Vice, Virtue and Villainy product reviews

I thought that the title "Vice, Virtue and Villainy" implied that this might be a novel in Victorian style, but that was not the case - it is very firmly set in present-day New Zealand! And there are plenty of villains to please the crime fiction enthusiast, although virtue is a little thin on the ground unless you count teamwork and looking out for your mates. There is lots of humour; this is a story that does not take itself too seriously, managing (and succeeding) to deliver an entertaining romp through the criminal world.

The humour was the first thing that caught my attention, starting with the cover depiction of a group of "gangsters" in full gear, incongruously placed on a sandy beach, and then leading on to the medical people (whose occupations all started with "P") who had shaped George's life after his hospitalisation. Even then, George felt "about as useless as a saddle on a wombat" - a delightful expression, evoking images of a small marsupial sulking under its burden! These gems of original humour pop up regularly throughout the book. For example, Julie, exploring Alf's warehouse as the only unshackled woman there, is afraid she would "stand out like bulls' balls" if she were discovered.

The book is written in a fluent, conversational style which is easy to read and made me reluctant to put it down. Although the story is predictable insofar as the baddies get dealt with appropriately and the goodies live happily ever after, there are enough nuances in the plot development to maintain reader interest and provide some unexpected extras. The setting is familiar to anyone who grew up in Aotearoa New Zealand; beaches, a mostly relaxed way of life (except when Gail is pointing her gun at George), and plenty of Number 8 wire repurposing (think ambulances!)

I approved of the way George Simpson showed that he was determined to get back as far as possible to the level of fitness he had enjoyed before he was shot. He is portrayed as a strong-willed person who is unwilling to accept anything less of himself. His "partners", Josie and Gail, are equally stubborn and refuse to miss out on the action when there is a crime to solve. They are joined later in the story by Julie, who proves to be the bravest of them all. The most colourful character, however, is Bob Hargreaves. He is also my personal favourite.

Crime and investigation are the main themes of the book, together with loyalty to your team and commitment to a cause. However, there is a secondary thread that should be included: police corruption. It is an element that has become more noticeable in recent years, together with the steps taken to identify it and stamp it out. While it is not the most important part of the story, Bob Richmond has named it and woven it into the plot development. For me, that was a plus.