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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reminiscent of Raymond Chandler, this novel features an unnamed detective sergeant in the London Metropolitan Police’s Department of Unexplained Deaths. The book opens with the discovery of a writer who has been brutally murdered, and it rockets on from there, as the DS investigates the crime. He almost comes to inhabit the life of the victim, Charles Staniland, as he listens to taped narrations about his life, his estranged family, and his obsession with the cruel and beautiful prostitute Barbara. Raymond’s writing style is noir but poetic, with a sympathy that makes the seamy side of London life more human.
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
This is the first entry in Derek Raymond's Factory series, but is the second book I've read from the lot. I am somewhat glad that I read in the order that I did-- whereas The Devil's Home on Leave rather plainly states the main character (the Sergeant)'s troubled backstory, those elements -- the status of his wife and daughter-- were left ambiguous in this first book. This absence feels jarring given how much it factors into his life in the second novel, and there were moments in this work where such details would have made sense to include in his narration. The novel is a gritty, eyes-on-the-ground exploration of the underworld of 1980s London, as the Sergeant drifts from one low income neighborhood, dive bar, hole in the wall pub, club and drug den to another. Much of the novel is told through the narration -- recorded thoughts on cassette and in writing, from the brutalized deceased man who the Sergeant seems to have infinite empathy for. His methods to solve the case are harsh and undelicate and risky and he goes down a rather compelling journey that is written in an engaging, descriptive style. All of the fast-paced interviews and interrogations capture the vernacular in a really distinct way and were an absolute joy to read. That said, I thought that for a 210ish page book there were a bit too many segments where the Sergeant simply listened to the recordings made by the deceased verbatim. At a certain point the mystery was not really about who did it, because it was very obvious early on about who the culprits were, but more about how he would catch them. The ultimate methods to solve the case were rather heavy-handed, in my opinion, and I could have done without certain romantic elements of his plans, which also went on too long and were thoroughly unpleasant (although I imagine this was deliberate.) Also, while i thought the cover was cool, it is a rather strange strategy to include a spoiler smackdab on the front about who is involved. What's the deal with that?
Overall, I would recommend this book. I thought it was a really gripping crime story and a solid first entry in the series. Having read ahead, I am pleased to know that Derek Raymond improved as he continued writing. Very much looking forward to reading more of his novels!
P.S., The fetishist stuff here really caught me off guard! I never really understood the deal with that element.
Overall, I would recommend this book. I thought it was a really gripping crime story and a solid first entry in the series. Having read ahead, I am pleased to know that Derek Raymond improved as he continued writing. Very much looking forward to reading more of his novels!
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Hm.
Nice ambience.
The protag being un-nammed was interesting.
I will say i am extremely intrigued about the protagonist's past.
For some reason though, i don't know, i thought I'd like it more than i did, must be i have to re-read it somehow because i was more focused on the physical aspect of it?
That doe not make sense however, i kinda sorta saw Charlie's thoughts and impressions.
I will say. i was disappointed and dismayed to see
I need to let this ferment some more in my brain before giving it a review.
Nice ambience.
The protag being un-nammed was interesting.
I will say i am extremely intrigued about the protagonist's past.
For some reason though, i don't know, i thought I'd like it more than i did, must be i have to re-read it somehow because i was more focused on the physical aspect of it?
That doe not make sense however, i kinda sorta saw Charlie's thoughts and impressions.
I will say. i was disappointed and dismayed to see
Spoiler
protag-kun face Barbara amd Harver with no weapon on him, like that just made no sense, or maybe I have missed somethingI need to let this ferment some more in my brain before giving it a review.