I haven’t read
anything from Douglas Lindsay for a few years now, my last excursion being one
of the 6 or 7 Barney Thomson barber-cum-serial killer books he penned. Whilst
my memory of these has diminished somewhat over-time, I can recall black humour
prevalent throughout the books cataloguing the absurd happenings that befall
the hero/villain Barney.
Hanged Man
features a morose, depressive detective – Jericho who is reluctantly catapulted
onto prime-time TV and the latest reality show offering, Britain’s Got Justice.
Throw in a killer recently released - 30 years after Jericho put him away, some
Tarot cards, a missing BGJ finalist, some sex – not all of it consensual, murder
and a dose of tabloid trashing with the show’s crazed executives and producers
keep one eye on the ratings and their careers and the story speeds along to a
decent conclusion.
Lindsay
leaves the doors open for future tales with Jericho and his likeable sidekick,
Haynes at the hub. Wisely in my opinion, because they are definitely a team I
would read more about in the future. For some reason I’m reminded of Joe R Lansdale’s
Hap and Leonard series though neither Jericho or Haynes is black or gay or from
Texas!
I’ve
definitely been missing out during my Lindsay sabbatical. He had me roaring at
the vision of the diminutive Noel Edmonds either commentating or participating
in an act that typically wouldn’t be seen on prime-time television. Would it
even be possible on ice, Douglas? Have you done some research?
I’m off to the
attic to try and dig out my old Barney Thomson books.
5 STARS FROM 5
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