-mastermind of the biggest marijuana grow-op business in Canadian drug history.
Crang cuts a few legal corners in his hunt for the fleeing client, but she soon becomes only the most elusive of his worries. Along the way, Crang finds himself confronting a major Toronto mob boss, a thug intent on maiming him, and an ugly case of murder. Will Crang survive the onslaught? Sometimes he can't help wondering.
256 pages, Paperback
First published April 20, 2013
About the author
Jack Batten
53 books26 followersJack Batten, after a brief and unhappy career as a lawyer, has been a very happy freelance writer for many years. The author of thirty-five books, Batten writes the weekly Whodunnit column in the Toronto Star, has reviewed jazz for the Globe and Mail, and has reviewed movies on CBC Radio for twenty-five years. He has written over thirty books on subjects that include biography, crime fiction, law and court cases, and sports. Not surprisingly, jazz, movies, and crime turn up frequently in Crang’s life. He lives in Toronto.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 11, 2017
Batten's main character, Crang, a criminal lawyer who loves his hometown Toronto is a resilient sort of fellow who has been featured in a handful of crime/mysteries over the years, sometimes too far apart for us fans.
I read his latest one, Keeper of the Flame, a few months ago. It was an excellent whodunnit. Crang was especially clever in that one, a rejuvenated man, if you will.
This one, Take Five, proceeds it.
The plot is rather good and entirely plausible. A set of collectibles, priceless ceramics is set to disappear and be replaced with a fake but almost authentic group. Quite a caper, and it does get pulled off.
On the trail of the thieves is Crang and his 'team' of lock breakers, safe-crackers and a very keen old gent neighbour called I Spy who knows every movement at the residence under surveillance.
There is another crime, a murder, and Crang takes a few punches and throttling throughout the book, in fact, he seems to invite danger according to his live in partner, the always spunky Annie .
What I have always loved about Batten's novels is the Toronto setting; it's a kick to identify all those places you know in your home city. And the quirky characters, too, including the intrepid, laid back Crang.
The pace never lags, there is much wine drank, thugs underfoot, whodunnit dialog and an endless search for the perfect coffee, and most, and best of all, justice for the deceased, Crang's late client.
I read his latest one, Keeper of the Flame, a few months ago. It was an excellent whodunnit. Crang was especially clever in that one, a rejuvenated man, if you will.
This one, Take Five, proceeds it.
The plot is rather good and entirely plausible. A set of collectibles, priceless ceramics is set to disappear and be replaced with a fake but almost authentic group. Quite a caper, and it does get pulled off.
On the trail of the thieves is Crang and his 'team' of lock breakers, safe-crackers and a very keen old gent neighbour called I Spy who knows every movement at the residence under surveillance.
There is another crime, a murder, and Crang takes a few punches and throttling throughout the book, in fact, he seems to invite danger according to his live in partner, the always spunky Annie .
What I have always loved about Batten's novels is the Toronto setting; it's a kick to identify all those places you know in your home city. And the quirky characters, too, including the intrepid, laid back Crang.
The pace never lags, there is much wine drank, thugs underfoot, whodunnit dialog and an endless search for the perfect coffee, and most, and best of all, justice for the deceased, Crang's late client.
December 5, 2023
NO! NO! Crang, you can NOT kill someone by slamming a nose bone into their brains. If nothing else, our noses are made of CARTILAGE rather than bone! There is NO bone there to slam. A genius medical examiner ought to know that. Geesh, a dullard medical examiner ought to know that.
I might have even given 4 stars to this book but that point was just so freaking annoying that I cannot bring myself to give higher than 3, and debated myself out of 2 stars. I mean seriously?!? In the 21st Century who still believes that myth?!?
After that the book is what I expect from this series, with somewhat less idiocy on Crang's part - not missing entirely, but done in a less ridiculous way. The plot was a bit convoluted and I figured out what was going on before Crang did, but the read was still interesting. I also really missed Annie's presence. But, the supporting cast, both good guys/gals and bad were interesting and engaging.
I will read the next in the series and see how it goes.
I might have even given 4 stars to this book but that point was just so freaking annoying that I cannot bring myself to give higher than 3, and debated myself out of 2 stars. I mean seriously?!? In the 21st Century who still believes that myth?!?
After that the book is what I expect from this series, with somewhat less idiocy on Crang's part - not missing entirely, but done in a less ridiculous way. The plot was a bit convoluted and I figured out what was going on before Crang did, but the read was still interesting. I also really missed Annie's presence. But, the supporting cast, both good guys/gals and bad were interesting and engaging.
I will read the next in the series and see how it goes.
July 30, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery and loved that it occurs in Toronto. The characters are all well developed and the tone is a bit amusing and light yet very serious. The plot is convincing and kept me interested as well as being current. I'm curious now to what Crang gets himself into next.
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June 14, 2025dnf
October 24, 2025
Just an Ok book; I needed a filler until my library books in. 2nd time reading this Author-best thing about them, stories take place in Toronto!
February 20, 2013
First off: I received this novel free through Goodreads First Reads program. Thank you to the publisher (and the author)!
I found 'Take Five' to be an intelligently written investigation novel. If you didn't get quite what you needed from the description listed for the book above; Crang is criminal lawyer caught 'with his pants down' when his client doesn't show for a meeting with the judge regarding her guilty plea involving a large marijuana grow-op. He takes it upon himself to hunt her down (not at all because she still owes him $75,000...) and discovers she is mixed up in a new scheme. Which he, of course, has to find out more about. The action takes place in Toronto and it's lovely to read a well written story that takes place close to home!
While the pacing was occasionally a bit on the measured side this was a well crafted story. Crang was well fleshed out as a character. While I have not read the first four books in this series I found that wasn't needed to easily get into this one. Bringing in any needed back-story was skillfully done. No information dumps. Whenever I needed to know something that occurred in Crang's past, it was briefly worked into that narrative.
While not particularly thrilling an investigation it still made a good mystery with plausible things occurring. Plus I enjoyed Crang's reaction to a few of the scrapes/altercations he got himself into. Definitely some wry humour to this novel.
So yes, I enjoyed this novel. I think It could have used a more thrilling climax, but it is still a proof copy so maybe it will get an excitement boost with editing. I may actually see if I can find the earlier novels about Crang. Already have passed the novel on to a friend to read.
Oh yeah - even though I knew this was a ARC and was going to be proofed/edited further, ONE thing bothered me a bit. Near the beginning when Crang is describing the investigation that nailed Grace Nguyen for growing marijuana he states it was done with the assistance of York region, Durham County to the east and Peel County to the west. Both Peel and Durham are actually regions. Durham County....it just looks so wrong (because I live there)
I found 'Take Five' to be an intelligently written investigation novel. If you didn't get quite what you needed from the description listed for the book above; Crang is criminal lawyer caught 'with his pants down' when his client doesn't show for a meeting with the judge regarding her guilty plea involving a large marijuana grow-op. He takes it upon himself to hunt her down (not at all because she still owes him $75,000...) and discovers she is mixed up in a new scheme. Which he, of course, has to find out more about. The action takes place in Toronto and it's lovely to read a well written story that takes place close to home!
While the pacing was occasionally a bit on the measured side this was a well crafted story. Crang was well fleshed out as a character. While I have not read the first four books in this series I found that wasn't needed to easily get into this one. Bringing in any needed back-story was skillfully done. No information dumps. Whenever I needed to know something that occurred in Crang's past, it was briefly worked into that narrative.
While not particularly thrilling an investigation it still made a good mystery with plausible things occurring. Plus I enjoyed Crang's reaction to a few of the scrapes/altercations he got himself into. Definitely some wry humour to this novel.
So yes, I enjoyed this novel. I think It could have used a more thrilling climax, but it is still a proof copy so maybe it will get an excitement boost with editing. I may actually see if I can find the earlier novels about Crang. Already have passed the novel on to a friend to read.
Oh yeah - even though I knew this was a ARC and was going to be proofed/edited further, ONE thing bothered me a bit. Near the beginning when Crang is describing the investigation that nailed Grace Nguyen for growing marijuana he states it was done with the assistance of York region, Durham County to the east and Peel County to the west. Both Peel and Durham are actually regions. Durham County....it just looks so wrong (because I live there)
February 20, 2013
I won a copy of "Take Five", A Crang Mystery, by Jack Batten through the Goodreads Giveaway Contest.
Crang, a Toronto criminal lawyer, has tackled many difficult cases.Now Crang shows up in court and is chewed out by Judge Harry Keough, for failure to present his client in court for sentencing.His client,had skipped out on him, still owing Crang a large fee. The woman,Grace Nguyen, and the guy, George Wu, her co-accused admitted guilt, so no trial was necessary...just the sentencing.
The cops had charged Nguyen and Wu for running grow op houses across Metro Toronto that produced forty thousand marijuana plants, thirty million dollars worth, on the drug market.
Crang has a part-time investigator, Maury Samuels, looking for Grace, an ex-con, who served time for break and enter.But Crang needed to find Grace, so Maury and him set up a plan to breakin to Grace's condo to look for clues.Crang was determined to find out what was going on.
This was an excellent novel, well written and fast-paced mystery.Once I started it, I couldn't put it down.If you enjoy reading mystery novels, check this novel out...it will be well worth your time.
Crang, a Toronto criminal lawyer, has tackled many difficult cases.Now Crang shows up in court and is chewed out by Judge Harry Keough, for failure to present his client in court for sentencing.His client,had skipped out on him, still owing Crang a large fee. The woman,Grace Nguyen, and the guy, George Wu, her co-accused admitted guilt, so no trial was necessary...just the sentencing.
The cops had charged Nguyen and Wu for running grow op houses across Metro Toronto that produced forty thousand marijuana plants, thirty million dollars worth, on the drug market.
Crang has a part-time investigator, Maury Samuels, looking for Grace, an ex-con, who served time for break and enter.But Crang needed to find Grace, so Maury and him set up a plan to breakin to Grace's condo to look for clues.Crang was determined to find out what was going on.
This was an excellent novel, well written and fast-paced mystery.Once I started it, I couldn't put it down.If you enjoy reading mystery novels, check this novel out...it will be well worth your time.
February 3, 2013
Many thanks to the author, publisher and Firstreads for my free ARC of this novel.
Take Five is a great, funny, witty page turning book. Crang is very likeable character and were I to meet a live version of him, would love to have him as a friend. I read this in two sittings and that's only because I had to get some sleep in between!
Well paced, with short, concise chapters (I'm a sucker for short chapters as I often have to set my book down at work). The plot was not outrageously far fetched or unbelievable in any fashion. Love that it was set in Toronto as it brought back to great memories of a great city. This was my first Crang novel and it certainly won't be my last. I fully intend to seek out the previous installments in this series and laugh my way through them.
Take Five is a great, funny, witty page turning book. Crang is very likeable character and were I to meet a live version of him, would love to have him as a friend. I read this in two sittings and that's only because I had to get some sleep in between!
Well paced, with short, concise chapters (I'm a sucker for short chapters as I often have to set my book down at work). The plot was not outrageously far fetched or unbelievable in any fashion. Love that it was set in Toronto as it brought back to great memories of a great city. This was my first Crang novel and it certainly won't be my last. I fully intend to seek out the previous installments in this series and laugh my way through them.
March 15, 2013
Crang is a Toronto Criminal Lawyer representing Grace Nguyen and her co-accused, George Wu who have admitted their guilt in a crime. With no trial nexessary they were to appear in court for sentencing but had apparently gone AWOL stiffing Crang his $75,000.00 fee. As Crang digs into the disapperance of his client, there are much bigger obstacles in the way of his investigation. As he searches for Grace, he begins to unravel things she is involved in, and also stumbles upon a Toronto mob boss and the muscle he has to protect him, along with one of his thugs bent on 'getting' Crang.
February 18, 2013
very much enjoyed this book its been a while since I read a mystery novel and I wasn't let down. The book really takes you in to the life of Crang making you feel like a part of the book. The events are detailed without over played! The only little bit was the neat and tidy ending other then that I loved it!!
August 5, 2013
3.5 stars. Fun and entertaining read. I enjoy reading stories set in places I know really well and this one made me homesick for Toronto. (Mostly) Well-written characters. Ending a little too pat. This is my first Crang book, but it won't be my last.
June 27, 2014
The fifth mystery featuring Crang, with a gap of 22 years between #4 and 5! And Crang has hardly aged...He's a criminal lawyer who often gets involved in investigating murders. This one starts with one of his clients who skips bail. The dialogue is snappy and I love the Toronto setting.
March 11, 2013
Will probable read his earlier books.
March 15, 2013
made me laugh, a quick read, nicely written, would love to see more of these characters...
February 20, 2013
This was a fun read. A bit unbelievable at times.
March 28, 2017
Excellent. I intend to read the rest of the series in order.
As an aside, as I commented on my Kobo/Overdrive review, it's good to have another good Toronto-based mystery series.
As an aside, as I commented on my Kobo/Overdrive review, it's good to have another good Toronto-based mystery series.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews