Gangbare naam: Shrier, Howard
Geboortedatum: 1956-11-13
Geslacht: male
Nationaliteit: Canada
Geboorteplaats: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Woonplaatsen: Montréal, Québec, Canada
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Opleiding: Concordia University (journalism & creative writing)
Beroepen: Writer
teaches writing at University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies
Organisaties: Crime Writers of Canada
Writers Guild of Canada
Prijzen en onderscheidingen: Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel (2008)
Agent: Helen Heller (Helen Heller Agency), Carl Liberman, (The Characters)
Korte biografie: Howard Shrier was born and raised in Montreal, where he earned an Honours Degree in Journalism and Creative Writing. He began his career as a crime reporter, and has since worked in theatre, television, sketch comedy and improv, as well as government and corporate communications. He now lives in Toronto with his wife and two sons. He is the author of two novels, Buffalo Jump and High Chicago, both published by Random House Canada, and teaches writing at University of Toronto. Film rights to both books have been optioned by Toronto-based Media Headquarters. Please visit howardshrier.com.

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High Chicago door Howard Shrier

It's a gloriously sunny fall day here, one of those days that shouts at you that you should get outside, there aren't more left, you should wallow in the sun and coolish air and bright blue while you can.
But I'm inside, finishing High Chicago.
Because it is impossible to stop.
The last few chapters have the racing about pacing of an action film, the first part of the book lays out a complex, twisted plot, everyone is not who they seem, and wow - I sit agog at the plot developments and how the story is brought together so expertly at the end.
It's hard to write violent scenes and make them sound realistic - Shrier can do this in spades but doesn't dwell on things in a nasty way - he describes the punch and the kick so that you can feel them, then moves on. His characters are not mystically strong. I like this. Actually, I love all the characters in this book, even the slimy ones. (Well, except one of them).
Wonderfully done and I must now read Miss Montreal ASAP. I'm hoping for rain.… (meer)

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Dabble58 | 14 andere besprekingen | Nov 11, 2023 |

Buffalo Jump door Howard Shrier

This was a solid debut of the Jonah Geller series. For some damn reason, I'm reading them all out of order, starting with the third one, Boston Cream>, then this, the first. Which means I'll read the second, then fourth, then all will be right with the world.

Anyway, I found the writing to be solid, assured, excellent dialogue and pacing and the story grew very nicely throughout the novel. Shrier's handling of Geller with Detective Sergeant Katherine Hollinger, and with Dante Ryan just sparkle. These are real characters and they jump off the page.

Well done.… (meer)

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TobinElliott | 4 andere besprekingen | Sep 3, 2021 |

Boston Cream door Howard Shrier

This time, Jonah Geller is hired to investigate the disappearance of a medical student in Boston by his Toronto-based parents. Thus begins perhaps the darkest of Shrier's quartet of Geller novels. The violence here, in fact, went a bit too far even for me. I'm not sure it was necessary to make it all quite so bad. The next book in the series, Miss Montreal, seems pacifist by comparison! Nevertheless, this is a must-read series for its incredible characters, notably Geller himself and ex-hitman Dante Ryan, who is called upon once again to help save the day when Geller's partner Jenn is kidnaped by a sadistic villain. Luckily, Ryan has all the right connections to get guns, thugs, or whatever is needed to combat the problem at hand. I recommend reading the series from the beginning to really understand the dynamic of their relationship--and of the other characters such as Jenn and Colin. This is one of the most impressive series I have read. It's time for another one.… (meer)

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datrappert | 1 andere bespreking | Jul 1, 2019 |

High Chicago door Howard Shrier

In High Chicago, Jonah Geller, who has just started his own detective agency, is hired to investigate why a young woman, the son of a real estate magnate, killed herself by jumping off a Toronto balcony. This requires investigating her father and his business partner, a notorious American developer obviously modelled on Donald Trump--though he isn't Trump, since Trump himself is mentioned in the book more than once. Jonah makes some progress in Chicago, and figures out that it probably wasn't suicide--no surprise there. Then things inevitably take a nasty turn and it is time to call upon the help of restauranteur, but former hitman, Dante Ryan. In this series, Ryan's presence ratchets up the excitement level to at least 11. As usual, there is lots of violence and more than a few people get hurt. The evolution of Geller's character as he continues to deal with his Israeli military experience and the trauma it left him with, while fighting for justice no matter what the cost or the perception of others, is fascinating. Luckily, Geller isn't working alone. Highly, highly recommended.… (meer)

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datrappert | 14 andere besprekingen | Jul 1, 2019 |

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