Archive for the ‘redemption’ Tag
The disgraced, humiliated M-15 spies in London’s Slough House are as disgruntled as ever. Yet, each has aspirations of returning to action – if only given a chance.
In Dead Lions, Mick Herron adds two new characters to Slough House, the rundown offices far from M-15’s sleek command center, while continuing to reveal more about those introduced in Slow Horses. This time the chance for redemption comes in the form of a one-time, low-level Cold War spy found dead of a heart attack.
Jackson Lamb, the slovenly, sharp-tongued superior of Slough House, suspects the death wasn’t accidental and begins an off-the-record investigation. He’s still supposed to report to M-15 headquarters, but resolutely follows his own rules.
Perhaps the most ardent in his determination to redeem himself is River Cartwright. He goes undercover in an English village after convincing Lamb to include him in the investigation.
Meanwhile, River’s colleagues Min Guy and Louisa Guy are approached by Spider Webb. He’s an M-15 underling with ambitions of making a name for himself by recruiting a Russian businessman to spy for the agency. Also off the record, Webb wants the pair to “babysit” the Russian before making his pitch.
Herron combines humor with intrigue. Like River, Min and Louisa believe these opportunities mean it won’t be long before they’re back in the agency’s good graces. Lamb’s motivation is driven by a need to understand why something occurred, especially if there’s a possibility of a national threat. Otherwise, he’s satisfied with things just as they are at Slough House.
Dead Lions
Four Bookmarks
Soho Press, 2013
347 pages
Full disclosure: R. Cathey Daniels, author of Live Caught is a friend. We’ve fished, played soccer, strummed guitars and much more. Admittedly, that was all years and a common time zone ago. We know of each other’s losses and joys. For me, reading her debut novel falls into the latter category.
Live Caught is about survival, redemption and the journey young Lenny, a one-armed teenager, embarks on toward a new life on his own. Daniels’ writing is poetic and visual. The element of place, rural North Carolina, is as vividly depicted as her characters.
At 14 Lenny leaves his family home with the goal of reaching the Atlantic Ocean via a rowboat with only his fishing gear, stolen cash, his wits and the emotional baggage bestowed upon him by two older, abusive brothers. However, Mother Nature intervenes and he’s washed ashore following a storm where he’s rescued by an old, foul-mouthed priest; someone Lenny is resistant to appreciating or accepting. Lenny’s judge of character is impressive for a teenager.
Herein is an issue: is Lenny credible? The answer is sometimes.
Despite the detour caused by the elements, Lenny hasn’t given up on his goal of reaching the ocean. Circumstances require new plans, which he hopes won’t take long to set in motion. As he helps the priest serve the community through food and clothing drives, the reasons why he left his parents, brothers and girlfriend are explained as Lenny’s backstory slowly comes to the surface.
Meanwhile, a cast of characters, including a corrupt police officer, a drug dealing buddy, an infant child and the priest unwittingly contribute to Lenny’s scheme to get back on the water.
The fast-paced narrative is divided into two parts; the second is set 10 years later when Lenny’s past catches up with him in unexpected ways.
Live Caught
Four Bookmarks
Black Lawrence Press, 2022
300 pages
The Painter by Peter Heller is a story of redemption. It’s also part thriller. The who-dunnit isn’t in question, but the underlying reasons and the chase(s) help make it a page turner.
Jim Stegner is a painter with a temper, a broken heart and a soft spot for children and animals. His passions are his art and fishing, both of which usually bring him a sense of peace. Set in southwestern Colorado and northern New Mexico, Heller’s writing renders vivid landscapes with careful, albeit, broad strokes. The images accurately evoke the beauty of the Rocky Mountains.
An encounter with a poacher leads Jim from one bad decision to another. At times it’s easy to think the best solution is for Jim’s mistakes to catch up with him. They come close, very close. The problem is there several other characters with whom the reader becomes invested, including – perhaps especially – Sophia, the young model with whom Jim befriends. Irmina, his long-time friend/occasional lover, is also likeable.
There’s more to Jim than his canvases and waders. His past is slowly revealed providing possible explanations for his rash behaviors. The pain he carries regarding his daughter is palpable. So is the disdain he has for law enforcement, art collectors and others. And, he’s a man capable of murder. Ironically, though his actions are crimes and can’t be condoned, they’re almost justified.
Despite Jim’s frustrating behavior, the moments of joy and a fair amount of intrigue make Heller’s novel an enjoyable read.
The Painter
Four Bookmarks
Vintage Contemporaries, 2014
363 pages
The Blue Page Special 