Fresh Blood

Name: Patrick Quinlan

Title of Book: Smoked

'Smoke Duggan is a hard boiled character who does not try to explain away his old life in a criminal gang…'

Synopsis:
Smoke Duggan was for years the explosives expert of a criminal gang. He prided himself that no one was ever killed by his work, until a bomb he makes is placed on an aircraft where innocent women and children are killed. In revenge, he kills his crime boss and goes on the run, eventually ending up in Maine where he lives a contended life with his girlfriend Lola.

Now his old gang have caught up with him and have sent Cruz, a flint-eyed killer, to kidnap Lola to use her as bait to catch Smoke. But Lola is girl with a past herself. She puts her experience to good use and now knows how to look after herself.

Review:
This is an excellent debut crime novel from Patrick Quinlan. Smoke Duggan is a hard boiled character who does not try to explain away his old life in a criminal gang, but is haunted by his role in an incident which killed innocent women and children.

His girlfriend, Lola, and her roommate, Pamela, are great characters. Lola is the sassy girl who has used the incidents in her past to good effect. The book opens with her successfully fighting off an attempted rape, which develops into an interesting subplot in the novel. Pamela, on the other hand, yearns for adventure. A desire that is soon fulfilled, much to her dismay. Cruz, the career criminal, begins the book as an unsympathetic hit man but evolves to a more complex character in contrast to the other criminals portrayed in the book.

This is a great read and let's hope that the main characters reappear soon.

Reviewed by: S.W.

CrimeSquad Rating


Fresh Blood Questionnaire

1) What type of crime writing would you say you write?
Dark. Also fast. One reviewer called the writing in SMOKED "turbo-charged." Another (less kind) reviewer likened the book to the video game Grand Theft Auto. I am comfortable with these opinions. I try very hard to provide readers with a lot of entertainment value for their money. Why do people like auto-racing? For the speed and the vicarious thrills, I imagine. And just maybe, in the hope of watching someone crash.
2) What type of crime novel do you prefer? Series or standalone?
In general, I prefer to read standalones.
3) Have you always had ideas to write a crime novel?
Yes, ever since I started writing fiction. On occasion, I've also toyed with the idea of writing a horror novel, or perhaps a novel of espionage or political intrigue.
4) What influenced you to write a crime novel in the first place?
I was exposed to quite a bit of crime and violence during my upbringing. As such, I've been a bit obsessed with these things from an early age.

I also think that writing is a good way to work out frustrations, and at least in an imaginary way, set some things to right. While beginning to write SMOKED, I came across a magazine article about a particularly sadistic, yet completely legal, internet pornographer. And I thought, "Wouldn't it be nice if something terrible happened to this man?"
5) What is your favourite crime read of all time?
TOUGH GUYS DON'T DANCE, by Norman Mailer.
6) Your debut novel has been likened to the works of Elmore Leonard and Quentin Tarantino. Who are your main influences?
Elmore Leonard
Norman Mailer
Dean Koontz
James Ellroy
Ernest Hemingway
Hunter S. Thompson
Graham Greene

I like Quentin Tarantino's work, but I'm not sure I'd call him a major influence. Until very recently, I did not watch many movies, and didn't think much about film. That has changed, partly because of a project I'm working on, and partly because I don't have the kind of time to read that I used to have. If you want a story, it's obviously much faster (but in most cases, I think, not as satisfying) to watch a movie.
7) What is your favourite movie adaptation of a crime novel?
THE THIRD MAN by Graham Greene

Also:

TRUE CONFESSIONS by John Gregory Dunne
BLADE RUNNER is a great film, though quite far from the P.K. Dick novel it's based upon.
8) Without giving away the ending, which book included your favourite plot twist of all time?
I love the ending of Ellroy's AMERICAN TABLOID, when Pete Bondurant is sitting in the bar in Dallas at noon on November 22, 1963. I nearly died (with a smile on my face) when I first read that scene.

Another great, startling ending is in Elmore Leonard's GOLD COAST.
9) You have set your first book in Maine, not a place I would usually associate with crime. What made you choose Maine?
I live in Maine, first of all, so it was there for the taking. I also imagined that Portland's somewhat bucolic nature would make a nice juxtaposition with the violent big city criminals who descend upon it in the story. Interesting tidbit - I was chatting recently with a Portland cop who read SMOKED, and he told me they find big city criminals hiding out in town all the time.
10) Have you any plans for further books featuring Smoke Duggan and Lola?
Yes. I intend to write a sequel, which takes place in the Caribbean.
11) Where do you see crime fiction going next?
I would like to see it go where Le Carre went with THE CONSTANT GARDENER, and where Ellroy went with AMERICAN TABLOID. Bold, angry, and unafraid to point out where the real criminals are. I'd like it to recognize where we live today, and perhaps describe a way forward. One day, if I develop the skill, I'd like to tackle themes this large. Actually, I'd like to do a book where I, THE JURY meets 1984.

That said, I can't really predict where crime fiction is going.