Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Faber & Faber (2018), Edition: Main, 336 pages
Description
In New Orleans, Texas Ranger John Q is out of his jurisdiction, and possibly out of his depth. It seems everyone in Louisiana wants to send him home, and every time he asks questions there's trouble: from the pharmacist to the detective running scared to the pimp who turned to him as a last resort. Before John Q knows it, he looks the only link between a series of murders. So who could be trying to set him up, and why, and who can he turn to in a city where Southern tradition and family ties rule? Infused with the rhythms of its iconic setting, The Contract is a thriller to keep even the most seasoned crime readers gripped and guessing all the way to its endgame.
User reviews
LibraryThing member boodgieman
One day in 1967, John Quarrie (John Q to his friends and colleagues), a Texas Ranger headquartered out of Wichita Falls, foils a gun store robbery; one perpetrator lies dead and the other is in jail. His investigation leads to the discovery of a murder made to look like a suicide. The only clue is
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a prescription bottle written on a New Orleans pharmacy. Soon Quarrie is off to the Big Easy to investigate, despite it being outside his jurisdiction. In no time at all, everyone from the NOPD to the DA's office to various pimps, hit men, and other shady characters wants him either out of town or dead. Everyone he meets seems to be hiding something, but what? And what is the significance of April 28? Gulvin keeps the action coming hot and fast and leaves you guessing every step of the way. Although Gulvin has been writing thrillers and crime fiction for over twenty years, somehow he has remained off my radar. It's always great fun to discover a worthy writer I was not aware of. This is the second John Q novel and hopefully not the last. A fast, rousing read, highly recommended for fans of crime fiction and anyone who enjoys stories set in New Orleans. Show Less
LibraryThing member Squeex
This is an outstanding thriller. It's as much a history lesson as a what-if tale as much as it is a mystery thriller. Once I got into the "boy howdy, things were different back in the 60s", I really enjoyed my time with this book. It's tough, grim, no holds barred, no lightness or laughter. John Q
I can definitely recommend this book and author and I plan on looking up the first in the series and anything else Gulvin writes.
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is a Texas Ranger who's been marked during his time in Vietnam. He has a job to do and a code. He will do what he needs to do to get the job done. The conspiracy in New Orleans is trying to keep him from doing that. I can definitely recommend this book and author and I plan on looking up the first in the series and anything else Gulvin writes.
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LibraryThing member grumpydan
The second book in the John Q series and just as much as exciting as the first one. John Q is a Texas Ranger in 1960’s Texas, but this case leads him to New Orleans which where he is not wanted. It all begins with a break-in at a gun store, where a dead suspect has links to New Orleans. John Q
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follows the trail, but finds it harder to get his answers as he is being set up as the fall guy at the same time. Brilliant characters, intense plot set in a political climate with actual history meshed into it. I loved it all! Show Less
LibraryThing member CKGS
John Quarrie, or John Q for short, Texas Ranger, kills a man in a shootout at a forced traffic stop. Wiley and Henderson, excons, had just assaulted and stolen guns from a gun store owner in Deacon's Mount, Texas. The same day, John Q checks out the death of a man without identification in a hotel
With few clues, other than a prescription bottle from a pharmacy in New Orleans, John Q. travels to New Orleans to figure out what Wiley was up to and why another man is dead and if the two events are related.
With no jurisdiction in New Orleans, the Ranger must rely on the local NOPD's help but finds it difficult to know who he can trust. Second book in the series set in the 1960s, the truth leads all the way back to the Civil War.
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room in Wichita Falls. By coincidence, Wiley and Henderson had also spent the night in the same hotel.With few clues, other than a prescription bottle from a pharmacy in New Orleans, John Q. travels to New Orleans to figure out what Wiley was up to and why another man is dead and if the two events are related.
With no jurisdiction in New Orleans, the Ranger must rely on the local NOPD's help but finds it difficult to know who he can trust. Second book in the series set in the 1960s, the truth leads all the way back to the Civil War.
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LibraryThing member nubian_princesa
I read the Contract as a standalone. Its a little confusing but smart and suspenseful. All comes to light in the end.
LibraryThing member norinrad10
This is one of the better books I've read over the last couple of years. The story is set in the late sixties and involves a Texas Ranger named John Q and from there nothing is as it seems, including the genre of the book. I'm loathe to say too much, lest I spoil the mysteries both in and out of
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the tale. You'll just have to take my word that this a journey worth embarking on. Show Less
LibraryThing member amuskopf
I received this book as part of LibraryThing’s early reviewer program.
I enjoyed The Contract I liked John Q. And his old school ways and the setting in the tumultuous ‘60s. I liked the western feel and the secondary characters.
I would have liked more characterization and description of the
In all a satisfying read.
I will look for book 3 when it comes out and plan to read book 1.
I enjoyed The Contract I liked John Q. And his old school ways and the setting in the tumultuous ‘60s. I liked the western feel and the secondary characters.
I would have liked more characterization and description of the
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scenes but I’m sure it will all be fleshed out for the finished publication. In all a satisfying read.
I will look for book 3 when it comes out and plan to read book 1.
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LibraryThing member owlie13
Interesting mystery, set in the 1960s. While I enjoyed the story, I did find it hard-going at times due to the sheer number of characters trying to keep everyone straight. I also think it would increase people's enjoyment of the book if they were at least somewhat familiar with that time period in
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history, especially certain events in Texas. That said, I liked the lead character, and his family/friends. I'd like to read about him when he's at home and not traveling. Show Less
LibraryThing member Tatoosh
A poorly planned smash and grab at a gun shop to obtain a M1c riffle goes bad almost from the start. Texas Ranger John Quarrie kills one of the burglars and arrests the other. While checking the hotel room of an apparent heart attack victim a short time later John Q finds a prescription bottle for
Suspecting murder, John Q is dispatched to New Orleans to talk to the pharmacist. The local police are not welcoming, the pharmacist disappears shortly after Q talks to him, and within a day he is in jail. Clearly someone in an influential position does not want a Texas Ranger poking around in New Orleans.
The premise of “The Contract” is interesting but the execution is disappointing. The writing varies from okay to slightly awkward. It is never so lacking as to be off-putting but it has an ineffable quality that sometimes jolted me from the story and I found myself examining the text to think how it could be revised.
The plot could be improved as well. John Q. is not depicted as a competent investigator but more as a man who stumbles into one situation after another. Some of his decisions seem foolish and unethical. He rescues a woman who has been kidnapped by local thugs and she tells him the missing pharmacist is being held captive in the same building. Instead of calling for an immediate rescue he leaves a telephone message for the detective who had arrested him earlier. The ultimate death of the pharmacist is due in part to Q’s indifference and lack of professionalism.
Although the central character has interesting potential, the quality of the writing, the plot, and the depiction of John Q. as indifferent to the fate of a helpless man are not appealing. Some 50 pages from the end I actively considered whether to read through to the end. In the classic time waste I decide to see how the author tied up all the plot lines. Big mistake. The ending, like much of the book, was a disappointment.
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Proloid from a New Orleans pharmacy. Things don’t seem right. The victim had no identification or credit cards, and no apparent way of getting to the hotel where he was found.Suspecting murder, John Q is dispatched to New Orleans to talk to the pharmacist. The local police are not welcoming, the pharmacist disappears shortly after Q talks to him, and within a day he is in jail. Clearly someone in an influential position does not want a Texas Ranger poking around in New Orleans.
The premise of “The Contract” is interesting but the execution is disappointing. The writing varies from okay to slightly awkward. It is never so lacking as to be off-putting but it has an ineffable quality that sometimes jolted me from the story and I found myself examining the text to think how it could be revised.
The plot could be improved as well. John Q. is not depicted as a competent investigator but more as a man who stumbles into one situation after another. Some of his decisions seem foolish and unethical. He rescues a woman who has been kidnapped by local thugs and she tells him the missing pharmacist is being held captive in the same building. Instead of calling for an immediate rescue he leaves a telephone message for the detective who had arrested him earlier. The ultimate death of the pharmacist is due in part to Q’s indifference and lack of professionalism.
Although the central character has interesting potential, the quality of the writing, the plot, and the depiction of John Q. as indifferent to the fate of a helpless man are not appealing. Some 50 pages from the end I actively considered whether to read through to the end. In the classic time waste I decide to see how the author tied up all the plot lines. Big mistake. The ending, like much of the book, was a disappointment.
Show Less
LibraryThing member kustomambition
Brief Synopsis:
The Contract is based in the 1960s and follows a Texas Ranger who is attempting to solve a Crime in a city outside of his Jurisdiction, following the main character as he tries to navigate very different culture than what he may be used to. By the end, not only is this a
Opinions:
The Contract held my attention and pulled me back in several times. I like the detail that Gulvin uses as it is the type of book that had me picturing much of the book as I was reading - the equivalent to "getting lost in the pages". I also like that the book ended up representing a little bit of history that most may not be aware of - making the book both exciting and intriguing.
I will say that for the first 50-75 pages I was absolutely lost and almost put the book down for good. WAY too many characters introduced way to fast for me to keep up with and enjoy reading still. That may just be my preference. Also - several of these characters were never used again - to my knowledge anyway - so I'm not sure that their names were needed as it made it more confusing. Also, for the first 100 pages it seemed to me that several of the characters had two or three names that were used. Sometimes just a last name, sometimes a nickname, sometimes their first name before it was introduced as the same person as was the nickname. I didn't see any reason that this was needed to add to the "suspense" - so I feel it just made it difficult to get through adn frustrating at times.
However, after the first 100 pages I was fully involved and wanting to read more and more to find out what happens.
Overall, a very good book and well written with a good amount of description. I have not read Gulvin's other work featuring John Q and was not lost at all, able to follow the story well so you do not have to read this as a series. I will likely look up and read the first in the series now though. :)
The Contract is based in the 1960s and follows a Texas Ranger who is attempting to solve a Crime in a city outside of his Jurisdiction, following the main character as he tries to navigate very different culture than what he may be used to. By the end, not only is this a
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mystery/crime novel, but it also introduces quite a bit of Southern US history. Opinions:
The Contract held my attention and pulled me back in several times. I like the detail that Gulvin uses as it is the type of book that had me picturing much of the book as I was reading - the equivalent to "getting lost in the pages". I also like that the book ended up representing a little bit of history that most may not be aware of - making the book both exciting and intriguing.
I will say that for the first 50-75 pages I was absolutely lost and almost put the book down for good. WAY too many characters introduced way to fast for me to keep up with and enjoy reading still. That may just be my preference. Also - several of these characters were never used again - to my knowledge anyway - so I'm not sure that their names were needed as it made it more confusing. Also, for the first 100 pages it seemed to me that several of the characters had two or three names that were used. Sometimes just a last name, sometimes a nickname, sometimes their first name before it was introduced as the same person as was the nickname. I didn't see any reason that this was needed to add to the "suspense" - so I feel it just made it difficult to get through adn frustrating at times.
However, after the first 100 pages I was fully involved and wanting to read more and more to find out what happens.
Overall, a very good book and well written with a good amount of description. I have not read Gulvin's other work featuring John Q and was not lost at all, able to follow the story well so you do not have to read this as a series. I will likely look up and read the first in the series now though. :)
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LibraryThing member CandyH
This was quite a story, but very hard to follow with all the characters involved. There were so many twists and turns and so many characters. I appreciate LibraryThing giving me the chance to read it, but I do not recommend it.
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
336 p.; 5.08 inches
ISBN
0571323820 / 9780571323821
Similar in this library
DDC/MDS
| 823.92 |