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DI Joe Faraday #12
Happy Days
As ex-drug baron Bazza Mackenzie runs for parliament, ex-cop Paul Winter knows that his time with Bazza must, at whatever cost, come to an end, in the 12th in this highly acclaimed series of police procedurals DI Faraday is gone and the police are left reeling. As his boss attempts to limit any possible PR damage, his one time shadow on the force, ex-DC Winter, is ever more concerned that he may have made the biggest mistake of his life throwing in his lot with the city's drug baron, Bazza McKenzie—especially as Bazza becomes increasingly desperate and violent as his empire begins to crumble under the weight of austere times. And, in the person of DS Jummy Suttle there's a new will at the heart of the embattled police force to nail Bazza once and for all, the one man Faraday was always desperate to bring to justice. Graham Hurley's trademark authenticity has been allied to an ever increasing sense of drama as he charts the lives of his vivid characters and paints a stunning portrait of a city and a country at war with itself, a war which throws the police into the front line.
405 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
20 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Graham Hurley
68 books152 followersGraham Hurley was born November, 1946 in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. His seaside childhood was punctuated by football, swimming, afternoons on the dodgems, run-ins with the police, multiple raids on the local library - plus near-total immersion in English post-war movies.
Directed and produced documentaries for ITV through two decades, winning a number of national and international awards. Launched a writing career on the back of a six-part drama commission for ITV: "Rules of Engagement". Left TV and became full time writer in 1991.
Authored nine stand-alone thrillers plus "Airshow", a fly-on-the-wall novel-length piece of reportage, before accepting Orion invitation to become a crime writer. Drew gleefully on home-town Portsmouth (“Pompey”) as the basis for an on-going series featuring D/I Joe Faraday and D/C Paul Winter.
Contributed five years of personal columns to the Portsmouth News, penned a number of plays and dramatic monologues for local production (including the city’s millenium celebration, "Willoughby and Son"), then decamped to Devon for a more considered take on Pompey low-life.
The Faraday series came to an end after 12 books. Healthy sales at home and abroad, plus mega-successful French TV adaptations, tempted Orion to commission a spin-off series, set in the West Country, featuring D/S Jimmy Suttle.
Launch title - "Western Approaches" - published 2012. "Touching Distance" to hit the bookstores next month (21st November).
Has recently self-published a number of titles on Kindle including "Strictly No Flowers" (a dark take on crime fiction), "Estuary" (a deeply personal memoir) and "Backstory" (how and why he came to write the Faraday series).
Married to the delectable Lin. Three grown-up sons (Tom, Jack and Woody). Plus corking grandson Dylan.
You're very welcome to contact Graham through his website: www.grahamhurley.co.uk
Or direct on seasidepictures@btinternet.com.
Series:
* D.I. Joe Faraday
Directed and produced documentaries for ITV through two decades, winning a number of national and international awards. Launched a writing career on the back of a six-part drama commission for ITV: "Rules of Engagement". Left TV and became full time writer in 1991.
Authored nine stand-alone thrillers plus "Airshow", a fly-on-the-wall novel-length piece of reportage, before accepting Orion invitation to become a crime writer. Drew gleefully on home-town Portsmouth (“Pompey”) as the basis for an on-going series featuring D/I Joe Faraday and D/C Paul Winter.
Contributed five years of personal columns to the Portsmouth News, penned a number of plays and dramatic monologues for local production (including the city’s millenium celebration, "Willoughby and Son"), then decamped to Devon for a more considered take on Pompey low-life.
The Faraday series came to an end after 12 books. Healthy sales at home and abroad, plus mega-successful French TV adaptations, tempted Orion to commission a spin-off series, set in the West Country, featuring D/S Jimmy Suttle.
Launch title - "Western Approaches" - published 2012. "Touching Distance" to hit the bookstores next month (21st November).
Has recently self-published a number of titles on Kindle including "Strictly No Flowers" (a dark take on crime fiction), "Estuary" (a deeply personal memoir) and "Backstory" (how and why he came to write the Faraday series).
Married to the delectable Lin. Three grown-up sons (Tom, Jack and Woody). Plus corking grandson Dylan.
You're very welcome to contact Graham through his website: www.grahamhurley.co.uk
Or direct on seasidepictures@btinternet.com.
Series:
* D.I. Joe Faraday
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 17, 2012
So, here we are. At the end of the line. They say to travel is always better than to arrive and that is nowhere more true than in this instance because the destination can bring only sadness. Graham Hurley’s superlative Faraday and Winter series is over. I haven’t felt this way since I finished Blue at the Mizzen, by Patrick O’Brian. A very different genre, but an equally compelling story arc. As a crime writer myself I would be happy to produce something a tenth as good as this body of work.
In my view the series has been about humanity. Not a surface-thin political vision wrapped up in soundbites and glossy brochures, but a deep-down sense of what is right and wrong, of what it means to be human, to live and learn, to change. That’s heady stuff for something that is ‘only’ crime fiction, but then this is what sets Hurley apart from the crowd, his work head and shoulders above the rest.
Way back in book number one, Turnstone, we met Joe Faraday, who appeared to be the liberal, caring character who would hold up our ideals - ’Hurley’s decent, persistent cop’ according to the Guardian. But as the story evolves, book-by-book we can see Faraday losing it, becoming ineffectual against the tide of awfulness sweeping the country, his actions make no difference. Thank goodness the books concluded before the riots of 2011. Whatever would Faraday have made of them? (he would have become even more depressed, one imagines!)
On the other side of the fence - eventually the ‘Dark Side’ - DC Paul Winter was, at first sight, Faraday’s opposite, his nemesis. Now, after the final book, I look back and conclude that Winter was the more human of the two, the character whose moral trajectory took him on a journey where he discovered not only the nature of good and evil, but where he found himself and learnt the hard way - the only way - the difference between right and wrong. In the end Winter is the character we can learn from, for despite his failings, he achieved, in his own way, redemption.
And anyway, forgetting all the waffle above, if you had to choose which one to sit down and have a drink with... no contest, is it?
I look forward to D/C Suttle’s move to Devon, my only concern being that is where my own series is set. It is something akin to going down the local tennis club to find your opponent is Roger Federer, or going out on your morning run and having Usain Bolt jog along beside you.
What else to say? I’ll sum up in the only way appropriate. How was it for you?
Cushty, mate!
In my view the series has been about humanity. Not a surface-thin political vision wrapped up in soundbites and glossy brochures, but a deep-down sense of what is right and wrong, of what it means to be human, to live and learn, to change. That’s heady stuff for something that is ‘only’ crime fiction, but then this is what sets Hurley apart from the crowd, his work head and shoulders above the rest.
Way back in book number one, Turnstone, we met Joe Faraday, who appeared to be the liberal, caring character who would hold up our ideals - ’Hurley’s decent, persistent cop’ according to the Guardian. But as the story evolves, book-by-book we can see Faraday losing it, becoming ineffectual against the tide of awfulness sweeping the country, his actions make no difference. Thank goodness the books concluded before the riots of 2011. Whatever would Faraday have made of them? (he would have become even more depressed, one imagines!)
On the other side of the fence - eventually the ‘Dark Side’ - DC Paul Winter was, at first sight, Faraday’s opposite, his nemesis. Now, after the final book, I look back and conclude that Winter was the more human of the two, the character whose moral trajectory took him on a journey where he discovered not only the nature of good and evil, but where he found himself and learnt the hard way - the only way - the difference between right and wrong. In the end Winter is the character we can learn from, for despite his failings, he achieved, in his own way, redemption.
And anyway, forgetting all the waffle above, if you had to choose which one to sit down and have a drink with... no contest, is it?
I look forward to D/C Suttle’s move to Devon, my only concern being that is where my own series is set. It is something akin to going down the local tennis club to find your opponent is Roger Federer, or going out on your morning run and having Usain Bolt jog along beside you.
What else to say? I’ll sum up in the only way appropriate. How was it for you?
Cushty, mate!
August 31, 2017
Farewell Pompey!
This was a fabulous ending to such a good series. The ends tied together nicely, and I'm sad to see such an interesting and diverse bunch of characters leave my reading sphere.
Vale Joe Faraday & Bazza Mackenzie.
Au revoir Paul Winter, Misty, Marie & JJ. Perhaps you'll turn up again one day.
I'm looking forward to reading the next series by Graham Hurley where we follow Jimmy Suttle and his move to the West Country.
It's been a pleasure.
This was a fabulous ending to such a good series. The ends tied together nicely, and I'm sad to see such an interesting and diverse bunch of characters leave my reading sphere.
Vale Joe Faraday & Bazza Mackenzie.
Au revoir Paul Winter, Misty, Marie & JJ. Perhaps you'll turn up again one day.
I'm looking forward to reading the next series by Graham Hurley where we follow Jimmy Suttle and his move to the West Country.
It's been a pleasure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2014
It was somewhat bitter-sweet to know that on reading this book, Joe Faraday is dead, and another series over. Which I confess is a lot of the reason for the delay.
The Faraday and Winter series has always been a slow burner in this household, quick to obtain, slow to savour, the characters at the heart of the books – Faraday, Paul Winter and Bazza Mackenzie real and vibrantly drawn. Because of that realness the fate of Faraday seems, unfortunately, so right, here is a man who always seemed slightly lost. His life validated by his job, his son and his relationships, he never seemed destined to be able to move on. Ex-DC Paul Winter's questioning of his colleague Mackenzie also makes much sense. As Bazza Mackenzie becomes more erratic, more driven, the blinkers come off and Winter seems to suddenly realise he's got to make some hard decisions. And Mackenzie himself. Standing for parliament is both a lunatic undertaking for a man of his background, and yet so apt. (Is it wrong to think that at least here would be a politician who everyone knows is a crook – without the need for a corruption enquiry?)
But that all makes sense in the prism of this series which has always been about right and wrong, about people and the choices they make, the directions they take. So it seemed fair to expect that HAPPY DAYS would settle some scores, iron out some wrinkles and make a few statements. Which it does, in an understated, almost reflective manner.
Perfect styling for a perfect ending (if there can be such a thing) to a much loved series.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
The Faraday and Winter series has always been a slow burner in this household, quick to obtain, slow to savour, the characters at the heart of the books – Faraday, Paul Winter and Bazza Mackenzie real and vibrantly drawn. Because of that realness the fate of Faraday seems, unfortunately, so right, here is a man who always seemed slightly lost. His life validated by his job, his son and his relationships, he never seemed destined to be able to move on. Ex-DC Paul Winter's questioning of his colleague Mackenzie also makes much sense. As Bazza Mackenzie becomes more erratic, more driven, the blinkers come off and Winter seems to suddenly realise he's got to make some hard decisions. And Mackenzie himself. Standing for parliament is both a lunatic undertaking for a man of his background, and yet so apt. (Is it wrong to think that at least here would be a politician who everyone knows is a crook – without the need for a corruption enquiry?)
But that all makes sense in the prism of this series which has always been about right and wrong, about people and the choices they make, the directions they take. So it seemed fair to expect that HAPPY DAYS would settle some scores, iron out some wrinkles and make a few statements. Which it does, in an understated, almost reflective manner.
Perfect styling for a perfect ending (if there can be such a thing) to a much loved series.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
October 18, 2013
The best yet in this series...the title is deeply ironic as we come to see by the conclusion in which there are no neat and happy endings. Winter is on centre stage throughout the book still playing the " bent cop" and weaving his way between the cynicism of the policemen who want to use him ,and the raw villainy of Bazza his underworld boss. Tension mounts as the two sides collide , the Bazza empire starts to crumble and Winter has to rely on the ex- colleagues who now despise and distrust him for salvation.
April 12, 2012
A terrible ending to a wonderful series. What a let down...I loved Faraday and Winter. They should've gone out with a bang rather than a whimper. So disappointed.
March 24, 2018
Not a lot of action in this book and perhaps too much incomprehensible political maneuvering as Bazza goes off the rails in his bid to win the election! The tension comes from wondering if Winter can possibly succeed in his own bid for freedom. Of course if you really want to know, you can just skip to the last pages, but that would spoil everything. A satisfying end to the series.
November 18, 2023
Rarely do I get emotional about books. Not in this case! Perhaps because I’ve read the whole Faraday/Winter series over a short time & become extremely invested in their personalities or whether it’s because this is the finale, possibly a bit of both, but Happy Days did it for me.
The whole series has been superb & I’m glad I found them & took the time to read everyone.
On to Jimmy Suttle…
The whole series has been superb & I’m glad I found them & took the time to read everyone.
On to Jimmy Suttle…
December 27, 2020
A very sad end to a great series. The brutally honest writing in drawing a scene that confronts Suttle is hard to bear for the reader as well.as the team. Policework is relentless and so Winter is drawing in and Bazza is spectacular in politician mode.
Read
August 7, 2024What a brilliant series this was. Excellent characterisation and plotting. The writing was sublime.
Graham Hurley doesn't get the credit he deserves for his police procedurals.
Graham Hurley doesn't get the credit he deserves for his police procedurals.
Read
February 21, 2017really enjoyed this series and especially this book.
Many thanks to my friends hubby Pete Murray for recommending it
Many thanks to my friends hubby Pete Murray for recommending it
November 19, 2012
The last in the Faraday and Winter series.
At the end of the last book we assumed that Joe Faraday was about to commit suicide and at the beginning of this one we find he has, in fact, done that.
D/S Jimmy Suttle, a protege of Winter's and a colleague of Faraday's, finds the body and become the new point man on an operation to bring down perennial bad-guy, Bazza Mackenzie. Bazza is particularly vulnerable: a political operative has convinced him that he should run for a seat in Parliament in the upcoming election and Bazza is hooked on the idea and completely ignoring the fact that his various investment schemes are highly mortgaged and he has no money to run a campaign. Winter is rethinking his position in the Mackenzie organization. So maybe, just maybe, this latest attempt could work.
Memory Walk: at Au Chocolate. A birthday party in progress. Everyone is very happy. A black BMW screeches to a halt in front of the restaurant and three 6.57 toughs come through the door, grab a middle-aged man who is singing along to Happy Birthday, hustle hinout the door and bundle him into the back of the car.
At the end of the last book we assumed that Joe Faraday was about to commit suicide and at the beginning of this one we find he has, in fact, done that.
D/S Jimmy Suttle, a protege of Winter's and a colleague of Faraday's, finds the body and become the new point man on an operation to bring down perennial bad-guy, Bazza Mackenzie. Bazza is particularly vulnerable: a political operative has convinced him that he should run for a seat in Parliament in the upcoming election and Bazza is hooked on the idea and completely ignoring the fact that his various investment schemes are highly mortgaged and he has no money to run a campaign. Winter is rethinking his position in the Mackenzie organization. So maybe, just maybe, this latest attempt could work.
Memory Walk: at Au Chocolate. A birthday party in progress. Everyone is very happy. A black BMW screeches to a halt in front of the restaurant and three 6.57 toughs come through the door, grab a middle-aged man who is singing along to Happy Birthday, hustle hinout the door and bundle him into the back of the car.
March 19, 2012
So we've come to the end of the Faraday/Winter line. I for one am a bit glad. The series started flounder a few books ago and the end was too drawn out. The whole Bazza Mackenzie versus the cops started to feel a bit like Wil E. Coyote versus the Roadrunner or a superhero versus his archenemy. It's supposed to keep the stories together but it gets really boring, really quickly.
After having invested the time to read the series and to care about the characters, I have a real issue with the way Mr. Hurley decided to "deal" with Joe Faraday. It was a cop-out (no pun intended) and it just felt wrong. The whole book felt wrong. The interesting bits were with Paul Winter while Bazza was so off the plot, it was painful, almost embarrassing to read.
I feel like I owe something to the series. I shouldn't feel almost relief it's over but I feel a bit angry at the way it went and angry that this book didn't go out with a bang; it went out with a Hollywood ending and that just annoys me.
After having invested the time to read the series and to care about the characters, I have a real issue with the way Mr. Hurley decided to "deal" with Joe Faraday. It was a cop-out (no pun intended) and it just felt wrong. The whole book felt wrong. The interesting bits were with Paul Winter while Bazza was so off the plot, it was painful, almost embarrassing to read.
I feel like I owe something to the series. I shouldn't feel almost relief it's over but I feel a bit angry at the way it went and angry that this book didn't go out with a bang; it went out with a Hollywood ending and that just annoys me.
July 8, 2012
I've enjoyed this series of Faraday, Winter and McKenzie books and will miss the shenanigans of Winter and his manoeuvres to keep himself out of trouble. The conclusion probably wasn't as strong as it could have been, but nonetheless it was satisfying. It was a brave move by Hurley to kill off main characters, but i guess he had gone about as far as he could in old Pompey. I now look forward to seeing what Shuttle gets up to as he moves on to a new area, if indeed this is where Hurley heads to now.
April 30, 2013
This is the final book in the series and is not really a DI Faraday book as he committed suicide at the end of the previous book. His only scenes in this story are when his corpse is discovered, his autopsy takes place, his funeral takes place and his ashes are scattered. The central characters are the two characters who have increasingly taken over this series - criminal Mackenzie and his assistant ex-policeman Paul Winter. As events move on the book becomes a real page turner and I really did not know what would happen at the end.
January 29, 2014
A wonderful, great series. Great characters and great stories. Very sorry to have reached the end but, I think, it was appropriate/timely and well conceived ending. The series does apparently take off on another line and character with young detective Suttle taking the lead and I'll be reading them when I can find them. I find them mostly in UK and Canada on eBay. If you haven't read these, start with #1 and stick to the order - it makes more sense that way and the characters get a chance to grow on you. You might even take up bird watching.
February 21, 2026
In "Happy Days" Hurley seems to be drawing to a close a successful series of novels featuring the bird watching DI Joe Faraday and the drug baron Bazza Mackenzie. As a serious devotee of Hurley's writings I must confess to a certain sadness. I shall miss all the goings on in Pompey. Oh well, everything changes...
May 1, 2012
End of an enjoyable series but sadly it goes out on a whimper rather than a bang. A few shocks early on keep the reader going but I do feel more could have been made of Bazza Mackenzie's politcal campaign. Will miss these books as Faraday and Winter, along with Rebus (by Ian Rankin) and Banks (by Peter Robinson) have become firm favourates and now only Banks is left.
February 10, 2013
Another brilliant read from Graham Hurley. A Master Craftsman at writing thrillers with excellent and believable plots. Sadly the last of the Faraday/Winter series, which also 'starred' Baz MacKenzie - Pompey's own local criminal. Much to like and enjoy in the whole series of 12 books. They just got better and better. Best to read them in order. Unforgettable.
June 23, 2012
HI
End of a era ,end of a wonderful series . As we say good bye to these intriguing characters we look forward to a new era with new characters
What a well scripted and well documented series top marks for writing and research
End of a era ,end of a wonderful series . As we say good bye to these intriguing characters we look forward to a new era with new characters
What a well scripted and well documented series top marks for writing and research
March 14, 2013
I have been really fond of this series and hate to see it end. I was truly tired of Bazza but I loved Joe Faraday and enjoyed the devious brain of Paul Winter. The Suttle series will likely be enjoyable so I will give it a try.
June 19, 2016
This is the final book in this series and it is a good one. It is mostly about Paul Winter although to some extend Jimmy Suttle has replaced Fraday as the second character. The whole series is quite good and worth a read.
February 20, 2014
The last of the Joe Faraday novels and did not disappoint. If you like police or detective novels and have not read about Joe Faraday give one a read and you will likely want to read all twelve.
March 15, 2013
Quite a shock to loose faraday in the first few pages but enjoyed the book very much.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews