Two men are found dead in London's Battersea Park. One of the bodies has been laid out like a crucifix - with his eyes removed and placed on his open palms.
Detective Inspector Grace Archer and her caustic DS, Harry Quinn, lead the investigation. But when more bodies turn up in a similar fashion, they find themselves in a race against time to find the sadistic killer.
The hunt leads them to Ladywell Playtower in Southeast London, the home to a religious commune lead by the enigmatic Aaron Cronin. Archer and Quinn suspect Cronin's involvement but his alibis are watertight, and the truth seemingly buried. If Archer is to find the killer, she must first battle her way through religious fanatics, London gangsters - and her own demons . . .
I originally reviewed See No Evil in May 2022 and it was one of my favourite books last year. I live to shout about the books I've loved and so to celebrate See No Evil's paperback publication day today, I'm re-sharing my review. I'm also hugely grateful to David Fennell for taking part in a Q&A, which you can read below my review.
David Fennell introduced Detective Inspector Grace Archer in last year's impressive The Art of Death; I loved the book and have been intrigued ever since as to how he would follow the memorably creepy @nonymous. After staying up until the wee small hours to finish See No Evil because I couldn't bear to stop reading, I am convinced that he is onto a real winner here and this is a series that will undoubtedly go from strength to strength.
The body count is high in See No Evil and the deaths are gruesome; there's something about the removal of eyes that is especially disturbing and the killer's barbaric actions are truly the stuff of nightmares. However, as gory as the murders are – and those looking for a dark, twisted thriller will certainly not be disappointed – this isn't a gratuitously graphic novel and the involving, complex plot proves to be a thoughtful, multi-layered read that really made me consider my responses to some of what comes to light later in the story.
The Art of Death revealed a little about Grace's troubled past but we learn more about her in See No Evil, including how she responds to events now and those that shaped who she became. Her relationship with her grandfather, whose dementia is worsening, brings her further worries – especially when he begins to cultivate unwise associations following news that horrifies them both. It's clear that the storyline involving his condition will unfold with the greatest sensitivity; while this is a work of fiction, David Fennell's understanding of dementia ensures these scenes are touched with authentic poignancy and he empathetically recognises the warmth, humour and love that persists. Knowing everything that Grace has to cope with means it's not surprising that she has long suffered from terrible nightmares and it's a cruel irony that her demons become less invasive only when she has the distraction of a harrowing case that is likely to haunt her in the future too. Grace's vulnerability is also her strength but she has her doubters and those who wish her harm and it's intriguing to see how she responds to the many challenges she faces here, and what it will mean for her as the series progresses.
Meanwhile, DS Harry Quinn also opens up about his past and there's a particularly emotional scene that plays out beautifully, revealing more about both characters in a way that feels totally natural. In a book that explores the very darkest recesses of humanity, it's the little moments like this which, though achingly sad, also promise so much for the partnership that is developing between the pair.
The characterisation is excellent throughout; it's obvious that David Fennell takes care not to have his victims become merely faceless props and so we learn something about most of them before they die. It's also incontrovertibly true that the tension becomes more unbearable when characters are given some sort of backstory and the suspense level often reaches boiling point. As with The Art of Death, London becomes almost a character in its own right and the sense of place from start to finish is flawless but perhaps the best is kept for Ladywell Playtower, a building in the southeast of the city that now houses a strange religious commune. The ritualistic nature of the killings is paralleled by some of the more extreme practices of Aaron Cronin and his devout followers. The book almost heads into horror territory in a memorably chilling scene and David Fennell's convincingly cinematic writing style is particularly vivid here.
A book in an ongoing crime thriller series such as this needs to bring the case in question to a satisfying conclusion and yet still leave readers wanting more and See No Evil does both exceptionally well. There are stunning revelations, a breathlessly tense hunt for the killer, involving a number of alarmingly credible suspects, and an ominously unsettling sense of threat that seemed to reach a climax here before cleverly leaving me desperate to know what happens next. This is an exceptional thriller and I hope will be a deserved success; it's undoubtedly one of my books of the year and I can't wait to read the next instalment in a series that should be essential reading for anybody who loves intelligent, addictive crime fiction.
Have you ever taken revenge on somebody who has annoyed you in real life by killing them in one of your books?
There’s a medical student in The Art of Death called Thomas Butler. He was inspired by one of my niece’s douche ex-boyfriends. As the character evolved, he actually became a different version of the douche; someone more relatable. That said, my niece and I still laugh about Thomas’s horrible demise.
The sense of place is always excellent in your books. Is there somewhere you haven't written about yet that you'd like to?
I’d like to take Archer and Quinn out of London. In fact, I’m planning to do so in book 4. More news on that soon.
One of my favourite aspects of the Grace Archer series is that we are given a glimpse into the lives of the victims. Was this something you always set out to do and if so, why?
The human cost of crime is fascinating to explore as a writer. I also want readers to feel an emotional punch when a character they care about is murdered. If the reader connects emotionally, then I’ve done my job.
The covers of this series are fabulous and if I didn't already know I loved your writing, they would definitely tempt me. Do you have any input in the design chosen or do you have to put all your faith in your publisher and the cover designer?
The designers ask for ideas. They will take them and come up with something I just did not expect. They did a superb job with the first two books. That said, I came up with the concept for The Silent Man and was blown away with their final design.
Who should play Archer and Quinn if the books are ever filmed?
Oh God. I’ve no idea. You tell me!
Do you listen to music when you write, and if so, what?
Sometimes. I listen to soundtracks by composers like Hans Zimmer, Ramin Djawadi, Max Richter and others.
Are there any books you've read recently that you'd recommend?
There are many: Five Decembers by James Kestrel. Razorblade Tears by SA Cosby. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. The Curator by MW Craven. I also just reread Salem’s Lot by Stephen King, which I loved.
Can you give us any hints about the next book in the series, The Silent Man?
It’s the most emotional book in the series yet. A lot happens. I’ll leave that to your imagination.
Thank you so much, David! I hope See No Evil flies off the shelves and can't wait to discover what lies in store for Archer and Quinn when the next book in the series, The Silent Man is published in September 2023.
See No Evil is published by Bonnier Zaffre and can be purchased from bookshop.org, Hive, Waterstones, Foyles, Amazon or from your favourite independent bookseller.
About the Author
David Fennell was born and raised in Belfast before leaving for London at the age of eighteen with £50 in one pocket and a dog-eared copy of Stephen King's The Stand in the other. He jobbed as a chef, waiter and bartender for several years before starting a career in writing for the software industry. He has been working in CyberSecurity for fourteen years and is a fierce advocate for information privacy. David has played rugby for Brighton and has studied Creative Writing at the University of Sussex. He is married and he and his partner split their time between Central London and Brighton.
Comments
Post a Comment