Rough Treatment by John Harvey

Rough Treatment by John Harvey

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A peculiar pair of burglars make a deal with one of their victims

Maria Roy is in the tub, musing on her hatred for her movie producer husband, when Grabianski and Grice break into her house. Though she is fearful at first, something about Jerry Grabianski’s confidence calms her down. Over tall glasses of Scotch, she directs them to her valuables—jewelry, bonds, her wedding tape—even doing them the favor of unlocking her husband’s safe. There Grabianski finds a surprise: a kilo of cocaine. He leaves with the drugs, the valuables, and a piece of Maria’s heart.

This is not the story she tells to police inspector Charlie Resnick, but Maria’s confusion makes the disheveled detective doubt her account of the robbery. As he combs Nottingham for the burglars, Maria and Jerry’s love affair charges ahead. She is about to learn that not even love can keep crime from turning bloody.


“A melancholy man who appreciates American jazz and other blue notes sounded by people in pain, [Charlie Resnick] confirms that he is a compassionate judge of human nature. . . . A winning series.” —The New York Times

“Harvey reminds me of Graham Greene, a stylist who tells you everything you need to know while keeping the prose clean and simple. It’s a very realistic style that draws you into the story without the writer getting in the way.” —Elmore Leonard

“Charlie Resnick is one of the most fully realized characters in modern crime fiction.” —Sue Grafton

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