The
Shadow Step, by Mark Billingham.
As is predictably
usual with me, I have read the latest book in a Crime series instead of the
first – gee, what a surprise! – and true to form, Blackpool detective Declan
Miller has had a such a lot of
adventures that the most recent story rightly skims past details in its hurry
to keep up to date, BUT. I am certain you will forgive me after
reading the following. DS Declan is too
singular a character to forget about after finishing the book: he actually has the best sense of humour EVER
and a unique way of looking at the criminal mind which means that he’s the
winner against the baddies - most of the
time.
“A fulsome congregation of the finest
haricot beans, bathed in a rich tomato sauce and mounted atop a slice of
toasted sourdough infused with the merest breath a yeast-based and uniquely
aromatic spread. The ensemble generously
dusted with a scattering of extra-mature, cave-aged Cheddar.”
It was
a recipe of Miller’s own invention (not to mention thousands of others who
thought of it too) and I defy anyone to
say that beans and Cheese and Marmite on toast doesn’t hit a very satisfying
spot. An army marches on its stomach,
and Blackpool police do very well on Beans
on toast – especially when they have more than one unsolved murder to contend with, and the kidnapping of the son
of the local drug Baron – who is languishing in jail, put there by Declan. His empire is being run by his wife, who has
a trigger-happy assistant. Each minor character is so well-drawn we almost wish
that more time could be devoted to them, but as is the way of all kidnappings,
time is of the essence: said victim will
meet a very messy fate unless his mother fronts up with ALL her ill-gotten
wealth in exchange for her darling. She
is relying (Oh, the irony!) on the police to do their job, especially Declan,
with whom she has had other dealings.
Will
he be up to the task? He already carries
far more burdens of grief than most
people; his beloved wife was recently
murdered and her daughter from another relationship is a drug addict; daughter probably buys her drugs from the
kidnap victim’s mother!
Mark
Billingham does a heroic job keeping all the emotions – and there is so much
sorrow – in place, but what could have been a joyless story has been elevated
and enhanced by his superb humour and the way all the character s fit so
beautifully together. SIX STARS
