It was somewhat bitter-sweet to know that on reading this book, Joe Faraday is dead, and another series over. Which I confess is a lot of the reason for the delay.

The Faraday and Winter series has always been a slow burner in this household, quick to obtain, slow to savour, the characters at the heart of the books – Faraday, Paul Winter and Bazza Mackenzie real and vibrantly drawn. Because of that realness the fate of Faraday seems, unfortunately, so right, here is a man who always seemed slightly lost. His life validated by his job, his son and his relationships, he never seemed destined to be able to move on. Ex-DC Paul Winter's questioning of his colleague Mackenzie also makes much sense. As Bazza Mackenzie becomes more erratic, more driven, the blinkers come off and Winter seems to suddenly realise he's got to make some hard decisions. And Mackenzie himself. Standing for parliament is both a lunatic undertaking for a man of his background, and yet so apt. (Is it wrong to think that at least here would be a politician who everyone knows is a crook – without the need for a corruption enquiry?)

But that all makes sense in the prism of this series which has always been about right and wrong, about people and the choices they make, the directions they take. So it seemed fair to expect that HAPPY DAYS would settle some scores, iron out some wrinkles and make a few statements. Which it does, in an understated, almost reflective manner.

Perfect styling for a perfect ending (if there can be such a thing) to a much loved series.

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-happy-days-graham-hurley ( )