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The Pictures
Hollywood 1939. The year that The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were made. Detective Craine has spent his life working as a studio fixer, whitewashing the misdemeanours and crimes committed by the studio players and stars. But now he’s trying to turn his back on that life following the recent death of his wife as he’s determined to be a better parent to his young son.
But then Craine’s services are called upon one last time. MGM need him to smooth over the press coverage of the suicide of one of their producers. And soon, what should be a straightforward case proves anything but when connections are made between it and a brutal murder across town. And that’s just the start of the story.
It’s only a matter of time before Craine must decide whether to follow orders, or to attempt to redeem a career of concealment by going in search of the ugly truth. It’s a choice he knows that cannot end well.
But then Craine’s services are called upon one last time. MGM need him to smooth over the press coverage of the suicide of one of their producers. And soon, what should be a straightforward case proves anything but when connections are made between it and a brutal murder across town. And that’s just the start of the story.
It’s only a matter of time before Craine must decide whether to follow orders, or to attempt to redeem a career of concealment by going in search of the ugly truth. It’s a choice he knows that cannot end well.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
February 7, 2017
This is an assured debut from Guy Bolton set in Los Angeles in 1939. It is in the hard boiled noir tradition focusing on the heart of the movie business in Hollywood. It crawls beneath its brittle facade and reveals the criminal connections, its seedy underbelly and rotten corruption. It has the glamorous stars such as Joan Crawford, Katherine Hepburn, and Spencer Tracy. We meet Detective Jonathan Craine, a grieving widower whose wife, the actress Celia Raymond, committed suicide. He has been a studio fixer for MGM run by Louis Mayer, where he made sleaze and criminal charges for financially lucrative actors and actresses disappear.
Craine is not a sympathetic character as he is someone who closes cases, not solves them. This is how he handles the discovery of the gruesome murder of a young woman, Florence Lloyd, shot in the face. He goes looking for a black man to pin the murder on, and finds homeless Leonard Stone who denies murder, but convinces him to confess. Stone later commits suicide whilst in police custody. In Craine's defence, City Hall and the Chief of Police make it difficult to have integrity. This is a city where Hollywood and its stars are protected at all costs. Craine is assigned to ensure the smooth coverage of the suicide of Herbert Stanley, a Hollywood writer. However, there turn out to be connections with the murder of Florence Lloyd. It is here that Craine begins to change direction and actually investigate when he is pushed by Detective Patrick O'Neill to do so. It is not easy for Craine to go against the grain as he struggles to do the right thing and a string of further murders take place. Craine and O'Neill go up alone against the Mafia who have a stake in Hollywood, uncover an assassin, blackmail, prostitution, drugs, and intrigue in the movie business. The investigation comes close to Craine's private life and his tentative relationship with an actress and brings danger to his son, Michael, heavily traumatised by discovering his dead mother in a bath.
This is a dark, violent and brutal novel that is atmospheric and compelling reading. It harks back to a golden age of movie making and slips beneath the gloss and hype to its tawdry nature. The writing is gripping and the narrative is full of tension and suspense. Craine is a flawed hero, who knows that he is failing his son and late in the day wants to be a real investigator despite facing ruthless foes willing to kill indiscriminately. Los Angeles is a place where truth is a rare commodity and you pay a heavy price for going up against the vested interests. I hope there is a sequel to this soon. Highly recommended read. Many thanks to Oneworld for an ARC.
Craine is not a sympathetic character as he is someone who closes cases, not solves them. This is how he handles the discovery of the gruesome murder of a young woman, Florence Lloyd, shot in the face. He goes looking for a black man to pin the murder on, and finds homeless Leonard Stone who denies murder, but convinces him to confess. Stone later commits suicide whilst in police custody. In Craine's defence, City Hall and the Chief of Police make it difficult to have integrity. This is a city where Hollywood and its stars are protected at all costs. Craine is assigned to ensure the smooth coverage of the suicide of Herbert Stanley, a Hollywood writer. However, there turn out to be connections with the murder of Florence Lloyd. It is here that Craine begins to change direction and actually investigate when he is pushed by Detective Patrick O'Neill to do so. It is not easy for Craine to go against the grain as he struggles to do the right thing and a string of further murders take place. Craine and O'Neill go up alone against the Mafia who have a stake in Hollywood, uncover an assassin, blackmail, prostitution, drugs, and intrigue in the movie business. The investigation comes close to Craine's private life and his tentative relationship with an actress and brings danger to his son, Michael, heavily traumatised by discovering his dead mother in a bath.
This is a dark, violent and brutal novel that is atmospheric and compelling reading. It harks back to a golden age of movie making and slips beneath the gloss and hype to its tawdry nature. The writing is gripping and the narrative is full of tension and suspense. Craine is a flawed hero, who knows that he is failing his son and late in the day wants to be a real investigator despite facing ruthless foes willing to kill indiscriminately. Los Angeles is a place where truth is a rare commodity and you pay a heavy price for going up against the vested interests. I hope there is a sequel to this soon. Highly recommended read. Many thanks to Oneworld for an ARC.
February 14, 2017
Hollywood, 1939. MGM is putting the finishing touches on a movie it has high hopes for,
The Wizard of Oz
, although studio head Louis Mayer isn't sure about that "Over the Rainbow" number.
LAPD detective Jonathan Craine has just returned to his job after the unexpected death of his actress wife, and he's still a bit of a mess. Not only are his feelings of grief, guilt, and anger all mixed up and residing a little too close to the surface for comfort, but he doesn't know how to handle his young son, Michael, who has gone mute in his own grief.
Craine has been unofficially employed by the LAPD as a "fixer" for the Hollywood studios. He steps in when a star has gotten themselves into a bit of trouble and makes sure the press doesn't catch wind of it, and ensures investigations are closed quickly before anyone can ask any questions. It's a good job, although one not entirely on the up-and-up, and it was a bone of contention between him and his late wife.
He agreed to come back to work if he didn't have to do that job anymore, but he gets pressed into service one more time. When an MGM producer is found dead of an apparent suicide, Craine is asked to smooth out any questions the investigation might uncover, as the producer was married to Gale Goodwin, one of the studio's up-and-coming stars. As always, Craine is the loyal soldier, even if he is starting to realize that things aren't just adding up in this case. But if getting the case to put to bed is all that needs to happen before he can get out from under the studios' thumb, he's happy to do as he's told.
When a dogged young detective keeps peppering Craine with questions and inconsistencies in the case, he decides to do a little bit of investigating just to pacify him. But when Craine realizes the producer's death might be connected with a brutal murder the night prior, and then he gets caught in a gunfight when following what appears to be an innocent lead, he has a real dilemma on his hands. Should he do what he always has done, and put the needs and wishes of the studio ahead of the need for justice, or is it time for him to pursue what is right, not what is desired? And if he chooses the latter path, is he prepared to face whatever consequences might lie ahead?
Guy Bolton's The Pictures is a fascinating look at old Hollywood, the time when the studio heads controlled everything in LA, even the police. While the mystery component of the plot might not be entirely surprising, Bolton's storytelling and character development really shines through. Craine is definitely a flawed character, but he's a man with so much on his shoulders, and he just can't seem to do the right thing with everyone. His story was very compelling, and I would have loved even more background on him, so it would be great if Bolton considers another book featuring him.
The other thing I loved about the book was how effectively Bolton conveyed the mood and setting of Hollywood in 1939. While I didn't read with an eagle eye to make sure every detail was entirely accurate (he obviously took some liberties while keeping some elements of real events), I could just picture the book in my head so well. I could see Mayer raging, the scenes in nightclubs and studio parties. That worked so well.
NetGalley and ONEWorld Publications provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
LAPD detective Jonathan Craine has just returned to his job after the unexpected death of his actress wife, and he's still a bit of a mess. Not only are his feelings of grief, guilt, and anger all mixed up and residing a little too close to the surface for comfort, but he doesn't know how to handle his young son, Michael, who has gone mute in his own grief.
Craine has been unofficially employed by the LAPD as a "fixer" for the Hollywood studios. He steps in when a star has gotten themselves into a bit of trouble and makes sure the press doesn't catch wind of it, and ensures investigations are closed quickly before anyone can ask any questions. It's a good job, although one not entirely on the up-and-up, and it was a bone of contention between him and his late wife.
He agreed to come back to work if he didn't have to do that job anymore, but he gets pressed into service one more time. When an MGM producer is found dead of an apparent suicide, Craine is asked to smooth out any questions the investigation might uncover, as the producer was married to Gale Goodwin, one of the studio's up-and-coming stars. As always, Craine is the loyal soldier, even if he is starting to realize that things aren't just adding up in this case. But if getting the case to put to bed is all that needs to happen before he can get out from under the studios' thumb, he's happy to do as he's told.
When a dogged young detective keeps peppering Craine with questions and inconsistencies in the case, he decides to do a little bit of investigating just to pacify him. But when Craine realizes the producer's death might be connected with a brutal murder the night prior, and then he gets caught in a gunfight when following what appears to be an innocent lead, he has a real dilemma on his hands. Should he do what he always has done, and put the needs and wishes of the studio ahead of the need for justice, or is it time for him to pursue what is right, not what is desired? And if he chooses the latter path, is he prepared to face whatever consequences might lie ahead?
Guy Bolton's The Pictures is a fascinating look at old Hollywood, the time when the studio heads controlled everything in LA, even the police. While the mystery component of the plot might not be entirely surprising, Bolton's storytelling and character development really shines through. Craine is definitely a flawed character, but he's a man with so much on his shoulders, and he just can't seem to do the right thing with everyone. His story was very compelling, and I would have loved even more background on him, so it would be great if Bolton considers another book featuring him.
The other thing I loved about the book was how effectively Bolton conveyed the mood and setting of Hollywood in 1939. While I didn't read with an eagle eye to make sure every detail was entirely accurate (he obviously took some liberties while keeping some elements of real events), I could just picture the book in my head so well. I could see Mayer raging, the scenes in nightclubs and studio parties. That worked so well.
NetGalley and ONEWorld Publications provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
February 19, 2019
It seems to me, almost everyone thinks they can write a book these days. Guy Bolton has now joined that club. Bolton’s “The Pictures” takes place in Hollywood in 1939 when America is still digging its way out of the recent depression era. Our POV character, Police Detective Jonathan Craine, works as a ‘fixer’ for Louis Mayer at MGM pictures. His role is to cover up the indiscretions of film stars, directors and other studio employees. Gee, crooked cops in ‘30’s L.A., James Elroy will turn in his grave.
Craine works alongside of Detective Patrick O'Neill, who is really the ‘brains’ of the pair. As he is younger and less secure than Crane, O’Neill’s insights and observations are often overlooked and ignored to the detriment of the pair.
Bolton openly acknowledges his heavy debt to Chandler, Hammett, Leonard and others of that category. This novel hits all the points you would expect of an attempted hard-boiled murder mystery set in 1930s Hollywood. Most of its set-pieces are genre clichés, with femme fatales and silent men in fedoras and snappy suits. If Chandler’s “Little Sister” is recalled, Marlow finds a dead woman in a hotel room who was named Mavis Weld, a rising movie star. Marlow then retrieves a set of photos of Weld and a reputed gangster named Steelgrave, Marlowe then visits her agent and makes him understand that, far from trying to blackmail the star, he wants to help her. Ergo most of the plot from “The Pictures”, with the names changed.
Obviously Mr. Bolton is British as he uses many words and descriptions not found in 30’s L.A. . Folks in southern California are also not in the habit of carrying umbrellas due to the constant rain. The city has more of a ‘New Yorkish or London feel’ with its sidewalks crowded full of pedestrians. This and other things took away the sense of place and jerked me out of the story’s narrative.
Suicide is also overused as a character motivator. From Crane’s wife, to Gale’s (Craine’s new love interest) husband, and as a convenient disposal method of used up characters. This is even implied as a motivator for Craine’a young son. I will say that I was intrigued with a hired killer character that runs a bit amok in the story.
The cover is eye catching. I would give the book between two and three stars, rounded up to three.
Interview with “The Pictures” author:
https://mysterypeople.wordpress.com/2...
Craine works alongside of Detective Patrick O'Neill, who is really the ‘brains’ of the pair. As he is younger and less secure than Crane, O’Neill’s insights and observations are often overlooked and ignored to the detriment of the pair.
Bolton openly acknowledges his heavy debt to Chandler, Hammett, Leonard and others of that category. This novel hits all the points you would expect of an attempted hard-boiled murder mystery set in 1930s Hollywood. Most of its set-pieces are genre clichés, with femme fatales and silent men in fedoras and snappy suits. If Chandler’s “Little Sister” is recalled, Marlow finds a dead woman in a hotel room who was named Mavis Weld, a rising movie star. Marlow then retrieves a set of photos of Weld and a reputed gangster named Steelgrave, Marlowe then visits her agent and makes him understand that, far from trying to blackmail the star, he wants to help her. Ergo most of the plot from “The Pictures”, with the names changed.
Obviously Mr. Bolton is British as he uses many words and descriptions not found in 30’s L.A. . Folks in southern California are also not in the habit of carrying umbrellas due to the constant rain. The city has more of a ‘New Yorkish or London feel’ with its sidewalks crowded full of pedestrians. This and other things took away the sense of place and jerked me out of the story’s narrative.
Suicide is also overused as a character motivator. From Crane’s wife, to Gale’s (Craine’s new love interest) husband, and as a convenient disposal method of used up characters. This is even implied as a motivator for Craine’a young son. I will say that I was intrigued with a hired killer character that runs a bit amok in the story.
The cover is eye catching. I would give the book between two and three stars, rounded up to three.
Interview with “The Pictures” author:
https://mysterypeople.wordpress.com/2...
June 20, 2020
"God, I hate this city, he thought, this ever-expanding desert of lost souls.”
Los Angeles, 1939. The golden age of Hollywood Motion Pictures.
The pictures are big business, and scandals abound.
Enter world weary Jonathan Craine. A detective with the LAPD, he’s assigned as the studio “fixer”, looking out for the stars when discretions occur. When problems need smoothing over, he’s your man. He makes them disappear.
”He was, in essence, the studio “fixer”, the man who made criminal charges disappear.”
With personal problems of his own, Craine is at a very low point. He’s assigned to a messy case that’s going to take a lot of his time and energy, and make him question if he still wants to live in the City of Angels, or indeed continue with policing.
”Craine wondered at what point he’d stopped caring about his job."
There’s extortion, blackmail, and a rising body count the further you get into the book.
I was immersed in the “noir” atmosphere. I haven’t read this style of genre in an age, so it was nice to revisit it.
"The roads were busy for a Wednesday night. The evening sky was drawn and overcast and most Angelenos were heading home before the rain came.”
”A gray and dusty Los Angeles reeled through the windows like a broken strip of celluloid.”
Love it! Moody & atmospheric. Just my cup of noir.
Yes, Guy Bolton’s writing is heavily influence by Chandler, Hammet & Cain. He readily acknowledges this in his “thanks” epilogue.
A solid 3.5✩s for me. I’m definitely planning to read his next story ”The Syndicate".
”He didn’t expect bow-tied endings; he knew there would be no catharsis but with so much loss it seemed there could be nothing else but a new beginning, in whatever form that might take.”
*** Shout out to GR friend Karl who I buddy read this with. Make sure you read Karl’s fab (and alternate) review. As Karl says, noir clichés abound (but I really enjoyed them!). ***
July 6, 2017
A fast paced crime thriller in an era of Hollywood at its most exciting and influential. It delves deep into the nitty gritty of LA in 1939 as the classic films we know and love are just being created - The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind being the main ones.
We meet detective Jonathan Craine, left reeling after the suicide of his wife, the late actress Celia. Jonathan's job is to cover up any and all crimes in connection with MGM studios and their actors to avoid all bad press.
1 murder and a suicide early on are quickly swept under the carpet but it isn't long until connections are being drawn and questions asked.
So leads a spiral of criminal behaviour, the dirty sordid secrets of Hollywood behind the camera are revealed piece by piece and just how many people were affected and involved by it.
The Pictures is an incredible fast paced mystery, I questioned everything and everyone and still I was shocked. It was dramatic, violent and emotional. A tremendously exciting read.
We meet detective Jonathan Craine, left reeling after the suicide of his wife, the late actress Celia. Jonathan's job is to cover up any and all crimes in connection with MGM studios and their actors to avoid all bad press.
1 murder and a suicide early on are quickly swept under the carpet but it isn't long until connections are being drawn and questions asked.
So leads a spiral of criminal behaviour, the dirty sordid secrets of Hollywood behind the camera are revealed piece by piece and just how many people were affected and involved by it.
The Pictures is an incredible fast paced mystery, I questioned everything and everyone and still I was shocked. It was dramatic, violent and emotional. A tremendously exciting read.
October 13, 2018
Do you like your fiction hardboiled, with a cop who isn't averse to a backhander and maybe a little mob action thrown into the mix too? Well this one might just work for you.
Jonathan Craine is an LAPD detective who has just returned to work following the death of his movie actress wife. The circumstances surrounding her death are rather vague (and are to remain somewhat muddy throughout) but we do know that their son, Michael, is really struggling to deal with the loss, left in residence at his boarding school where he is refusing to talk to anyone. As a supplement to his police salary, Craine is employed (off the books) as a fixer by the Hollywood studios and he’s expected to close down potential cases against their stars before they can gain legs. Keep their names out of the newspapers and keep their criminal records clean, that's the name of the game. The studio bosses have a line into the police department – yes, the movie studios really seem to run this town - and they arrange for Craine to attend the scene of any incident they believe it might be in their interest to hush up. And he’s efficient, he gets the job done.
He first attends the scene of what looks like the suicide of one of the producers of The Wizard of Oz and soon after is asked to take on a case involving the torture and murder of a young woman. It's not clear that these events are linked in any way but speculation soon starts to raise its head. His direct boss is keen he should close down the cases quickly, citing the departments clearance rate target. But now Craine has the shadow of his wife’s death weighing him down – has this changed him, will he still be so keen to turn a blind eye to the manipulation of justice?
It's all competently done with the atmosphere of the time (I think) impressively portrayed. Broadly speaking, the characters are also interesting enough. But, for me, this story just lacked something. There are no real surprises here and it had the feel of a book written with a television adaptation in mind – or maybe a movie! The blank spaces surrounding the period leading up to and surrounding his wife’s death created a void for me and consequently I never quite got inside Craine’s head; I couldn’t truly comprehend what was motivating him, particularly regarding the way he treated his son. There’s a follow up book (already sitting on my Kindle – I got this one first and then decided I’d better catch up with the pre-story) and maybe this will fill in some blank spaces and bring Craine to life a little more. We’ll see.
Jonathan Craine is an LAPD detective who has just returned to work following the death of his movie actress wife. The circumstances surrounding her death are rather vague (and are to remain somewhat muddy throughout) but we do know that their son, Michael, is really struggling to deal with the loss, left in residence at his boarding school where he is refusing to talk to anyone. As a supplement to his police salary, Craine is employed (off the books) as a fixer by the Hollywood studios and he’s expected to close down potential cases against their stars before they can gain legs. Keep their names out of the newspapers and keep their criminal records clean, that's the name of the game. The studio bosses have a line into the police department – yes, the movie studios really seem to run this town - and they arrange for Craine to attend the scene of any incident they believe it might be in their interest to hush up. And he’s efficient, he gets the job done.
He first attends the scene of what looks like the suicide of one of the producers of The Wizard of Oz and soon after is asked to take on a case involving the torture and murder of a young woman. It's not clear that these events are linked in any way but speculation soon starts to raise its head. His direct boss is keen he should close down the cases quickly, citing the departments clearance rate target. But now Craine has the shadow of his wife’s death weighing him down – has this changed him, will he still be so keen to turn a blind eye to the manipulation of justice?
It's all competently done with the atmosphere of the time (I think) impressively portrayed. Broadly speaking, the characters are also interesting enough. But, for me, this story just lacked something. There are no real surprises here and it had the feel of a book written with a television adaptation in mind – or maybe a movie! The blank spaces surrounding the period leading up to and surrounding his wife’s death created a void for me and consequently I never quite got inside Craine’s head; I couldn’t truly comprehend what was motivating him, particularly regarding the way he treated his son. There’s a follow up book (already sitting on my Kindle – I got this one first and then decided I’d better catch up with the pre-story) and maybe this will fill in some blank spaces and bring Craine to life a little more. We’ll see.
October 1, 2017
4.5 stars
This is a debut book by the author who acknowledges his debt to Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. The book takes place in 1939 Hollywood. The book starts with a woman tortured and murdered. Detective Jonathan Craine, imbued with the culture of a police department obsessed with crime clearance rates, frames an innocent black man for the murder. But then things happen and he is drawn into an investigation against his will. He is known as a "fixer." The LAPD and the movie studios use him to cover up crimes/scandals involving their stars.
Craine is paired with Patrick O'Neill, a new detective, honest and determined to find the truth. If you like Hollywood noir fiction, you will enjoy this book. It has sex, cover-ups, prostitution and blackmail.
Two quotes: "This is a city of contradictions, Craine thought, a metropolis where sepia and Technicolor play side by side."
"Yes,Craine was reliable; reliable to the end. Relied upon to cover up his own wife's suicide."
Thanks to the publisher, Point Blank, for sending me this book through LibraryThing.
This is a debut book by the author who acknowledges his debt to Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. The book takes place in 1939 Hollywood. The book starts with a woman tortured and murdered. Detective Jonathan Craine, imbued with the culture of a police department obsessed with crime clearance rates, frames an innocent black man for the murder. But then things happen and he is drawn into an investigation against his will. He is known as a "fixer." The LAPD and the movie studios use him to cover up crimes/scandals involving their stars.
Craine is paired with Patrick O'Neill, a new detective, honest and determined to find the truth. If you like Hollywood noir fiction, you will enjoy this book. It has sex, cover-ups, prostitution and blackmail.
Two quotes: "This is a city of contradictions, Craine thought, a metropolis where sepia and Technicolor play side by side."
"Yes,Craine was reliable; reliable to the end. Relied upon to cover up his own wife's suicide."
Thanks to the publisher, Point Blank, for sending me this book through LibraryThing.
March 20, 2017
Detective Craine works for the LAPD as a fixer—bailing actors out of jail after a DUI and covering up instances of domestic violence among MGM’s stars. After the death of his wife, who was a minor actress, he wants to get out of the business, but when a producer dies in an apparent suicide, he’s called in to keep the press away as much as possible and spin whatever information does get out: The guy was a junkie and gay and had battled depression is the studio’s go-to story line.
For the first part of the book, it’s difficult to know who to root for. For example, a completely innocent black kid gets blamed for a brutal crime he didn’t commit. He, too, is found dead by apparent suicide.
The wife of the dead producer is Gail Goodwin. Craine realizes that something more is going on that the fact that several folks decided to commit suicide or are gruesomely murdered—he realizes it when he’s shot at a hotel while checking into things. Katherine Hepburn, Mae West, and Groucho have Cameo’s in the book, so if you’re a fine of this period in history of LA, you might like the mystery. For me, it was a little slow.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.
For more of my reviews, please visit: http://theresaalan.net/blog/
For the first part of the book, it’s difficult to know who to root for. For example, a completely innocent black kid gets blamed for a brutal crime he didn’t commit. He, too, is found dead by apparent suicide.
The wife of the dead producer is Gail Goodwin. Craine realizes that something more is going on that the fact that several folks decided to commit suicide or are gruesomely murdered—he realizes it when he’s shot at a hotel while checking into things. Katherine Hepburn, Mae West, and Groucho have Cameo’s in the book, so if you’re a fine of this period in history of LA, you might like the mystery. For me, it was a little slow.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.
For more of my reviews, please visit: http://theresaalan.net/blog/
March 23, 2017
I struggled with this book. It's set in 1930's Hollywood, but to me there seemed little atmosphere of that era - other than the author occasionally dropping names, e.g. at a party to celebrate the film studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the cinema mogul, Louis B. Mayer says "Hi Groucho" (presumably it's Groucho Marx) to one of the guests and later someone mentions that Bing Crosby is to appear at a club which features in the plot. The story is littered with cultural references from 1930's Hollywood, the city of Los Angeles and lots and lots of cars. But the atmosphere felt forced.
The main character is a Craine, a police detective who's spent most of his career covering up the misdeeds of the stars and staff of various Hollywood cinema studios. Basically, he's a yes man who's always done what he's told. Then he gets a conscience and decides to risk his career - and his life - to uncover dark deeds in Los Angeles. Along the way, he falls in love with a minor Hollywood star and broods about his son Michael who discovered the body of his dead mother and has been distant from Craine ever since. It's not surprising as Craine is a cold fish who's as taciturn as his son - until he gets the hots for the female film star.
The story drags for almost 2/3rds of the book with all the really thrilling action piled into to the final 80 or so pages. Elsewhere on goodreads, I've seen this book described as "noir" and comparisons with James Ellroy's books. It's neither. It's a good attempt but, overall, I felt the story was too forced and the author spent far too long on detailing the angst experienced by Craine.
The main character is a Craine, a police detective who's spent most of his career covering up the misdeeds of the stars and staff of various Hollywood cinema studios. Basically, he's a yes man who's always done what he's told. Then he gets a conscience and decides to risk his career - and his life - to uncover dark deeds in Los Angeles. Along the way, he falls in love with a minor Hollywood star and broods about his son Michael who discovered the body of his dead mother and has been distant from Craine ever since. It's not surprising as Craine is a cold fish who's as taciturn as his son - until he gets the hots for the female film star.
The story drags for almost 2/3rds of the book with all the really thrilling action piled into to the final 80 or so pages. Elsewhere on goodreads, I've seen this book described as "noir" and comparisons with James Ellroy's books. It's neither. It's a good attempt but, overall, I felt the story was too forced and the author spent far too long on detailing the angst experienced by Craine.
August 30, 2018
THE PICTURES is a book practically designed just for me. The old school Hollywood setting, the murder mystery, the compromised tough guys spouting tough guy dialogue at each other – this novel couldn’t be aiming any more for my sweet spot if it rolled me over and tickled my tummy after every chapter. And you know what? In effect, it practically did.
In late 1930s Los Angeles, even though he has just suffered a great personal tragedy, it seems like business as usual for MGM’s pet police detective, Jonathan Craine. He’s long lost his passion for police work and is clearing up cases in the easiest (and slackest) way possible, and if they concern the studio he makes sure that it’s done quietly and with little fuss. But then a series of crimes rock him from his stupor, and he realises that – no matter how much it hurts his standing – he’s going to have to find the real culprits.
If you’ve read a lot of this kind of fiction, the influences are not hard to spot. There’s L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, both novel and film; THE THIN MAN suaver end of Dashiell Hammett; and most definitely Stuart Kaminsky’s Toby Peters – although this a far less glib version. Bolton takes all of this illustrious history and makes it very much his own, to create a novel that ticks all the boxes, but for tough guy fiction is really quite affecting.
This is obviously the type of fiction I love and somewhat the type of fiction I write (although I’d never be brave enough to try an LA setting.) I just love the grit and glamour combined that comes from a film star murder story. Absolutely it’s five stars from me, but then I’m a deeply biased audience.
In late 1930s Los Angeles, even though he has just suffered a great personal tragedy, it seems like business as usual for MGM’s pet police detective, Jonathan Craine. He’s long lost his passion for police work and is clearing up cases in the easiest (and slackest) way possible, and if they concern the studio he makes sure that it’s done quietly and with little fuss. But then a series of crimes rock him from his stupor, and he realises that – no matter how much it hurts his standing – he’s going to have to find the real culprits.
If you’ve read a lot of this kind of fiction, the influences are not hard to spot. There’s L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, both novel and film; THE THIN MAN suaver end of Dashiell Hammett; and most definitely Stuart Kaminsky’s Toby Peters – although this a far less glib version. Bolton takes all of this illustrious history and makes it very much his own, to create a novel that ticks all the boxes, but for tough guy fiction is really quite affecting.
This is obviously the type of fiction I love and somewhat the type of fiction I write (although I’d never be brave enough to try an LA setting.) I just love the grit and glamour combined that comes from a film star murder story. Absolutely it’s five stars from me, but then I’m a deeply biased audience.
August 20, 2017
Jonathon Craine is a Hollywood detective, working for the big studio, MGM, more-so than the LAPD. His deceased wife was a movie star; he knows the business, the studio’s know they can rely on him as their on-call fixer – he can sweep crime under the carpet, make the ghosts of convictions past disappear all for the sake of saving the studio image. Hollywood in 1939 glitters with gold and perfection, it’s Craine’s job to preserve the public facade.
The Pictures is all about scandal and cover-ups. It's a multi-faceted read that encompasses many typical crime troupes mixed with the stardom of Hollywood; high end prostitution, extortion, murder, assassination, with a dose of syndicate action. I loved it all.
Craine is a well rounded character accompanied by a nice supporting cast on either side of the law;Detective O'Neil is a worthy sidekick, one whose importance in the investigations isn't realized until later in the book, while a certain photographer, studio exec, and hired hitman pave the way for a nice mix good and bad guys.
The narration is great, Adam Sims reads Jonathan Craine and co exceptionally well, however, towards the later stages of the book, the voice over’s (corrections) are glaringly apparent which can be jarring at times as Sims often uses a slightly different tone for the voice-overs. Nevertheless it’s a minor gripe in what is overall a very good performance.
My rating: 5/5, I hope to read more books involving studio 'fixing' in this period.
The Pictures is all about scandal and cover-ups. It's a multi-faceted read that encompasses many typical crime troupes mixed with the stardom of Hollywood; high end prostitution, extortion, murder, assassination, with a dose of syndicate action. I loved it all.
Craine is a well rounded character accompanied by a nice supporting cast on either side of the law;Detective O'Neil is a worthy sidekick, one whose importance in the investigations isn't realized until later in the book, while a certain photographer, studio exec, and hired hitman pave the way for a nice mix good and bad guys.
The narration is great, Adam Sims reads Jonathan Craine and co exceptionally well, however, towards the later stages of the book, the voice over’s (corrections) are glaringly apparent which can be jarring at times as Sims often uses a slightly different tone for the voice-overs. Nevertheless it’s a minor gripe in what is overall a very good performance.
My rating: 5/5, I hope to read more books involving studio 'fixing' in this period.
November 16, 2017
A bit of noir set against the backdrop of old Hollywood, specifically MGM's 15th anniversary and the release of The Wizard of Oz, should have been an absolute no-brainer for this reader. However, while Bolton creates a readily franchisable character in Detective Craine, there's far too much of a reliance on familiar thriller tropes to warrant further exploration. It's sort of sub-Ellroy, only tangentially connecting to the industry while virtually everyone falls into tragedy around Craine.
August 5, 2018
Along with the built-in worldwide adoration, actors during Hollywood’s Golden Years apparently had immediate and abundant access to booze, drugs, and illicit women, all of which was enjoyed at a premium. Woe, however, to the john caught, for if the studio’s fixer couldn’t provide an out, the mob would, particularly with a bullet, knife, and/or noose. At, least this is all hypothetical according to Guy Bolton and his debut crime noir novel, The Pictures, which is a piece of fiction. Right?
Bolton gives credit to Hammett, Cain, and Chandler in the book’s acknowledgments, and rightly so, as his writing style is a perfect complement to that powerhouse triumvirate of hard boiled fiction. Bolton takes that inspiration and presents a tale of yesteryear that is startling fresh as he plays with the many contradictions LA has to offer. The bright lights and dark streets. Movie magic and seedy deals. Fast, loud action and slow, strangling death. The pre-war hip vibe of the haves, and the sweltering soup lines for the have-nots.
Set in 1939 during the production of The Wizard Of Oz, Hollywood detective Jonathan Craine, the LAPD’s “fixer” for keeping the studios’, especially MGM’s, talent in line, and rookie detective Patrick O’Neill are assigned to the seemingly unrelated deaths of one of the film’s producers, as well as that of a model. Craine is a stalwart, loner of a cop, who would much rather sign off on case then performing an in-depth investigation. MGM helps support Craine’s lifestyle – his evenings to the top clubs, his fast car, and, oh yeah, his dead actress wife – and wants the case closed with zero publicity. O’Neill, however, is eager to make his mark with all eyes dotted and tees slashed. And if that doesn’t bring to surface a smooth homage of Elroy’s LA Confidential, then The Pictures is not the genre read for you. But it should be.
Bolton provides a read that feels like an MGM production complete with an incredibly-easy imagining of Bogie in the role of Craine, or, for a more modern interpretation, Kevin Spacy, with Guy Pierce in for O’Neill. Within The Pictures, whiskey is always single-malt, Chesterfields are inhaled everywhere by everyone, and murder is still the ultimate taboo. The constant is that crime does not pay. Might get the occasional comp, possibly a long-ish holiday, but if Cain taught us, and ultimately Bolton, anything is that the postman always rings twice. For The Pictures, that happens to Jonathan Caine. Hollywood is his beat. He carries a badge. And we are along for the ride.
Bolton gives credit to Hammett, Cain, and Chandler in the book’s acknowledgments, and rightly so, as his writing style is a perfect complement to that powerhouse triumvirate of hard boiled fiction. Bolton takes that inspiration and presents a tale of yesteryear that is startling fresh as he plays with the many contradictions LA has to offer. The bright lights and dark streets. Movie magic and seedy deals. Fast, loud action and slow, strangling death. The pre-war hip vibe of the haves, and the sweltering soup lines for the have-nots.
Set in 1939 during the production of The Wizard Of Oz, Hollywood detective Jonathan Craine, the LAPD’s “fixer” for keeping the studios’, especially MGM’s, talent in line, and rookie detective Patrick O’Neill are assigned to the seemingly unrelated deaths of one of the film’s producers, as well as that of a model. Craine is a stalwart, loner of a cop, who would much rather sign off on case then performing an in-depth investigation. MGM helps support Craine’s lifestyle – his evenings to the top clubs, his fast car, and, oh yeah, his dead actress wife – and wants the case closed with zero publicity. O’Neill, however, is eager to make his mark with all eyes dotted and tees slashed. And if that doesn’t bring to surface a smooth homage of Elroy’s LA Confidential, then The Pictures is not the genre read for you. But it should be.
Bolton provides a read that feels like an MGM production complete with an incredibly-easy imagining of Bogie in the role of Craine, or, for a more modern interpretation, Kevin Spacy, with Guy Pierce in for O’Neill. Within The Pictures, whiskey is always single-malt, Chesterfields are inhaled everywhere by everyone, and murder is still the ultimate taboo. The constant is that crime does not pay. Might get the occasional comp, possibly a long-ish holiday, but if Cain taught us, and ultimately Bolton, anything is that the postman always rings twice. For The Pictures, that happens to Jonathan Caine. Hollywood is his beat. He carries a badge. And we are along for the ride.
October 11, 2017
Guy Bolton's debut noir mystery, THE PICTURES , is a hardboiled delight: a fascinating, twisted puzzler with well-developed characters. It's 1939, and Los Angeles police detective Jonathan Craine is a Hollywood studio "fixer"--covering up domestic abuses, back-alley abortions, illicit affairs and drunken car crashes that might tarnish the reputations of movie stars and executives employed by the city's biggest and most profitable industry: the movie studios. After months away from his post following the suicide of his actress wife (spun as a "dreadful accident"), Craine is immediately embroiled in two crimes that threaten the production of The Wizard of Oz.
Called to the scene of a young woman's brutal murder, Craine's kneejerk reaction is to downplay the savage violence at the scene and instead reframe the crime as a botched robbery. The following morning, MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer summons him to help cover up the suicide of Herbert Stanley, a producer and husband to one of the studio's biggest stars, Gale Goodwin. When Craine is paired with rookie detective Patrick O'Neill (who has his own issues as the son of a famous police officer), Craine begins to awaken from his grief and complacency. Instead of brushing aside inconsistencies in the two cases, the two detectives decide to investigate the seedy links between the deaths.
THE PICTURES is a compelling and dazzling debut for fans of Raymond Chandler and James Ellroy. Bolton's tightly paced mystery vividly re-creates 1930s Hollywood and is enriched with complicated, fascinating and flawed characters.
Guy Bolton's compelling and evocative hardboiled noir, set in 1939 Hollywood, salutes the best of Chandler and Ellroy.
Called to the scene of a young woman's brutal murder, Craine's kneejerk reaction is to downplay the savage violence at the scene and instead reframe the crime as a botched robbery. The following morning, MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer summons him to help cover up the suicide of Herbert Stanley, a producer and husband to one of the studio's biggest stars, Gale Goodwin. When Craine is paired with rookie detective Patrick O'Neill (who has his own issues as the son of a famous police officer), Craine begins to awaken from his grief and complacency. Instead of brushing aside inconsistencies in the two cases, the two detectives decide to investigate the seedy links between the deaths.
THE PICTURES is a compelling and dazzling debut for fans of Raymond Chandler and James Ellroy. Bolton's tightly paced mystery vividly re-creates 1930s Hollywood and is enriched with complicated, fascinating and flawed characters.
Guy Bolton's compelling and evocative hardboiled noir, set in 1939 Hollywood, salutes the best of Chandler and Ellroy.
December 4, 2017
Crime and cover-ups in the Golden Age of HOLLYWOOD
1939. Hollywood. The era of MGM, Joan Crawford and Clark Gable. In other words this is Hollywood’s Golden Age…
Jonathan Craine is a LAPD detective, a world weary “fixer”, well versed in the ways of the film world and its capricious cast members. One of the producers of The Wizard of Oz is found dead. Suspicious or not, no whiff of scandal must leak out in order to protect his starlet wife. Life in the world of film has to be picture-book perfect, nothing must be untoward, everything has to be sweetness and light.
Craine’s wife has recently passed away, drowned in a bath, discovered by Michael their son and thus the two are still grieving, raw and exposed. Michael has lost his power of speech and has been farmed out to Boarding School. It is their relationship that really holds the novel together.
The opening murder of a young woman seems to link back somehow to the film studios and Craine feels obligated to look deeper into crimes within the industry. The industry brings big bucks and kudos to the city of Los Angeles, but can he really continue to turn a blind eye?
The book has a very visual and cinematographic quality to the writing, and Hollywood of the era feels very strong. The writing style is competent and easy to read. Sometimes the jaded, laconic aspect of the main character feels quite palpable and on occasion I struggled to engage. But overall a good read, with an all too real story set in a credible time and place.
1939. Hollywood. The era of MGM, Joan Crawford and Clark Gable. In other words this is Hollywood’s Golden Age…
Jonathan Craine is a LAPD detective, a world weary “fixer”, well versed in the ways of the film world and its capricious cast members. One of the producers of The Wizard of Oz is found dead. Suspicious or not, no whiff of scandal must leak out in order to protect his starlet wife. Life in the world of film has to be picture-book perfect, nothing must be untoward, everything has to be sweetness and light.
Craine’s wife has recently passed away, drowned in a bath, discovered by Michael their son and thus the two are still grieving, raw and exposed. Michael has lost his power of speech and has been farmed out to Boarding School. It is their relationship that really holds the novel together.
The opening murder of a young woman seems to link back somehow to the film studios and Craine feels obligated to look deeper into crimes within the industry. The industry brings big bucks and kudos to the city of Los Angeles, but can he really continue to turn a blind eye?
The book has a very visual and cinematographic quality to the writing, and Hollywood of the era feels very strong. The writing style is competent and easy to read. Sometimes the jaded, laconic aspect of the main character feels quite palpable and on occasion I struggled to engage. But overall a good read, with an all too real story set in a credible time and place.
September 11, 2017
Boilerplate crime novel that could have done with some closer proofing and greater delineation between its two detectives. The love interest's arc is too convenient and an uneasy fit for a period piece, and the main detective's troubled relationship with his mute son feels largely tacked on.
The Pictures may scratch an itch for people hungry for a tale of Hollywood corruption in the thirties, but they could just as easily read Hammett, Chandler, or even Ellroy or Leonard if you want something written more recently.
The Pictures may scratch an itch for people hungry for a tale of Hollywood corruption in the thirties, but they could just as easily read Hammett, Chandler, or even Ellroy or Leonard if you want something written more recently.
January 10, 2018
Visit Hollywood in the novel here
This appealed from the get go. Hollywood Noir? The underbelly of the glitziest city in the world? Well yes, that sounded right up my street.
All the stars are there – Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn to name but two.So it’s against this background that a detective whose wife was an actress who committed suicide. He has also helped criminal charges in Hollywood facing big stars ‘disappear’. He’s not the only one helping the glitz to shine through the dirt and dark dodgy streets. Craine, the detective is just another one of the unsavoury people who try to make things appear right – or at least right in the eyes of Hollywood.
What a dirty but fascinating world this turns out to be! Suicides, murders and links between the two soon come to the fore. Soon it becomes clear that Craine himself could soon be sucked into the whole affair.
The Golden Age of Hollywood? Well, yes, but one which is severely tarnished but then that’s what makes the novel so compelling. Which camera is on you? Does the camera ever lie? Appearances can be deceptive? Yup, all true here.
Would you stand up for what is right even if your job, and even life depended on it?
A great debut novel. Shining a light looking out for novel number 2!
ptb
September 28, 2018The book was due back to the library.
Since I didn't finish the read, PTB
Since I didn't finish the read, PTB
March 28, 2018
Reviewed for Library Journal, August 1st, 2017.
The year is 1939, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios is celebrating its 15th anniversary, studio head Louis B. Mayer is at the top of his game, and The Wizard of Oz is about to premiere to eager fans. Not far from this glamorous setting a young woman is savagely murdered in West Hollywood, calling LAPD detective Jonathan Craine to the scene. Known to be Hollywood's inside man, Craine successfully pins the murder on a convenient ex-con. Within hours, a second tragedy strikes, introducing Craine to Patrick O'Neill, a young detective who is as straight as Craine is crooked. O'Neill's persistence in the investigation forces Craine to confront his corruption and question the road he has chosen. Craine's feelings are further complicated by the producer's widow, Gale Godwin, a beautiful and beguiling film star. As the body count climbs, there is mounting evidence that something very sinister is unfolding and Craine might be the only one who can stop it. VERDICT: This debut novel by a British screenwriter takes its time drawing readers into the glitzy, deadly world of Old Hollywood. A solid read for fans of the silver screen and intelligent detective novels.—Amy Nolan, St. Joseph, MI
The year is 1939, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios is celebrating its 15th anniversary, studio head Louis B. Mayer is at the top of his game, and The Wizard of Oz is about to premiere to eager fans. Not far from this glamorous setting a young woman is savagely murdered in West Hollywood, calling LAPD detective Jonathan Craine to the scene. Known to be Hollywood's inside man, Craine successfully pins the murder on a convenient ex-con. Within hours, a second tragedy strikes, introducing Craine to Patrick O'Neill, a young detective who is as straight as Craine is crooked. O'Neill's persistence in the investigation forces Craine to confront his corruption and question the road he has chosen. Craine's feelings are further complicated by the producer's widow, Gale Godwin, a beautiful and beguiling film star. As the body count climbs, there is mounting evidence that something very sinister is unfolding and Craine might be the only one who can stop it. VERDICT: This debut novel by a British screenwriter takes its time drawing readers into the glitzy, deadly world of Old Hollywood. A solid read for fans of the silver screen and intelligent detective novels.—Amy Nolan, St. Joseph, MI
October 29, 2017
The Pictures by Guy Bolton
This is A perfect Book To Read If You Like To read the Book with Difference. Wrote in a most effective Way Each And Every Part present In Most Thrilling Manner. If Talk about Storyline That Is Superb.I Very Much Impress The Authors Creativity And compose of storyline along with selection of characters in the book.
Also While Read I Found To Stick With This Book As Due To Reading Interest Accured While Read This Book Because of the composition of creativity by author in words into this book and effective storyline.
I very Much Recommend Readers If You looking to read a book with difference this is a one which fulfill your reading requirement.
One Of The Most Interesting part is that the story is cook in a most effective manner where you find the creativity of author to integrate the storyline in a interesting manner.
Overall rating for this book is a good book to read with lots of interest and meaningfull reading.
This is A perfect Book To Read If You Like To read the Book with Difference. Wrote in a most effective Way Each And Every Part present In Most Thrilling Manner. If Talk about Storyline That Is Superb.I Very Much Impress The Authors Creativity And compose of storyline along with selection of characters in the book.
Also While Read I Found To Stick With This Book As Due To Reading Interest Accured While Read This Book Because of the composition of creativity by author in words into this book and effective storyline.
I very Much Recommend Readers If You looking to read a book with difference this is a one which fulfill your reading requirement.
One Of The Most Interesting part is that the story is cook in a most effective manner where you find the creativity of author to integrate the storyline in a interesting manner.
Overall rating for this book is a good book to read with lots of interest and meaningfull reading.
March 8, 2017
This is maybe the most 'me' book ever written, with its hard-boiled detective protagonist and old Hollywood setting. It's odd, then, that I almost entirely failed to connect with it. In large part, I think, this was due to the main character simply not being likable -- his actions are understandable, certainly, but that doesn't mean the reader wants to spend time with him. Also difficult for me was the constantly shifting point of view. At one point or another, the reader is in the head of virtually every character in the book and, while the timing of our glimpses is clever and interesting, in the end it's mostly just disorienting, and might be part of the reason for the lack of connection to the central character.
Thanks to NetGalley and Oneworld for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and Oneworld for the ARC.
September 3, 2017
Good on period detail and evoking a mood but I felt ultimately uninvolved. A tendency to write too much detail that wasn't necessary - people walking from here to here and then back again, nothing that did anything to move the plot along or add to the atmosphere. Felt it needed a tighter edit to give it some pace. The main character didn't appeal but I can see how he might be drawn out more if this is to be the start of a series.
January 4, 2018
Whether true or not, this was a fascinating exploration of Hollywood in the late 1930s - corruption at even level from individual actors to the studios, the polic and government. With a very cleve start, it takes a while to build sympathy for the lead character Detective Craine but the writing is strong enough that you go on the journey.
November 29, 2017
I really wanted to like this but as far as a detective story goes it was predictable and rather bland and instantly forgettable, minus that French 75 cocktail which is a keeper.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2020
It surely doesn't surprise anyone anymore at this point that I'd pick up a lot of books without reading up on what's it about as long as it fits a challenge...? I thought the cover was interesting but the title was kinda meh and I wouldn't have tried to find out more about this. And that would've been a shame because I really enjoyed this crime novel. A novel set in a glamorous Hollywood pictures scene and yet, behind the lights, it is murky and dark.
I must admit to struggle with the beginning because I wasn't quite sure I like the protagonist, Jonathan Craine, but he developed and grew rather well. In fact, I couldn't stop listening from the halfway point. I just had to finish. In the end, I wasn't surprised at the mastermind behind the crime though I didn't particularly pick the reason for it. But as each piece of the puzzle falls into place though, everything just snowballed and the pace was a lot faster right up to a very satisfying climax.
I must admit to struggle with the beginning because I wasn't quite sure I like the protagonist, Jonathan Craine, but he developed and grew rather well. In fact, I couldn't stop listening from the halfway point. I just had to finish. In the end, I wasn't surprised at the mastermind behind the crime though I didn't particularly pick the reason for it. But as each piece of the puzzle falls into place though, everything just snowballed and the pace was a lot faster right up to a very satisfying climax.
November 29, 2018
I received a copy of The Pictures from Allen & Unwin Australia to review.
Rating of 4.5.
I did a short review of this book in the Canberra Weekly:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2018/11/29/...
Originally reviewed back in June 2017, I have re-published this review on my blog as part of my Throwback Thursday series.
For other interesting reviews, visit my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Rating of 4.5.
I did a short review of this book in the Canberra Weekly:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2018/11/29/...
Originally reviewed back in June 2017, I have re-published this review on my blog as part of my Throwback Thursday series.
For other interesting reviews, visit my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
October 13, 2018
Great
Interesting characters with a twisting plot. This book is a great evocation of pre war Hollywood. I really enjoyed it.
Interesting characters with a twisting plot. This book is a great evocation of pre war Hollywood. I really enjoyed it.
March 13, 2017
All reviews can be found at https://thereadinglodge.wordpress.com/
The Pictures is Guy Bolton’s debut novel that is set during Hollywood of 1939. Detective Craine is the detective used by the studios to alter the truth of incidents caused by those starring in their films; using his contacts around the city he convinces newspaper editors, coroners, and other officials to eradicate any mention of something that could give the studios a bad name. However, on this case, he finds it hard to let anything slide, his morals being questioned by a new detective on the scene, Detective Patrick O’Neill.
Initially, I believed this to be a novel that I wouldn’t normally pick up. I am definitely a fan of the Detective novels however, I believe that the era it is set in may have been the reason why I believed this. However, I found this novel, from the get go, to be intriguing and full of mystery. Guy Bolton presents a novel with three different crimes, all of them linked but with no solid evidence as to how. We only know that they are linked by the inquisitiveness of Detective Patrick O’Neill and the way that he digs at Detective Johnathon Craine’s conscience throughout the novel. It is a novel that highlights the truth of such an age and industry, covering up vital clues and information so that the industry does not become affected and so that police divisions easily met their targets. It makes you question the truth about everything that you hear regarding celebrities and the glitz and glamour of their life and how their lives aren’t all that they appear – there might be something lurking in the shadows.
Detective Craine, as a character, is one that I found intriguing and not without his flaws. Having been on the force for a long time, he has reached that stage in his career where he has lost the urge to leave no stone unturned. This isn’t helped by the role in which he plays at the studios: being paid off to make these cases look like what they seem as opposed to what they truly are. In the beginning, it is clear that he doesn’t hold many morals regarding these transactions and the position that he is in. However, it is O’Neill that gets to him with his thirst to know the truth and not allow the facts to be skewed, blurred, or thrown away. He wants to do what is right and be an honest Detective, not the scam that everyone else appears to be. It is Craine’s position that makes him so flawed and the fact that he has been in that role for so long. But he does develop, and quite a lot thanks to O’Neill and begins to remember what being a detective is all about which, in turn, allows him to become the father that he has failed to be.
I loved all the twists and turns within the narrative and how they slowly unraveled as more and more information was provided. The pacing was well set and didn’t slow down the progression of the narrative and the strands that led to the investigation progressing were real and legitimate, they did not seem forced or created out of nothing. I also enjoyed the element of verisimilitude with the actors and big names within the industry which added entertainment value in itself making the narrative more interesting and juicy considering the scandals we are presented with. Craine’s emotions throughout felt raw and really helped me to connect with his character. His past is always at the forefront of his mind as his situation is directly linked to events within his own life.
I am hoping that we will get more out of Detective Craine, maybe previous stories leading up to this event. I enjoyed the mystery, scandal, and the overall investigation – it kept me hooked throughout and kept my mind busy at all times.
The Pictures is Guy Bolton’s debut novel that is set during Hollywood of 1939. Detective Craine is the detective used by the studios to alter the truth of incidents caused by those starring in their films; using his contacts around the city he convinces newspaper editors, coroners, and other officials to eradicate any mention of something that could give the studios a bad name. However, on this case, he finds it hard to let anything slide, his morals being questioned by a new detective on the scene, Detective Patrick O’Neill.
Initially, I believed this to be a novel that I wouldn’t normally pick up. I am definitely a fan of the Detective novels however, I believe that the era it is set in may have been the reason why I believed this. However, I found this novel, from the get go, to be intriguing and full of mystery. Guy Bolton presents a novel with three different crimes, all of them linked but with no solid evidence as to how. We only know that they are linked by the inquisitiveness of Detective Patrick O’Neill and the way that he digs at Detective Johnathon Craine’s conscience throughout the novel. It is a novel that highlights the truth of such an age and industry, covering up vital clues and information so that the industry does not become affected and so that police divisions easily met their targets. It makes you question the truth about everything that you hear regarding celebrities and the glitz and glamour of their life and how their lives aren’t all that they appear – there might be something lurking in the shadows.
Detective Craine, as a character, is one that I found intriguing and not without his flaws. Having been on the force for a long time, he has reached that stage in his career where he has lost the urge to leave no stone unturned. This isn’t helped by the role in which he plays at the studios: being paid off to make these cases look like what they seem as opposed to what they truly are. In the beginning, it is clear that he doesn’t hold many morals regarding these transactions and the position that he is in. However, it is O’Neill that gets to him with his thirst to know the truth and not allow the facts to be skewed, blurred, or thrown away. He wants to do what is right and be an honest Detective, not the scam that everyone else appears to be. It is Craine’s position that makes him so flawed and the fact that he has been in that role for so long. But he does develop, and quite a lot thanks to O’Neill and begins to remember what being a detective is all about which, in turn, allows him to become the father that he has failed to be.
I loved all the twists and turns within the narrative and how they slowly unraveled as more and more information was provided. The pacing was well set and didn’t slow down the progression of the narrative and the strands that led to the investigation progressing were real and legitimate, they did not seem forced or created out of nothing. I also enjoyed the element of verisimilitude with the actors and big names within the industry which added entertainment value in itself making the narrative more interesting and juicy considering the scandals we are presented with. Craine’s emotions throughout felt raw and really helped me to connect with his character. His past is always at the forefront of his mind as his situation is directly linked to events within his own life.
I am hoping that we will get more out of Detective Craine, maybe previous stories leading up to this event. I enjoyed the mystery, scandal, and the overall investigation – it kept me hooked throughout and kept my mind busy at all times.
January 30, 2017
The Pictures is a well composed noir thriller set against the glimmering backdrop of Los Angeles’ past. The Golden Age of Hollywood still attracts attention with its glamour, larger than life celebrities and its mystery. The motion picture industry, unlike most of America recovering from the depression, was successful, generating wealth and influence by creating a means of escape for a suffering public. Movie stars of the time were essentially idols, whose appearance could not be tarnished by scandal. “Fixers” were paid, and paid well to prevent unwelcome facts from becoming public. With its hidden corruption and cellulite femme fatales, it makes a perfect setting for a tale of gangsters, murder, blackmail and lust.
Detective Jonathan Craine is the archetypal noir antihero. He is as corrupt as it comes, willingly taking money from the studios in exchange for keeping their stars out of trouble whether by losing evidence or framing someone convenient. Faced with a brutal murder, he refuses to investigate, forcing a confession from a “likely” suspect. But that death is only the beginning. An eminent producer for MGM commits suicide, but oddly doesn’t leave a note, and an earnest young detective keeps pointing out the inconsistencies in the cases. Craine doesn’t want to stir up trouble, but reluctantly finds himself investigating. He isn’t a likable figure, but over the course of the novel he finds a degree of redemption. The novel’s pace is slow, but not tedious. As expected of every noir thriller, there is “the woman” - in this case the actress Gale Goodwin who may save Craine or destroy him.
The Pictures is an enjoyable competently written novel written in a style that harkens back to pulp detective novels, and authors such as Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. If you like noir, The Pictures is for you.
4/5
I received a copy of The Pictures from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
-Crittermom
Detective Jonathan Craine is the archetypal noir antihero. He is as corrupt as it comes, willingly taking money from the studios in exchange for keeping their stars out of trouble whether by losing evidence or framing someone convenient. Faced with a brutal murder, he refuses to investigate, forcing a confession from a “likely” suspect. But that death is only the beginning. An eminent producer for MGM commits suicide, but oddly doesn’t leave a note, and an earnest young detective keeps pointing out the inconsistencies in the cases. Craine doesn’t want to stir up trouble, but reluctantly finds himself investigating. He isn’t a likable figure, but over the course of the novel he finds a degree of redemption. The novel’s pace is slow, but not tedious. As expected of every noir thriller, there is “the woman” - in this case the actress Gale Goodwin who may save Craine or destroy him.
The Pictures is an enjoyable competently written novel written in a style that harkens back to pulp detective novels, and authors such as Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. If you like noir, The Pictures is for you.
4/5
I received a copy of The Pictures from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
-Crittermom
June 25, 2017
If you've ever wondered how the rich and famous get away with things that ordinary people wouldn't, this book provides one possible explanation. The book centers around MGM studios in 1939 and is part fiction, part fact. There's lots of name dropping of the movie stars of that era. Other than Louis Mayer (and those star names), I'm not knowledgeable enough about the time period to know if the main players in the novel were real people or if the author just made up the characters. I did learn that oxycodone came to the US in 1939. I had thought it was a more modern medication--apparently it has been around for a while, but only became popular in medicine more recently.
I spent the first third of the book not liking the main character of Jonathan Crane. He didn't seem to have a conscience, instead, just going through the motions to do what was best for the higher ups and get his extra pay for cleaning up potentially embarrassing messes involving the rich and famous. He farmed his son out to a boarding school and appeared to see him as little as possible. Only a bit of this could be excused by the fact that his wife committed suicide sometime before the start of this book. In fact, if I hadn't agreed to review the book for LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program and if the writing itself hadn't been so good, I might have stopped reading before the plot got going.
It's a sad story in many ways--not appreciating what you have until it is taken from you. But there is a bit of hope at the end too--that with time and effort, things can often be patched up and that you can adjust to a new normal.
I spent the first third of the book not liking the main character of Jonathan Crane. He didn't seem to have a conscience, instead, just going through the motions to do what was best for the higher ups and get his extra pay for cleaning up potentially embarrassing messes involving the rich and famous. He farmed his son out to a boarding school and appeared to see him as little as possible. Only a bit of this could be excused by the fact that his wife committed suicide sometime before the start of this book. In fact, if I hadn't agreed to review the book for LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program and if the writing itself hadn't been so good, I might have stopped reading before the plot got going.
It's a sad story in many ways--not appreciating what you have until it is taken from you. But there is a bit of hope at the end too--that with time and effort, things can often be patched up and that you can adjust to a new normal.
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