Crang
Created by Jack Batten

Shades of Perry Mason! The notion of a criminal lawyer acting like a private detective is alive and well, in Toronto of all places! CRANG (one name, please) also shows a definite Spenser influence, albeit in a Toronto/CBC way. He's an struggling, rather quirky criminal lawyer working out of downtown Toronto, dropping (brand) names left and right, partial to Wyborwa vodka, Rockport Walkers and jazz. He also enjoys palling around with his clients, and other friends in low places, much to the dismay of his very smart and very sensible girlfriend, Alice B. Cooke, a movie critic for the local CBC station.

Author Jack Batten has written several non-fiction books about the Canadian legal system, and he's a lawyer himself. He seems to have a lot of fun with the series. my guess is that you will too. They're light, to be sure, but Crang is an appealing hero, pleasingly fallible and none too swift at times. World Class!

NOVELS

• Crang Plays the Ace (1987)
• Straight as Chaser (1989)
• Riviera Blues (1990; Toronto and Monaco)
• Blood Count (1991)

SHORT STORIES

• "Snapshot" (1992, Criminal Shorts)