Crang Plays the Ace

Joan McGrath is a Toronto Board of Education library consultant.

Crang is a Toronto criminal lawyer; a street-smart downtowner with few if any illusions, who can give any sleuth going a run for his money — or his lady friend. This hard-hitting introduction to a fellow with an obvious future is launched by his investigations of the outsize profits being realized by the Ace Disposal Service, an organization that on close investigation proves ominous indeed.

The fix is in, but Crang is all set to unfix the situation with his own private brand of mayhem, mild blackmail of the “you owe me a favour” variety, and the assistance of a bevy of off-the-wall characters and dialogue.

Batten has already made a resounding name for himself with his non-fiction studies of the law in Canada: Lawyers, Judges, In Court, and Robinette. Now he brings the same sure touch and great good humour to fictional crime stopping, with super, fast-paced stylish results.