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Frank Elder #4
Body & Soul
'John Harvey is one of the all-time greats and remains one of my favourite writers.' – Ian Rankin
_____________________
Frank Elder's last case could be the one that breaks him for good.
The heavy manacles around the girl’s wrists, perhaps not surprisingly, looked very much like the ones that had been found on the studio floor. For a moment, she had a vision of the chain to which they were attached being swung through the air, taking on force and speed before striking home. Then swung again.
When his estranged daughter Katherine appears on his doorstep, ex-Detective Frank Elder knows that something is wrong.
Katherine has long been troubled, and Elder has always felt powerless to help her. But now Katherine has begun to self-destruct; the breakdown of her affair with a controversial artist, known for his pornographic paintings, has sent her into a tailspin.
But when the artist is found murdered in his studio, suspicion falls on Katherine. The vultures are circling.
And as Elder struggles to protect his daughter and prove her innocence, the terrors of the past threaten them both once more...
Daily Telegraph Book of the Year
_____________________
'A masterpiece from a master of the genre.' – Mark Billingham
'An expertly plotted and moving final act for an old-school investigator of the best sort, from a true master of the genre' – Guardian Books of the Month
'This is wonderfully atmospheric crime writing – a tribute to Harvey’s exceptional talent' – Daily Mail
'The 79-year-old Harvey has made it clear that Body & Soul is his last novel, and what an excellent farewell it is …. Elder and Resnick are both greats of British crime fiction.' – The Times Book of the Month
‘Few writers have even approached Harvey’s grasp of atmosphere which, mingled with some sharpish social comment and utterly believable characters, makes them a must read’ – Crime Review
‘Sadly, this is Harvey’s last book after a 40-year crime writing masterclass.’ – Peterborough Telegraph
_____________________
Frank Elder's last case could be the one that breaks him for good.
The heavy manacles around the girl’s wrists, perhaps not surprisingly, looked very much like the ones that had been found on the studio floor. For a moment, she had a vision of the chain to which they were attached being swung through the air, taking on force and speed before striking home. Then swung again.
When his estranged daughter Katherine appears on his doorstep, ex-Detective Frank Elder knows that something is wrong.
Katherine has long been troubled, and Elder has always felt powerless to help her. But now Katherine has begun to self-destruct; the breakdown of her affair with a controversial artist, known for his pornographic paintings, has sent her into a tailspin.
But when the artist is found murdered in his studio, suspicion falls on Katherine. The vultures are circling.
And as Elder struggles to protect his daughter and prove her innocence, the terrors of the past threaten them both once more...
Daily Telegraph Book of the Year
_____________________
'A masterpiece from a master of the genre.' – Mark Billingham
'An expertly plotted and moving final act for an old-school investigator of the best sort, from a true master of the genre' – Guardian Books of the Month
'This is wonderfully atmospheric crime writing – a tribute to Harvey’s exceptional talent' – Daily Mail
'The 79-year-old Harvey has made it clear that Body & Soul is his last novel, and what an excellent farewell it is …. Elder and Resnick are both greats of British crime fiction.' – The Times Book of the Month
‘Few writers have even approached Harvey’s grasp of atmosphere which, mingled with some sharpish social comment and utterly believable characters, makes them a must read’ – Crime Review
‘Sadly, this is Harvey’s last book after a 40-year crime writing masterclass.’ – Peterborough Telegraph
304 pages, Paperback
First published April 19, 2018
49 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
John Harvey
279 books204 followersaka Jon Barton, William S. Brady (with Angus Wells), L.J. Coburn (with Laurence James), J.B. Dancer (with Angus Wells), John B. Harvey, William M. James (with Terry Harknett and Laurence James), Terry Lennox, John J. McLaglen (with Laurence James), James Mann, Thom Ryder, J.D. Sandon (with Angus Wells), Jon Hart
John Harvey (born 21 December 1938 in London) is a British author of crime fiction most famous for his series of jazz-influenced Charlie Resnick novels, based in the City of Nottingham. Harvey has also published over 90 books under various names, and has worked on scripts for TV and radio. He also ran Slow Dancer Press from 1977 to 1999 publishing poetry. The first Resnick novel, Lonely Hearts, was published in 1989, and was named by The Times as one of the 100 Greatest Crime Novels of the Century. Harvey brought the series to an end in 1998 with Last Rites, though Resnick has since made peripheral appearances in Harvey's new Frank Elder series. The protagonist Elder is a retired detective who now lives, as Harvey briefly did, in Cornwall. The first novel in this series, Flesh and Blood, won Harvey the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger in 2004, an accolade many crime fiction critics thought long overdue. In 2007 he was awarded the Diamond Dagger for a Lifetime's Contribution to the genre. On 14th July 2009 he received an honorary degree (Doctor of Letters) from the University of Nottingham in recognition of his literary eminence and his associations with both the University and Nottingham (particularly in the Charlie Resnick novels). He is also a big Notts County fan.
John Harvey (born 21 December 1938 in London) is a British author of crime fiction most famous for his series of jazz-influenced Charlie Resnick novels, based in the City of Nottingham. Harvey has also published over 90 books under various names, and has worked on scripts for TV and radio. He also ran Slow Dancer Press from 1977 to 1999 publishing poetry. The first Resnick novel, Lonely Hearts, was published in 1989, and was named by The Times as one of the 100 Greatest Crime Novels of the Century. Harvey brought the series to an end in 1998 with Last Rites, though Resnick has since made peripheral appearances in Harvey's new Frank Elder series. The protagonist Elder is a retired detective who now lives, as Harvey briefly did, in Cornwall. The first novel in this series, Flesh and Blood, won Harvey the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger in 2004, an accolade many crime fiction critics thought long overdue. In 2007 he was awarded the Diamond Dagger for a Lifetime's Contribution to the genre. On 14th July 2009 he received an honorary degree (Doctor of Letters) from the University of Nottingham in recognition of his literary eminence and his associations with both the University and Nottingham (particularly in the Charlie Resnick novels). He is also a big Notts County fan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
April 14, 2018
This book and review contain possible triggers with sexual assault and self harm being part of the story.
The writing experience of John Harvey is evident in the well penned tense, dark journey of a father out to protect his troubled daughter.
This is a well crafted, nicely paced and exciting thriller that had me invested from very early on. (after a slightly slow beginning the story gains a far more enjoyable pace!)
I have not read any of the previous books in the Frank Elder series and there were points that I felt it would have been advantageous to have read others in the series but overall it did not stop me from thoroughly enjoying this story.
Franks daughter, Katherine, has had a tough journey that includes a rape when she was a teenager and a history of self harm. Understandably she is a complex character and a complex yet well explained plot is woven around his need to prove her innocent of committing the murder of the artist that she was modelling for and seeing romantically by investigating the crime. He also needs to protect his daughter from the man who raped her when she was in her teens and has now escaped from incarceration, proving to still be a very read threat.
I won’t give details of the ending but will say that it doesn’t disappoint.
I would like to thank John Harvey, Cornerstone, Penguin Random House Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Body and Soul.
The writing experience of John Harvey is evident in the well penned tense, dark journey of a father out to protect his troubled daughter.
This is a well crafted, nicely paced and exciting thriller that had me invested from very early on. (after a slightly slow beginning the story gains a far more enjoyable pace!)
I have not read any of the previous books in the Frank Elder series and there were points that I felt it would have been advantageous to have read others in the series but overall it did not stop me from thoroughly enjoying this story.
Franks daughter, Katherine, has had a tough journey that includes a rape when she was a teenager and a history of self harm. Understandably she is a complex character and a complex yet well explained plot is woven around his need to prove her innocent of committing the murder of the artist that she was modelling for and seeing romantically by investigating the crime. He also needs to protect his daughter from the man who raped her when she was in her teens and has now escaped from incarceration, proving to still be a very read threat.
I won’t give details of the ending but will say that it doesn’t disappoint.
I would like to thank John Harvey, Cornerstone, Penguin Random House Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Body and Soul.
December 8, 2018
First Sentence: The house was at the edge of the village, the last in a row of stubby stone-built cottages backing onto fields which led down to the sea.
Retired policeman Frank Elder hasn't seen his daughter for a while, so is surprised when she shows up with bandages on her wrist. Unwilling to talk about it, Katherine stays two days, and is gone, with events of Katy's past still being a major wedge between them. Frank wants to help, which leads him into the world of painters and life modeling. Yet once a cop means you never know what danger may lie in wait.
The recounting of what happened to Katherine when younger is succinct and very painful to read. Harvey also provides a good accounting of Frank's history, including his periodic work with DI Trevor Cordon, and his current relationship with jazz singer Vicki Parsons. It is Harvey's definition which makes one put Frank's life in perspective—"Loneliness is just solitude taken a step too far."
One thing to love about Harvey's style is his subtlety. That DCI Hadley is gay and D.S. Phillips is black are details one comes to know as casually as its being a sunny day. And isn't that as it should be?—"Living in London as long as he had, thirty-one of his thirty-five years, it was possible to go for days, sometimes, without being reminded of the color of his skin."
There are twists, and then there are knock-you-back-twists. It is the latter which Harvey has created. Although there are references to a previous case, enough information is provided so that there is no sense of pieces missing. Harvey builds the suspense steadily, keeping one completely enthralled.
"Body and Soul" is apparently the last full-length novel Harvey plans to write. It is extremely well done, very emotional with a shocking turn, and a devastating ending.
BODY AND SOUL (Pol Proc-Frank Elder-England-Contemp) - Ex
Harvey, John – 4th in series
Pegasus Books – Nov 2018
Retired policeman Frank Elder hasn't seen his daughter for a while, so is surprised when she shows up with bandages on her wrist. Unwilling to talk about it, Katherine stays two days, and is gone, with events of Katy's past still being a major wedge between them. Frank wants to help, which leads him into the world of painters and life modeling. Yet once a cop means you never know what danger may lie in wait.
The recounting of what happened to Katherine when younger is succinct and very painful to read. Harvey also provides a good accounting of Frank's history, including his periodic work with DI Trevor Cordon, and his current relationship with jazz singer Vicki Parsons. It is Harvey's definition which makes one put Frank's life in perspective—"Loneliness is just solitude taken a step too far."
One thing to love about Harvey's style is his subtlety. That DCI Hadley is gay and D.S. Phillips is black are details one comes to know as casually as its being a sunny day. And isn't that as it should be?—"Living in London as long as he had, thirty-one of his thirty-five years, it was possible to go for days, sometimes, without being reminded of the color of his skin."
There are twists, and then there are knock-you-back-twists. It is the latter which Harvey has created. Although there are references to a previous case, enough information is provided so that there is no sense of pieces missing. Harvey builds the suspense steadily, keeping one completely enthralled.
"Body and Soul" is apparently the last full-length novel Harvey plans to write. It is extremely well done, very emotional with a shocking turn, and a devastating ending.
BODY AND SOUL (Pol Proc-Frank Elder-England-Contemp) - Ex
Harvey, John – 4th in series
Pegasus Books – Nov 2018
April 24, 2018
John Harvey is an author I have heard a lot about but never had the chance to read. So I was very excited to be invited onto the blog tour for his latest book, Body & Soul the last book in the Elder series.
Elder was my favourite character in this book. His love for his daughter was touching to read about and I really felt for him when Kate rebuffed his attempts to rebuild their troubled relationship. The amount he is willing mount to do to stand up for and protect his daughter is very poignant and really brought a tear to my eye. I didn’t initially like Kate. I thought she was unnecessarily prickly and rude to her dad when he was obviously trying. However as the story goes on and I discovered more about her and her back story I did begin to feel a lot of sympathy towards her.
The art storyline was very intriguing and added an interesting element to the story. I’d never really considered what nude modelling entails and the impact the finished result could have on the model. This did have me feeling very frustrated towards Anthony in this regard for not realising, or maybe not caring what impact his art could have on others, particularly one he was meant to care about.
This was a bit of a slow burner for me as I thought it took a little while to get going. The author takes time to set the scene and to let the reader know and understand the characters more. I was a little confused at times whether the action being described was in the present or the past which meant that sometimes I had to flick back and start the chapter again. I think this was just my problem though as I haven’t read any other reviews saying this.
Body and Soul is the final book in the Elder series but it is the first one I have read. While the book would work fine as a stand alone I think it would be beneficial to read the rest of the series first as I feel you would understand the plot a lot more.
Thank you to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours and William Heinemann for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.
Elder was my favourite character in this book. His love for his daughter was touching to read about and I really felt for him when Kate rebuffed his attempts to rebuild their troubled relationship. The amount he is willing mount to do to stand up for and protect his daughter is very poignant and really brought a tear to my eye. I didn’t initially like Kate. I thought she was unnecessarily prickly and rude to her dad when he was obviously trying. However as the story goes on and I discovered more about her and her back story I did begin to feel a lot of sympathy towards her.
The art storyline was very intriguing and added an interesting element to the story. I’d never really considered what nude modelling entails and the impact the finished result could have on the model. This did have me feeling very frustrated towards Anthony in this regard for not realising, or maybe not caring what impact his art could have on others, particularly one he was meant to care about.
This was a bit of a slow burner for me as I thought it took a little while to get going. The author takes time to set the scene and to let the reader know and understand the characters more. I was a little confused at times whether the action being described was in the present or the past which meant that sometimes I had to flick back and start the chapter again. I think this was just my problem though as I haven’t read any other reviews saying this.
Body and Soul is the final book in the Elder series but it is the first one I have read. While the book would work fine as a stand alone I think it would be beneficial to read the rest of the series first as I feel you would understand the plot a lot more.
Thank you to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours and William Heinemann for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.
June 1, 2018
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
I found this to be a very poor story.
It was disjointed with poor character development.
Just did not like it.
Each to there own though.
I found this to be a very poor story.
It was disjointed with poor character development.
Just did not like it.
Each to there own though.
April 18, 2018
With thanks to the publisher for the copy received.
Body and Soul is the last book in the series that features Frank Elder. Despite being the first that I have read I could follow it very easily.
When a relationship between Frank’s daughter Katherine and an artist ends in murder Frank is determined to stand by his daughter even though that help isn’t really wanted. Their relationship is strained, most of Frank’s are, but he does try his best.
Whilst his role in the novel is important there is also a lot of focus on Katherine and the officer who is investigating the murder, Alex Hadley.Alex is under pressure, because of the victim’s fame, the mental state of Katherine and Frank, who has a very short fuse most of the time.
I had a lot of sympathy for Katherine, I don’t think I will be alone in this. What she experienced when she was younger was horrific and some of what takes place in this novel makes life very difficult. Frank was a strange character. A loner, who could be very aggressive and who never seemed to have any control in any situation. Katherine appeared to handle what was happening a lot better than he was. Maybe it was guilt, I’m not sure. Hadley could also be a little abrasive, a little cold without much empathy.
I enjoyed the art world setting, I could easily imagine the models posing for hours, experiencing cramp and nausea, and having to put any feelings of embarrassment or misgiving to one side.
I feel quite sad that this is the last book, but at least I can go and read the earlier books in the series. John Harvey is an author who I will happily read again.
Body and Soul is the last book in the series that features Frank Elder. Despite being the first that I have read I could follow it very easily.
When a relationship between Frank’s daughter Katherine and an artist ends in murder Frank is determined to stand by his daughter even though that help isn’t really wanted. Their relationship is strained, most of Frank’s are, but he does try his best.
Whilst his role in the novel is important there is also a lot of focus on Katherine and the officer who is investigating the murder, Alex Hadley.Alex is under pressure, because of the victim’s fame, the mental state of Katherine and Frank, who has a very short fuse most of the time.
I had a lot of sympathy for Katherine, I don’t think I will be alone in this. What she experienced when she was younger was horrific and some of what takes place in this novel makes life very difficult. Frank was a strange character. A loner, who could be very aggressive and who never seemed to have any control in any situation. Katherine appeared to handle what was happening a lot better than he was. Maybe it was guilt, I’m not sure. Hadley could also be a little abrasive, a little cold without much empathy.
I enjoyed the art world setting, I could easily imagine the models posing for hours, experiencing cramp and nausea, and having to put any feelings of embarrassment or misgiving to one side.
I feel quite sad that this is the last book, but at least I can go and read the earlier books in the series. John Harvey is an author who I will happily read again.
November 11, 2018
I have to say that I don't understand the glowing reviews of this book. To me the plotting seemed perfunctory, the writing uninspired, even borderline lazy.
John Elder, retired police inspector living in Cornwall, is very upset when his daughter Katherine suffers a setback in her precarious mental state when Winters, the controversial artist she had posed for and had had a short relationship with, is murdered. Katherine is vulnerable because as a teenager she had been kidnapped by one Adam Keach. As luck would have it, Adam Keach escapes during a prison transit, and is soon on a rampage. While Elder is concerned with protecting both his daughter's physical and mental well-being, the London detective inspector in charge of the Winters case suspects Katherine may have had every reason to wish her former lover dead.
That's the story, and it gets resolved in a rather banal way that seems tacked-on. There are no carefully laid clues here, just red herrings, with the final solution of the mystery one of those "trala!" moments that owe their existence only to the fact that the author carefully made sure their characters failed to follow up on obvious clues. So not very satisfactory. In the end, all loose ends are tied up - confessions, murders, suicides, and one can almost hear the author thinking "Done!" in a satisfied manner. But for this reader, the book was a disappointment.
John Elder, retired police inspector living in Cornwall, is very upset when his daughter Katherine suffers a setback in her precarious mental state when Winters, the controversial artist she had posed for and had had a short relationship with, is murdered. Katherine is vulnerable because as a teenager she had been kidnapped by one Adam Keach. As luck would have it, Adam Keach escapes during a prison transit, and is soon on a rampage. While Elder is concerned with protecting both his daughter's physical and mental well-being, the London detective inspector in charge of the Winters case suspects Katherine may have had every reason to wish her former lover dead.
That's the story, and it gets resolved in a rather banal way that seems tacked-on. There are no carefully laid clues here, just red herrings, with the final solution of the mystery one of those "trala!" moments that owe their existence only to the fact that the author carefully made sure their characters failed to follow up on obvious clues. So not very satisfactory. In the end, all loose ends are tied up - confessions, murders, suicides, and one can almost hear the author thinking "Done!" in a satisfied manner. But for this reader, the book was a disappointment.
November 26, 2018
3.5 stars. This is a pretty serviceable police procedural. There are two plots that interweave with each other. A famous but unpleasant artist is found beaten to death in his studio and all fingers are initially pointing at one of his models, whom he had recently broken off with. At the same time, a sadistic killer escapes custody and comes after the police officer who arrested him. The twist is that the policeman and the model are father and daughter. Unfortunately, I thought the book went from intriguing in the first 2/3rds to almost feeling like a gallop to the finish at the end. It was strange, as if the author got tired of the plot and just wound it up.
April 2, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for an advance copy of Body and Soul, the fourth novel to feature retired DI Frank Elder.
Frank is still enjoying his retirement in Cornwall when his semi-estranged daughter, Kathryn, makes a flying visit. With bandages on her arms and vague comments about a relationship going wrong Frank is worried but she refuses to discuss it. When her former boyfriend, painter Anthony Winter, is murdered Kathryn becomes a suspect and Frank returns to London to protect her.
I thoroughly enjoyed Body and Soul which has a style of writing that encourages the reader to keep turning the pages. It is a long time since I spent time with Frank Elder (10+ years) so it has been like starting a new series. The novel is slow to start with a lot of scene setting and background, ideal for the new reader or oldies like me who need a refresher but it soon ramps up. I really liked the investigative parts of the novel where the police are trying to get traction and pick on the vulnerable Kathryn as their first port of call. The solutions to Winter's murder and another subplot that reverberates for both Frank and Kathryn are unexpected and a bolt from the blue. I'm unsure if I should accuse the author of withholding information or applaud it as being extremely realistic.
I know that I have read the previous novels in the series but I have no memory of Frank Elder as a character so it's like meeting him for the first time. I can't say I warmed to him as he is a detached person and, I think, quite selfish. As already mentioned Kathryn is a vulnerable young woman due to events from her teenage years yet Frank doesn't know where she lives or what she's doing with herself. He's happy to bury himself in Cornwall and live his life there. His idea of protecting Kathryn is aggression in various forms, which is probably the last thing she needs. Kathryn as a victim is well drawn although it doesn't make her likeable either. My heart went out to her as she is obviously unable to cope with life.
Body and Soul is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Frank is still enjoying his retirement in Cornwall when his semi-estranged daughter, Kathryn, makes a flying visit. With bandages on her arms and vague comments about a relationship going wrong Frank is worried but she refuses to discuss it. When her former boyfriend, painter Anthony Winter, is murdered Kathryn becomes a suspect and Frank returns to London to protect her.
I thoroughly enjoyed Body and Soul which has a style of writing that encourages the reader to keep turning the pages. It is a long time since I spent time with Frank Elder (10+ years) so it has been like starting a new series. The novel is slow to start with a lot of scene setting and background, ideal for the new reader or oldies like me who need a refresher but it soon ramps up. I really liked the investigative parts of the novel where the police are trying to get traction and pick on the vulnerable Kathryn as their first port of call. The solutions to Winter's murder and another subplot that reverberates for both Frank and Kathryn are unexpected and a bolt from the blue. I'm unsure if I should accuse the author of withholding information or applaud it as being extremely realistic.
I know that I have read the previous novels in the series but I have no memory of Frank Elder as a character so it's like meeting him for the first time. I can't say I warmed to him as he is a detached person and, I think, quite selfish. As already mentioned Kathryn is a vulnerable young woman due to events from her teenage years yet Frank doesn't know where she lives or what she's doing with herself. He's happy to bury himself in Cornwall and live his life there. His idea of protecting Kathryn is aggression in various forms, which is probably the last thing she needs. Kathryn as a victim is well drawn although it doesn't make her likeable either. My heart went out to her as she is obviously unable to cope with life.
Body and Soul is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
April 19, 2018
I'm afraid I struggled to about half way in Body and Soul and then gave up. It's been some time since I read and enjoyed some of John Harvey's Resnick novels and I'm sorry to have to say this, but this really isn't a patch on them.
Harvey can still write well and create a good atmosphere and sense of place. However, his ability to present a believable plot with people who behave at least semi-plausibly seems to have deserted him. I just found the whole thing a slog through a slow, slow set-up, a lot of extraneous detail, pretty far-fetched events and psychology and so on. I diligently read on until a wholly ridiculous extra twist was thrown into the mix around half way and decided life was too short.
I am very sad to be so critical of an author I have liked in the past, but I found Body and Soul a real disappointment and can't recommend it.
(My thanks to Heinemann for an ARC via NetGalley.)
Harvey can still write well and create a good atmosphere and sense of place. However, his ability to present a believable plot with people who behave at least semi-plausibly seems to have deserted him. I just found the whole thing a slog through a slow, slow set-up, a lot of extraneous detail, pretty far-fetched events and psychology and so on. I diligently read on until a wholly ridiculous extra twist was thrown into the mix around half way and decided life was too short.
I am very sad to be so critical of an author I have liked in the past, but I found Body and Soul a real disappointment and can't recommend it.
(My thanks to Heinemann for an ARC via NetGalley.)
April 27, 2018
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I love the cover for this book and after reading the blurb I was intrigued and couldn't wait to get started - I haven't read anything by this author before and I love picking up a new book by a new author to me!
There are plenty of twists and turns in this story, it is quite dark and disturbing in places due to the content but it all works extremely well for the plot and it makes it a brilliant read and it is genuinely chilling in places.
4.5 stars from me rounded up to 5 stars for Amazon and Goodreads - a very enjoyable read that I highly recommend - I loved the writing style!!
I love the cover for this book and after reading the blurb I was intrigued and couldn't wait to get started - I haven't read anything by this author before and I love picking up a new book by a new author to me!
There are plenty of twists and turns in this story, it is quite dark and disturbing in places due to the content but it all works extremely well for the plot and it makes it a brilliant read and it is genuinely chilling in places.
4.5 stars from me rounded up to 5 stars for Amazon and Goodreads - a very enjoyable read that I highly recommend - I loved the writing style!!
April 16, 2018
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
Before reading ‘Body and Soul’, I had no idea who John Harvey was. I didn’t even realise that ‘Body and Soul’ was the second book in his ‘Frank Elder’ series either! However, after devouring this novel in pretty much one sitting, I am rather annoyed with myself for not finding this author sooner. What an addictive read this was! If, like me, you haven’t read the first book in the series, ‘Flesh and Blood’, do not panic as I thought ‘Body and Soul’ read perfectly well as a standalone. That said, it won’t harm your defence if you do choose to read the first book beforehand 😉 – I’ll definitely be purchasing it anyway!
Frank Elder is a rather complex character. He’s guarded. He’s unsure. Yet he knows how to get answers. Unfortunately for Elder, those answers come at a price. A price which his daughter, Katherine, already seems to have paid for. Or has she? With so much in life battling against Katherine, Elder is determined to help his daughter battle her demons and get her back on a healthier path before she completely self destructs, but someone is about to make Frank Elder’s life a misery…again.
‘Body and Soul’ for me, was, pardon the pun, an out-of-body experience. Before you start frowning at me, hear me out. This storyline is incredibly complex and highly addictive, with characters who seem to know a lot more than they’re letting on. Not only that, their choices leave a lot to be desired, shocking me to my very core. Half the time whilst reading ‘Body and Soul’, I felt as though I was an outsider looking in. Like I was looking down on everything that was happening, yet still being one hundred percent invested in every situation my eyes were landing on. It’s not often things make me speechless, but John Harvey has managed to do that with incredible ease.
Watching Katherine deteriorate before my very eyes was very difficult to read. At first I didn’t have all of the information as to why she was self destructing, but, as the author drip fed the information in his storyline, the puzzle pieces began to fit together and everything started to make sense. I was looking down on Katherine and her situation, wanting to save her from something and possibly nothing, even though my gut was telling me that the ‘war’ wasn’t quite over yet.
‘Body and Soul’ exceeded any expectations I had in my sub conscience. The strength of the overall storyline was outstanding and very well delivered, with cleverly crafted characters adding even more depth to an already ironclad story. At first the pace of the book was slow and, for the first time ever, I was so glad it started out that way as, by the time the storyline came to the nitty gritty situations, I was a lot more prepared for the unknown.
A brilliantly written and addictive novel that is full of enough shock worthy circumstances to make your hair stand to attention.
Before reading ‘Body and Soul’, I had no idea who John Harvey was. I didn’t even realise that ‘Body and Soul’ was the second book in his ‘Frank Elder’ series either! However, after devouring this novel in pretty much one sitting, I am rather annoyed with myself for not finding this author sooner. What an addictive read this was! If, like me, you haven’t read the first book in the series, ‘Flesh and Blood’, do not panic as I thought ‘Body and Soul’ read perfectly well as a standalone. That said, it won’t harm your defence if you do choose to read the first book beforehand 😉 – I’ll definitely be purchasing it anyway!
Frank Elder is a rather complex character. He’s guarded. He’s unsure. Yet he knows how to get answers. Unfortunately for Elder, those answers come at a price. A price which his daughter, Katherine, already seems to have paid for. Or has she? With so much in life battling against Katherine, Elder is determined to help his daughter battle her demons and get her back on a healthier path before she completely self destructs, but someone is about to make Frank Elder’s life a misery…again.
‘Body and Soul’ for me, was, pardon the pun, an out-of-body experience. Before you start frowning at me, hear me out. This storyline is incredibly complex and highly addictive, with characters who seem to know a lot more than they’re letting on. Not only that, their choices leave a lot to be desired, shocking me to my very core. Half the time whilst reading ‘Body and Soul’, I felt as though I was an outsider looking in. Like I was looking down on everything that was happening, yet still being one hundred percent invested in every situation my eyes were landing on. It’s not often things make me speechless, but John Harvey has managed to do that with incredible ease.
Watching Katherine deteriorate before my very eyes was very difficult to read. At first I didn’t have all of the information as to why she was self destructing, but, as the author drip fed the information in his storyline, the puzzle pieces began to fit together and everything started to make sense. I was looking down on Katherine and her situation, wanting to save her from something and possibly nothing, even though my gut was telling me that the ‘war’ wasn’t quite over yet.
‘Body and Soul’ exceeded any expectations I had in my sub conscience. The strength of the overall storyline was outstanding and very well delivered, with cleverly crafted characters adding even more depth to an already ironclad story. At first the pace of the book was slow and, for the first time ever, I was so glad it started out that way as, by the time the storyline came to the nitty gritty situations, I was a lot more prepared for the unknown.
A brilliantly written and addictive novel that is full of enough shock worthy circumstances to make your hair stand to attention.
December 1, 2018
Events of the past--especially those of a traumatic nature--can shape a person's future.
Katherine, daughter of former Detective Inspector Frank Elder, had been kidnapped, held and raped repeatedly as a teenager, and has never fully recovered from the experience, despite therapy. Though it was Elder who rescued her, they had become estranged. So, naturally, Elder is pleased when Katherine suddenly decides to visit him at the Cornwall cottage where he has been holed up since the breakup of his marriage.
But the reunion doesn't go as well as he'd hoped as Katherine flees back to London after Elder asks one too many questions about her bandaged wrists and she awakes screaming from nightmares. Frank learns his daughter had been working as a model for Anthony Winter, an older and controversial artist, which led to a sexual relationship. Their breakup seems to have led to self-harm. Elder's confrontation with Winter makes him an initial suspect when the artist is brutally murdered.
Katherine suffers a breakdown and ultimately becomes a person of interest after an alibi clears her father. Frank hurries back to London to intercede on her behalf. Then, even as suspicion of Katherine lessens, the plot becomes more intense as Adam Keach, the monster responsible for her fragile state, escape from prison and looms as a new threat to her safety.
Hurtling toward a shocking conclusion, Harvey's atmospheric and gripping prose had me turning pages to see what would happen next.
It seems I have a knack for discovering John Harvey series at their conclusion. The first of his Resnick novels I read was the last in the series. And now, the same with the Frank Elder series. But, the good part is, I now have three other Elder novels to read along with all those over Resnick's I missed.
Katherine, daughter of former Detective Inspector Frank Elder, had been kidnapped, held and raped repeatedly as a teenager, and has never fully recovered from the experience, despite therapy. Though it was Elder who rescued her, they had become estranged. So, naturally, Elder is pleased when Katherine suddenly decides to visit him at the Cornwall cottage where he has been holed up since the breakup of his marriage.
But the reunion doesn't go as well as he'd hoped as Katherine flees back to London after Elder asks one too many questions about her bandaged wrists and she awakes screaming from nightmares. Frank learns his daughter had been working as a model for Anthony Winter, an older and controversial artist, which led to a sexual relationship. Their breakup seems to have led to self-harm. Elder's confrontation with Winter makes him an initial suspect when the artist is brutally murdered.
Katherine suffers a breakdown and ultimately becomes a person of interest after an alibi clears her father. Frank hurries back to London to intercede on her behalf. Then, even as suspicion of Katherine lessens, the plot becomes more intense as Adam Keach, the monster responsible for her fragile state, escape from prison and looms as a new threat to her safety.
Hurtling toward a shocking conclusion, Harvey's atmospheric and gripping prose had me turning pages to see what would happen next.
It seems I have a knack for discovering John Harvey series at their conclusion. The first of his Resnick novels I read was the last in the series. And now, the same with the Frank Elder series. But, the good part is, I now have three other Elder novels to read along with all those over Resnick's I missed.
August 20, 2018
Whilst reading this Frank Elder mystery, I made a mental note to seek out any sequels or any subsequent novels by this talented author. Seems I’m a bit late to the party: not only was it Frank Elder’s last case, it seems it is also the author’s last novel (he’s eighty years young). Ah well, I’ll just have to go backwards!
This was a totally addictive crime thriller, entwining two crimes: a present-day one and one from the past. Whilst the crimes themselves aren’t connected, ex-Detective Frank Elder’s estranged daughter is linked to both. Katherine is a troubled soul…not without good reason…but the murder of an artist with whom she had an affair topples her fragility. Elder saved her once and now has two tasks: to protect her from the past and prove she had nothing to do with the murder of her ex-lover.
The book moved at just the right pace and I never felt disadvantaged by not having read any Frank Elder prequels. There’s exactly the right dose of back story. There’s a perfect balance of plot and character story: police members have lives too. The many aspects of the story have been well researched and the result is a brilliant, convincing crime thriller.
What a way to exit a forty-year career of crime writing. I’m off to make up for John Harvey lost time!
This was a totally addictive crime thriller, entwining two crimes: a present-day one and one from the past. Whilst the crimes themselves aren’t connected, ex-Detective Frank Elder’s estranged daughter is linked to both. Katherine is a troubled soul…not without good reason…but the murder of an artist with whom she had an affair topples her fragility. Elder saved her once and now has two tasks: to protect her from the past and prove she had nothing to do with the murder of her ex-lover.
The book moved at just the right pace and I never felt disadvantaged by not having read any Frank Elder prequels. There’s exactly the right dose of back story. There’s a perfect balance of plot and character story: police members have lives too. The many aspects of the story have been well researched and the result is a brilliant, convincing crime thriller.
What a way to exit a forty-year career of crime writing. I’m off to make up for John Harvey lost time!
April 19, 2018
John Harvey is another one of the writers whose books I always know will be 5 stars and this is no exception. The final in the Frank Elder series, I am sad that there will be no more books centred around this affable character.
Frank is a retired detective who has relocated to Cornwall, in the remote corner of a windswept piece of farmland. If you have read the other books in the series you will know that Franks daughter Katherine had been kidnaped, tortured and raped by Keach, Elder caught him and he is spending his years in jail. Katherine naturally has had issues since her ordeal and when she arrives unexpectedly at Franks door, he can see she has self harmed and is distraught.
Told part through Katherine’s recollections and part through Franks look into a most recent murder, I dare you not to feel emotional by the last page.
Frank is a retired detective who has relocated to Cornwall, in the remote corner of a windswept piece of farmland. If you have read the other books in the series you will know that Franks daughter Katherine had been kidnaped, tortured and raped by Keach, Elder caught him and he is spending his years in jail. Katherine naturally has had issues since her ordeal and when she arrives unexpectedly at Franks door, he can see she has self harmed and is distraught.
Told part through Katherine’s recollections and part through Franks look into a most recent murder, I dare you not to feel emotional by the last page.
May 6, 2018
Frank Elder goes out with a bang – very good detective thriller
The last of the Frank Elder series of books by the author, this detective thriller deals with Frank’s daughter, Katherine, and an artist, Anthony Wilder, for whom she poses as a model. When he is murdered, Frank gets involved. This police procedural also has various police forces involved in some murders elsewhere in the country (trying not to give too much away!).
As one can expect from John Harvey, the novel moves along at a fair pace and is a page-turner, engaging and exciting in places. Characters are well-developed and the reader is not submerged in buckets of descriptions. Well recommended to all lovers of detective fiction.
The last of the Frank Elder series of books by the author, this detective thriller deals with Frank’s daughter, Katherine, and an artist, Anthony Wilder, for whom she poses as a model. When he is murdered, Frank gets involved. This police procedural also has various police forces involved in some murders elsewhere in the country (trying not to give too much away!).
As one can expect from John Harvey, the novel moves along at a fair pace and is a page-turner, engaging and exciting in places. Characters are well-developed and the reader is not submerged in buckets of descriptions. Well recommended to all lovers of detective fiction.
July 3, 2018
Body and soul by John Harvey.
When his estranged daughter Katherine appears on his doorstep, ex-Detective Frank Elder knows that something is wrong.
Katherine has long been troubled, and Elder has always felt powerless to help her.
But now Katherine has begun to self-destruct.
The breakdown of her affair with a controversial artist has sent her into a tailspin which culminates in murder. And as Elder struggles to protect his daughter and prove her innocence, the terrors of the past threaten them both once more ...
A good read with likeable characters. Little slow in places but I managed to finish it. I liked how Frank protected his daughter. 4* .
When his estranged daughter Katherine appears on his doorstep, ex-Detective Frank Elder knows that something is wrong.
Katherine has long been troubled, and Elder has always felt powerless to help her.
But now Katherine has begun to self-destruct.
The breakdown of her affair with a controversial artist has sent her into a tailspin which culminates in murder. And as Elder struggles to protect his daughter and prove her innocence, the terrors of the past threaten them both once more ...
A good read with likeable characters. Little slow in places but I managed to finish it. I liked how Frank protected his daughter. 4* .
July 3, 2018
Body and soul by John Harvey. When his estranged daughter Katherine appears on his doorstep, ex-Detective Frank Elder knows that something is wrong. Katherine has long been troubled, and Elder has always felt powerless to help her. But now Katherine has begun to self-destruct. The breakdown of her affair with a controversial artist has sent her into a tailspin which culminates in murder. And as Elder struggles to protect his daughter and prove her innocence, the terrors of the past threaten them both once more ... A good read with likeable characters. Little slow in places but I managed to finish it. I liked how Frank protected his daughter. 4* .
September 20, 2020
A good solid story of the ex Inspector Frank Elder, now trying to form a new life in Cornwall, and a relationship with the jazz singer Vicki. Then his daughter Kate appears and leaves as quickly being disturbed by her work as a life model and the murder of the artist she has posed for. Then Adam Keach escapes from prison leaving a trail of destruction as he seeks out his former victim, Kate, and the man that had him locked up.
An easy read and likeable enough however not a memorable novel. Passed away a sleepless night. 3 stars.
An easy read and likeable enough however not a memorable novel. Passed away a sleepless night. 3 stars.
May 6, 2018
Tough,gritty thriller set in Cornwall and London. Retired policeman and his daughter and their struggle to deal with what happened to them. Interesting,diverse characters.
December 8, 2024
I really enjoyed this. It was easy to read and kept you guessing until the end. Great interlinking plot and you got to know the characters well because of the descriptive narrative. Good book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2020
Harvey’s great skill is attention to peripheral detail whether in the far west of Cornwall or in the midst of diverse Dalston landscape is realised with almost photographic exactitude. This the fourth of the Elder novels brings back an old enemy and does not disappoint
December 11, 2025
Ο πρώην αστυνομικός επιθεωρητής Φρανκ Έλντερ έχει αποσυρθεί στην Κορνουάλη, προσπαθώντας να ξεφύγει από το παρελθόν. Όμως, οι οδυνηρές αναμνήσεις τον κατακλύζουν ξανά όταν η εν διαστάσει κόρη του, η Κάθριν, εμφανίζεται απροειδοποίητα στην πόρτα του. Η Κάθριν είχε σχέση με έναν αμφιλεγόμενο καλλιτέχνη, ο οποίος βρίσκεται δολοφονημένος στο στούντιο του, και η ίδια γίνεται η κύρια ύποπτη. Ταυτόχρονα, ο άνδρας που την απήγαγε και τη βίασε χρόνια πριν δραπετεύει από τη φυλακή, θέτοντας την Κάθριν σε διπλό κίνδυνο. Ο Έλντερ αναγκάζεται να επιστρέψει στην ενεργό δράση για να προστατεύσει την κόρη του και να αποδείξει την αθωότητά της, ερχόμενος αντιμέτωπος με φαντάσματα του παρελθόντος.
Ο Τζον Χάρβεϊ είναι αναμφίβολα ένας σπουδαίος αστυνομικός συγγραφέας, αλλά σε αυτό το έργο ένιωσα ότι ο ρυθμός ήταν αργός σε σημεία. Η αφήγηση εστιάζει στις περίπλοκες οικογενειακές σχέσεις και τον ψυχισμό των χαρακτήρων, κάτι που εκτιμώ, αλλά η δράση υστερούσε σε ένταση. Οι χαρακτήρες είναι ρεαλιστικοί και προσγειωμένοι, αλλά η πλοκή μερικές φορές φάνταζε προβλέψιμη.
Ο Φρανκ Έλντερ και η προβληματική του κόρη, Κάθριν, είναι καλογραμμένοι χαρακτήρες με βάθος. Η αντίθεση μεταξύ του αγροτικού τοπίου της Κορνουάλης και του αστικού Λονδίνου δημιουργεί μια σκοτεινή και ατμοσφαιρική αίσθηση. Η προσέγγιση του τραύματος της Κάθριν είναι προσεκτική και ρεαλιστική.
Η έλλειψη γρήγορων εξελίξεων μπορεί να κουράσει όσους αναζητούν ένα καταιγιστικό θρίλερ. Ορισμένα σημεία της πλοκής και οι ανατροπές ήταν αρκετά αναμενόμενα. Το ύφος γραφής, αν και κλασικό, είναι κάπως ξεπερασμένο σε σύγκριση με σύγχρονα αστυνομικά μυθιστορήματα.
Συνολικά, η βαθμολογία μου είναι 3 στα 5 αστέρια. Ήταν ένα αξιοπρεπές, αλλά όχι κορυφαίο, αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα που άξιζε να διαβαστεί για τους χαρακτήρες του και το βάθος του
Συνολική Εμπειρία:
Ένα αξιοπρεπές αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα που εστιάζει περισσότερο στην ψυχή παρά στο σώμα του εγκλήματος.
Ο Τζον Χάρβεϊ είναι αναμφίβολα ένας σπουδαίος αστυνομικός συγγραφέας, αλλά σε αυτό το έργο ένιωσα ότι ο ρυθμός ήταν αργός σε σημεία. Η αφήγηση εστιάζει στις περίπλοκες οικογενειακές σχέσεις και τον ψυχισμό των χαρακτήρων, κάτι που εκτιμώ, αλλά η δράση υστερούσε σε ένταση. Οι χαρακτήρες είναι ρεαλιστικοί και προσγειωμένοι, αλλά η πλοκή μερικές φορές φάνταζε προβλέψιμη.
Ο Φρανκ Έλντερ και η προβληματική του κόρη, Κάθριν, είναι καλογραμμένοι χαρακτήρες με βάθος. Η αντίθεση μεταξύ του αγροτικού τοπίου της Κορνουάλης και του αστικού Λονδίνου δημιουργεί μια σκοτεινή και ατμοσφαιρική αίσθηση. Η προσέγγιση του τραύματος της Κάθριν είναι προσεκτική και ρεαλιστική.
Η έλλειψη γρήγορων εξελίξεων μπορεί να κουράσει όσους αναζητούν ένα καταιγιστικό θρίλερ. Ορισμένα σημεία της πλοκής και οι ανατροπές ήταν αρκετά αναμενόμενα. Το ύφος γραφής, αν και κλασικό, είναι κάπως ξεπερασμένο σε σύγκριση με σύγχρονα αστυνομικά μυθιστορήματα.
Συνολικά, η βαθμολογία μου είναι 3 στα 5 αστέρια. Ήταν ένα αξιοπρεπές, αλλά όχι κορυφαίο, αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα που άξιζε να διαβαστεί για τους χαρακτήρες του και το βάθος του
Συνολική Εμπειρία:
Ένα αξιοπρεπές αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα που εστιάζει περισσότερο στην ψυχή παρά στο σώμα του εγκλήματος.
April 3, 2018
Frank has moved to Cornwall a retired police officer who still dips into supporting the local police force. He wanted to escape previous family life that was very traumatic especially for his daughter Katherine who is still struggling with the past. She turns up in Cornwall and stays with Frank but she has bandages around her wrists but won’t explain to to her father why. He eventually finds out that her recent ex boyfriend Anthony has been murdered and police are questioning Katherine Frank travels to London to try and protect her. I couldn’t stop reading this book desperate to find out what happened next. I haven’t read any of John Harvey books before but really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend this to anyone to read.
May 7, 2018
I hate to admit it and it’s something I rarely do but I skimmed through lots Nd lots of this book which I found difficult to enjoy. Perhaps if I had read the other books in the series I may have felt more engaged but I certainly did not get engrossed enough in this one to want to read any earlier ones.
June 6, 2024
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Body & Soul is the fourth and final thriller in the Frank Elder series by John Harvey. We were introduced to retired detective in 2004 with Flesh and Blood, followed by Ash and Bone (2005) and Darkness and Light (2006). Harvey is well known for his 14 jazz-influenced detective novels starring Charlie Resnick; he wrapped up that series in 2013. There was a 12 year break between the first three Elder novels and the finale in 2018, which could be part of the problem. While a competant novel, it is a disappointment for fans of the series.
Frank Elder is still living in retirement in Cornwall. When his daughter Kate visits, she seems thin and gaunt, he notices the rough bandages in her wrists. It has not been easy for Kate to overcome being kidnapped as a teenager in the first novel, and Elder feels the guilt of putting her in harms way. Now, she is attending Uni and modelling for art classes on the side. Friends recommend she pose for controversial artist Anthony Winter, though they warn her of his dark fantasies. He is drawn to the pain he sees in her and they have a tenuous affair. She is shocked to find the paintings she posed for embellished with themes of bondage or worse, triggering both her and Elder. Suddenly, he is found beaten to death in his studio, Kate the last to visit him. Elder is on the outside of the investigation as she is now the number one suspect. Hadley is the detective in charge, with her assistant Chris Phillips - both great characters who could have spun off into a new series.
They see it is not a random attack and investigate, while Elder is stunned to hear Kate's captor Adam Leach has escaped from prison, taunting Elder, and contacting his evil protege Shane Donald. Could Kate have killed in a psychological breakdown? or is she going to be another of Leach's victims?
Reviews agree this was not up to par, certainly not as strong as the others in the series. Something was missing, perhaps he felt he need to complete Elder's story, but it lacks vitality. The previous novels combined new crimes with unsolved cold cases. This focuses on Kate with police work on the side. Elder shares phone calls with his ex-wife Joanne, but the characters of the previous novels do not make an appearance.
Some people began with this novel - it's a mistake not to begin with Flesh and Blood for maximum effect. While the other three stand on their own, this finishes the story.
And what a finish. As I read, I knew this is the last Elder novel, but his fate was a real letdown; Frank deserved so much better than that.
And who killed the artist was pulled out of the air far too late for me, readers like to be involved with the story.
John Harvey was 66 when he began the Frank Elder novels, and finished this when he was 80, there is a long gap where he maybe felt like completing, but the momentum had passed. I was happier stopping with the first three, which I recommend.
Body & Soul is the fourth and final thriller in the Frank Elder series by John Harvey. We were introduced to retired detective in 2004 with Flesh and Blood, followed by Ash and Bone (2005) and Darkness and Light (2006). Harvey is well known for his 14 jazz-influenced detective novels starring Charlie Resnick; he wrapped up that series in 2013. There was a 12 year break between the first three Elder novels and the finale in 2018, which could be part of the problem. While a competant novel, it is a disappointment for fans of the series.
Frank Elder is still living in retirement in Cornwall. When his daughter Kate visits, she seems thin and gaunt, he notices the rough bandages in her wrists. It has not been easy for Kate to overcome being kidnapped as a teenager in the first novel, and Elder feels the guilt of putting her in harms way. Now, she is attending Uni and modelling for art classes on the side. Friends recommend she pose for controversial artist Anthony Winter, though they warn her of his dark fantasies. He is drawn to the pain he sees in her and they have a tenuous affair. She is shocked to find the paintings she posed for embellished with themes of bondage or worse, triggering both her and Elder. Suddenly, he is found beaten to death in his studio, Kate the last to visit him. Elder is on the outside of the investigation as she is now the number one suspect. Hadley is the detective in charge, with her assistant Chris Phillips - both great characters who could have spun off into a new series.
They see it is not a random attack and investigate, while Elder is stunned to hear Kate's captor Adam Leach has escaped from prison, taunting Elder, and contacting his evil protege Shane Donald. Could Kate have killed in a psychological breakdown? or is she going to be another of Leach's victims?
Reviews agree this was not up to par, certainly not as strong as the others in the series. Something was missing, perhaps he felt he need to complete Elder's story, but it lacks vitality. The previous novels combined new crimes with unsolved cold cases. This focuses on Kate with police work on the side. Elder shares phone calls with his ex-wife Joanne, but the characters of the previous novels do not make an appearance.
Some people began with this novel - it's a mistake not to begin with Flesh and Blood for maximum effect. While the other three stand on their own, this finishes the story.
And what a finish. As I read, I knew this is the last Elder novel, but his fate was a real letdown; Frank deserved so much better than that.
And who killed the artist was pulled out of the air far too late for me, readers like to be involved with the story.
John Harvey was 66 when he began the Frank Elder novels, and finished this when he was 80, there is a long gap where he maybe felt like completing, but the momentum had passed. I was happier stopping with the first three, which I recommend.
April 17, 2018
I ALMOST WEPT WHEN THE CHARLIE RESNICK BOOKS CAME TO AN END. They were brilliant – not just crime fiction at its best, but also insightful political and social commentaries on the state of Britain at the time, set to a lot of great music. I didn’t read any John Harvey after that, so, it’s a huge pleasure to come back to him through his latest book, Body and Soul. Like bumping into a long lost friend and not being disappointed by the encounter.
The fourth outing for ageing former detective Frank Elder, the novel opens in Cornwall, where he has retreated to lick his wounds, contemplate the universe and hang out in local jazz bars, listening to his sometime lover sing old standards like Holiday’s ‘Body and Soul’. He’s awaiting the arrival of his daughter, Katherine, who’s contacted him after some time, and he’s viewing the visit with somewhat hopeful trepidation. From the first though, it’s obvious Katherine is troubled, but when he questions her, she disappears. Against all advice, Elder follows her back to east London, where she lives, and through flashbacks, we track Katherine’s disturbing relationship with artist Anthony Winter and her journey from muse to would-be murder suspect.
Harvey’s beautifully pared back writing, tight plot and careful characterisation raise Body and Soul above the bar of what’s merely good crime fiction – and there’s been a lot of that published in recent months.
His prose seems effortless, the prevailing feeling of the book one of perfectly pitched melancholy, accented by a soundtrack of eclectic, carefully referenced music. Cornwall and London, the main settings for the book, feature prominently; the author’s evocation of rural and urban landscapes both detailed and true.
Harvey’s clever interweaving of past and present conflicts inform Body and Soul, leading to a book that is surprisingly action packed in less than 300 pages and yet also extremely well-paced.
Elder is believable as a father trying to find his way back to the vulnerable daughter he feels he’s let down and as a former detective, disgusted at times with the seemingly careless and incompetent investigation into Winter’s death. A somewhat tragic hero, fighting his own demons, he seems to be moving, through the book, towards some kind of hopeful resolution.
I almost wept when I read Darkness, Darkness because it was Resnick’s last outing, but I have to confess to having suspiciously damp eyes when I finished this book.
It is great British crime fiction – and when that’s great, well, is there really anything better?
See: 'Elder's last stand – John Harvey's Body and Soul' for the full review:
http://www.theliteraryshed.co.uk/read...
Thank you to Anne Cater and William Heinemann for supplying a review copy of the book. All opinions are our own and are honest and true (to us).
September 15, 2018
The final story for Frank Elder.
I read this without realising that it is the 4th and final book in a series about retired Detective Frank Elder.
Frank is living in Cornwall having retreated there 7 years before, after his split from his wife and the traumatic kidnap and rape of his daughter, Katherine, when she was 16. Frank had been responsible for capturing the rapist, Adam Keach, who is now serving a long sentence in prison. He is settled into the local community and is starting a new relationship with a local singer, Vicki Parsons.
His daughter, Katherine, is always on his mind. She is now living in East London and despite him trying to reach out to her she is unresponsive. The story begins when an artist, Anthony Winter, is found murdered; bludgeoned by handcuffs and chains that he used in his work. Katherine, unable to settle to a job, had been nude modelling for Winter recently and had also agreed to be handcuffed in some of the paintings. Frank is, not surprisingly, very angry about this, considering Katherine’s past history and also that the artist is a much older man who has manipulated his models in the past. Katherine also admits to having a brief affair with him which is ended abruptly by Winter, leading to her attempting to slit her wrists.
Frank has to try and prove that Katherine was in no way involved in this murder despite her being one of the last people to see Winter alive. The whole situation is made even worse when Adam Keach, while being transferred to another prison, is involved in a crash and manages to escape. Will, he come after Katherine again or indeed Frank, the man who captured him?
This was a very readable book, disturbing in parts, not only regarding Katherine’s ordeal but also the description of some of the paintings. The ending was completely unexpected for me as was the identity of the killer. I always enjoy books where I cannot guess what has happened.
However, I felt that I really needed to have read the previous books in the series as, although the story was easy to follow, I felt that I did not really ‘get’ the main characters of Frank and Katherine. I am sure that this was because I had not had the chance to get to know them before the traumatic events that had happened before.
However, I now have another author to be added to my long list whose previous books I would like to read!
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
I read this without realising that it is the 4th and final book in a series about retired Detective Frank Elder.
Frank is living in Cornwall having retreated there 7 years before, after his split from his wife and the traumatic kidnap and rape of his daughter, Katherine, when she was 16. Frank had been responsible for capturing the rapist, Adam Keach, who is now serving a long sentence in prison. He is settled into the local community and is starting a new relationship with a local singer, Vicki Parsons.
His daughter, Katherine, is always on his mind. She is now living in East London and despite him trying to reach out to her she is unresponsive. The story begins when an artist, Anthony Winter, is found murdered; bludgeoned by handcuffs and chains that he used in his work. Katherine, unable to settle to a job, had been nude modelling for Winter recently and had also agreed to be handcuffed in some of the paintings. Frank is, not surprisingly, very angry about this, considering Katherine’s past history and also that the artist is a much older man who has manipulated his models in the past. Katherine also admits to having a brief affair with him which is ended abruptly by Winter, leading to her attempting to slit her wrists.
Frank has to try and prove that Katherine was in no way involved in this murder despite her being one of the last people to see Winter alive. The whole situation is made even worse when Adam Keach, while being transferred to another prison, is involved in a crash and manages to escape. Will, he come after Katherine again or indeed Frank, the man who captured him?
This was a very readable book, disturbing in parts, not only regarding Katherine’s ordeal but also the description of some of the paintings. The ending was completely unexpected for me as was the identity of the killer. I always enjoy books where I cannot guess what has happened.
However, I felt that I really needed to have read the previous books in the series as, although the story was easy to follow, I felt that I did not really ‘get’ the main characters of Frank and Katherine. I am sure that this was because I had not had the chance to get to know them before the traumatic events that had happened before.
However, I now have another author to be added to my long list whose previous books I would like to read!
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
May 14, 2019
After more than a decade this final installment of the Frank Elder series is brutal and sad. In this story Frank has been retired for some time, and assists the Devon and Cornwall Police Major Incident Support Team near his home. He still has a strong temper that got him into trouble in the past, and he and Katherine still have a shakey relationship. When she comes to visit unexpectedly, he has agreed not ask questions, but he is unable to completely overlook the bandages on her wrists. He begins a campaign to check in with her, communicatiing with her flatmates.
There are multiple reasons for the murder of Anthony Winter, not the least of which his kinky sexual predilictions. Frank beats him up when the explicit paintings of Katherine, Frank's daughter and model for Anthony, are showing at a gallery party Frank attends. Katherine, herself, comes under close scrutiny when tapes of their edgy sexual encounters are revealed. Anthony had broken off their relationship that Katherine was seriously invested in, cutting her wrists after the breakup. The paintings of her were altered after she saw them, adding sexual, "nasty" overtones. Simply put Anthony was not a likeable man, and the past catches up with him. There is a lengthy investigation that seems to be going nowhere, until a former lover returns and talks to the police about her discomfort with Anthony's using Melissa, his daughter as a nude model. His son, Matthew, finds out about Anthony's involvement with his own daughter and Matthew's sister. Matthew is military and beats his father to death with the manacles and chains the artist was fond of using in his games and art. A heartwrenching conclusion for this family.
Running parallel to this plot is the escape of Adam Keach, the brutal killer, who had in a previous installment kidnapped, tortured and raped Katherine, putting her at particular vulnerability. It is some time before he is caught, and during that period he rapes and murders others. Then he goes after Frank, as the policeman who put him in prison, brutally beating and stabbing him. Frank doesn't come out of this encounter, and we left with the picture of his ashes being spread out over the ocean near his home.
I remember liking this series very much, and am sad to see the outcome in this fourth book. This was a well written and fast-paced tale that shared again the compelling character of Frank Elder.
There are multiple reasons for the murder of Anthony Winter, not the least of which his kinky sexual predilictions. Frank beats him up when the explicit paintings of Katherine, Frank's daughter and model for Anthony, are showing at a gallery party Frank attends. Katherine, herself, comes under close scrutiny when tapes of their edgy sexual encounters are revealed. Anthony had broken off their relationship that Katherine was seriously invested in, cutting her wrists after the breakup. The paintings of her were altered after she saw them, adding sexual, "nasty" overtones. Simply put Anthony was not a likeable man, and the past catches up with him. There is a lengthy investigation that seems to be going nowhere, until a former lover returns and talks to the police about her discomfort with Anthony's using Melissa, his daughter as a nude model. His son, Matthew, finds out about Anthony's involvement with his own daughter and Matthew's sister. Matthew is military and beats his father to death with the manacles and chains the artist was fond of using in his games and art. A heartwrenching conclusion for this family.
Running parallel to this plot is the escape of Adam Keach, the brutal killer, who had in a previous installment kidnapped, tortured and raped Katherine, putting her at particular vulnerability. It is some time before he is caught, and during that period he rapes and murders others. Then he goes after Frank, as the policeman who put him in prison, brutally beating and stabbing him. Frank doesn't come out of this encounter, and we left with the picture of his ashes being spread out over the ocean near his home.
I remember liking this series very much, and am sad to see the outcome in this fourth book. This was a well written and fast-paced tale that shared again the compelling character of Frank Elder.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2021
L’ancien inspecteur Frank Elder se fait encore bien du souci pour sa fille Katherine. Il faut dire que la découvrir sur le pas de sa porte l’air épuisé et portant des bandages aux poignets, cela inquiéterait n’importe quel parent. Depuis sa rupture avec un artiste peintre pour qui elle posait, Katherine peine à remonter la pente. C’est encore plus vrai quand on retrouve le peintre controversé assassiné dans son atelier, devant des tableaux pornographiques dont elle est le modèle. Alors qu’elle pourrait bien devenir le suspect numéro un, son père va faire son possible pour la protéger, prouver son innocence et lutter avec elle contre les démons du passé. L’auteur nous emporte totalement dans ce dernier opus de la série Frank Elder. Personnellement j’ai pris le train en route mais cela ne m’a pas empêché d’apprécier ma lecture, cela m’a juste donné très envie de remonter le temps et de découvrir les précédents tomes sans compter qu’il s’agit peut-être du dernier roman de l’auteur (il a quatre vingt deux ans). Une belle écriture pour une descente aux enfers d’un père qui ne connait pas de limite lorsqu’il s’agit de sa fille perturbée. Le style est superbe, on y retrouve la rugosité des côtes de Cornouailles. L’intrigue est bien construite, on peut avoir ici deux histoires qui s’entremêlent sans se mélanger. Passé et présent donnent un rythme haletant et les personnages provoquent l’empathie, j’ai été happée très rapidement. Katherine est un personnage complexe avec lequel il est difficile d’entrer en communication, même son père semble en échec. Pourtant on ne peut qu’éprouver une forte sympathie pour cette jeune femme qui tente de se reconstruire après une agression violente subie sept ans auparavant. Une conclusion bouleversante et rare nous est proposée qui a su me faire vibrer jusqu’à la dernière ligne. Juste un petit mot de plus sur la couverture qui est juste parfaite pour nous faire ressentir l’atmosphère du livre. Bonne lecture.
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May 1, 2018
When his estranged daughter Katherine appears on his doorstep, ex-Detective Frank Elder knows that something is wrong.
Katherine has long been troubled, and Elder has always felt powerless to help her.
But now Katherine has begun to self-destruct.
The breakdown of her affair with a controversial artist has sent her into a tailspin which culminates in a murder, and as Elder struggles to protect his daughter and prove her innocence. Frank has to try and prove that Katherine was in no way involved in this murder despite her being one of the last people to see Winter alive.
Katherine is living in London, Frank is living in Cornwall, having retreated there 7 years before, after his split from his wife and the traumatic kidnap and rape of his daughter, when she was 16. Frank had been responsible for capturing the rapist, Adam Keach, who is now serving a long sentence in prison.
Back in London Frank tries to assist his daughter through police interrogations, while at the same assisting the police investigation and pursuing his own inquiries. The situation is further complicated when Keach, Katherine’s original abuser, escapes when the prison van transferring him from one prison to another is in a collision. Frank is called back to Nottingham to assist his former colleagues in their efforts to recapture Keach.
The book is atmospheric and mingled with some sharpish social comment and utterly believable characters, makes it a must read. I couldn’t stop reading this book I desperate to find out what happened next. I haven’t read any of John Harvey books before but really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend this to anyone to read
The story builds brilliantly as one would expect from John Harvey, but concludes in a way which is totally unexpected.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Cornerstone, Penguin Random House for an advance copy for a fair an honest review.
Katherine has long been troubled, and Elder has always felt powerless to help her.
But now Katherine has begun to self-destruct.
The breakdown of her affair with a controversial artist has sent her into a tailspin which culminates in a murder, and as Elder struggles to protect his daughter and prove her innocence. Frank has to try and prove that Katherine was in no way involved in this murder despite her being one of the last people to see Winter alive.
Katherine is living in London, Frank is living in Cornwall, having retreated there 7 years before, after his split from his wife and the traumatic kidnap and rape of his daughter, when she was 16. Frank had been responsible for capturing the rapist, Adam Keach, who is now serving a long sentence in prison.
Back in London Frank tries to assist his daughter through police interrogations, while at the same assisting the police investigation and pursuing his own inquiries. The situation is further complicated when Keach, Katherine’s original abuser, escapes when the prison van transferring him from one prison to another is in a collision. Frank is called back to Nottingham to assist his former colleagues in their efforts to recapture Keach.
The book is atmospheric and mingled with some sharpish social comment and utterly believable characters, makes it a must read. I couldn’t stop reading this book I desperate to find out what happened next. I haven’t read any of John Harvey books before but really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend this to anyone to read
The story builds brilliantly as one would expect from John Harvey, but concludes in a way which is totally unexpected.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Cornerstone, Penguin Random House for an advance copy for a fair an honest review.
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