Roller-Coaster

Patrick Petrella

by Michael Gilbert, Nigel Graham (Reading)

Patrick Petrella is now installed behind a new desk, as Superintendent of an East London dockland area. Though this marks a well merited step up the career ladder, the paperwork of modern policing makes Petrella itch to be out on the streets again. There is also the nasty taste left by the manner of his predecessor's departure. Petrella detects patterns of rival gangs at work and uncovers a paedo-porn ring which stretches across the North Sea to Amsterdam's sleazier side. Soon he finds himself up against one of the most unscrupulous outfits in London and he is in no doubt about which course of action to take. Michael Francis Gilbert ( 1912- 2006) is recognized as one of the most versatile British mystery writers. He was a lawyer in London for many years and at one point had Raymond Chandler as his client. He wrote almost every sort of mystery and thriller. He wrote police procedurals, spy novels and short stories, courtroom dramas, classical mysteries, crime novels, and almost every possible combination of these, all with the same competence and dry, detached wit. Gilbert was a founding member of the British Crime Writers Association, Named Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America and was named Number 24 on The Telegraph's "50 crime writers to read before you die."

Genres: Mystery

MP3 CD

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Born in Lincolnshire in 1912, Michael Francis Gilbert was educated in Sussex before entering the University of London where he gained an LLB with honours in 1937. Gilbert was a founding member of the British Crime Writers Association, and in 1988 he was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America - an achievement many thought long overdue. He won the Life Achievement Anthony Award at the 1990 Boucheron in London, and in 1980 he was knighted as a Commander in the Order of the British Empire. Gilbert made his debut in 1947 with Close Quarters, and since then has become recognized as one of our most versatile British mystery writers.

He was the father of Harriett Gilbert.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last of four books about Patrick Petrella. It is good, if not great. It has an odd "insert" there is quite a long section about a police officer sent to Amsterdam and this is sort of stuck into the story about Petrella. It relates to the plot, but is plunked down breaking to flow and forgotten for a hundred plus pages of so. It looks like a after thought to clarify the story. Odd. Still an enjoyable book.

[Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Great ending to Petrella's story as a police officer. Ambiguous like Michael Gilbert likes to do in his works that I've read so far.

[Lisa Kucharski · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last Petrella book, of three, a great story line where the police, media, and criminals are all portrayed in clear light. As usual, wonderful writing, with great insight.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: paperwork, race issues, police brutality allegations, and corruption cause Superintendent Petrella to yearn to be back on the streets.