The Agent

by George V. Higgins

One of fiction’s keenest observers rips open the world of pro-sports agenting in this brisk tale of murder and mystery. Alexander Drouhin built one of the nation’s premier sports agencies through gritty negotiation and savvy marketing, but when he is found murdered-shot at close range-suspects, including his former clients and employees, abound.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

341 pages, Hardcover

First published January 7, 1999

About the author

George Vincent Higgins was a United States author, lawyer, newspaper columnist, and college professor. He is best known for his bestselling crime novels.

Reviews

[Henry · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful. Simply awful. None of the crisp dialogue for which Higgins is known. Actual police detective work = 30 pages. Diatribes and multi-page epistles about the world of professional sports=300 pages. There are actually 10-12 page expanses of monologues by characters. I cannot believe this is the author who inspired Elmore Leonard. After Eddie Coyle, he lost his mojo, without question.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

***1/4

[Kit · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful.

[False · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the last Higgins. You can really see his growth as a writer as you read his books in chronological order. I have about four or five more to go (two of the books about Higgins, not his.) This one has the usual Higgins' trademarks: accurate dialogue. Detailed information about culture (and Massachusetts) during the 1990's. So many of his professional men wear black loafers with tassels. I have to wonder if he wore them. There were some really fascinating dialogues that went on...and you didn't mind, because you were learning about the sports industry, and the players and agents, and the hanger-ons.

[Harry Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Higgins is a master of dialog; the narrative is propelled almost exclusively by it. Much of the book concerns the minutia of sports and the business of negotiation between athletes and professional teams. One gets a sense that at least some of what Higgins portrays actually goes on. The police procedural part is, in my opinion, weak. After a very little gathering of background, the leading cop is able to discern the nature of events leading to the demise of the title character, and in a few short pages, resolve the matter.

[Mark L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good late Higgins. Particularly enjoyable reading for Bostonians (as all Higgins novels are). No mystery writer uses dialogue better or portrays society and its hustlers with such gimlet-eyed accuracy.

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A leading agent for professional athletes gets killed. There's a lot of suspects. Higgins specialized in snappy, cynical patter among players, wise guys, cops and such. It's good dialogue, but it only goes so far in place of a plot.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Novel about a top sports agent. Had no idea how complex the profession is, with all the contractual and behind the scenes dealing. Also the difficulty of managing players' egos and expect ions! Enjoyed a lot.

[Katrynke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've never read anything by George Higgins - this is my first one. Looking forward to adding another author to my list of must reads.

[David Tybor · Rating 2 out of 5]

is there any person to whom the phrase "his earlier stuff was better" does not apply? maybe Barry Bonds?

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually checked out this book on paper from library. I had previously listened to a Higgins as an audiobook, thought the spoken version was lame, so I went to words on a page. Words on a page were very good. Some people might think there's too much detail about sports agenting.

Higgins is all dialogue.