Boneyards

Jimmy Flannery

by Robert Wright Campbell

Former Chicago cop Rafe Sharkey's reputation for shady deals and shady ladies catches up with him when his prostitute lover is found murdered

298 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1992

About the author

A screenwriter who turned to writing novels. Many of his earlier books were published as by R. Wright Campbell but later works were credited to Robert W. Campbell or simply Robert Campbell. He also published one book as F.G. Clinton. For more, see his obituary in the Los Angeles Times.

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Campbell writes about Chicago being a close-knit town where everyone knows each other and is busy all week long swapping favor for favor, you think you've opened up another one of his kind of humorous tongue in cheek Jimmy Flannery mysteries. But what Campbell has done with Boneyards is he's taken the insider world of Jimmy Flannery's Chicago, shaved off the cute edges and Flannery's funny way of narrating, and given us a full-on hardboiled Chicago tale. Make no mistake about it, Boneyards is Campbell's greatest work. Boneyards is the story of a fixer, a Chicago cop known locally as the City Hall Pimp who has his fingers in every jar and every racket. This is a tale about Ray Sharkey's downfall, but it's far more than just another story about a bad cop mixed up with the rackets. It's a story filled with background details that bring to life an amazing complex character. He's got a daughter in an institution. A wife dying of cancer. A sister who wanders around like a vagabond. A one legged brother. A mistress in a flat. He's got half the politicians in the city after him to break him down, to bring him to heal, to make a public example out of him for both personal and political reasons. There's a murder case here involving a guy put through hell and hung out to dry in a hotel bathroom and not much to go on to solve it. But it's not at the center of this novel, Ray Sharkey is, big, rude, corrupt, filled with agony. This is great thick deep stuff. Really wish Campbell had been able to make this into a series.

[Scoats · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a seedy LA novel, Campbell returns to Chicago with a seedy novel. The breezy and mostly fun world of Jimmy Flannery is nowhere to be found this tale of police corruption, politics, and general vice.

Campbell is/was a strong writer, but this book really could use some editing. It's probably at least 25% too long. It could and should be a lot tighter.

[Sharon Perkins]

So racist I could not get past first chapter. Threw it in the trash rather than pass along.

[Jeanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a character that had so much going on... I think Campbell pulled off this book and Sharkey's character quite well! I enjoyed the book - it flowed well and kept me turning the pages! I couldn't put it down! I have to say, that's getting harder and harder to do nowadays. I am glad I ran across this book. Thanks Robert for the great read!

[Scoats · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a seedy LA novel, Campbell returns to Chicago with a seedy novel. The breezy and mostly fun world of Jimmy Flannery is nowhere to be found this tale of police corruption, politics, and general vice.

Campbell is/was a strong writer, but this book really could use some editing. It's probably at least 25% too long. It could and should be a lot tighter.