The Friends of Eddie Coyle

by George V. Higgins

I read this in two days. It was recommended as one of the great crime novels, and it reminds me of Elmore Leonard. Full of great dialog.

"How'd you find out?" the driver said.

"Well, one thing and another," the stocky man said. "You know how it is, you're talking to somebody and he says something and hte next fellow says something, and the first thing you know, you heard something." (15)

What did we do before cell phones? This is what:

"What I'll do is call Dillon as soon as I know where I'm going to be and tell him I told my wife I was going to be there, and have him tell her if she calls that I went out but I'm coming back and he'll have me call her. Then for him to call me and tell me she called. I'll leave a number. I'll do that before nine. You call Dillon and tell him you called me at home and my wife said I was at Dillon's, and he won't think anything, he'll give me the number and you can call me up and we'll meet somewhere. Okay?" (23)

I’m sure that plan makes sense, but even reading it again I don’t quite follow!

The names of characters are slowly revealed. The guy in the charger in chapter 2 – by the end of the chapter, you think he’s a cop. He’s back in ch. 4 and definitely a cop. Named Dave. You don’t find out he’s Dave Foley until chapter 8 (unless I just missed it). The “stocky man” in ch. 1 isn’t “Eddie Coyle” until ch. 4.

As of p. 90, here’s the story: Coyle is buying guns from Jackie Brown. Fresh from the factory, so they are good, not tied to previous crimes. Brown is also buying M-16s from some military guys and selling them to Andrea, a hippy-looking girl in a van. Andrea’s guys (I think) are using them to rob banks. Coyle’s getting the guns for a guy named Scalzi – not sure why. Coyle gets in a hurry, can’t wait, so Brown gets the guns sooner… but these are NOT from the factory, and they are very hot. Coyle doesn’t know. Dave (cop) is trying to figure out why Coyle’s been so busy. Dillon (saloon owner) informs Dave about stuff.

I didn’t take more notes after that, and I wouldn’t want to spoil it. It was great!