My Chronicle Book Box Review: Signed Edition - The Man With No Face by Peter May - Louise's thoughts...
Interestingly, this book is not just set in 1979 but was actually written at this time. This gives it a slightly different feel from modern books set in the past where comparisons with modern culture are inevitable. It reflects the culture of the time and shows that European political issues are nothing new.
I'm a big fan of Peter May and his Scottish Islands set novels in particular. This is a little different from some of his other work and is not part of any of his other series. Today's political climate inspired the revising and publishing of this novel set amidst the political tension and wranglings in Brussels in 1979. It is a time before mobile phones, the internet and many of the sophisticated forensic techniques we take for granted but the pace of the book is still fast and kept me turning the pages past my bedtime.
It begins when a visit to Brussels for jaded Edinburgh Post journalist Neil Bannerman takes a darker turn when the fellow journalist he is lodging with is killed. Neil thinks there is more to it than the Belgian police would like everyone to believe and is drawn to investigate. As the only witness to the crime is Tania the autistic daughter of the dead journalist who is unable to communicate verbally there are few clues to go on and a vulnerable child to protect.
The representation of autism reflects the knowledge and understanding of the time yet the connection the Neil develops with Tania is genuine and touching.
If you are looking for a thriller with some political intrigue then you must read this especially if you are already a fan of Peter May. You can order a signed edition as part of our last crime & mystery box:
Hi, I'm Louise the founder of My Chronicle Book Box and I hope you have enjoyed reading my blog post.
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