BOOK REVIEWS
As an aside...Night Jessamine (pictured above) is one of Harry's favourites - see page 43 of Harry's World.
"Harry wandered into the Net Warrior Cybercafé mid afternoon, looking as out of place as a double-ended dildo being unwrapped at a baby shower."
- Harry's World (p.46)
- Harry's World (p.46)
From Amazon (US) - October 2020
Alec Cizak (editor of Pulp Modern magazine)
5 stars
If Henry Miller Wrote Crime Fiction…
If the Henry Miller who wrote Under the Roofs of Paris had been contracted to write a hardboiled PI book, this book would be the result. A.B. Patterson's Harry Kenmare stomps through a seedy underworld solving cases and bedding a LOT of women. This book is the precise opposite of what the current, Puritanical mainstream would prefer you read. It breaks every modern taboo and creates the same sort of freewheeling atmosphere we might expect from a 1970s drive-in movie, the kind made far away from Hollywood. The writing is crisp and straightforward - the definition of hardboiled. It's a fast read that throws a lot of exploitation elements at the reader while sneaking in some very sharp social criticism of the author's native land, Australia. Most of that criticism, I feel, could be applied to governments and bureaucracies around the world. If you've got tough skin, this is a very enjoyable read.
Alec Cizak (editor of Pulp Modern magazine)
5 stars
If Henry Miller Wrote Crime Fiction…
If the Henry Miller who wrote Under the Roofs of Paris had been contracted to write a hardboiled PI book, this book would be the result. A.B. Patterson's Harry Kenmare stomps through a seedy underworld solving cases and bedding a LOT of women. This book is the precise opposite of what the current, Puritanical mainstream would prefer you read. It breaks every modern taboo and creates the same sort of freewheeling atmosphere we might expect from a 1970s drive-in movie, the kind made far away from Hollywood. The writing is crisp and straightforward - the definition of hardboiled. It's a fast read that throws a lot of exploitation elements at the reader while sneaking in some very sharp social criticism of the author's native land, Australia. Most of that criticism, I feel, could be applied to governments and bureaucracies around the world. If you've got tough skin, this is a very enjoyable read.
From Hannah, a.k.a. The Dorset Book Detective – October 2020
Harry Kenmare, PI – At Your Service
Review: A Hardboiled PI For Modern Times
As any fans of this blog will know, hardboiled detective fiction is my guilty pleasure. While the Golden Age brings the most amazing authors, and I like modern work, I can’t help but enjoy reading the exploits of rugged, hardboiled detectives of the 1920s.
I’ve often lamented the lack of old-school PIs in today’s literary world, so I was excited to read the latest short story collection from crime fiction author A.B. Patterson, who I interviewed previously.
Patterson’s latest book, Harry Kenmare, PI - At Your Service, is a short story collection featuring an introduction from the author and a selection of incredible illustrations and stories.
Each story features the titular Kenmare traversing through modern day Sydney in Australia. He works, and very proudly lives in the seedy underbelly of the city, frequenting strip clubs, dodgy bars and biker gang hangouts. Along his travels, he intervenes with corrupt drugs police officers and the ensuing gunfights, searches for missing young women and gets himself into a whole load of mischief and mayhem.
Something I love about this short story collection is Patterson’s liberal use of swear words. There’s even a short story that’s actually called Wankers, which is brilliant. Patterson’s even as liberal with the C word (which I won’t use here in case it offends anyone). He’s almost as liberal with the word as my Scottish housemate, and she uses it more often than any other word.
The swearing, like Patterson’s incredible use of similes, speaks of the literary influences from the hardboiled detective genre. Many of the stories are reminiscent of something that Raymond Chandler wrote when he was creating Philip Marlowe. The similes are particularly inventive and keep the reader engaged. My particular favourite is ‘He looked as ugly as a hatful of arseholes.’ His dialogue is also incredible, and reminiscent of some of the best examples of the hardboiled crime fiction genre.
One thing that I’m uncertain about is the lack of agency in Patterson’s female characters. They all seem to be raging nymphomaniacs who are irresistibly drawn to Kenmare, a man who can’t possibly have that much money left after his boozing to pay for flash clothes. He also doesn’t seem like the type.
Every woman in the stories is ready and willing to sleep with Kenmare, not just because they want something from him, but in many cases simply because they want to. That’s an unrelenting male fantasy that’s a definite hangover from the pulp fiction novels that Patterson is emulating so successfully in every other particular.
I’d like to see, in the future, Patterson make more of an effort to move away from that out-dated trope and towards a more balanced view of female characters. However, that’s my only gripe, and it’s clear that Patterson does it in order to remain faithful to the works he’s trying to emulate. By bringing his stories into the modern era, he should adjust some of his views, but for the most part the stores are engaging and incredible representations of a modern PI.
It does have to be said, the representation of sex workers is great in terms of volume, but again, they tend to lack agency. There are a lot of them; almost every story contains at least one sex worker, but they’re not a striking example of female empowerment. Patterson’s runaways and missing women are almost entirely sex workers, because apparently women who leave their parents and families can only start stripping, performing in sex shows or sleeping with blokes for money. None of these women seem to be working in the sex industry because they enjoy it, but rather out of desperation, because they can’t find any other work after leaving home.
These aren’t stories for the faint of heart; if you’re not a fan of swearing and debauchery, then you’d be better off sticking to Golden Age crime fiction. Even some of the most renowned hardboiled writers didn’t stoop to the level of debauchery and graphic description that Patterson gives to his readers. I’m pretty sure the Karma Sutra has less graphic sexual description than this collection of short stories. So, if you’re a bit prudish, or you don’t think that swearing belongs in books, then stay away from the Harry Kenmare series. You’ll be missing out on action-packed tales.
Overall, I’m impressed by this series of incredible short stories. Patterson has bought the hardboiled private eye back to live in Harry Kenmare, and created a character that perfectly embodies the genre for the modern age.
Harry Kenmare, PI – At Your Service
Review: A Hardboiled PI For Modern Times
As any fans of this blog will know, hardboiled detective fiction is my guilty pleasure. While the Golden Age brings the most amazing authors, and I like modern work, I can’t help but enjoy reading the exploits of rugged, hardboiled detectives of the 1920s.
I’ve often lamented the lack of old-school PIs in today’s literary world, so I was excited to read the latest short story collection from crime fiction author A.B. Patterson, who I interviewed previously.
Patterson’s latest book, Harry Kenmare, PI - At Your Service, is a short story collection featuring an introduction from the author and a selection of incredible illustrations and stories.
Each story features the titular Kenmare traversing through modern day Sydney in Australia. He works, and very proudly lives in the seedy underbelly of the city, frequenting strip clubs, dodgy bars and biker gang hangouts. Along his travels, he intervenes with corrupt drugs police officers and the ensuing gunfights, searches for missing young women and gets himself into a whole load of mischief and mayhem.
Something I love about this short story collection is Patterson’s liberal use of swear words. There’s even a short story that’s actually called Wankers, which is brilliant. Patterson’s even as liberal with the C word (which I won’t use here in case it offends anyone). He’s almost as liberal with the word as my Scottish housemate, and she uses it more often than any other word.
The swearing, like Patterson’s incredible use of similes, speaks of the literary influences from the hardboiled detective genre. Many of the stories are reminiscent of something that Raymond Chandler wrote when he was creating Philip Marlowe. The similes are particularly inventive and keep the reader engaged. My particular favourite is ‘He looked as ugly as a hatful of arseholes.’ His dialogue is also incredible, and reminiscent of some of the best examples of the hardboiled crime fiction genre.
One thing that I’m uncertain about is the lack of agency in Patterson’s female characters. They all seem to be raging nymphomaniacs who are irresistibly drawn to Kenmare, a man who can’t possibly have that much money left after his boozing to pay for flash clothes. He also doesn’t seem like the type.
Every woman in the stories is ready and willing to sleep with Kenmare, not just because they want something from him, but in many cases simply because they want to. That’s an unrelenting male fantasy that’s a definite hangover from the pulp fiction novels that Patterson is emulating so successfully in every other particular.
I’d like to see, in the future, Patterson make more of an effort to move away from that out-dated trope and towards a more balanced view of female characters. However, that’s my only gripe, and it’s clear that Patterson does it in order to remain faithful to the works he’s trying to emulate. By bringing his stories into the modern era, he should adjust some of his views, but for the most part the stores are engaging and incredible representations of a modern PI.
It does have to be said, the representation of sex workers is great in terms of volume, but again, they tend to lack agency. There are a lot of them; almost every story contains at least one sex worker, but they’re not a striking example of female empowerment. Patterson’s runaways and missing women are almost entirely sex workers, because apparently women who leave their parents and families can only start stripping, performing in sex shows or sleeping with blokes for money. None of these women seem to be working in the sex industry because they enjoy it, but rather out of desperation, because they can’t find any other work after leaving home.
These aren’t stories for the faint of heart; if you’re not a fan of swearing and debauchery, then you’d be better off sticking to Golden Age crime fiction. Even some of the most renowned hardboiled writers didn’t stoop to the level of debauchery and graphic description that Patterson gives to his readers. I’m pretty sure the Karma Sutra has less graphic sexual description than this collection of short stories. So, if you’re a bit prudish, or you don’t think that swearing belongs in books, then stay away from the Harry Kenmare series. You’ll be missing out on action-packed tales.
Overall, I’m impressed by this series of incredible short stories. Patterson has bought the hardboiled private eye back to live in Harry Kenmare, and created a character that perfectly embodies the genre for the modern age.
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The second major review of Harry's Quest has just come out, and it's from one of the editors, Cameron Mount, of an anthology magazine I both hugely enjoy and respect, Broadswords and Blasters. See my blog for a couple of book reviews I've done of their issues last year or so.
So here is Mr Mount's take, with which I'm pretty thrilled, on the latest Harry novel: Pulp Consumption: Harry's Quest by A.B.Patterson. By Cameron Mount. Pulp novelist A.B. Patterson recently released his second novel about private investigator Harry Kenmare, Harry’s Quest. The appropriately titled novel explores Harry’s quest to exact vengeance upon the pedophile murderers who tortured, raped, and killed Harry’s daughter, Orla, several years prior to the events of the novel. As you could imagine, having survived the tragedy has changed Harry. He’s a hard-drinking, debaucherous, middle-aged man with a distinct sense of justice that includes returning some depraved physical violence against the types of men and women who engage in pedophilia. I think most of us can sympathize with Harry’s innermost hatred of those kinds of perverts, and as such can root for Harry to succeed in his revenge. Like most PIs in the literary world, Harry started as a cop, but eventually left. In most hard-boiled fiction it’s because of corruption and cover-ups that don’t jibe with the protagonist’s sense of morality, and that’s also the case here. One of the men involved in the pedophile ring that killed Orla was a high-ranking police official, and Harry’s exposure of this official and stymied attempt to seek justice are enough to force him out of uniform. In this second book, Harry has a coterie of assistants, such that he has to retitle his private investigative business from Kenmare to Kenmare and Associates. Joining his little crew is his friend Trevor, also a former cop, and the twins Sasha and Tanya, former prostitutes Harry saved from exploitation in the previous novel, Harry’s World. I’ll be honest in saying this isn’t the type of novel I typically read. I mean, I’ve read a lot of hard-boiled fiction over the years, but my tastes have never really been for contemporary crime fiction. That said, based on prior experience with his work, I expected Patterson to deliver a good story with a lot of action and attention to detail. After all, Patterson himself is a former vice cop. Also, as he is a native Australian, the stories are peppered with Australian slang, which lends even more credence and authority to the voice. Luckily for those of us in the rest of the world, Patterson has provided a glossary, though after the first 100 pages or so you won’t need to refer to it anymore. I won’t spoil the events of the novel. In short, Harry is tasked with uncovering some union corruption, and along the way gains the ability to right a political wrong with the help of some Irish gangsters, and also pursues and delivers vigilante justice against pedophiles, both those involved in Orla’s murder and others. There are pigs involved, and if you’ve read any crime fiction or true crime stories, you can guess where they figure into the story. Along the way he has to say goodbye to some friends, but also gets to engage in some hot, sweaty sex with gorgeous women. Do be aware this novel is not for prudes or those with weak stomachs. On an American movie or TV rating scale, this would be at the hardest end of R or TV/MA. In terms of sexual content, think Starz network tv shows like American Gods, Spartacus, or Black Sails. The writing is mostly solid, with a few spots where I felt the craft could have used more polish, mostly on the technical end rather than story development. It’s certainly not a huge drawback to the pace of the story, but a couple times I was pulled out of the story and had to reread a section to make sure I understood what I’d read. If I had one complaint with the overall plotting, it’s that Harry does come across as a bit of a Mary Sue some times, as I’m never really in doubt that he’s going to win and get his vengeance and the confounding factors don’t really slow him down at all. Still, that’s a minor complaint. The novel does leave room for a sequel, which I’ll be looking forward to reading in a few years. If you’re a fan of Switchblade magazine, one of our compatriots in indie pulp publishing, you’ve probably come across Patterson’s work in the past. If you haven’t, you ought to buy Harry’s World and Harry’s Quest. Patterson is right at home in the pages of Switchblade and his books are larger versions of what you’ve read there. See the original at Broadswords & Blasters magazine. And if you love pulp, across a range of genres, then grab a copy of their magazine - it's a tremendous read. Here's the purchase link to the latest - Issue # 8. Cheers, ABP |
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The very first review of Harry's Quest is a cracker!
Crime fiction connoisseur, Hannah, a.k.a. the Dorset Book Detective, had the following to say: Harry’s Quest Review: A Shockingly Good Thriller Having interviewed Sydney based author and former police detective A. B. Patterson last year, I was pleased to be able to review the second in his series about his dogged private investigator Harry Kenmare, Harry’s Quest. A private eye novel with real grit and drive, Harry’s Quest sees readers reunite with investigator Harry Kenmare as he seeks to right the world’s wrongs and achieve his revenge on a world that has taken a great deal from him. Drawing on Patterson’s experience as a policeman, the novel is gripping and features a host of memorable characters. The sequel to Harry’s World, like its predecessor Harry’s Quest consists of five ‘parts’, which each act as a component part of the whole to create an interesting narrative. Gritty and spellbinding, the novel combines the same short, sharp sentence structure and witty dialogue that made the first novel so popular and adds an extra element of danger. In this second outing for Harry Kenmare, the private detective is now inundated with work as the elite seek him out to do their dirty work. He uses these jobs to finance his real focus; revenge on those who have wronged him in the past. Having assembled a team, Harry uses them to extract his revenge and get back at the monsters that preyed on him and those he loved. Packed with sex and violence, the novel gives an eye-opening view of the nastier side of human nature and the motives that bring out the worst in people; money, power and sex. Ultimately, Harry’s Quest is another cracking example of author A.B. Patterson’s expert storytelling as he takes his hardboiled investigator for another spin and lets him loose on the elite and the scandalous. Balance is the key here; Patterson gets it just right, with enough gore, grime and gentile backstabbing to have the reader coming back for more. See the original at The Dorset Book Detective. And this is a great blog to follow if you love crime fiction. Cheers, ABP |
The Thrilling Detective Web Site
Kevin Burton Smith, Editor-in-Chief, in his web site page on PI Harry Kenmare, described Harry as a "behemoth of busted dreams rumbling through a hostile and unjust world he's no longer sure he belongs in." A pretty accurate description of my main man.
He went on to say this about Harry's World:
"...for those looking for something ballsy and literate, in the Chandler/Bruen vein, this one might do the trick."
I'll definitely take that as a compliment, coming from someone as knowledgable in the area of detective fiction as Kevin Burton Smith.
Kevin Burton Smith, Editor-in-Chief, in his web site page on PI Harry Kenmare, described Harry as a "behemoth of busted dreams rumbling through a hostile and unjust world he's no longer sure he belongs in." A pretty accurate description of my main man.
He went on to say this about Harry's World:
"...for those looking for something ballsy and literate, in the Chandler/Bruen vein, this one might do the trick."
I'll definitely take that as a compliment, coming from someone as knowledgable in the area of detective fiction as Kevin Burton Smith.
& MORE...
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The Self Publisher's Showcase said...
"***** 5 Stars!" The full review is below. 
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& MORE...
Review snippets from other authors:
Author - Robin Elizabeth (on her website www.riedstrap.wordpress.com):
Harry’s World by A.B. Patterson. Rough cop, gritty issues, sexy sexing and beautiful writing.
Crime Author - Diana Hockley (on Amazon):
Being an Australian, I am always drawn to novels written by my countrymen, so it was with great anticipation that I bought this one. I was not disappointed!
Harry is a likeable person...the sex workers, computer hackers and formers colleagues that make up his circle of friends are brought to life in this well written book.
I really liked this novel - though not the subjects who litter Harry's World - and suspect that some of the stories depicted are, sadly, factual rather than created for the plot. If Mr Patterson writes a sequel to this and we hear more of Harry and Tanya and Sasha et al, I will be first in line to purchase a copy.
Crime Author - A.C.Efverman (on Goodreads):
This is a great story - offering a very different main character, set in Sydney. The author has drawn a convincing seedy backdrop to an unflinching realistic view of what takes place out of sight in the dark underbelly of a large city; mixed with a fast paced story line that is obviously fictitious. In all this, Harry's personality looms large through the pages. Harry reminds me of hard detectives from a long gone era - although Harry definitely has a soft centre. Even though I could not read some small parts of this novel due to the graphic nature of scenes involving children - I understand why the author has included these scenes as they paint the grim reality of these situations.
The story kept me captivated throughout - a real page turner.
Crime author - Gregory James (on his website www.gregoryjamesauthor.com):
"…you’ll find a host of independent authors with cracking local yarns.
A.B. Patterson’s Harry’s World is a perfect example. Good old detective noir story involving protagonist Harry Kenmare, a busted-ass former cop turned private investigator. Set in and around the inner city Sydney suburbs, Harry (who has a liking for Jameson whiskey, cigarettes and women) gets into all sorts of trouble helping his clients out of many a sticky situation. And with undertones of corruption, Patterson captures the murky world of the inner-west whilst entertaining readers with Harry’s exploits. From twin prostitutes to corrupt senior police and politicians with breast-sucking fetishes, Harry’s World is a wild ride.”
Some excerpts from reviews on Amazon and elsewhere:
This was a book I started reading thinking it would be reminiscent of an old Ray Chandler or Mickey Spillane, and so it was, but that was just the beginning...
This an interesting novel, very well written, and with very well realized characters...
I recommend this book highly for its humor and excitement, and hope it's not the last we see of Harry and his friends!
- Lynne (Amazon, Barnes & Noble).
Incredibly well written and a story that would drive any parent into a vigilante like vengeance, A.B. Patterson delivers brilliance with his Harry’s World.
- Jay Munson (Amazon).
Website - Meerkat Reviews:
Harry's World - A.B. Patterson. Memories of Raymond Chandler.
Harry Kenmare is a PI...an ex-cop with a penchant for beautiful women and good sex!
The book is written in chapters of Harry's world. Each part is a story on its own though there are threads from the previous parts woven in.
Harry's World shows the seedy underbelly of Sydney - corrupt politicians and police using power and knowledge to their own advantage. The visual nature of the words may be too much for some readers.
Harry calls on other ex-cops, friends in the sex industry and other colourful characters to assist him in his moral crusade against the filth of the city.
Looking forward to the next instalment to Harry's World. Loved the book!
- Helen Connell - book reviewer.
Witty and a nice easy read, I could definitely pick up a sequel to see what PI Kenmare does next.
- Tessa Walters (Amazon).
Very interesting take on the 'typical' detective story which I found to be anything but typical and loved it for this reason. Harry's World surprised me and kept me intrigued not only for the mystery and the suspense of wanting to know the outcome of Harry's struggles but also for the characters Patterson has created who I found very well written and some of them so lovable, Harry included. I enjoyed this character so much so that I would love to read more of his adventures as well as his diverse group of confidants who try to help him rid the world of some of its purest of evils.
- KindleCrazy (Barnes & Noble).
I really enjoyed this book and I've fallen for Harry! He's an interesting character - rough but appealing. This was a fun read with a fast moving plot and enough wry humor to keep me engrossed. Can't wait to see what Harry's up to next.
- Liz (Goodreads).
Author - Robin Elizabeth (on her website www.riedstrap.wordpress.com):
Harry’s World by A.B. Patterson. Rough cop, gritty issues, sexy sexing and beautiful writing.
Crime Author - Diana Hockley (on Amazon):
Being an Australian, I am always drawn to novels written by my countrymen, so it was with great anticipation that I bought this one. I was not disappointed!
Harry is a likeable person...the sex workers, computer hackers and formers colleagues that make up his circle of friends are brought to life in this well written book.
I really liked this novel - though not the subjects who litter Harry's World - and suspect that some of the stories depicted are, sadly, factual rather than created for the plot. If Mr Patterson writes a sequel to this and we hear more of Harry and Tanya and Sasha et al, I will be first in line to purchase a copy.
Crime Author - A.C.Efverman (on Goodreads):
This is a great story - offering a very different main character, set in Sydney. The author has drawn a convincing seedy backdrop to an unflinching realistic view of what takes place out of sight in the dark underbelly of a large city; mixed with a fast paced story line that is obviously fictitious. In all this, Harry's personality looms large through the pages. Harry reminds me of hard detectives from a long gone era - although Harry definitely has a soft centre. Even though I could not read some small parts of this novel due to the graphic nature of scenes involving children - I understand why the author has included these scenes as they paint the grim reality of these situations.
The story kept me captivated throughout - a real page turner.
Crime author - Gregory James (on his website www.gregoryjamesauthor.com):
"…you’ll find a host of independent authors with cracking local yarns.
A.B. Patterson’s Harry’s World is a perfect example. Good old detective noir story involving protagonist Harry Kenmare, a busted-ass former cop turned private investigator. Set in and around the inner city Sydney suburbs, Harry (who has a liking for Jameson whiskey, cigarettes and women) gets into all sorts of trouble helping his clients out of many a sticky situation. And with undertones of corruption, Patterson captures the murky world of the inner-west whilst entertaining readers with Harry’s exploits. From twin prostitutes to corrupt senior police and politicians with breast-sucking fetishes, Harry’s World is a wild ride.”
Some excerpts from reviews on Amazon and elsewhere:
This was a book I started reading thinking it would be reminiscent of an old Ray Chandler or Mickey Spillane, and so it was, but that was just the beginning...
This an interesting novel, very well written, and with very well realized characters...
I recommend this book highly for its humor and excitement, and hope it's not the last we see of Harry and his friends!
- Lynne (Amazon, Barnes & Noble).
Incredibly well written and a story that would drive any parent into a vigilante like vengeance, A.B. Patterson delivers brilliance with his Harry’s World.
- Jay Munson (Amazon).
Website - Meerkat Reviews:
Harry's World - A.B. Patterson. Memories of Raymond Chandler.
Harry Kenmare is a PI...an ex-cop with a penchant for beautiful women and good sex!
The book is written in chapters of Harry's world. Each part is a story on its own though there are threads from the previous parts woven in.
Harry's World shows the seedy underbelly of Sydney - corrupt politicians and police using power and knowledge to their own advantage. The visual nature of the words may be too much for some readers.
Harry calls on other ex-cops, friends in the sex industry and other colourful characters to assist him in his moral crusade against the filth of the city.
Looking forward to the next instalment to Harry's World. Loved the book!
- Helen Connell - book reviewer.
Witty and a nice easy read, I could definitely pick up a sequel to see what PI Kenmare does next.
- Tessa Walters (Amazon).
Very interesting take on the 'typical' detective story which I found to be anything but typical and loved it for this reason. Harry's World surprised me and kept me intrigued not only for the mystery and the suspense of wanting to know the outcome of Harry's struggles but also for the characters Patterson has created who I found very well written and some of them so lovable, Harry included. I enjoyed this character so much so that I would love to read more of his adventures as well as his diverse group of confidants who try to help him rid the world of some of its purest of evils.
- KindleCrazy (Barnes & Noble).
I really enjoyed this book and I've fallen for Harry! He's an interesting character - rough but appealing. This was a fun read with a fast moving plot and enough wry humor to keep me engrossed. Can't wait to see what Harry's up to next.
- Liz (Goodreads).
"... and Leona's garter was garnering cash faster than the collection callout of a televangelist."
- From the Harry short story, "A Sex Kitten for a Cabinet Meeting", in Harry Kenmare, PI - At Your Service (p.55)
- From the Harry short story, "A Sex Kitten for a Cabinet Meeting", in Harry Kenmare, PI - At Your Service (p.55)
