The Haight: The First Jimmy Spracklin Crime Novel (1) by Peter MoreiraMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Haight has a lot going for it as a thrilling crime fiction with its setting in 1968 and a flawed detective, Jimmy Spracklin, as the main character. He is investigating the murder of John Blakeley, an artist and heroin addict. With the setting in the hippie area of San Francisco during the so-called Summer of Love, there was a lot to take my particular interest, having been a teenage fan of The Beatles et al during those times. The author’s portrayal of Spracklin, his family and other characters is well done and the dialogue came across as quite realistic to this UK reader. What was most refreshing was the less sophisticated methodology used by the police in their investigations: such as less talk of mobile phones, CCTV, and precise forensic science. All of those things seem to figure a lot in every film, TV series or novel featuring a crime thriller in current times.
Adding to the authenticity of those times, through their pedantic and slogging investigation methods, are the frequent references to the Kennedy assassinations. Spracklin is depicted as an ardent supporter of Robert Kennedy: something else that stirs the curiosity of the reader. There are plenty of twists and turns to confound your suspicions along the way; and a hint about the safety of Spracklin’s runaway daughter, Marie, provides yet another hook to intrigue one enough to keep turning the pages. The story gallops along at a pace to end with a satisfying denouement. This is a recommended book for any fans of the crime thriller genre; writers such as Mickey Spillane or Raymond Chandler.
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