"Hustle" is basically a fun book, the pleasures of which are not unrelated to those of the eponymous (though unrelated) BBC TV series.
The story of Jack McGreary is set in late 1930's dust-bowl America, and features a young hero who falls in with a couple of itinerant con-artists, Virgil and Rose, who are running scams all over the South-West United States. These are the classic good bad guys, who target the weak willed and greedy (like, everyone) to relieve them of their spare cash.
Jack has a natural talent for the game, and rapidly graduates from being the useful junior partner to the guy who is evidently going to make the running. That is, unless, contrary to everyone's expectations, he makes a radically different choice… Along the way, of course, the reader is induced to ask who is conning whom and whether the (to us) obvious chemistry between Jack and Rose will come to anything.
The author is at pains to locate his tale historically, with constant reminders of the lead up to the outbreak of the second world war, events which prick Jack's conscience, but not that of his friends. Jack, indeed, has a depth which is contrasted with the mindset of Virgil, and perhaps too of Rose, but maybe we just feel that because we are in Jack's head and not that of the others.
Perhaps this is a book which should have been satisfied with being relatively shallow. The historical dimension is is nice try, but doesn't really get us that far, while the moral/philosophical musings are fine as far as they go. But not much further.
The book excels rather at character and at time and place. It does a great job of capturing the feel of post dust bowl USA and allows the reader to develop a genuine warmth towards its primary characters. You like Jack, Virgil and Rose by the end of this and are really rooting for them as the story approaches its dénouement. Before that, you cannot but love the joyous con tricks played along the way.
Recommendation: yes, this was another book bought on the strength of its cover (hmm, getting to be a habit), but also another one which totally lives up to (and I mean UP to) its cover. If you like the cover - and who wouldn't? - you'll like this book too. I did. So give yourself a treat and read it.
The story of Jack McGreary is set in late 1930's dust-bowl America, and features a young hero who falls in with a couple of itinerant con-artists, Virgil and Rose, who are running scams all over the South-West United States. These are the classic good bad guys, who target the weak willed and greedy (like, everyone) to relieve them of their spare cash.
Jack has a natural talent for the game, and rapidly graduates from being the useful junior partner to the guy who is evidently going to make the running. That is, unless, contrary to everyone's expectations, he makes a radically different choice… Along the way, of course, the reader is induced to ask who is conning whom and whether the (to us) obvious chemistry between Jack and Rose will come to anything.
The author is at pains to locate his tale historically, with constant reminders of the lead up to the outbreak of the second world war, events which prick Jack's conscience, but not that of his friends. Jack, indeed, has a depth which is contrasted with the mindset of Virgil, and perhaps too of Rose, but maybe we just feel that because we are in Jack's head and not that of the others.
Perhaps this is a book which should have been satisfied with being relatively shallow. The historical dimension is is nice try, but doesn't really get us that far, while the moral/philosophical musings are fine as far as they go. But not much further.
The book excels rather at character and at time and place. It does a great job of capturing the feel of post dust bowl USA and allows the reader to develop a genuine warmth towards its primary characters. You like Jack, Virgil and Rose by the end of this and are really rooting for them as the story approaches its dénouement. Before that, you cannot but love the joyous con tricks played along the way.
Recommendation: yes, this was another book bought on the strength of its cover (hmm, getting to be a habit), but also another one which totally lives up to (and I mean UP to) its cover. If you like the cover - and who wouldn't? - you'll like this book too. I did. So give yourself a treat and read it.
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