The Sleepers of Erin

Lovejoy #7

by Jonathan Gash

Lovejoy, a disreputable antiques dealer, is rescued from a case of false arrest by a mysterious, wealthy woman who wants him to authenticate an antique

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Audiobook, Ireland, Humor, British Literature

214 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

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

[AndrewP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovejoy gets taken out of his comfort zone of Norfolk and into the countryside of Ireland. There's an elaborate scheme to 'discover' some buried treasure and then make vast amounts of money from it. Of course, nothing goes the way it was planned for anyone involved.

[Jacob Chinchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right, I need to explain something here, lest you other users of Good Reads think I am some sort of ne'er-do-well. I have rated this book one star higher than the last Lovejoy escapade that I read. In the review for that one I mentioned that, aside from a thought about it in paragraph two, Lovejoy did not strike a woman. In this book, he belts one and knocks her clean out.

I am not basing my star ratings on Lovejoy's abusive fists. I just preferred the story of this one. The last one bored the bejesus out of me and seemed a bit all over the place. This one was better. Definitely better. I mean, there's little or no continuity given that Lovejoy was going to prison for murder at the end of the last one, but that just fits in nicely with the fact that no-one ever mentions the fact that his cottage was burnt to the ground in the first one or how there are still any antique dealers in East Anglia that he hasn't accidentally murdered. And any number of other ridiculous inconsistencies across the books.

I just find it easier to imagine each story is set in a slightly different universe.

Albeit a different universe in which Lovejoy is consistently quite an unlikeable bell-end.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is Lovejoy minding his own business enjoying post coital bliss late at night in a church when some "collegues in the trade" attempt to rob the church of its valuables. When Lovejoy attempts to stop the robbery he ends up in hospital and being a suspect of the robbery, since the real robbers were friendly enough to leave one damning piece of evidence behind in his cottage (of course the cheapest piece of the stolen goods). Whne Lovejoy gets released from hospital he gets an alibi from an unexpected but unknown lady. The price: of course his talents as a divvie. Which means in thr antiques trade his skill of being able to feel a true antique. This is just the start of a new adventure of Lovejoy.

I generally enjoy the Lovejoy books even if they do contain more violence than the very tv series with Ian Mcshane playing Lovejoy. But in both perons he is a charming rogue that gets into a lot of trouble.

well and intelligently written with the odd explanation about the world of antics thrown in for information.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lovejoy, the anti-hero protagonist of this mystery series, is involved in yet another antiques scam, this time in Ireland. It’s been years since I read a Lovejoy story, and I didn’t remember Lovejoy or the series as this violent, with numerous “accidents”, serious injuries, and deaths.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed watching the Lovejoy TV series way back when, so I was familiar with him and Tinker, but have not read any of the books until now. I have to say I preferred the TV Lovejoy to the book one, perhaps Ian McShane made him more of a lovable scamp, but it's thanks to Lovejoy that I developed an interest in antiques generally. As a tale it's OK, not the most exciting of stories and with some pretty unlikeable characters along the way. I'm not sure it'll encourage me to read any others in the series though.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Lovejoy, the connoisseur of antiques and all-around scamp, embarks on a madcap search for a priceless Celtic antique.

"Half a jump behind him are a couple of mayhem-minded antiques dealers, a woman of extraordinary beauty with brains to mach, and a motley crew of 'interested parties,' including the police. Assault, false arrest, kidnapping, blackmail, and murder all add to the high cost of finding and keeping an antique that only Lovejoy can recognize. With time out, of course, for a romantic interlude every now and then, Lovejoy nobly fights to hold on to the treasure -- and his life."
~~back cover

I was looking forward to this one: Celtic antique! And a picture of a shovel, a gorgeous gold torque, and a dolmen on the cover -- I was certain this would be all about archaeology. Well, to be fair, it did have a smattering of archaeology in it. But otherwise, it was the same formula: the first 3/4 are set up, with Lovejoy getting drawn into a dangerous situation, with thugs all round, and coming up with schemes to get himself out of danger with the antiques. The last bit is when the noose tightens, Lovejoy is trapped in some perilous situation that will slowly kill him, but he comes up with some ingenious plan and escapes, only to find himself in further danger, until the very end.

Meh.

[Jeff Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antique dealer Lovejoy finds himself at the centre of another scam when he is taken to Ireland to 'find' and authenticate a number of fake gold torques. The book cleverly weaves it's when through the two interested parties; an Eastern European gang and some local Irish 'friends' hoping to come out on top. Jonathan Gash has a well worked out and an established format with our hero only just on the side of the good but mostly out for himself.

[Lila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovejoy is entrapped by con artists pulling a "sleeper" con, passing off fake Celtic antiques, but there are cons within cons that Lovejoy is slow to figure out. If you like learning about antiques through Lovejoy's obsessions, this will be enjoyable. Lovejoy, though, is no angel and is his usual sexist self here.

[Tom · Rating 2 out of 5]

not impressed. confusing.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked Lovejoy in the TV version, but in the book I did not like the character at all.

[Daniel Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was too Irish to understand portions of the book. I caught the main action with the mystery, deceit, thievery and murder, but overall, I just wanted it to end.

[WhatShouldIRead · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Lovejoy mystery follows the same formula in a previous entry, The Vatican Rip, in that some unsavory people 'convince' Lovejoy to help them out with acquiring an antique. This one also takes place in a different place other than England, though I didn't get as strong a sense of place as I did from Vatican.

As much as I enjoy these stories, I find that Lovejoy has not changed a bit and still treats woman the same as he did in the first book, is oblivious to anything being his fault and always thinks he is set up, though usually he brings that one on one way or another himself. Still, his love of antiques and the telling of stories behind some of these wonders is interesting reading.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy both the Lovejoy TV series and the books, though they have a surprisingly different feel to them. The books are quite a bit... grittier. TV Lovejoy is the proverbial scamp with a heart of gold. The book Lovejoy is too in a way, but seems to be much seedier and harder to find the heart of gold underneath.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Per the cover blurb it's "a Lovejoy Novel of Suspense". Lovejoy is an antique dealer who gets himself mixed up in some kinda shenanigans. He's not the sharpest bulb in the shed, but he figures it out. Except he doesn't. Then he does. Maybe. Very funny at times, I'd like to read more of these Lovejoy novels of suspense.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first Lovejoy mystery I have read. I was put off by the character of Lovejoy - I don't like the way he treats women, and he is unreasonably violent. However, the story itself was good and kept me interested, and it had some good twists, which I always like. The information about antiques, real and faked, was interesting, too.

[Austen · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the best Lovejoy adventures I have picked up. Moves along better than some of Gash's others. Great race through Ireland with the usual despicably-idle-rich snobs using Lovejoy's talents to their own ends, and Lovejoy doing his best just to keep his neck above water (or mud, in this case).

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly good mystery set in the antique trade

[Freder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jonathan Gash's literary Lovejoy is a good deal more corrupt and criminal than the TV version starring Ian MacShane, but both have their charms. This is a good entry in the series.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovejoy is "persuaded" to play his part in an ambitious scam, involving travel to the Emerald Isle. Lots goes wrong, people are not what they seem, but he survives.

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy these Lovejoy books, they are quick, witty and have some great nuances that ensure you are a little off balance. It is hard not to root for the main character.

[Mira · Rating 3 out of 5]

A boggy read indeed. The Lovejoy formula is getting tedious and this seemed like a slapdash affair.

[Glenda]

A very light read but very entertaining! I will look for more of these books.

[Gaynor Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love listening to these books, read by Michael Fenton Stevens. He captures the character of Lovejoy so well. I would say that Lovejoy is a loveable rogue, but he is actually quite a violent person, never backs down from a fight, and always with a good reason as to why he is not to blame for the bad things which happen when he is around. But Lovejoy has one redeeming quality which balances out his dark side, and that is his love for antiques. In fact, it is love full stop. He is truly passionate and loves with all his soul. The way he describes the objects of his desire makes you feel the deep love he has for them, and his genuine ardour is irresistible. In many ways, the plot is secondary. I could listen to these books all day!