A Criminal to Remember by Michael Van Rooy by Chadwick Ginther - Wednesday, Jun 23, 2010 at 4:14pm Michael Van Rooy has just released A Criminal to Remember, his third book starring reformed (sort of) criminal, Montgomery Haaviko. Monty's been in and out of pretty near every federal prison in Canada. He's been a thief, burglar and armed robber; an addict and a drug dealer. He was as bad as bad could be, but he gave that up for the love of a good woman. Now, Monty babysits the neighbourhood children. But old habits are hard to break...

The mayor of Winnipeg wants to institute a police advisory commission to oversee the local flatfoots and someone wants Monty elected as Chief. In addition, he's been bribed to throw that same election. As always, Monty is endlessly resourceful in this fast-paced, thrilling outing as he plays both sides against each other.

But he may have met his match when a serial killer known to police as "The Shy Man" makes Monty's wife Claire a target. The Shy Man has operated below the radar for years, the public has no idea of his existence and law enforcement has never come close to touching him.

Van Rooy really hits Monty where it hurts in A Criminal to Remember. You see more than a few glimpses of the man Monty used to be as the psychopathic Shy Man gets deeper under his skin. It is made starkly clear that the only thing this hero fears is the fragility of his new life with a loving wife and son. While it is a slightly darker turn than previous outings--there is no way to tell this sort of story lightly--Monty's wit and clever dissections of the criminal (and law-abiding) lifestyle never fail to entertain.

Highly recommended.

Van Rooy introduced us to Monty in his stellar debut, An Ordinary Decent Criminal, now shortlisted for On the Same Page, won the 2006 Eileen McTavish Sykes Award for Best First Book. In 2009 Van Rooy won the John Hirsch Award for Most Promising Manitoba Writer. He will be launching A Criminal to Remember Wednesday, June 23rd at 8pm in Prairie Ink.

See also:

Your Friendly Neighborhood Criminal by Michael Van Rooy

An Interview with Michael Van Rooy

Michael Van Rooy's website

Categories: Reviews, Staff Pick, Mystery & Crime, Winnipeg

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