The Judas Pair

Lovejoy #1

by Jonathan Gash

Arrow Lovejoy TV cover 1986 edition paperback fine book In stock shipped from our UK warehouse

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, British Literature, Thriller

210 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

John Grant is an English crime writer, who writes under the pen name Jonathan Gash. He is the author of the Lovejoy series of novels. He wrote the novel The Incomer under the pen name Graham Gaunt.

Grant is a doctor by training and worked as a general practitioner and pathologist. He served in the British Army and attained the rank of Major in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was head of bacteriology at the School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine for the University of London between 1971 and 1988.

Grant won the John Creasey Award in 1977 for his first Lovejoy novel, The Judas Pair. He is also the author of a series of medical thrillers featuring the character Dr. Clare Burtonall.

Grant lives outside Colchester in Essex, the setting for many of his novels. He has also been published in Postscripts.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovejoy, an antique dealer of dubious moral fiber, is hired by an aspiring collector to track down The Judas Pair, a masterwork set of duelling pistols that his brother was killed for. But the Judas Pair are only a legend, right? Lovejoy's trail of the non-existent weapons leads him through a web of crooked dealers and gun enthusiasts. Only one of them wants the Judas Pair and will pay any price to get them...

I love a good scoundrel and Lovejoy is definitely that. He's a coward, a mysogynist, and an arrogant ass, but knows his antiques, making him a great protagonist. The mystery of the Judas Pair is well done and the ending is superb. I was expecting something akin to a cozy British mystery and got much much more.

[Checkman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first installment in the long running Lovejoy series. Lovejoy is an East Anglican antiques dealer. He's slightly disreputable, a male chauvinist and bit of a bastard. But ,in spite of all those things, the character isn't too bad though it's my understanding that the character has lost much of his charm as the decades have gone by.

The story isn't very complicated. Lovejoy is hired by the brother of a murder victim to locate a very rare pair of dueling pistols known as the "Judas Pair". The pistols are considered to be a myth, but Lovejoy takes the job because he's curious and a dealer in antiques. The potential of a big payday is just too great to resist.

As mysteries go "The Judas Pair" is okay. It's a short novel and moves quickly. Lovejoy wanders around providing several interesting observations about the world of collectors and antique dealers as well as a few dated observations about women. Essentially Lovejoy stirs the pot and the villain comes looking for him. There is very little detecting done and Lovejoy relies on his instincts to save him. Lovejoy isn't a Sherlock Holmes or a Travis McGee. He's a semi-legitimate dealer who is motivated by greed and the joy of closing a deal.

However the book was readable and kept my interest. As a collector of Colt and Smith & Wesson firearms (a collector of very modest means) I found some of the observations about the mentality of collectors to be interesting. Truth be told I see some of those traits in me. The book kept my interest. That's enough.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, before starting, I should say I picked up this book because of having watched the Lovejoy series (with Ian McShane) and recommend that anyone do that before starting on these books.

This book, while a quick read, was rather offensive and dated. And I don't just mean the fact that the pub played its one record the entire time...Apparently the kind of likeable rogue that the seventies had to offer is completely different than the kind of likeable rogue that one would prefer to read now. Lovejoy is incredibly misogynist and completely okay with smacking his girlfriend around because he's taking a phone call and doesn't care to actually ask her to wait. And while Gash does poke fun at how awful Lovejoy is (he does set up that ridiculous scenario, after all), pointing out how outrageous it is by having him go on for pages about how stupid women are and how they can't understand a thing--followed promptly, of course, by Lovejoy spectacularly unable to comprehend a woman before him--it's still a bit much. Characters are degrading women left and right, and overall none of it's funny. Maybe it was considered so in '77. I don't know; I wasn't around then.

The mystery itself was good, and there were a lot of little tidbits about antiques. However, that was not really enough to make up for the unpleasant feel of the rest of the story.

[Toby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovejoy, he'll forever live in my mind as the mulleted Ian McShane, the soft lovable rogue prior to finding stardom in The Americas as a total hardass. Bizarrely his later incarnation is more suited to the woman beating mysogynist of the novels than the cozy BBC version of yore.

He's an antique dealer employed to investigate the existence of some legendary guns. Along the way people die amid wisecracks and witty sermons on the antique business. It seemed like something I might enjoy and for a while I did but then I found myself becoming disinterested as the plot gave all appearance of the author feeling the same way.

I highly enjoyed the fact that the protagonist is an arsehole and I found myself liking being educated about the antiques to the point that I bumped up reviving my Art Deco desk on my to do list. But the second half of the novel is less fun and as such I have deemed the series as not one I will waste my time on despite the exciting cinematic quality of the final showdown in The Judas Pair.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Judas Pair by Jonathan Gash is the first book in the Lovejoy mystery series and my first attempt at reading them as well. I had enjoyed the British TV series featuring Ian McShane as antique dealer, Lovejoy. McShane played Lovejoy as a bit of a rogue and having read the story now, I think he probably portrayed him reasonably accurately. Lovejoy is a shady character and you get the impression that the majority of these dealers are all a bit shady. They love the trade and it is a part of their lives.
This initial story involves the Judas Pair, a pair of hand guns supposedly made by a famous gun smith. This fabled 13th pair of guns has never been found, except by the man who hires Lovejoy to find them as they were used to kill his brother. It's a bit of a convoluted story that results as Lovejoy begins to explore who might have wanted the guns and who killed the man. At the same time we find out a bit about the antique business, some of the tricks of the trade, which make the story more interesting. We also learn more about Lovejoy and also about his relationships.
The story is a bit gritty, in part to Lovejoy's personality. The book is interesting and moves along nicely and as you get used to Lovejoy and his personality, you find yourself being drawn in more and more. I'm glad I finally started this series and I will be looking to continue it. (4 stars)

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is dedicated, with respect and humility, to the Chinese god Wei Dt'o protector of books against fire, pillaging, decay and dishonest borrowers.

Lovejoy a poor antique dealer always in search of a new source of money or a woman to sleep with. He lives in East Anglia drives an antique and is chronically broke. Women love him for who he is and while he loves them as well, he is not very women friendly as he backhands one withing the first five pages for disturbing him in telephone call. Women are drawn to Lovejoy as he is drawn to real antiques, he has a gift in which he can divvie[or divide] real antiques from fakes and rubbish, they are actually Lovejoy his real love in life.
When the book opens we find Lovejoy getting a commission for finding the legendary Judas Pair, the thirteenth set of dueling pistols made by the famous London gunmaker Durs Egg. At first he is skeptical about their existence but when people are dying one of them a lady he rather fancied Lovejoy can no longer deny their existence.

For the lovers of the TV series this book might be far darker than expected, this is not Ian McShane this is a darker and far more violent version. It is an easy read with a lot of Antiques advice thrown in the book and while the book sometimes meanders along the story does have a few twists you might not expect. A grand first entry in a series that is well written and a lot of fun.

[CQM · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are thinking of reading this because you loved the series then, 1. What took you so long and 2. Don't.
Don't get me wrong it's a decent enough mystery but this isn't lovable Sunday night Lovejoy, this Lovejoy hits women, swears, and kills people. (bad people but still)
Tinker isn't the amusing drunk, he's a sad alcoholic. Eric doesn't feature (don't know if he does in later books) and Lady Jane Felsham isn't a Lady (though she is a lady) she's a dealer (antiques not drugs) and she doesn't feature very much. What it does do is shows just how well Ian La Frenais did adapting/totally rewriting the characters for the screen. He has managed to keep book Lovejoy's voice intact despite making him palatable for a Sunday evening slot on the BBC.
All that aside it's a page turner and with plenty of genuine sounding info on the world of antiques.

[AndreaH · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started reading these because of the PBS showing of the Brit TV series starring Ian McShane, who I must say is ever so much more charming than the Lovejoy of this book, the first in Gash's series and the basis for the show. Just know that down the line, Gash's Lovejoy mellows although he never comes off as charmingly naughty as McShane's take on the character.
Actually if i hadn't seen the show or read later installments of the book series and had read this one first, I never would have picked up another one.
While Gash and Lovejoy know their antiques and impart tips throughout — I now know more about guns than I ever wanted to — and the mystery and crime are intriguing, Lovejoy himself comes off as womanizing, abusive man with few if any redeeming qualities here.

[Nancy Oakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Judas Pair is the name of a set of flintlock dueling weapons that are like the holy grail of the antique gun world. Lovejoy, a somewhat shady antiques dealer with a penchant for the ladies, is hired to find them by the brother of a man who claimed he owned the Judas Pair, but then was murdered. When the police went to examine the crime scene, the guns were nowhere to be found. Lovejoy sets out to find the weapons (if they exist), but it soon becomes obvious that someone else is interested as well, and will use any means possible to have the entire set.

Lovejoy may not be a perfect human being, but he's witty and philosophizes throughout the novel, often to the point of making me laugh out loud. Considering that this is the first book of a rather lengthy series, Gash has done a really nice job of fleshing out his character and making him real enough for people to either really like or really hate, which is really rare in a series opener. As far as the story, the mystery isn't all that hard to guess, but I think it's really secondary here to the character of Lovejoy himself.

There have been several reviews that speak against Lovejoy's treatment of women, and I agree that this is definitely a downside to his character, but actually you'll probably find more domestic abuse in one of Oprah's book club selections.

Not a cozy, not a police procedural, The Judas Pair is still a really good read. I'd recommend it to readers of British crime fiction, or to those who've seen the series on television and want to read the original source.

[WhatShouldIRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read some of the Lovejoy books years ago and enjoyed them so much. I especially like how he explains the history behind some of the antiques and if those originals aren't readily available, now to 'make' them.

This book was so interesting and fun and I enjoyed myself immensely while listening. True, Lovejoy often isn't very nice to women sometimes, but his true joy in coming across beautiful pieces of art is a pleasure to witness.

The mystery was very interesting and clever and all the characters involved seemed like they could be walking this earth in real life. I also enjoyed the description of the peril Lovejoy found himself in and what steps he went through to survive.

All in all, I would love to spend a day in the Lovejoy universe and go with him on an antique hunt, minus those who are out to kill him for one reason or other!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feckless antique dealer and anti-hero, Lovejoy hunts for a set of missing dueling pistols in a quick paced, suspenseful mystery. But Lovejoy’s casual act of domestic violence in the first few pages turned me off the character, although some might say later events redeem him

[Stephen Robert Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Lovejoy series of books ,but it's not the Television series, there's no Lady Jane,no Tinker and Lovejoy is not the good loveable rouge he's a sex mad adultery who's all ways been chased naked and wouldn't have been family entertainment and he's in and out of jail.
Gash telling of the guns is 8pages to long he almost writers for the Television script in a book years before it was made into one.
You can see why BBC made this book series into Television series but also why they don't keep it to the books.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read long ago.

One of the better plots and tales in this series. Having Venice as your backdrop does not hurt, either. I remember both the book and the series (which got me hooked).

I think I collected every Loveyjoy book published and can't recall a single one that felt weak or disappointed. The plots are well-setup, the writing is good, the details about various kinds of antiques, and the characters are "earthy".

In comparison with the series, Lovejoy is further down the economic scale (and usually loses out to others), his companions are even worse off (going from genteel alcoholics to downright drunkards), and there is no permanent "angle" to bail him out (literally and figuratively). Not to bash the show - I rather liked it for what it was, but the grittier feel of the books makes them better.

Kudos to goodreads for once again reminding me of some very well written books that I read, liked, and have not thought of for years & years. Time to see if there are any that I missed.

[Charles van Buren · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a reversal of the normal order of things in which an excellent book becomes a good to mediocre movie, then a fair to poor television program, THE JUDAS PAIR is a fairly good book made into an outstanding TV program in the British Lovejoy TV series. I understand that author Jonathan Gash is not a Lovejoy fan. The TV series uses names and some plots from the books but the personalities of the characters are often quite different. Tinker, for instance, is a more likeable and sympathetic TV character than literary character. With apologies to Mr. Gash, I prefer the TV series to the literary series.

[Mimi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lovejoy belts a woman for interrupting him on the phone within chapter one and is too awful for words. Not interested in any of that.

[Jacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew there was a difference in tone between Ian McShane’s lovable chappie in the Lovejoy TV series, but this is the first of the original books that I’ve tackled. Lovejoy is not a nice character at all, especially in the way he treats his women, quite happy to hit them if they’re annoying him. And the women forgive him and come back for more – idiots. This, the first Lovejoy book, was written in 1977 – maybe the author would think twice before letting his hero beat his women if he were writing now. Anyhow, that aside, the book is well plotted tense and exciting. Lovejoy is asked to source a unique pair of flintlock duelling pistols which were stolen when a collector was murdered. His enquiries take him ever closer to the unsolved murder, and into direct danger. Gash (pen name of John Grant, born 1933) does a good job on the character of Lovejoy, but the females in the story are pretty two dimensional. He obviously knows his stuff when it comes to the antiques world, especially the shadier side of it. This novel won the John Creasey Award in 1977. All I can say is that it was a different time then. Don’t read unless you are willing to ignore the misogyny. Well performed by Michael Fenton Stevens.

[Niki · Rating 3 out of 5]

not too bad but not easy to read if you know next to nothing in antiquities - i liked the tongue-in-cheek of the novel

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say I enjoyed this book so much more because I listened to the audio book while reading along. The narrator was great. I loved all the antiques information Lovejoy imparted to the reader. I feel the urge to attend some auctions armed with my new knowledge! The story was well done as well. I'm going to continue with the series.

[Kamas Kirian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the character of Lovejoy, flawed as he is. He's the only really well developed character, though there were no badly written ones. The police investigations seemed a trifle inadequate, but it helps keep the story moving. The pace of the story was quick and it was enjoyable. There is lots of slang to sort through, but most of it is pretty obvious. Quite a bit of information on antiques, though I have no way of knowing how accurate it might be.

I forgot what a cad Lovejoy is. I read these stories 25-30 years ago and remembered basic plot points but not the particulars. I knew he didn't treat his girlfriends all that well, but not that he slugged the one because she was talking while he was on the phone. I also didn't remember her later working on his poor car. I thought the murderer fairly obvious, but that might just be because I read it before. Lovejoy's development/change of character as events progress was rather drastic, but well within the realm of story. Though written decades ago, it didn't seem all that dated. Suspension of disbelief was not a problem, I very much enjoyed the story.

The eBook was formatted well with only a couple of minor spelling errors.

[Plum-crazy]

I used to really enjoy the TV series "Lovejoy" & I remember someone telling me that the Lovejoy in the novels was nastier than TV's lovable rogue....well yes he certainly could be! He wasn't averse to giving someone a good kicking & in the opening pages hits a woman (quite unnecessarily IMHO) - he's also much more of a womaniser. Some of the characters I know from the TV series were here but of course not in the same context - Jane Felsham is no Lady! Overall it was a good enough read though a bit confusing in parts. I've got the second on my TBR & will probably read it though won't go hunting for further in the series.

The one thing that REALLY, REALLY irritated me about this book was the number of spelling mistakes in it - who ever proof read it wants sacking!! Take page 82 for example, it was only when I couldn't find the word rioises in the dictionary that I realised it was meant to be noises... well I'm presuming that what it should be anyhow...& of course after that I was on the look out for more :o)

[Ian Pattinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you remember the TV series, you'll find this Lovejoy rougher around the edges, a lot less of a gentleman and often too busy trying to get one over other dealers to really notice what's going on. Asked to track down a supposedly mythical pair of flintlock duelling pistols which may have been the reason for, and maybe even the cause of, their previous owners death, Lovejoy sets about sweetening the late collector's widow, getting the grapevine working for him and alternately helping and antagonising his fellow dealers. It all leads to danger and death before a final showdown.

Literary Lovejoy has a certain charm about him- you're rooting for him to come out on top, and he's always doling out informati8on about antiques and the less than scrupulous ways of dealers and auction houses. But he's certainly not the lovable Ian McShane version.

[Emma-Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up watching Lovejoy! It was, and still is, one of my favourite things to curl up with after a long day, and having finally got around to the original I have to say I'm falling in love all over again. It's not the same sweet little village, filled with quaint and quirky people of the TV version, it's a lot darker! More brutal! But Lovejoy's still the same lovable rogue we all know and love.

I think the biggest shock was that Jane Felsham was such a small, throw away character! I'm used to her sharing the centre stage.

Of course, knowing the story of the Judas Pair, I knew who the murderer was from the beginning, but luckily that didn't take anything away from the overall charm of the book! Very much looking forward to reading the next one in the series.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

After watching the television series back in the day, this was a bit of a shock. It is a very readable romp but the characters are not at all like their TV counterparts.
I was startled and quite alarmed at the main characters attitude to women. A indicator of the attitudes at the time of writing maybe--007 etc.,-- were popular then.

Once I was acclimatised to the style of the book the story was good and quite intriguing. Involving a murder carried out with a set of duelling pistols that should not have existed, our hero follows clues that send him on chases around East Anglia. It all ends with a cleaver twist.

All in all an enjoyable read and one that has inspired me to continue to read more of the series.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovejoy (NMI) is the type character who brings up strong opinions in readers. Witness some of the scathing reviews below! Yes, he drinks, smokes, cusses, and is horrible with women ... but that is Lovejoy! He is also tender-hearted, clever, and cute in his own cockney way. The oft recurring references to historical pieces is interesting, but it's Lovejoy's - way - that makes the story.

If you don't like him, credit Gash's good writing. The development of the Lovejoy character is such that you care how he acts. That's good writing and GoodReads!

[Sandra Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually not a bad story really want to fall in love with Lovejoy , I don't know why but I wanted this book to be as good as an Agatha Christie book. and it did not disappoint. the first half of the book I wasn't at impressed at first mainly cuz the main character kept talkin bout one thing than change into some type of story than go back to the first topic. but other than that it was a good first book to the series.

[Emmalg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really didn't like this to begin with. My view of Lovejoy had been affected by the TV series and the initially unlikeable character really wasn't what I expected. I have to say that Jonathan Gash has actually written one of the best characters I've read, Lovejoy is at once horrible and vulnerable as well as extremely cunning.
I will keep my eyes open for more books in the series but they aren't at the top of my to read list.

[Christoph · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book for me suffered from an insufferable main character which prohibited me from getting invested in the story. The bits about antiques were interesting though and the resolution had a nice twist.

[Justin Sarginson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know what you're thinking. Lovejoy? Well, it turned out to be a good read and much darker than the TV series we all know and love. I enjoyed it.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of the BBC TV series “Lovejoy” ever since it was first broadcast in the dim dark past (1986-1994). There is something so romantic about these fast-paced comedy-drama mysteries with an incomparable cast (Ian McShane, Phyllis Logan, Dudley Sutton et al.), set in East Anglia in the shady and esoteric world of dealing in, and collecting of antiques. I dusted off my DVD set only recently and re-watched the 70-odd episodes (!) for the umpteenth time. Technically they may appear a bit dated now but definitely not artistically - they’re as fresh as the day they were made over 30 years ago! The series was an adaptation by the legendary Ian La Frenais of the novels of Jonathan Gash (one of the pseudonyms medico John Grant writes under). Upon my last viewing I thought that I should really read one of these novels - and here I am!

The Lovejoy of the book, an antique dealer and “divvy” (someone with an uncanny nose for valuable and genuine antiques), is somehow edgier and more cynical than the loveable rogue portrayed by Ian McShane. The technical explanations pertaining to the minutiae of antiques collecting are terrific but other than that the book seems dated to me. It was first published in 1979 -not that long ago in other words- yet Lovejoy’s attitudes and actions, especially towards women, often seem to belong to a different age. Oh, by the way, the plot twist at the end of the book doesn’t really work either and was changed in the episode containing the story of “The Judas Pair”, a pair of very rare duelling flintlock (“flinters”) pistols. Here as overall La Frenais certainly knew what he was doing in adapting Gash’s novels for general consumption on the telly! Some of the quirks of the series come directly from the books, e.g. when McShane speaks directly to the camera -breaking the fourth wall- as Lovejoy often speaks directly to the reader in the novel.

Verdict: romantic, entertaining, informative (especially if you’re into antiques) but not nearly as good as La Frenais’s adaptations for TV. It’s academic, really, as I won’t be reading any more novels by Gash. At least he generated the ideas for a terrific TV series!

[Jared Castiglione · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lovejoy here is grittier than his television counterpart but in book form, that works to our, the reader’s, advantage.

As I make my way through the television series from the 1980s and 1990s, I’ve grown used to Lovejoy talking to the audience; the way he explains a simple look or a glance between two people. Sometimes we are treated to a full explanation about an antique or the process of being a dealer behind the scenes. These asides draw in the viewer, and in my opinion, make the show that much more accessible and interesting, as I feel a connection to the main character.

The Judas Pair is the first book in a series of book by J. Gash (not his real name) about Lovejoy an antiques divvy and the adventures he seems to find himself as a direct result of the antiques world.

Several of the themes, ideas, plots, and even the titular guns have all be featured across several episodes of the first season.

As a result of my having watched those first, there was a certain surprise or two that I already knew to expect as I read this book. Still, I enjoyed it tremendously even if some of the enjoyment was simply to find the next plot vice or thing that was reworked for television. And I did wonder if the Judas Pair book ending would follow the episode of the same name…. (I won’t say here how or even if it does)

I appreciate this book both as the first in the Lovejoy series and also as the last in the “Scene of the Crime” murder mystery books by various authors. (The physical book I read was #30 of the 30 published in the series)

If you don’t know Lovejoy here’s a great place to start. And if you only know him from the television series (which you can watch all seasons and episodes as of the writing of this review with an Acorn TV subscription through Amazon Prime,) here’s a good book to meet the author’s Lovejoy.