The Syndicate - Softcover

Bolton, Guy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 178607558X ISBN 13: 9781786075581

Publisher: Point Blank, 2020

Synopsis

The hotly anticipated sequel to The Pictures. Guy Bolton’s unforgettable 1930s Hollywood fixer Jonathan Craine is thrust into the dark underbelly of the LA mafia, only to discover more secrets and lies June 1947 Eight years have passed since the events of The Pictures. Jonathan Craine has left his old life in Hollywood behind him, content to live out his days on a farm in rural California with his teenage son. But when infamous mobster and Las Vegas founder Bugsy Siegel is killed at his home in Beverly Hills, Craine is forced to face his past once again. Summoned to Las Vegas to meet mob head Meyer Lansky, Craine is given the impossible task of finding Siegel's murderers. He has no access to crime reports, no police contacts and no one to help in his investigation other than an ageing hit man and a female crime reporter with her own agenda. But Lanksy's orders aren't to be ignored; if Craine can't find Siegel's murderers in five days, he and his son will both be killed.

About this title

About the Author

Guy Bolton lives in London and has worked in publishing, film and television. He currently works in drama at the BBC. Guy is also a screenwriter whose work has been optioned by Bedlam Productions, Hat Trick and Tiger Aspect. He is the author of The Pictures. Last year it was short-listed in the Telegraph Harvill Secker crime writing competition.

Review

"Bolton spins a lurid tale of Hollywood after dark, complete with drugs, prostitution, and pornography.... nicely mixing Hollywood glamour with backroom sleaze."
--Booklist

"[Bolton] writes with pace and verve and gives the reader a cast of endearingly flawed characters who are easy to like. Craine himself goes on a profound personal journey, much of which revolves around his relationship with his son. This is neatly balanced by his sidekick, O'Neill, who lives in the shadow of his heroic father. The result is a novel which is, on one level, an accomplished crime thriller but, on another, a sensitive and serious exploration of the relationships between fathers and sons. A thoroughly enjoyable read, best accompanied by popcorn, a soda, and an old MGM movie."
--Historical Novel Society

"This debut novel by a British screenwriter takes its time drawing readers into the glitzy, deadly world of Old Hollywood. A solid read for fans of the silver screen and intelligent detective novels."
--Library Journal

"[A] nifty noir premise.... Bolton has imagination to spare."
--Publishers Weekly

"THE PICTURES is a compelling and dazzling debut for fans of Raymond Chandler and James Ellroy. Bolton's tightly paced mystery vividly re-creates 1930s Hollywood and is enriched with complicated, fascinating and flawed characters."
-- Shelf Awareness

"Guy Bolton manages to create real atmosphere in THE PICTURES. Kudos to him for that atmosphere ― which isn't restricted to just the MGM lot and the glamorous Lilac Club downtown, but also includes several disparate Los Angeles neighborhoods where interesting crimes might take place."
--NPR Books

"Bolton's laser-sharp noir thriller suggests a range of writing experience beyond his years.... he vividly evokes a vanished era."
--Financial Times

About this edition

• Publisher: Point Blank
• Publication date: 2020
• ISBN 10: 178607558X
• ISBN 13: 9781786075581
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 400