I had hoped to enjoy this book, but I didn't. The death of the nun is a very weak hook to hang the rest of the story on, and a mixed-up story it is. The title sounds humorous; unfortunately it apparently refers to the author's penchant for skipping back and forth in time and telling his tale inside out. One minute it's the 1980s, then the 20s, then whoops, no, it's the 1950s or the sixties or back in the eighties again! Ramble and bumble and make the ending entirely predictable, since Cleary's idea of rounding out the action is to tell the scenes from the beginning of the book from a different character's POV. We won't even mention the ridiculous character names--Jonathan Tewsday--why? Wasn't Mundy good enough for Cleary?--and Borsolino, the millionaire's lieutenant. Seriously? I guess so.

What a waste of reading time. This book doesn't know if it's a police procedural, international intrigue (anything but) or Godfather wannabe. In the end, it is none of those things. I skimmed my way through the predictable end just to finish it, though why I bothered I have no idea. A star and a half. I won't be looking for any more of Cleary's work.life-s-too-short nmsot stonking-great-disappointment David Mitchell365 1 follower

The second Jon Cleary novel that I have read. The Scobie Malone series is set in Sydney, my home town. I read this book over a series of days when I was commuting and committed the dreadful act of discarding pages as I progressed through the book. Detective Malone may yet arrest me for crimes to books!

On niggling issue presented in this novel: the interview of Mr Paredes and Mr Domecq is completed as joint interview. No right thinking detective would ever conduct a joint interview as much is to be gained when the individuals are interviewed separately.

Scobie Malone is a strong character. I how he remains a loyal husband and father and is keen to ensure that he is home for dinner. These family qualities are sadly lacking from many novels these days.




Carol Evans1,321 37

I've heard of the Contras but wasn't paying much attention to world events in the 80s, so I didn't know as much going into Now and Then, Amen as I probably should have, but that didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story. I also always thought of Australia as a Protestant country, I'm not sure why, but apparently they have a large Roman Catholic population too.

I think my favorite part of the story wasn't the mystery, to be honest I was a little disappointed in the whodunit(s), but the mix of religion and politics was, as always, intriguing. The Hourigans are ambitious, all of them, and even for the Archbishop and the nun, their "calling" never felt the reason for their actions. Maybe it was hers, she died too early to be sure, but for him it's about money and power.

I don't really have much to say. Scobie is the series character and he's a good, honest detective. He'll follow the leads wherever they take him, even to the Vatican. I wish he didn't feel so bad about how is job effects his family, but it makes sense. I d how, in the midst of the mystery, it traced the Hourigans from Capone's time in Chicago through to the current, which in this case is the 1980s, through flash backs and reminiscences, giving kind of an overview of history. The plot moved along at a good pace, even when Scobie doesn't have much to go on.

It's a solid story, not outstanding, but good.
audio-book for-review mystery Warren OlsonAuthor 15 books16

Another standard good Aussie based mystery ; Police/politics and the vatican and well explained and tied up Cleary as Scobie gets to the bottom of yet another murder or three ! Mary586 11

to read a book with different terminology for common US things. Aussie words and inferences are interesting. He writes books with compelling plots that create curiosity along the way. David1,767 2

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