Nice Try

Murray Whelan #3

by Shane Maloney

When Murray Whelan, lovelorn political minder and part-time fitness fanatic, is recruited to massage Australia's bid for the Olympics, he has no idea how tough the going will get. And when the death of the young Aboriginal athlete Darcy Anderson proves that murder is a contact sport, Murray is soon breaking all the rules.

Genres: Fiction, Australia, Crime, Mystery, Humor, Detective

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Shane Maloney (born 1953) is an Australian novelist, based in Melbourne, best known for his crime fiction novels. He is a graduate of the Australian National University.

Maloney has written non-fiction and journalistic essays, but is best known for his six crime fiction novels - in the "hard-boiled" sub-genre - featuring Murray Whelan, a Labour party functionary working for a Victorian state political member, who finds himself investigating crimes linked to his job. The series (1994 - 2007) is popular for its wit and its portrayal of Melbourne's political and social culture. The novels are set slightly earlier than written, during the late 1980s when Labour was in power at both a federal and state level. The first two novels, "Stiff" and "The Brush-Off", were adapted into TV movies starring David Wenham in 2004.

"The Brush-Off" won the Ned Kelly Award for Crime Fiction in 1997. In 2009, Maloney received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Crime Writers Association of Australia.

Reviews

[Rob Kitchin]

Nice Try is the third book in the Murray Whelan series of political satires/crime stories (my reviews of the first two are here and here). Whelan is a three steps forward, two steps back kind of political operator -- wise to the games, shenanigans and back stabbing, but unable to always capitalise and often out manoeuvred or prey to rotten luck. He also has a habit of walking into explosive situations and those involving dead bodies. This is the case in Nice Try where he is co-opted into helping out a young woman whose former beefy boyfriend is seriously unhinged and roped into trying to shepherd a three person IOC group in Melbourne to assess the city’s bid to host the 1996 Olympics. Whelan is affable, self-depreciating, shambolic lead character and Maloney populates the story with a set of colourful schemers. The story has some nicely observed and amusing political satire and farce, though it’s never quite laugh out loud funny, and the contextualisation with regards the Olympics bid and the previous games held in the city is well done. Whilst the plot is engaging, it does overly rely on a couple of large plot devices mainly to do with the personal intersection of a number of characters that all happen to be in Whelan’s life at the same time. Overall, a tale that is a little too contrived, but is nonetheless a fun read.

[Rosalie]

Excellent holiday read, laugh out loud funny.

[Tricia]

I thought this was an ok read. It centres around the bid for the Melbourne Olympic games. Once again a body turns up and Murray finds himself at the center of the investigation.

It is a fast paced read that kept me entertained.

[Wendy White]

As other reviewers have noted, this wasn't quite as enjoyable as the first two books in the Murray Whelan series. That said, it is still totally worth reading. And if I hadn't read the other two, I might have given this one an extra star. It is only the knowledge of the height the previous two books reached that drops one off.

Perhaps the drop in pleasure is merely due to the fact that alongside the action of the story, Murray is preparing himself for a rather bleak set of expectations. He is attempting to quit smoking, despite the pleasure and release it gives him. He is watching the beginning of a slow distancing of his son, being raised in another city by another man. He maintains his wit and enjoyable bravado, but perhaps the realities of his life sinking in are what weighs this tale down.

Perhaps if I was a more professional critic I could point out differences in the writing structure/style that might have made this story less enjoyable, but honestly I just think I was disappointed that the protagonist was in such a sorry state. Which goes some way to illustrate how adept Maloney is at making us sympathise with his main character!

I'll certainly be pursuing the next two books in the series. I won't hide the fact that it is partially in the hope that Murray's lot improves - but even if it doesn't, the clever writing and enjoyable setting will make them worth the read.

[Calzean]

This time Murray Whelan gets involved with the 1996 Melbourne Olympic bid. There is a new girlfriend, ongoing problems with getting access to his son, links to the 1956 games, a steroid inflamed weightlifter looking for revenge and links to politics and aboriginal land rights.

Maloney tells a good tale.

[Dee-Ann]

Great wit and expose' on Australian politics and bureacracy. Surprises around every corner, some bits predictable, but did not expect Murray to get beaten up so often. Bad time to try to give up smoking. Feel sorry and dread for his relationship with his son, Red.

[Anita]

A good read as always by Shane Maloney. Such a clever turn of phrase - "only exercise I get is jumping to conclusions"!

[Peter Holz]

That was totally insane and I loved every minute of it. My favourite Murray Whelan book to date. A decent part of my enjoyment came, not just because the story was set in Melbourne, but because it was relentlessly filled with all things Melbourne. From references to Dermott Brereton, VFL Park and ruckmen to a grand tour of Wheelers Hill, Heidelberg and Carlton the book greatly expanded my knowledge and enjoyment of a city I’ve lived in all my life and thought I knew. Mind you, it was a cracking story too. The author has a wonderful sense of humour (reminiscent of Barry Humphries) and a superb turn of phrase: “Nice girl, Holly. Beautiful body. Mind like a muesli bar.”

[Rosalind]

3.5 stars. Funny whodunnit with political fixer Murray Whelan (3rd in series). Melbourne Olympic bid goes awry as Murray fields indigenous activists and historic athlete defection. Excellent main character, but this book is less funny than previous ones in the series. Lovely to read something set in Melbourne.

[Kristine]

Another whodunnit from Maloney featuring ALP staffer Murray Whelan and set in Melbourne. This series has been a good light read for long flights and bus trips. In this third novel in the series, the level of sex and violence really start to increase to such an extent that it interfered with my enjoyment of the basic story. I suppose it is a perennial problem with series, making each one different while still using the same formula that created the initial success. The characteristic wit and humour used by Maloney still does set it apart from other Australian whodunnits.

[Eion Williamson]

Starting at the 3rd book in the Murray Whelan series, found this book to decide if I should read the rest of the series.

Enjoyed the characters presented, as not sanitised to a fairytale level, at times people I could relate too.

Adding the other books in this series to my reading list.

[June]

One of the best Australian Series - witty and with a very likeable main character.

[Petra Be]

Not as good as the first two books, but still enjoyable.

[Brenda Rosser]

From the poshest book box I know of. V. good fun, taking the piss about aboriginal politics, who knew this was acceptable.

[Sammy]

A deeply biased four stars. Murray for PM.

[Michael Cosmano]

Oh Murray! Good fun read.

[Shane]

A pretty cool story and loved the Melbourne setting. But, didn’t appreciate how almost every character linked in together so neatly.

[David Anderson]

I wish my dad was around so we could do a book review together of this and the other hilariously nostalgic Shane Maloney books.

[Micheal]

Oh man, Shane Maloney's Murray Whelan books are pure joy. This is the third in the series and in this installment, Murray's trying to kick the habit, win the Olympics for Melbourne, get the girl and stay out of trouble. He only succeeds at one of these things but it's fun to watch him suffer as he crawls, hungover, along Sydney Road. Once again, you get the feeling that Maloney had an absolute blast writing this.

[Waterman]

As always I enjoy reading about the adventures of the sometimes hapless Murray Whelan. This book was not as good as the others in the series. It seemed a little confined in its story, without the ins and outs as Murray stumbles his way through to the solution. Still, it is worth reading.

[Kate]

Didn't like this one as much as the other two I had read - maybe it was just because I read it straight after the other two and his style was starting to get a bit repetitive?

[W. Byron]

As a school set work book I believe it was good but would not have been a choice of mine otherwise It was humorous enough he seems to have a good writing style.

[Thebroadgrumps]

Not exactly the best book that I have read this year