The Discrete Charm of Charlie Monk
by David Ambrose

David Ambrose has gleaned a considerable following for such powerful books as Hollywood Lies & Superstition, and this new tale of the dangers that may result from future science quickly establishes itself as a thriller of some distinction. Charlie Monk is, it seems, a heroic figure. He has no fear - but he has no conscience, or memory. Doctor Susan Flemyng has been working on a way to give him his memory back, and in a world where every aspect of reality is rigorously controlled, her gift is regarded as a dangerous one. While Ambrose defies category as a thriller writer (utilising elements from many genres) he remains a stylist of real achievement - and even if his prose is stripped down to the bare minimum, it functions perfectly in the context of his swift-moving narrative. Charlie is a highly unusual protagonist, and his relationship to Susan Flemyng is handled with intelligence and imagination.

Reviewed by Barry Forshaw