The man with no name owns a failing bookstore called ‘No Alibis’ in contemporary Belfast of Northern Ireland.
He happily buries himself in 1940 film noir, lines from which pepper the little conversation he has, and the murder mystery books that line the shelves. He is introverted, self-obsessed, hypochondriac who has every kind of phobia. He lives at home with his mother. He has no friends, never been kissed, completely inept, and frightening intense. Altogether a total loser who is going no where, very slowly. In other words, it is easy to identify with him.
Then Alison starts working in the jewellery store across the street. Using a large pair of binoculars he perves at her from this shop with what he thinks is great subtlety. In this surveillance he identifies with all those detectives on the shelves around him.
The inquiry agent next door disappears, leaving many clients who come to the bookstore looking for him. The man with no name is drawn into some of their cases. He is a whiz at finding things through the internet and rather persuasive on the telephone where he almost seems normal. Moreover, he has a network of subscribers to his ‘No Alibis’ e-newsletter with an array of talents, resources, and access that they can contribute to his quests. He picks some low-hanging fruit, and is quite proud of himself. Alison comes into the store, and they get acquainted. He brags to her of his detection.
It starts out as harmless fun, that is, until the first murder, then the second…. The bodies keep falling. The plot thickens. He goes into hysterical overdrive, flying off in many wrong directions at once. Alison wants to be his sidekick but he wants to quit! Murder, no way!
A great setup and wonderful execution. It is high octane once the action starts. The energy and irreverence rattles along with great pace. I hope the others in the series keep it up.
This title looks self-published and it proves that such books can be very good indeed.
Colin Bateman
Bateman seems to write a book a week. He has several other serieses and stand-alone titles. I shall read on.
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