Stevens (like my good self) is a Yank who has taken root in Dublin. Exactly like my aforementioned good self, in fact: came here for college, returned to the US, then ultimately decided to settle in the land of Guinness, redheads and evil software industries. I was eager to see what kinda book me alter-ego would turn out.
The Rizzoli Contract is described as a literary thriller- literary both because it focuses deeply on what is taking place within Harry Donohue (its main character) and because the contract of the title is a book contract- not the contract put out on someone’s life (as I had assumed, going in.)
A good read? Yeah. But it would have been jazzed up by more hit men. More rocket launchers. And spaghetti sauce.
Don’t get me wrong: this is an ably written novel. The blurb about the author says that, when working for a publishing company back in the 80’s, he penned the real-life police corruption expose that this fictional contract is based upon. Since then? An unelaborated "number of books." Read: ghost writer. Stevens is likely the capable guy they call in to do the "heavy lifting" when whichever faded sports star of TV idol decides to tell-all. I’m glad to see that he delivers, when finally putting his own name to a piece if prose. It’s something to be proud of. It’s just not that exciting.
Plot summary: a fifty-something Bostonian, failing to safeguard the family business which his siblings have entrusted to him, casts all his wits and strength into a make-or-break gamble. Can he turn Rizzoli’s story into a bestseller that will revive the fortunes of Donohue Press? Can he keep his grubby old-man mitts of of Rizzoli’s wife? Can he make amends with his own family, especially his estranged son? Over the course of 330 pages, all is revealed.
The real appeal of the book is its portraits of Boston, the 80’s, and Harry. (Get your reading glasses checked if you can’t see the plot twist coming a mile away). There are some fantastic descriptions, and the spirit of that place in time is captured with complete authority. This is honest. It’s the real deal.
It’s just that real life is the thing that foolish young DFAs like me pick up books to escape.
Three and a half stars outta five, and another anecdote in evidence that ex-pat eyes capture with amazing clarity their native country.
- Added to the DFA Guide, November 2003.
Song for Katya, Stevens' second novel, is due to be published in September 2005. Info on this title- and other interesting bits- can be found on the recently-discovered www.kevinstevens.net.
The site details the many books that he's co-authored, blowing well and truly away my know-it-all suspicion of ghostwriting. Ah well, your pal Mick is a right eejit.
Best of luck!
An unruly review of Song for Katya is now available on Critical Mick.
More good news, for Katya fans: the book has been optioned for a film, and Mr. Stevens is currently working on its screenplay. Child of the 80's (and one of the few to sit all the way through dreary, art-house cold-war flick Anna) I hearby nominate Paulina Porizkova for the title role.
Just keep her hubby Ric Ocasek away from the soundtrack.
Guide Index. Red words? Check the Dub Glossary!