Miss Montreal

By Howard Shrier

Howard Shrier's acclaimed Jonah Geller series continues with Miss Montreal, the Vintage World of Crime trade paperback original and sequel to Boston Cream.  

After what happened in Boston, P.I. Jonah Geller can't show his face in the U.S. again. Which is fine with him. He's got a new case in Montreal, one of the world's most colourful and downright scandalous cities. An old friend has been brutally murdered there, and the police investigation is stalled. With an election looming and tensions seething, Jonah and former hit man Dante Ryan have to battle religious fanatics, gun runners and a twisted political dynasty to get to the truth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: May 28, 2013
• ISBN: 9780307359599

Reviews for Miss Montreal

[datrappert · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After one of the best opening chapters I've read in quite a while, Shrier's story borders on tedious for a few chapters before picking up steam (and violence) and coming to a rousing but sobering conclusion. The book doesn't paint a flattering picture of Montreal, especially not its drivers and road conditions. Perhaps I've been lucky with the drivers, but I can certainly attest to the potholes. I've never read a book with so many street names that wasn't an atlas. In his quest for authenticity, Shrier goes a bit too far on occasion, and his descriptions are sometimes over-detailed. But the story of a murdered Jewish journalist and the detective who knew him long ago in summer camp and is hired by the journalist's dying uncle to find his murderer is very well done, though complex--just like real life. I would have definitely benefited from having read the previous entries in this series, as the detective, narrating in the first person, is constantly referring to the dire incidents that took place in Boston during the previous story. It would have also helped to have some background on the detective and his very capable team, so I guess I'll have to go back to the beginning of the series to appreciate it all. In any case, there is a little bit of everything here. Good police, bad police, good immigrants, bad immigrants--and at least one good sandwich. The places Shrier talks about are usually real, so perhaps I can partake of the sandwich, too. I certainly wouldn't want to partake of most of the other events of the story! Definitely recommended for anyone who likes their mysteries on the realistic side.

[twink_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Miss Montreal is the fourth book in Howard Shrier's series featuring Private Investigator Jonah Geller.I only discovered this wonderful series with the last book Boston Cream (my review) but I loved it and have been eagerly awaiting Jonah's next case.Now persona non grata in the US, Jonah takes on a new case in Montreal. His childhood friend Sammy has been brutally murdered - and after many weeks, the police seem no closer to finding the killer. Sammy's grandfather is dying and he wants to see justice done. He hires Jonah to investigate. And with his regular partner Jenn Raudsepp sidelined, Jonah brings along reformed hit man Dante. Reformed, but still lethal.Sammy was a respected English speaking, Jewish journalist living and working in Montreal. His body was beaten, mutilated and left in a Muslim neighbourhood of the city. Was he working on a story that got him killed? Was it someone he knew or someone from his past? Or was it just a random hate crime?What Jonah and Dante find is much more insidious than even they could imagine.......Howard Shrier has done a fantastic job with the setting. Descriptions of Montreal, the inhabitants and the current atmosphere are all detailed and ring true. (Shrier has lived in the city himself) The plotting was excellent and frighteningly believable. Simmering racial and cultural tensions on many fronts, the separatist movement, political machinations, terrorism and more populate this fast-paced novel.The play between the two main characters is excellent - Jonah usually thinks before acting. Dante - well, not so much. They are polar opposites with a focus on the same goal. Shrier also gives each a personal storyline that brings depth to the character and is a nice continuance from novel to novel. They play off each other nicely and bring Spenser and Hawk to mind.Fans of the crime genre, I encourage you to discover this award winning Canadian series. (Also being developed as a television show by a producer of Law & Order) I'll definitely be watching for number five.