Paper: ROPE & CANVAS by DDC Morgan

 Paper: ROPE & CANVAS by DDC Morgan, 2023, 9781914475528.

Third in the series with Reg Calloway. Former British Army soldier, and former Army military policeman Reg has been falling further into depression, self-loathing, and PTSD. He's working as a doorman at a venue with live women's wrestling and living in a leaky rooming house.

A friend from novel #1 comes by asking for help because his brother-in-law was declared dead. But, there is no body and little info on what happened and how. His sister-in-law is starting to booze it and lose it.  Reg signs on to assist and - of course - trouble runs deep.

Lots of post-war neatness about these books. London always seems wet and gritty. Lots of war vets trying to get back to work. Many are doing ok. Others are missing a leg and barely getting by. A few are drunk all day.

Reg travels to Berlin. Reg visits a trucking company like the one in HELL DRIVERS. Reg finds a connection to motorcycle racing and traveling fairs with a Wall of Death. Reg's former love teams up with him as she rides the Wall. Woman wrestler from Germany beats up a bad guy. Reg gets stuck in a spy game and stranded in West Germany. I honestly don't recall the full plot. This is more a journey with Reg as he pursues the truth about the dead brother-in-law while pushing through various subplots that get in his way.

There is a lot going on. Spies, infidelity, secret medical clinics, bombed out London luxury hotels with squatters, tiny cars with big Reg squeezed in. I enjoy the series. 

Comments:

• I do love the cover artwork of this series. This cover may be a bit misleading to you if you expect everything to be set among professional womens wrestling. 
• I lucked into this series and author after Professor Crabbypants published a novel with Fahrenheit Press.
• Smuggling people from East to West Germany.
• Lots of cigarettes.