A particularly diverse month with three books in translation, from respectively Croatia (a first!), Japan and Denmark, a new series from the ever-reliable Michael Connelly on its second instalment, a locked room mystery set a sea with the return of a much-loved character, a somewhat breathless high concept thriller, a strong espionage tale, a decadent Vienna-set sleuthing romp with a lively heroine, thrills in the Canadian forest and a New-York of the wealthy setting with crime underfoot.
BOOK OF THE MONTH
Jurica Pavičič/MOTHER OF SORROWS (Bitter Lemon Press)
I was unable to review Pavicic’s CWA Dagger shortlisted and internationally prize-winning RED WATER on its initial English-language publication as my copy reached me too late to cover, but was mightily impressed reading it after the fact and the follow-up to be translated is no less moving, again examining the effect of violence, crime and war on society and often forlorn individuals in once Communist Croatia and had the power to touch intimate emotional buttons in the reader. with pinpoint accuracy and much compassion. MOTHER OF SORROWS is set in 2,022 in the author’s native Split and paints a bleak but humane picture of a city still reeling from being torn asunder during the lengthy course of the Civil War through three characters: Katja, a mother whose life was shattered by a previous catastrophe and now partly seduced by the mirage of religion and works as a cleaner to support her family; her daughter Ines who is employed as a receptionist at a tourist hotel and son Mario whose opaque personality sees him come under strong suspicion following the murder of 17-year old Viktorija Reba, the daughter of a local doctor, inside an empty factory building. Enter Inspector Zvone, a cop with troubles of his own but dedicated to the job even when it means ignoring his superiors and treating apparent evidence in a cavalier fashion. All the characters are a reflection of the tumult of a society in turmoil, torn between memories of war and a future dominated by the all-embracing development of tourism. A gritty portrait of a family in turmoil, just like the landscape, historical and metaphorical, that surrounds them and the terrible crime that triggers their despair. The translation by Matt Robinson flows effortlessly.
Mother of Sorrows by Jurica Pavičič (Bitter Lemon Press)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Michael Connelly/IRONWOOD (Orion)
A second volume starring Detective Sergeant Stillwell, set on the outpost island of Catalina off the Californian coast where the honest cop was previously transferred under something of a cloud but has now begun to appreciate the charms of his new more relaxed environment, including a steady relationship with the practical, female harbour master. His tranquillity is shattered one night when two of his deputies are gunned down at a remote airfield, following on from a tip about drug runners. Keen to bring those responsible to justice, Stillwell soon sees his efforts discouraged by superiors on the mainland, and has to conduct his subsequent investigation off the book, while balancing the day job and minor criminal cases on his island patch, involving graffiti-spraying and other lesser misdemeanours. Like every Connelly novel, the story unfolds with well-lubricated ease, in a limpid style carrying no unnecessary extras or diversions and is a pleasure to read at fast pace. This time along, Stillwell is at times accompanied by two earlier Connelly protagonists, the cold case unit’s Renée Ballard and a cameo by Harry Bosch as they all attempt to join the dots in what initially appears to be an unsolvable problem, involving not just the initial ambush of the two police officers but also the discovery of human remains both on the island and on the mainland, bringing to light the possible instance of a serial killer at large. Connelly has a knack for characters with an inner sense of integrity that compels them to question the facts and the establishment, a moral writer whose plots always prove eminently satisfying and make the reader a willing accomplice in cheering for his heroes on the side of good, and you leave each of his books with a feel of satisfaction, with no loose ends still standing and a sense that, after all, all is good with the (Connelly) world. Quasi perfect!
Ironwood by Michael Connelly (Orion)
Seichō Matsumoto/TWILIGHT IN MUSASHINO (Penguin Classics)
It’s gratifying to see that English-language publishers are now delving deeper into Japanese crime fiction, beyond the bravura and tsunami of locked room mysteries and impossible crime volumes and the curious phenomenon of Uketsu’s ‘illustrated’ novels (confession: I am NOT into them…), and we are being shown a glimpse of the depth of Seicho Matsumoto’s widespread oeuvre. A handful of his books, featuring an endearing police investigator, Inspector Imanishi, were made available in the 1990s but the Penguin Classics team have dug further and unearthed his compelling TOKYO EXPRESS (which I reviewed some while ago), a meticulous murder mystery based on railway time tables (not unlike Freeman Wills Crofts and other Golden Age craftsmen), and now reveal another side to the highly prolific Matsumoto’s palette: the dark political thriller, echoing Japan’s postwar social malaise through the prism of a fascinating crime investigation. Set in 1959 (Matsumoto lived from 1909 to 19920) this begins with discovery of a strangled young female flight attendant on the icy banks of a river and the subsequent investigation led by earnest and dedicated Detective Fujisawa soon finds himself faced with a wall of silence, when the possible involvement of a Christian Mission sited at a nearby church is unveiled, which in due course leads to foreign, diplomatic involvement stemming from Japan’s industrial reconstruction programme and the presence of seemingly untouchable foreigners of high rank. A lengthy, slow-burning procedural with the grittiness of Simenon and the immersive feel of a highly complex mystery is highlighted by the smooth touch of Jesse Kirkwood’s translation. An important milestone in foreign crime fiction and truly a classic.
Twilight in Musashino by Seichō Matsumoto (Penguin Classics)
Michael Idov/THE CORMORANT HUNT (Scribner)
Ex-CIA agent Ari Falk is still in hiding following the calamitous events that unfolded around him in THE COLLABORATORS and seeking anonymity in Georgia, when he is inevitably drawn back into the great game in this second novel by Idov, which confirms his elevated status amongst the current munificent wave of spy thrillers, alongside the likes of McCloskey, Berry, Fesperman, Vidich and Herron. As a direct sequel the plot barely lingers on the events that preceded it, although I was surprised that Maya Chou, Ari’s previous love interest and a major, complex protagonist of the earlier volume in her own right doesn’t make an appearance and is barely referred to. I guess there is no sentimentality when it comes to twisty struggles on the geopolitical map! Falk is called back into action by an unnamed contact at the CIA to help uncover the possible existence of another mole at the centre when a Moscow defector is apprehended at a Baltic border in a curious case of dual identity. The machinations and webs of betrayal crisscrossing the espionage establishments on both sides of the divide are staggering to behold and Ari’s fast and furious journeys between countries as he seeks to unravel the dangling threads of truth are like a deep dive into a world where no one can be trusted and death lurks around every corner. Disillusioned but carried along by some hope of pride and redemption, he makes for a strong character, all good resolutions but fallible, with a powerful ally and counterpart in the person of Ashka Tamaskar, a neurodivergent CIA boss he has to learn to trust and with a distinct agenda of her own. Breathless but fascinating and with a sinister ring of truth. Bring on the next volume.
The Cormorant Hunt by Michael Idov (Scribner)
Ilona Bannister/FIVE (Juniper)
A gripping high concept thriller with a slight nod to Patricia Highsmith, FIVE holds the attention from the outset, with a powerful premise which the author then proceeds to lead into constantly surprising directions and that will most assuredly keep the reader glued to the page. Set on a railway station platform, an unseen (unreliable?) narrator introduces five characters all awaiting the delayed 7.06 train to London Victoria. Five total strangers are present and one, we are casually informed, is about to die in 5 minutes. Curiously enough the platform in question has witnessed four previous deaths, going back a century, although two were accidental, one was intentional and the other is still a question mark, thus highlighting the eponymous title number further in the cause of intrigue and puzzlement. The characters are introduced, seemingly unconnected to each other: a child, a businessman, a gambler, a mother and an old woman. Their stories and past lives are revealed, courting the reader’s sympathy or dislike as the question mark of who will soon die is teased out page after page, cleverly putting the outside observer in the position of voyeur and judge as he/she has to second guess the oft sarcastic narrator. The fact that each of the five characters in jeopardy is so distinct and none are outright saints and more often sinners to differing degree makes the exercise in manipulation even more devilish and compelling, an impish ticking bomb narrative with the power to both disturb and confound. Bannister is the author of previous novels, albeit not in the thriller genre and announces her arrival on the scene with brio.
Five by Ilona Bannister (Juniper)
Alessandra Ranelli/MURDER AT THE HOTEL ORIENT (Baskerville)
An effervescent debut novel by a European-based American writer who was previously a pastry chef, MURDER AT THE HOTEL ORIENT is a delightful homage to Golden Age mystery with a glittering setting in modern day Vienna, where the author still lives. Sterling Lockwood is the accommodating night concierge at the Hotel Orient, an establishment well-known for its reputation as a haven for sin, lust and gentle debauchery, deliberately inspired by past ‘love hotels’ in a city known for its fleshly excesses and joie de vivre; she is famous for her discretion, flexible morals, a reliable keeper of secrets, and her extravagant appearance like a vintage Hollywood femme fatale of yore. However, when a couple of illicit customers are found dead in their suite one morning, Sterling with the hardy support of quick-witted bellboy and sidekick Fernando is thrown into investigating the shady case, lest suspicion falls on her as a quirky male and female official detective duo, Andreas and Beata, both of which she feels rather keen to bed, are also on the case, and Sterling has secrets of her own she would rather keep well hidden. Her steps will lead her into the demi-monde of a city of sin and sybaritic pleasures from dubious establishments to steamy cafés, seeking out the truth in the shimmering shadows. Witty, decadent and rumbustious, Sterling makes for a great, uncensored character, all red lipstick, vamp and corsets and this bawdy behind the velvet curtains vision of a city made for sin romp satisfies at every level: classic whodunnit, strong characters and a terrific sense of place.
Murder at the Hotel Orient by Alessandra Ranelli (Baskerville)
Jenny Lund Madsen/UNDER THE BLAZING SUN (Orenda Books)
This strong follow-up to screenwriter Madsen’s impressive debut THIRTY DAYS OF DARKNESS confirms her standing among the plethora of second wave Scandi Noir, with yet another coruscating look at the dark side of the creative mind as temperamental Danish writer Hannah Krause-Bendix finds herself in a desolate mood. Her publishers are clamouring for a a sequel to her initial crime novel and her personal life is something of a sentimental battlefield. And she is suffering from writer’s block. Despatched by her demanding agent Bastian to a sun-drenched Italian villa with strict instructions to concentrate on her writing, away from all distractions, the last thing she expects is to, again, be confronted by a murder, becoming both a suspect and an involuntary sleuth and, with ironic echoes of the past, a character in a crime story, a genre she disdains from her snobbish literary heights, even though she appreciates the financial rewards it has brought her. Often under the strong influence of alcohol and faced with a deadly encounter with a wealthy Swedish couple, Hannah is soon scouring the island in a yellow Fiat Panda, a strong cause of irritation to the Italian police and minor mafia underlings, sleuthing by numbers in a parody of the books she disdains. Both a pointed satire on the genre, a sharp insight into professional jealousy in the world of letters and a thoroughly well-engineered and calibrated mystery plot, a novel with hidden charms and a most fallible and often lovelorn heroine who wallows in her imperfections. Brought a wide smile to my face and am looking forward to the next instalment to this Murder by the Book series, deftly translated by Paul Russell Garrett.
Under the Blazing Sun by Jenny Lund Madsen (Orenda Books)
Amin Ahmad/A KILLER IN THE FAMILY (Hutchinson Heinemann)
An ambitious New York-set thriller debut by an Indian-born author now living in America, hitherto principally know for translations, A KILLER IN THE FAMILY borrows from the SUCCESSION TV series and twisted serial killer novels, with a complex, twisty plot that unfolds slowly but deliberately, lacking at times in pace but serving strong lashings of social satire. Ali Azeem from Mumbai enters into an arranged traditional marriage agreement to wed Maryam, the daughter of Abbas Khan, a self-made real estate tycoon based in America. Once the couple arrive in the USA to begin their new life, Ali is initially dazzled by the sheer Gatsbyesque surroundings he now finds himself navigating through, from lavish Manhattan apartments to glittering Hampton residences, until a sinister side of his new life rears its ugly appearance when Maryam’s sister, Farhan, an unstable divorcée, reveals to him that his father in law has a hidden, dangerous side to him. Perturbed by her warning and cautious about the offer to join the Tiger Corp, part of Abbas Khan’s empire, Ali takes it upon himself to investigate the matter further only to unveil a disturbing connection to a serial killer, and soon finds himself paddling through murky and highly dangerous waters, while all along balancing the novelty of his marriage, his affection for his wife and familiarising himself with the cut throat aspect of American business at its greediest behind the shifting veil of the immigrant experience. With echoes of THE BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES crossed with a slasher novel, this is a novel that juggles themes and sub-genres and doesn’t always get the balance right, but the ambition is there for all to see and applaud.
A Killer in the Family by Amin Ahmad (Hutchinson Heinemann)
Matthew Hall/TOTEM (Eye Books)
From the BAFTA-winning screenwriter of KEEPING FAITH and author of the Jenny Cooper Coroner series, a slick thriller set deep in Canadian First Nations territory. Having reached the pinnacle of her legal career, busy Toronto lawyer Jessie Cunningham suffers an inexplicable nervous breakdown after she is abandoned and betrayed by her partner Travis. In search of peace, she travels to the distant nature reserve of Three Valleys to undertake voluntary work for Heritage Trees, an ecological group devoted to the preservation of the local fauna. This is where she encounters Todd Sansom, recovering from a severe beating he suffered at the hands of a group of three hunting strangers in Blue Valley after witnessing the highly illegal slaughter of a rare albino spirit bear with alleged shamanic powers. Planning a trip into the forests, Jessie is faced with the arrival of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on the hunt for the guns used in the attack, a presence that disturbs local elder Chief Squinas. Todd signs on as Jessie’s guide and together they enter a literal heart of darkness as Todd soon becomes the main suspect in a murder and Jessie finds herself compelled to organise his defence against a prejudiced group of law enforcement individuals determined to obfuscate and divert from what is at stake, in a dangerous game in which corruption and the despoiling of the environment are powerful tools. A powerful change of direction and locale for Hall, and a novel visibly close to his heart, with indigenous illustrations by Red George, an Ojibway artist, this labour of love has heart and thrills to spare and proves a welcome, and gripping thriller with a conscience and a set of compelling characters.
Totem by Matthew Hall (Eye Books)
Christopher Brookmyre/QUITE UGLY ONE EVENING (Abacus)
Thirty years after his spectacular entrance onto the crime scene stage in QUITE UGLY ONE MORNING, the return of irrepressible rogue journalist Jack Parlabane. Like never before, mischievous Brookmyre at the top of his form manages to squeeze several books, genres and capers into this romp, with initial elements of MI5 spy craft, a locked room mystery at sea, the perfect background for an impossible crime set on a cruise ship on the high seas, a satirical if affectionate look at popular TV series with echoes of the present success of THE TRAITORS and the wealthy family tropes of SUCCESSION embodied by the proliferating Maskyns, as well as a look back to children’s TV of yore and even more in this delightful broth of first-class entertainment. Add a gleeful skewering of contemporary political figures and you have a rip-roarious romp of a book with a put-upon protagonist all guile and quips. This 9th Jack Parlabane thriller comes after a long break in the series as Brookmyre issued stand-alones and the estimable historical series written with his wife as Ambrose Parry, and his principal character returns more vivid than ever, with his sharp repartee, his talent for putting the wrong foot forward, his utter disregard for convention and the law and a bad habit of finding himself ever in the wrong place at the wrong time, as happens here mid-Atlantic locked in a cabin with a dead body, covered in the victim’s blood. Followed by the inevitable knock on the door. Bravura wit, cunning plotting and a rogue-ish character you can’t help but root for: another glorious Brookmyre romp.
