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I must admit reviewing fiction isn’t one of my strong points – spoilers aren’t normally a problem reviewing a standard history book, so be warned!
The story is told by several narrators. Our main narrator is a thoroughly delusional convicted murderer and career criminal who after being released from prison decides to investigate a story told to him by his late father, who he believes to be the last man hanged in Britain. Our narrator has an internally consistent but clearly incorrect view of himself, and of the nature of his criminal world, both of which unravel pretty conclusively by the end of the story.
The story hinges on a number of quite sizable twists, some of which totally divert parts of the plot onto a new path. None are entirely unconvincing, although one that largely relies on the narrator having gone into prison before the internet was so common will probably date quite quickly!
The historical element is based around the father’s claim to have driven Churchill to a secret meeting with the Irish leader Eamon de Valera, and the efforts of our narrator to find out if there was any truth to it, while other parties hope to either suppress the story, make money out of it, or otherwise benefit from it. The basic idea of an offer of Irish unity from Churchill is based on fact, where this plot differs is in having a direct meeting between the two men, and in dangling the possibility of other things having been discussed. The historical background plays a major role in the plot without being completely at its centre.
I found this to be an enjoyable read. Seeing our main narrator’s world view slowly collapse is an entertaining process, as his true nature and that of his criminal world is slowly revealed. The other parties are equally ruthless, giving him some equally dangerous opponents, so the eventual result is quite satisfying.
Chapters – Not named
Author: Colin Farrington
Edition: Paperback
Pages: 294
Publisher: Troubadour
Year: 2016