Diplomacy was never Jack’s strong point’
Australian author Blair Denholm lives in Tasmania at present, but has lived and worked in New York, Moscow, Munich, Abu Dhabi in addition to Australia. He has published four books – ESCAPE FROM PASSING WINDS, SOLD, SOLD TO THE DEVIL, and now FIGHTING DIRTY. Blair is also a translator, speaks fluent Russian (he interpreted for the Reagan-Gorbachev summit in Moscow and translated for the Sochi Winter Olympics Organizing Committee) as well as a traveler and has escaped situations and detainments in life much as he writes in his new book! FIGHTING DIRTY is the first installment in his new series – the Jack London Crime Thriller – and brings on stage a tough, cynical, ex-boxer London cop, who even in this relative brief novella gives evidence of a terrific new character to follow.
Blair Denholm is establishing himself as a very bright star on the literary landscape. His language and tone for relaying his tales of crime is at once raw and lyrical. Introducing a new primary character, Blair opens with a visual (and guttural) image: ‘Detective Inspector Jack Lisbon charged down the cobblestone alleyway, his bootsteps echoed in the still London night air. The DI’s destination – McNair’s Boxing Club. He looked up at a cracked and blinking neon sign at the end of the lane, half the letters blanked out. Just like a year ago, Jack gripped the handle of a heavy wooden door, shouldered it open. The place buzzed with activity…The satisfying thwack of leather gloves pounding skin was music to Jack’s ears. ‘Oof’ sounded when a solid punch snuck under a fighter’s guard and struck the mark. Ribs, jaw, solar plexus. The acrid scents of disinfectant, sweat, coppery old blood, and liniment assailed Jack’s nostrils, setoff memories in the recesses of his brain…’ That degree of atmosphere pervades every page of this novel.
The intriguing plot is condensed in the fine synopsis: ‘It took just one bad decision to put his whole life in jeopardy Tough-talking London Detective Inspector Jack Lisbon now faces a life-changing choice – seek justice or exact vengeance. After a young fighter takes a beating for throwing a bout, DI Lisbon makes a decision that will come back to haunt him – he accepts a bribe to look the other way. With everything poised to go pear-shaped, the embattled cop embarks on a path that could destroy his career, or save him from destruction. One thing you can be sure of, ex-boxer Lisbon never backs down from a fight!’
Aside from being solid entertainment, FIGHTING DIRTY has some philosophical asides that focus on many of our current obsessions. Blair keeps us guessing (as reading detectives) while he places the spotlight on the London cop Jack Lisbon. This is a [heck] of a fine book – and initiate a solid new series!