Step into the jazzy, vodka-soaked world of Crang, where Toronto’s criminal underworld meets sharp wit and legal intrigue! Penned by Canadian author Jack Batten, the Crang series follows an unconventional criminal lawyer who’s more private eye than courtroom star. With a love for jazz, Polish vodka, and bending the rules, Crang navigates gritty mysteries with a moral code all his own, making this six-book crime fiction saga a hidden gem in Canadian literature.
Blending humor, complex characters, and Toronto’s vibrant streets, the series offers a fresh take on the mystery genre. Whether you’re a fan of legal thrillers or just craving a smart-mouthed sleuth, Crang’s adventures are a rollicking ride through a city alive with secrets.
How Crang Began
Jack Batten, a former lawyer turned prolific writer, created Crang in the late 1980s after years of penning non-fiction about Canada’s legal system. Drawing from his own brief, unhappy stint practicing law in Toronto, Batten crafted a protagonist who shared his distaste for the profession’s stuffiness. Inspired by the likes of Robert B. Parker’s Spenser, Batten gave Crang a single name, a sharp tongue, and a knack for trouble. His deep knowledge of Toronto’s legal scene and crime fiction, honed through years reviewing mysteries for the Toronto Star, shaped the series’ authentic, grounded feel.
Batten’s love for jazz and storytelling shines through Crang, a character who embodies the author’s passions and wry humor. The series began with Crang Plays the Ace in 1987, launching a decades-long journey that would cement Batten’s place in Canadian crime fiction.
The Heart of Crang
The Crang series kicks off with Crang Plays the Ace, where Crang investigates a shady waste disposal company, uncovering kickbacks, fraud, and murder. In Straight No Chaser, a stolen saxophone pulls him into a jazz-infused mystery, earning an Arthur Ellis Award nomination. Take Five sees Crang chasing a client who skipped sentencing in a massive marijuana grow-op case, while Booking In dives into the world of rare book forgery, with Crang racing to recover stolen treasures before a tycoon’s wrath ruins his friend’s career.
The series’ strength lies in its themes of justice, morality, and loyalty, wrapped in Toronto’s colorful backdrop. Crang’s cases often start small—a swiped sax, a dodgy business—but spiral into complex webs involving mob bosses, thugs, and high-stakes schemes. Batten’s Toronto is a character in itself, with vivid depictions of neighborhoods like Kensington Market and Forest Hill. His snappy dialogue and light noir style keep the tone engaging, while Crang’s personal life, including his romance with film critic Annie B. Cooke, adds warmth and depth.
Unlike brooding detectives, Crang is refreshingly free of personal demons, relying on wit and connections to navigate the underworld. His love for jazz greats like Bill Evans and his penchant for martinis make him a charming, relatable hero for fans of character-driven mysteries.
Why Crang Resonates
Though not a household name, the Crang series has carved a niche in Canadian crime fiction, praised for its authentic Toronto setting and Batten’s insider knowledge of the legal world. Fans adore Crang’s smart-ass charm and the series’ blend of humor and suspense, with reviews calling it a “perfect escape” for mystery buffs. Its nomination for the Arthur Ellis Award and enduring fanbase speak to its quiet but lasting impact.
Crang’s appeal lies in its ability to balance gritty crime with a light touch, offering a distinctly Canadian perspective on a genre often dominated by American voices. As Toronto evolves, the series remains a love letter to the city’s past, capturing its spirit through Crang’s eyes.
- First Book: Crang Plays the Ace (1987)
- Number of Books: Six
- Award: Straight No Chaser nominated for Arthur Ellis Award (1990)
- Setting: Toronto, Canada
Ready to meet Toronto’s slickest sleuth? Grab Crang Plays the Ace and dive into a world of jazz, justice, and jaw-dropping mysteries!