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Publisher: Random House |
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The story concerns the murder of Ann Harris, a battered alcoholic who briefly resided at the women's shelter where Maureen reluctantly works. Agreeing to help her best friend, Maureen looks in on Harris' harassed husband, who is touchingly devoted to his four "weans." When Harris' body turns up in London, Jimmy goes to the top of the suspects list.
Partly to escape her own haunting problems - her sexually abusive father has returned to Glasgow and his proximity fills her with dread - Maureen goes to London when Ann's body surfaces there. She traces Ann's movements among the drug and alcohol addicted, and the violent traffickers in human weakness. The suspense builds as Maureen slowly gathers the pieces of Ann's messy life, crossing paths and swords with prey and predator.
The story is absorbing, gritty and well organized, the pace wonderfully irregular. But the heart of this novel is Mina's writing, her visceral evocations of people and place. Maureen is a complex knot of longings, intellect, fearlessness and terror. Nothing is simple.
Though Mina's depiction of Glasgow is raw and dark, her heroine's rough edges protect a core of strength and her youthful vitality pumps out glimmers of hope. Can't wait for book three.
