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Duffy #3
Putting the Boot In
Things are hotting up in the Third Division and it seems someone's nobbling players. Following the loss of one of his best strikers, Jimmy Lister, former England player and now ineffectual club manager, calls on the expertise of Duffy.
Enter London's most unusual investigator. An ex-policeman with razor-sharp wit and an interminable sexual appetite, Duffy must investigate the murky world of lower-league football. He soon finds himself grappling with neo-Nazism and vicious sabotage - not to mention the niggling question of whether or not he really is too short to be a decent goalie.
As deceit and violence abound, Duffy's set for a difficult game. Warm up's over; it's kick-off time.
221 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1985
7 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 29, 2018
Duffy află că sida e boala homosexualilor și are coșmaruri noapte de noapte. Nici cazul pe care îl ia, un aparent sabotaj asupra unei echipe de fotbal din liga a treia nu e mare lucru. Piste false, jocuri slabe și puține șanse de a descâlci ițele jocului.
Un roman nereușit de data aceasta, în ciuda personajului central atipic și enervant.
Un roman nereușit de data aceasta, în ciuda personajului central atipic și enervant.
June 11, 2018
Duffy urmarit de spectrul SIDA e chiar mai delicios decît Duffy urmarit de minge!
May 16, 2011
An enjoyable insight into Third Division football in the 1980s. Popular understanding has it that Sky Sports' money has changed the game out of all recognition but at this level things aren't all that different. Duffy as a goalkeeper is a bit hard to swallow, though, given that the previous two books have established him as 'short'. Wonder if that's because Julian Barnes has been a 'keeper in real life?
February 21, 2017
Another one for the donation stack.
April 20, 2021
Există prea multe feluri în care poţi ologi un fotbalist. Asta, din punctul de vedere al jucătorului. Altora, libertatea de alegere li se pare încurajatoare.
Patrulând la marginea propriului careu de 16 metri, Duffy se gândea la păţania lui Danny Matson. De acolo pornise totul. Danny, în parcarea subterană. Un prim semn că întreaga tărăşenie avea să devină de domeniu public. Iar după ce se întâmplase şi asta, iar situaţia ameninţase să se agraveze, apăruseră şi alte lucruri care să dea de gândit, în afară de soarta sărmanului Danny, component al unei echipe pe ducă din divizia a treia. Cine-şi mai aduce aminte de fotbaliştii de ieri? Cine-şi mai aminteşte până şi de cei cu faimă – cei cu locuinţe stil hacienda, maşini de lux şi soţii natural blonde, care joacă golf în direct la TV cu actori de comedie supraponderali? Fanfaroni alintaţi de toată lumea, aceştia păşesc ţanţoş pentru ultima oară pe terenul luminat orbitor, îşi salută fanii şi apoi dispar în tunel. Pe neaşteptate, descoperă că atmosfera s-a răcit, nu se mai simt atât de semeţi şi nici nu-i mai aplaudă nimeni; percep un vag miros de urină şi de Ajax, văd un bec de 40 de waţi deasupra capului şi o pardoseală din beton sub tălpi. S-a terminat cu gazonul. Orice cădere va provoca de astă dată dureri. Şi vor parcurge acel tunel tot restul vieţii. Iar dacă aşa arată sfârşitul pentru jucătorii de vârf, ce şansă mai avea Danny Matson?
Patrulând la marginea propriului careu de 16 metri, Duffy se gândea la păţania lui Danny Matson. De acolo pornise totul. Danny, în parcarea subterană. Un prim semn că întreaga tărăşenie avea să devină de domeniu public. Iar după ce se întâmplase şi asta, iar situaţia ameninţase să se agraveze, apăruseră şi alte lucruri care să dea de gândit, în afară de soarta sărmanului Danny, component al unei echipe pe ducă din divizia a treia. Cine-şi mai aduce aminte de fotbaliştii de ieri? Cine-şi mai aminteşte până şi de cei cu faimă – cei cu locuinţe stil hacienda, maşini de lux şi soţii natural blonde, care joacă golf în direct la TV cu actori de comedie supraponderali? Fanfaroni alintaţi de toată lumea, aceştia păşesc ţanţoş pentru ultima oară pe terenul luminat orbitor, îşi salută fanii şi apoi dispar în tunel. Pe neaşteptate, descoperă că atmosfera s-a răcit, nu se mai simt atât de semeţi şi nici nu-i mai aplaudă nimeni; percep un vag miros de urină şi de Ajax, văd un bec de 40 de waţi deasupra capului şi o pardoseală din beton sub tălpi. S-a terminat cu gazonul. Orice cădere va provoca de astă dată dureri. Şi vor parcurge acel tunel tot restul vieţii. Iar dacă aşa arată sfârşitul pentru jucătorii de vârf, ce şansă mai avea Danny Matson?
May 1, 2023
A fascinating piece of social commentary, perfectly capturing the mid 80s: developers are splashing money around, neo-nazis are flourishing under Thatcher, and third-division football teams can still be bought by local businessmen. Oh, and AIDS has arrived, and our bisexual hero Nick Duffy (this is his third book) has stopped having sex altogether from fear of it.
Like the earlier Duffy books, it's a lighweight, with themes skimmed over and plot threads left loose, but the pacing and tension are very well done (we now know that Dan Kavanagh is a pen-name of the famous Julian Barnes).
For a football-lover, this is a perfect complement for "How Steeple Sinderby Wanderers Won the FA Cup" by JL Carr.
Like the earlier Duffy books, it's a lighweight, with themes skimmed over and plot threads left loose, but the pacing and tension are very well done (we now know that Dan Kavanagh is a pen-name of the famous Julian Barnes).
For a football-lover, this is a perfect complement for "How Steeple Sinderby Wanderers Won the FA Cup" by JL Carr.
March 28, 2023
Third in the series of mysteries by Julian Barnes writing under a pseudonym in the 1980s. This one is built on a failing football (soccer) team whose owner has reasons for wanting it to fail completely. The hapless manager is not named Ted Lasso, but I'm grateful for watching that show, since before I did I had never heard of a team being "relegated" or what a humiliating thing that would be. But Duffy the detective, who is worried and paranoid about almost everything, and who plays goalie for an even less important team, manages to get to the bottom of all the lies and violence, and there are even some exciting football moments.
July 13, 2018
Another entertaining read, I spent a good afternoon/evening reading the third Duffy book, this one set in the mid-80s and centered around a struggling third division football (AKA soccer) team. It's also a fascinating period piece: the AIDS epidemic had just appeared, and lead character Duffy (a bisexual man) is concerned he may have contracted the virus. (Spoiler: he hasn't) His paranoia and fear is gut wrenching. Also illustrates how far we have come with understanding and treating the condition and also societal attitudes. Oh yes, raise this rating to 3.5.
February 14, 2021
Story about...
Sorry, but I have not found any story.
Just some deliberations on troubles of a very average 3rd division soccer club.
There is some glimpse of a criminal affair, but generally it is no attraction for me and in this case I had not enough patience to wait for solution.
Gave up after some 110 pages.
Sorry, but I have not found any story.
Just some deliberations on troubles of a very average 3rd division soccer club.
There is some glimpse of a criminal affair, but generally it is no attraction for me and in this case I had not enough patience to wait for solution.
Gave up after some 110 pages.
March 23, 2019
Football based, but not as interesting to me personally. Story not as plotted as others in series I felt. Good as far as it went, but more predictable
September 19, 2015
Refreshingly inconclusive. Duffy is lightweight fun. There is an attempt at contemporary seriousness regarding his bisexuality and the specter of AIDS but I never felt that Barnes's heart was really in it. Only one more to go unless he decides to write another.
July 28, 2024
just great as all of his books!
July 4, 2015
Confusing but well written football/crime?/Duffy book. So far this one made me think the most, but I don't really get football so... Still looking forward to the next one.
September 5, 2015
I didn't realise this book was a reprint until I'd finished it - Would have helped understand the context. Interesting read although frustrating ending.
January 3, 2016
Low key, likeable and individual, as are all Kavanagh's Duffy novels. My lack of appreciation for football reduced the enjoyment somewhat, though and this felt much more novella than novel.
October 12, 2015
Well it was quirky to say the least.
Not bad for a trip down to Brighton.
Not bad for a trip down to Brighton.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews