Friday, April 23, 2021

FFB-Joe Bonney Series by Jack Livingstone

 

Jack Livingstone wrote four (to my knowledge) books about his deaf detective, Joe Binney, which I quite enjoyed in the 1980s. The series was brought to mind after seeing THE SOUND OF METAL, about a musician going deaf. A deaf musician is certainly a more serious handicap than in a detective but Joe had to work around his deafness too. He was not born deaf but acquired it in the Korean War. Anyone else read him?

1982: A Piece of the Silence

1984-Die Again, Macready

1986-The Nightmare File

1987 Hellbent for Homicide (also known ad Hellbent for Election)

7 comments:

Steve A Oerkfitz said...

Never heard of this author. I don't believe I have ever read a book with a deaf person as the main character.

Margot Kinberg said...

I'm not familiar with the series, Patti, but it sounds like a good one. I always like the way you find the most interesting books for FFB.

Jeff Meyerson said...

I am familiar with the series but never read it. Steve, you might try the current Australian series by Emma Viskic about profoundly deaf Melbourne PI Caleb Zelic, starting with RESURRECTION BAY. I don't love it - he frequently puts himself in classic "had I but known" jeopardy situations - but the setting is different and they are worth a try.

Todd Mason said...

Fantastic Fiction seems to think his real name was James L. Susser--but I'm not seeing that cited elsewhere. I think I've seen his books around, but never read his work. Livingston, I presume!

George said...

Diane and I are watching THE SOUND OF METAL tonight.

pattinase (abbott) said...

I loved that film. I saw JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH last night. Still haven't seen THE FATHER.

Jeff Meyerson said...

We watched an odd little movie with Billy Crystal - STANDING UP, FALLING DOWN. Ben Schwartz is a 34 year old failed standup comic who moves back from L.A. to his parents' home on Long Island. (They are played by Debra Monk and Kevin Dunn, and his younger sister is Grace Gummer, Meryl Streep's second daughter.) He's also depressed because he threw away the woman he truly loves by running away. By coincidence, he meets a dermatologist played by Crystal, and somewhat improbably perhaps, they bond. Crystal is very good in this.