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Rough Treatment (The Charlie Resnick Mysteries Book 2) Kindle Edition

by John Harvey (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 509 ratings
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A willing victim complicates a case for Detective Charlie Resnick, “one of the most fully realized characters in modern crime fiction” (Sue Grafton).
  Maria Roy is in the tub, musing on her hatred for her movie producer husband, when Grabianski and Grice break into her house. Though she is fearful at first, something about Jerry Grabianski’s confidence calms her down. Over tall glasses of Scotch, she directs them to her valuables—jewelry, bonds, her wedding tape—even doing them the favor of unlocking her husband’s safe. There Grabianski finds a surprise: a kilo of cocaine. He leaves with the drugs, the valuables, and a piece of Maria’s heart.  This is not the story she tells to police inspector Charlie Resnick, but Maria’s confusion makes the disheveled detective doubt her account of the robbery. As he combs Nottingham for the burglars, Maria and Jerry’s love affair charges ahead. She is about to learn that not even love can keep crime from turning bloody.
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  1. Book 2 of 12
    The Charlie Resnick Mysteries
  2. Print length
    356 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    MysteriousPress.com/Open Road
  6. Publication date
    February 14, 2012
  7. File size
    1345 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Inspector Charlie Resnick, first encountered in Lonely Hearts , counters a drug-trafficking ring and suspected police corruption in this well-executed and very human British police procedural, set in an unnamed Midlands city. When Jerzy Grabianski and Trevor Grice burglarize TV director Harold Roy's house, they find his bored wife, Maria, who becomes attracted to Jerzy. Among the valuables the thieves snatch is a kilo of cocaine which Roy, dabbling in drugs and on the verge of losing his job, has been keeping for a dealer acquaintance. Maria supplies a false description of the criminals, prompted by her interest in Jerzy, who returns to begin an affair and negotiate selling back the cocaine. Resnick concentrates heavily on the case, meanwhile contending with other crimes that include a possible Chinese feud. On the domestic front, the inspector attempts to sell his house because it holds unpleasant memories of his failed marriage, and the superintendent's daughter is arrested for shoplifting. Harvey's policemen are real people, some appealing, some not, and all suggestively portrayed.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The author of Lonely Hearts (1989), which introduced Detective Inspector Charlie Resnick, sulky cat lover, sets him on the trail of two "gentlemen" thieves in the Midlands of England. When the pair burglarize the Roy house, they find more than they bargained for: a kilo of cocaine stored in the safe and the attention-starved wife of an American pressure-ridden television director. Tension increases as Resnick pushes for a solution, Mrs. Roy and one of the burglars embark on an affair, and Mr. Roy tries to avoid his cocaine-dealing "friend." Aside from a habit of jumping too quickly from one set of characters to another, Harvey provides serviceable entertainment.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B006ZE1K5E
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ MysteriousPress.com/Open Road (February 14, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 14, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1345 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 356 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 509 ratings

About the author

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John Harvey

John Harvey

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JOHN HARVEY is the author of eleven Charlie Resnick novels and the Frank Elder series, and is a recipient of the Silver Dagger Award, the Barry Award, and the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award for lifetime achievement, among other honors.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
509 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Sally B
4.0 out of 5 stars I like Charlie Resnick
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2014
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I have only read 2 of this series but really enjoy Resnick's character. Keeps you interested and not too many characters.
Look forward to reading more.
One person found this helpful
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Loves2Read
5.0 out of 5 stars Unique, satisfying, and controlled display of talent--
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2015
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Just discovered this series of a somewhat out of the ordinary UK detective--Charlie Resnick. Loved the first and found the second a different sort of mystery--no mystery at all really except how John Harvey was going to tie up all the plot threads that he was weaving throughout this book.
A sexy, kind-hearted thief, a burgeled wife who appreciates being appreciated, less music and more sandwiches, and a very natural way of giving us info about the continuing cast of characters...
Reading "Rough Treatment" was akin to listening to a rondo --where various musical themes carry on separately and together in harmony.
Thought it was masterfully executed....definitely NOT the kind of mystery/novel where the writer ends the book in a way that makes you think s/he just ran out of ideas and took the quickest way out the door...As a reader you just have to be willing to allow the writer to set the pace and allow the story to unfold as it requires.
3 people found this helpful
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Eva Susan Juhasz
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2015
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A good read but a bit toouch personal angst.
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Sharon N. Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2014
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up to his good standard
One person found this helpful
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Rich Brown, Midlothian
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2016
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John Harvey has not tied Charlie Resnick to his personal history from the first book in the series, and this is good. Charlie is never sure about his personal life circumstances, but pursues whatever clues he can detect to solve the crimes. Good twists in story, some humor, with interesting character development. A good read
One person found this helpful
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Constant Reader
4.0 out of 5 stars No Sophomore Slump in Second Charlie Resnick Mystery
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2019
Charlie Resnick is the featured detective in this series of British police procedurals. This book is the second in what is a successful series of eleven books. It would be best to read the first book in the series, because you will know Charlie and his cats and have some initial information about the unsolved robberies that are the focus of the investigation. It is unusual since it is a mystery, but not a murder mystery. The action begins with two men breaking into a house that they expect to be unoccupied. The story moves in an unexpected direction soon afterwards, but to say more would spoil the narrative. I like Charlie Resnick and the cast of continuing characters. This mystery also involves some behind the scenes looks at production of a small budget television series and that is interesting. The writing is good which is not unexpected since the author has won a silver dagger award. The pacing is steady. There is some sex and some rough language.
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yasmin
5.0 out of 5 stars Absorbing until the last page
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2013
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As always, a great read. I am never disappointed with these novels. Highly recommended for lovers of British crime fiction .Love Resnick
2 people found this helpful
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Tribefan
3.0 out of 5 stars A Description...
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2006
From Back Cover:

Things have started to get seriously out of hand for kind-hearted burglar Jerry Grabianski. His violent, opportunistic partner-in-crime, Trevor Grice, is uncontrollable. And now Jerry has fallen hard for married, love-starved and willing Maria Roy - whom he and Trevor met while ransacking her house.

Detective Inspector Charlie Resnick is certain that the criminals responsible for the break-in at the Roy household are the same two who left a corpse behind during their previous caper. But there are some things neigher Maria nor her television director husband Harold are reveaing to the melancholy investigator. And when love, lies and larceny mix, the result can be murder.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Àuthor
Reviewed in Canada on July 31, 2023
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I've read several books 📚 by this author and luv his writing style, in depth descriptions of characters, locations and situations.
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J. Hassall
5.0 out of 5 stars ... of Nottingham on behalf of the local paper I enjoyed John Harvey's novel which located the story line in ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 1, 2014
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As someone who has walked the streets of Nottingham on behalf of the local paper I enjoyed John Harvey's novel which located the story line in and around Nottingham. The main storyline tended to stretch the imagination a bit but despite this the plot was full of twists and turns although the final twist was signalled a bit early. The side issues and relationships were firmly rooted and highly believable. The main characters were interesting and well constructed and the overall quality of the writing was excellent. I'm off to get the third one in the series in the hope that it continues the excellent trend.
One person found this helpful
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Simon
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect condition, like new!
Reviewed in Canada on September 26, 2021
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Great read!
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GeeHaitch
4.0 out of 5 stars Not quite as good as his first book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 13, 2015
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Got wind of the John Harvey books through a local paper review and being a born and bred Nottingham man decided to take a look.

To be honest he's a damn good writer but this book seems a little far fetched. However well written and loving Charlie Resnick, jazz and cat lover, and I won't be put off by this slight dip in form.

Already on his next book and he's back to his best. Perseverance needed with this one.
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Jl Adcock
3.0 out of 5 stars Pedestrian second outing for Resnick
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 23, 2019
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The second Resnick novel is a surprisingly sprawling, slightly tedious entry in the series. It lacks the pared back nature that Harvey developed later in his writing, as if the series and overall direction of the books is still taking shape. This one features a burglar with an essentially good heart and an active libido, some tiresome goings on in the world of TV drama, and the wayward activities of Chief Inspector's Skelton's daughter - a theme Harvey would explore again in his Frank Elder novels. Writer and crime fiction critic Julian Symons once described Harvey's books as boring and dull - based on the evidence of Rough Treatment it is easy to see why. Things improved with the later titles, but so far, re-reading these early Resnick stories is hard going.
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