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Lovejoy #22
Every Last Cent
The latest adventure from Lovejoy: the irrepressible antique hunter, lothario and out-and-out conman. Lovejoy is in serious trouble. For it appears that a local lad known as Mortimer shares his extraordinary talent for distinguishing genuine antiques from fake. Although perhaps that's not so surprising - as it is rumoured that Mortimer is Lovejoy's son...But there is one big difference between 'father' and 'son' - Mortimer's painful honesty, which is ruining the local antiques trade. And the dealers blame Lovejoy. Lovejoy decides to use his own gift to assemble a mass of antiques - with any luck he might be able to bargain his way out. But when he persuades one of his favourite ladies, the sculptress Bernicka, to help him tragedy strikes. And now Lovejoy is running scared. Particularly when the death toll around him starts to mount...
416 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
80 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Gash
91 books73 followersJohn Grant is an English crime writer, who writes under the pen name Jonathan Gash. He is the author of the Lovejoy series of novels. He wrote the novel The Incomer under the pen name Graham Gaunt.
Grant is a doctor by training and worked as a general practitioner and pathologist. He served in the British Army and attained the rank of Major in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was head of bacteriology at the School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine for the University of London between 1971 and 1988.
Grant won the John Creasey Award in 1977 for his first Lovejoy novel, The Judas Pair. He is also the author of a series of medical thrillers featuring the character Dr. Clare Burtonall.
Grant lives outside Colchester in Essex, the setting for many of his novels. He has also been published in Postscripts.
Grant is a doctor by training and worked as a general practitioner and pathologist. He served in the British Army and attained the rank of Major in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was head of bacteriology at the School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine for the University of London between 1971 and 1988.
Grant won the John Creasey Award in 1977 for his first Lovejoy novel, The Judas Pair. He is also the author of a series of medical thrillers featuring the character Dr. Clare Burtonall.
Grant lives outside Colchester in Essex, the setting for many of his novels. He has also been published in Postscripts.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 15, 2024
30 years ago today (June 14), I finished my first Lovejoy novel.
The previous year, I had taken a Detective Fiction class in college, and was riding the high of having discovered a whole new genre of reading. The rest of 1993 was spent reading Parker, Grafton, Warshawski, and Stout novels. (I said there was no way was I going to give Tey and a few others a 2nd shot. "One was bad enough").
But it wouldnt be until May of 1994 that I would start branching out into other series - ones NOT covered in class. And Gash's Lovejoy series was one of the first ones.
That first book was a challenge - it was one part mystery, one part antiques lectures, and all in English slang. (I had to learn that words like "Wotcher" and such was part of the language used outside of London. Oh sure - I was a fan of Britcoms, but they NEVER were this bad!!) But, after having read that first book, I was a fan. And so, I couldnt wait to read the 2nd book, which I did later that fall.
And thus, a tradition was started - 2 Lovejoy books a year.
Until 2005. In 2004, I had finished the two most recent (or so I was told) Lovejoy novels.
And then there was no more. So, I had to find some other stuff to read. (Never worry, oh reader of my reviews - it is not like I didnt have OTHER books on the TBR pile).
Flash forward to the Pandemic of 2020. Suddenly, with the local bookstores closed, I had to find other means of getting books. And so I discovered Thriftbooks. And lo & behold- they had BOTH of the last two Lovejoy novels. Which I got for a song.
And I set them aside, to be read on the 30th anniversary of when I first read the series.
--------------
{WHAT ABOUT THE REVIEW OF THE BOOK!?!?}
Sorry, but like a good Lovejoy novel, there is the need for some backstory and tangents.
This time around, we learn that Lovejoy has a Son, who has inherited his father's gift for finding real antiques in the world of fakes. And is selling his services to the local tourist, much to the anger of the local dealers. Meanwhile, Lovejoy is once again broke, with to many women on his hands, and trying to stay one step ahead of the law and the bad guys.
During the course of the adventure, we meet a trinket stealing dog and her owner, a uptight lady who wants Lovejoy to verify and store a rare painting (Which isnt as rare as they know), a couple who end up on the losing end of things, and a cabal of antique collectors who are looking to scam and swindle, with the help of Lovejoy.
Now, since it has been 20 years since I last read the series, I had forgot a few things - but once I was into the book, it all came back to me. And was a real pleasure to read. (Well, it was once I got a digital copy, and saved my eyes from trying to read some 6 pt font sizes that they have in the paperback. #OldEyes). And now, I can look forward to reading the LAST of the Lovejoy novels in the fall.
The previous year, I had taken a Detective Fiction class in college, and was riding the high of having discovered a whole new genre of reading. The rest of 1993 was spent reading Parker, Grafton, Warshawski, and Stout novels. (I said there was no way was I going to give Tey and a few others a 2nd shot. "One was bad enough").
But it wouldnt be until May of 1994 that I would start branching out into other series - ones NOT covered in class. And Gash's Lovejoy series was one of the first ones.
That first book was a challenge - it was one part mystery, one part antiques lectures, and all in English slang. (I had to learn that words like "Wotcher" and such was part of the language used outside of London. Oh sure - I was a fan of Britcoms, but they NEVER were this bad!!) But, after having read that first book, I was a fan. And so, I couldnt wait to read the 2nd book, which I did later that fall.
And thus, a tradition was started - 2 Lovejoy books a year.
Until 2005. In 2004, I had finished the two most recent (or so I was told) Lovejoy novels.
And then there was no more. So, I had to find some other stuff to read. (Never worry, oh reader of my reviews - it is not like I didnt have OTHER books on the TBR pile).
Flash forward to the Pandemic of 2020. Suddenly, with the local bookstores closed, I had to find other means of getting books. And so I discovered Thriftbooks. And lo & behold- they had BOTH of the last two Lovejoy novels. Which I got for a song.
And I set them aside, to be read on the 30th anniversary of when I first read the series.
--------------
{WHAT ABOUT THE REVIEW OF THE BOOK!?!?}
Sorry, but like a good Lovejoy novel, there is the need for some backstory and tangents.
This time around, we learn that Lovejoy has a Son, who has inherited his father's gift for finding real antiques in the world of fakes. And is selling his services to the local tourist, much to the anger of the local dealers. Meanwhile, Lovejoy is once again broke, with to many women on his hands, and trying to stay one step ahead of the law and the bad guys.
During the course of the adventure, we meet a trinket stealing dog and her owner, a uptight lady who wants Lovejoy to verify and store a rare painting (Which isnt as rare as they know), a couple who end up on the losing end of things, and a cabal of antique collectors who are looking to scam and swindle, with the help of Lovejoy.
Now, since it has been 20 years since I last read the series, I had forgot a few things - but once I was into the book, it all came back to me. And was a real pleasure to read. (Well, it was once I got a digital copy, and saved my eyes from trying to read some 6 pt font sizes that they have in the paperback. #OldEyes). And now, I can look forward to reading the LAST of the Lovejoy novels in the fall.
May 31, 2025
What becomes clear after reading Lovejoy’s escapades in the world of antiques is that the author is undeniably a talented writer and clearly knowledgeable about his subject. The dialogue is often witty, and the tone carries the familiar Lovejoy charm. Still, I found the plot somewhat confusing. Although the main twists were explained by the end, much of the narrative seemed to unfold within Lovejoy's mind, making it difficult at times to follow what was actually happening.
The pacing also felt uneven. Most of the action happens at the beginning and the end, with a rather drawn-out middle. The story, to me, felt too mellow—there were no love triangles (which could easily have fit the setting), little action, and surprisingly few antiques for a book centered on them. For much of the time, Lovejoy simply wanders, and once the reader loses the thread, it starts to feel a bit pointless.
That said, there are always “pluses” in any Lovejoy book. These include moments of clever humor, exaggerated descriptions, or bursts of physical comedy that made me laugh out loud. But there are also definite “minuses.” For instance, I’ve never liked Lovejoy’s tendency to “make smiles” with married women or the occasional slapping of female characters. I’m not trying to be moralistic—I just genuinely disliked these moments. I understand they could have been written much more graphically, but even as is, they were enough to dampen my reading experience. Lovejoy once remarked (in a previous book) that his favorite kind of woman is a married one—a preference I’ve always found reprehensible. So, when these behaviors became a regular feature, they began to outweigh the positive aspects of the books for me.
Several things remained unclear throughout this book: how the events tied into the main plot, where Lovejoy was at any given moment, and what crimes were actually being committed—let alone Lovejoy’s role in them. His relationship with his son was also left hanging. That said, I did enjoy the moments of “divvying”, which have always been enjoyable for me in the series.
This novel runs to 400 pages, whereas the early Lovejoy books were half that length. I couldn’t help wondering if the experience would have been more engaging had it been a collection of Lovejoy short stories—focused vignettes in the world of antiques, rogues, and charming countryside crimes.
One of the odder aspects of the series is how time doesn’t seem to touch Lovejoy. Though decades have passed since the first novel, he remains perpetually youthful—still chasing women, organizing scams, and struggling with his finances. His apprentice Lydia, for instance, though not in this book, was still a “poor young girl” in the previous one. Tinker is still drinking and "barking" in the background. And Henry, presumably the same infant from early books, is still a baby. The world of the books feels frozen—anchored somewhere in 1980s East Anglia—despite the real world outside the book series having moved on. There are no mobile phones, no email, no computers. This anachronistic charm is part of the appeal, but it also makes the books feel increasingly disconnected from contemporary life.
These later Lovejoy novels differ greatly from the early ones (at least that is my subjective feeling). I do find them more engaging than many of the mid-series entries, which I often didn’t enjoy. The author still writes compellingly about antiques—that much is a given. But there are simply too many characters, many of whom are intriguing but don’t get enough space to develop. The story lacks action, leaving the impression of Lovejoy simply meandering through his thoughts (usually about antiques). I would have enjoyed more attention to "little" detail—those charming moments from the early books: his hedgehog wheezing and chuffing in the grass; him talking to the robin he feeds with cheese; descriptions of his car; or entertaining the local children; or description of Tinker's cough; or ironing his shirts with hot bricks.
The relationship with his son is barely touched upon, and there’s little reflection from Lovejoy’s side. That’s a shame. It’s precisely those moments of fragility, vulnerability, or human beauty that tend to linger with me after finishing one of these books.
Lovejoy remains largely unchanged: charming, ageless, and reluctant to invest in anything resembling a real relationship. He’s still having affairs. He’s still the tomcat. What surprised me, though, was how unabashedly he launches into a crime spree in this book—committing a string of thefts and even being linked to the death of a police officer—without any significant consequences. It felt inconsistent, especially given how careful he was in earlier books to avoid serious legal trouble.
To close: this review may sound critical, but the book isn’t bad. It really isn't. It’s just not one of those gripping, beautiful novels that hooks the reader completely, making them rush to the end. Like some of the early ones in the series were. Admittedly, this book lacks the crude humor or graphic scenes that put me off in some of the books in the middle of the series. But it’s still a long, meandering tale told from the point of view of an aging protagonist who remains forever young in a world that refuses to change—even as the world outside very much has.
Lovejoy’s is a charming world: village buses, dark autumn nights, robins and hedgehogs, countryside auctions. But I often feel like time is lurking behind the story, ready to change everything. Perhaps, finally, Lovejoy’s time is coming to an end. Not that I enjoy that, but reading the book, change just somehow feels to be at hand, having been held at bay too long.
There are still books to read in the series, or rather re-read, as I've read all of the books long ago. If my reviews sound occasionally harsh, it is unintentional. It is a testimony to the character and the author that I, being a rather critical reader, have read and re-read all of the books in the series. I’ve now read this particular volume twice—once as a first-year college student, when it came out as a paperback, and again nearly a quarter-century later. I’ve changed as a reader and person. Lovejoy, on the other hand, hasn’t changed at all. Maybe that’s a comfort for longtime fans. But some things, perhaps, should change. And maybe, just maybe, Lovejoy should too.
The pacing also felt uneven. Most of the action happens at the beginning and the end, with a rather drawn-out middle. The story, to me, felt too mellow—there were no love triangles (which could easily have fit the setting), little action, and surprisingly few antiques for a book centered on them. For much of the time, Lovejoy simply wanders, and once the reader loses the thread, it starts to feel a bit pointless.
That said, there are always “pluses” in any Lovejoy book. These include moments of clever humor, exaggerated descriptions, or bursts of physical comedy that made me laugh out loud. But there are also definite “minuses.” For instance, I’ve never liked Lovejoy’s tendency to “make smiles” with married women or the occasional slapping of female characters. I’m not trying to be moralistic—I just genuinely disliked these moments. I understand they could have been written much more graphically, but even as is, they were enough to dampen my reading experience. Lovejoy once remarked (in a previous book) that his favorite kind of woman is a married one—a preference I’ve always found reprehensible. So, when these behaviors became a regular feature, they began to outweigh the positive aspects of the books for me.
Several things remained unclear throughout this book: how the events tied into the main plot, where Lovejoy was at any given moment, and what crimes were actually being committed—let alone Lovejoy’s role in them. His relationship with his son was also left hanging. That said, I did enjoy the moments of “divvying”, which have always been enjoyable for me in the series.
This novel runs to 400 pages, whereas the early Lovejoy books were half that length. I couldn’t help wondering if the experience would have been more engaging had it been a collection of Lovejoy short stories—focused vignettes in the world of antiques, rogues, and charming countryside crimes.
One of the odder aspects of the series is how time doesn’t seem to touch Lovejoy. Though decades have passed since the first novel, he remains perpetually youthful—still chasing women, organizing scams, and struggling with his finances. His apprentice Lydia, for instance, though not in this book, was still a “poor young girl” in the previous one. Tinker is still drinking and "barking" in the background. And Henry, presumably the same infant from early books, is still a baby. The world of the books feels frozen—anchored somewhere in 1980s East Anglia—despite the real world outside the book series having moved on. There are no mobile phones, no email, no computers. This anachronistic charm is part of the appeal, but it also makes the books feel increasingly disconnected from contemporary life.
These later Lovejoy novels differ greatly from the early ones (at least that is my subjective feeling). I do find them more engaging than many of the mid-series entries, which I often didn’t enjoy. The author still writes compellingly about antiques—that much is a given. But there are simply too many characters, many of whom are intriguing but don’t get enough space to develop. The story lacks action, leaving the impression of Lovejoy simply meandering through his thoughts (usually about antiques). I would have enjoyed more attention to "little" detail—those charming moments from the early books: his hedgehog wheezing and chuffing in the grass; him talking to the robin he feeds with cheese; descriptions of his car; or entertaining the local children; or description of Tinker's cough; or ironing his shirts with hot bricks.
The relationship with his son is barely touched upon, and there’s little reflection from Lovejoy’s side. That’s a shame. It’s precisely those moments of fragility, vulnerability, or human beauty that tend to linger with me after finishing one of these books.
Lovejoy remains largely unchanged: charming, ageless, and reluctant to invest in anything resembling a real relationship. He’s still having affairs. He’s still the tomcat. What surprised me, though, was how unabashedly he launches into a crime spree in this book—committing a string of thefts and even being linked to the death of a police officer—without any significant consequences. It felt inconsistent, especially given how careful he was in earlier books to avoid serious legal trouble.
To close: this review may sound critical, but the book isn’t bad. It really isn't. It’s just not one of those gripping, beautiful novels that hooks the reader completely, making them rush to the end. Like some of the early ones in the series were. Admittedly, this book lacks the crude humor or graphic scenes that put me off in some of the books in the middle of the series. But it’s still a long, meandering tale told from the point of view of an aging protagonist who remains forever young in a world that refuses to change—even as the world outside very much has.
Lovejoy’s is a charming world: village buses, dark autumn nights, robins and hedgehogs, countryside auctions. But I often feel like time is lurking behind the story, ready to change everything. Perhaps, finally, Lovejoy’s time is coming to an end. Not that I enjoy that, but reading the book, change just somehow feels to be at hand, having been held at bay too long.
There are still books to read in the series, or rather re-read, as I've read all of the books long ago. If my reviews sound occasionally harsh, it is unintentional. It is a testimony to the character and the author that I, being a rather critical reader, have read and re-read all of the books in the series. I’ve now read this particular volume twice—once as a first-year college student, when it came out as a paperback, and again nearly a quarter-century later. I’ve changed as a reader and person. Lovejoy, on the other hand, hasn’t changed at all. Maybe that’s a comfort for longtime fans. But some things, perhaps, should change. And maybe, just maybe, Lovejoy should too.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews