Wonderful Years, Wonderful Years

by George V. Higgins

The author of 18 remarkable bestsellers, George V. Higgins is back with a stunning new story of a big-league Bay State contractor who hired ex-cons, operated on the raw edge of the law, and knew a secret that could blow the lid off a long-hidden political scandal. Or so Justice Department prosecutors thought when they began building a case of bribery against self-made millionaire Ken Farley.

Genres: Fiction

400 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1989

About the author

George Vincent Higgins was a United States author, lawyer, newspaper columnist, and college professor. He is best known for his bestselling crime novels.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This later book, by the author of the classic Boston noir The Friends of Eddie Coyle, is more laid back and shambolic than that earlier piece, but is still a terrific read. It's a story of political corruption and kickbacks in Boston politics, but the plot takes a backseat to the vivid characters and incredible dialogue. Each chapter consists almost entirely of a conversation between two characters - a lawyer and his client, a chauffeur and his girlfriend, a hairdresser and her customer - and Higgins' astonishing ear for dialogue sketches in the character and effortlessly moves you through the plot. Presiding over all of the characters is the sad figure of Nell Farley, whose mental illness is depicted sympathetically and realistically, giving the story a surprising amount of poignance.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

My chronological march through Higgins' fiction continues. While I don't think this rates with his best work (Eddie Coyle, A Choice of Enemies, Outlaws), it's still another worthy example of his peerless way of using dialogue to tell a story.

[Sam Foster · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wasn't until half way through that the story got interesting, and then when it did get interesting with Farley being investigated the case was dropped. I could've used more chapters of both sides of this corruption case, and less chapters of non-sequiturs among characters

What this novel lacks in a good plot it makes up for with well-written dialogue. You can feel the characters speaking in their New England dialect. You're at the next table over, or in the corner of the room eavesdropping. I do enjoy Higgins method in this regard.

I didn't hate this one, it just wasn't a favorite. Going to read "The Digger's Game," "Cogan's Trade," and "The Rat on Fire" next. Also didn't realize most of Higgins' works are out of print except for those and "Eddie Coyle."

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

Higgins is the absolute master of dialogue. If you’ve never read him you don’t know what I’m talking about but read this one and holy moly you will find out. This is NOT his best book but it is superb! Although there are about 8 Higgins books I would suggest before this one, you could still start with this book and be hooked on him. Such a great read with hilarious dialogue and some super intense moments.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some chapters are very strong, the low key narrative and the attention to details are both great...some of the dialogues between prosecutors in the central part are less than thrilling though...

[Trevor Holliday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Higgins kills it with this one. Memorable characters and hyper-realistic dialogue which are both givens in his novels.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to say, this was probably not the best first book to read by Higgins. He's been recommended to me many times, mostly because of my love of Dennis Lehane. And I loved the film version of "Friends of Eddie Coyle" with Robert Mitchum. The stars seemed to align.

This was not a bad book, but it's format was a bit off-putting. The narrative of the story is laid out to you through long conversations between characters. There is very little description or exposition to speak of that doesn't come to you through dialogue. It's a very interesting way to move a story along, and there are some characters who are fun to have talk, but others get a bit tiresome, as these conversations run, for better or for worse, like real conversations. It's all there: tangents, non-sequitirs, references to events that will never be explained past a quick word or two. It's a very fly-on-the-wall style of exposition, and it was both kind of fun and aggravating.

The story in a nutshell: Ken Farley is a wealthy construction mogul who has made his bones the true American way: knowing the right guys. He is the subject of an investigation by the US Attorney's office as to whether or not he illegally financed an official's campaign. Through their investigation, you're introduced to Farley's estranged, mentally-ill wife (who may or may not have beans to spill on her husband), his chauffeur (who is being squeezed to divulge on his boss's activities after being slapped with an assault charge), his business partner (who Farley can't stand but unerringly trusts) and a host of others. Through their conversations with each other, we glean the progress of the investigation, the history of the alleged charges and who may or may not have the goods on Farley.

All in all, an interesting exercise in narrative structure, and some very "real life" characters, rather than your usual political intrigue characters who spout cliches in smoky back rooms. I'm not sure if Higgins' other novels are written in this style, but I'm going to give him another shot and find out.

[Shawn Conner]

Almost all dialogue, somewhat dense and a plot that can be hard to follow, but I really liked the character of Eugene Arbuckle, the chauffeur, and the way the book is a crime novel (kind of) but doesn't the rules of the crime novel. I think if I read another Higgins though I'll aim for something a little more accessible, like his most famous book The Friends of Eddie Coyle.

I wrote a little more about it on my blog: http://guttersnipemedia.wordpress.com...#

[False · Rating 4 out of 5]

Higgins seems fascinated with politics at every level, and he writes very well about it. The closer I get to the end of reading his body of work, the sadder I get knowing there won't be any more. I am flummoxed as to why his books aren't in common circulation through the public library systems, given his past popularity. I wish someone would take all of his book, reprint them, then give them a big push. At least I didn't have to provide the photograph this time.

[Jeremy Hornik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just reread it. Vice rewarded and justice is done. Softer than a lot of Higgins, but great characters, and deep dives into both bribing officials and caring for a family member with a serious mental illness. Would read again; in fact, just did.

[Kit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devastating.