He changed his identity.
He moved to Hong Kong.
He changed his life.
But can he change who he really is?
Charles Balcombe, sophisticated, risk-taking lothario was a special investigator. He thinks that taking a PI job to find a missing boy will distract him from his killer instinct. But once a killer...
The character Blackjack was first introduced in the Ash Carter thriller, Singapore Killer but while he was definitely the villain there, in Once A Killer we gain a deeper insight into who he is and it would be more accurate to describe him as an antihero. It's worth pointing out here that Murray Bailey cleverly ensures his interconnected series – the original Ash Carter thriller series set in Singapore, the prequel books featuring a younger Ash Carter and now (hopefully), the Blackjack series – can be read independently of one another. So although anybody familiar with the previous novel will be intrigued to learn more, it's certainly not necessary to have read it and this is an excellent place to first meet Charles Balcombe.
That's not his real name, of course, but it is the name he goes by here – except for the times when he allows his Blackjack alter-ego to take over. Balcombe thrives on risk and danger which he partly assuages through his many illicit affairs with the frustrated wives of Hong Kong looking for excitement. The chilling opening immediately reveals this compulsion to kill but it turns out that Balcombe isn't pure evil and consequently, is a far more interesting character. When he agrees to help a young woman whose sister is in a terrible situation, his moral code becomes evident and the juxtaposition between this side of his personality and that which sees him committing atrociously twisted murders is absolutely fascinating.
It would be easy to describe him as a Jekyll and Hyde type character but while there are similarities, Balcombe only seems to relinquish control to Blackjack when he decides the time is right. However, as we see throughout the novel, his thirst for danger is an intrinsic part of who he is, he can slake his desires through clandestine relationships or by testing his physical and mental prowess to its limits through free climbing but for how long? It's something I'm really looking forward to seeing explored further as the series progresses; will he retain this self-control or will Blackjack eventually consume the more principled man who sets up as a private investigator and agrees to find the missing adult son of a privileged banker?
While Balcombe tries to discover what has happened to Roger Toogood, the police on Hong Kong have two murder cases to investigate. Readers will know who is responsible for the particularly gruesome death of a man but who is behind the murder of a young woman is a mystery. Detective Inspector Munro has been assigned to both cases and as the book progresses, the storyline gradually and brilliantly draws these two main characters together. Balcombe may be the charismatic heart of the story but the development of Munro's character is compelling too and in any other book he would undoubtedly be the star of the show. As a mixed race officer, his recent promotion is unusual but not only is he under immense pressure to produce results, the colour of his skin means there are times when he is ordered to allow a lower ranked, incompetent officer to take the lead in interviews just because he is white.
Although I obviously don't know whether Murray Bailey's depiction of Hong Kong in 1953 is accurate, it certainly feels authentic. The sense of place is excellent throughout, with the portrayal of the contrasting lives of the most and least privileged being a vital and utterly believable part of the storyline. Meanwhile, the exploration of policing in Hong Kong is superb; the demands for convictions regardless of guilt and the accompanying overcrowding in prisons really adds to the tense atmosphere of the narrative. With Munro commanded to make arrests and with the body count rising, it's never certain whether true justice will be served.
Balcombe, the morally ambiguous killer and Munro, the honest detective trying to operate in a corrupt system are the perfect foil for one another and I loved that I wanted both of them to be successful despite ostensibly being on opposite sides. The novel twists and turns, with gang violence, society, jealousy, manipulation and honour all having a role to play in this terrifically exciting thriller, and the enticing conclusion means I'm keeping everything crossed for more! The dark, grisly plot is skillfully balanced by the engaging characterisation – a special word here for Albert who I just loved – and the result is an atmospheric, compulsive historical murder mystery which is irrefutably one of my favourite reads of the year. Very highly recommended.
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About the Author
Murray Bailey Is the author of Amazon bestseller Map of the Dead, the first of the series based on his interest in Egyptology. His main series however is the Ash Carter thrillers, inspired by his father's experience in the Royal Military Police in Singapore in the early 1950s.
Murray is well traveled, having worked in the US, South America and a number of European countries throughout his career as a management consultant. However he also managed to find the time to edit books, contribute to articles and act as a part-time magazine editor.
Murray lives on the south coast of England with his family and a dog called Teddy.
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