GOOD OR BAD? MAN OR MONSTER?
“It only takes a second to sin,” Father Thomas said. He believes in saving souls, but Charles Balcombe is beyond saving. His control over his killer instinct appears to be weakening. BlackJack has killed again and more questions are being asked of Detective Inspector Munro. He is under increasing pressure to solve the murders, especially when he picks up more cases from Kowloon rather than solving his own.
As Balcombe battles with his demon, he investigates the death of a young woman. Was it an accident or did she kill herself? At first Balcombe thinks it’s straightforward but as he digs, other cases reveal an evil in Hong Kong. One that could consume them all.
SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE
I'm thrilled to be hosting the blog tour for Second to Sin today. Huge thanks to Murray Bailey for inviting me and for my advance copy of the novel.
Second to Sin is the second book in Murray Bailey's Blackjack series but the character is first introduced in the excellent Ash Carter novel, Singapore Killer; it's not necessary to have read that book here but the ongoing development of both plot and characters means I would recommend reading Once A Killer first if you can. I loved Once a Killer, it was among my top books of 2022 but in my opinion, Second to Sin is even better.
Throughout the novel there's a fascinating exploration of the dichotomy between good and evil, best personified by Charles Balcombe but seen elsewhere too. Balcombe is the epitome of an antihero; he's a truly monstrous killer and disturbingly, is losing control over Blackjack and his impulse to commit horrifically sadistic murders but he is also undoubtedly principled and even a kind man. When he releases the Blackjack side of his persona he is utterly merciless but while his day-to-day self still seeks illicit or dangerous pleasures, Balcombe doggedly searches for the truth following the sudden death of a young woman and indeed takes the time to offer unexpected help to another young woman who he can see has become trapped by her life. He's chilling to know and yet impossible to dislike.
Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Munro is ostensibly the more straightforward character but his desire for justice when it comes to the worst, most difficult to convict criminals leads to his moral quandary and a pact with Balcombe which simultaneously suits and restrains them both. Blackjack needs his appetite for killing fed regularly and while their agreement ensures the permanent removal of heinous criminals from the streets of Hong Kong, Munro is painfully aware it may eventually result in his downfall. To this end, the introduction of Inspector Garrett very cleverly elevates the considerable tension still further; he is ruthlessly ambitious and manipulative but is also clearly observant and notices the similarities between recent murders. Munro has to balance solving his own cases to keep his increasingly demanding boss satisfied with protecting Blackjack's identity, without making it obvious to the obsessively determined Garrett.
As well as the gripping interplay between the lead characters, the storyline follows two compelling investigations undertaken by the pair. Balcombe is asked to look into the recent, sudden death of Margaret Sotherland, which was attributed to a drug overdose but could have been suicide, The title of the novel becomes especially pertinent here as Balcombe uncovers other, similar deaths involving young Catholic girls. Murray Bailey's examination of religious beliefs and hypocrisy is damningly accurate and adds another layer to this cleverly compulsive novel. At the same time, Munro is drawn into investigating a cold case which eventually led to his predecessor being forced out of the job. Munro realises he risks the further wrath of his boss but in spite of the numerous threats to his career, he is utterly determined to solve the mysterious disappearance of schoolgirl Karen Vaughan. Several witnesses came forward reporting sightings of the girl but discrepancies to the timeline of events don't make sense. It's an irresistible mystery and even though he's certain that Karen was murdered and there will be no happy ending, he becomes almost consumed by his search for the truth.
Second to Sin is a cleverly constructed, complex read throughout and as I've come to expect from Murray Bailey, the research which clearly went into the book plays dividends with both the sense of time and place in post-war Hong Kong vividly brought to life. A thought-provoking exploration of belief and shame, regret and revenge, desire and manipulation, Second to Sin is a dark, suspenseful and memorable thriller which forces its readers to question where evil really lies. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Second to Sin is independently published and can be purchased from Amazon UK or Amazon US and is also available on Kindle Unlimited.
Follow the blog tour, details are below.
About the Author
His first work of fiction, I Dare You, was published in 2016. His books include his ancient Egypt series (starting with Map of the Dead). the Ash Carter series set in 1950s Singapore and the prequel Near East series also featuring Ash Carter, and the Blackjack series set in Hong Kong which overlaps the end of the Singapore series.
Born in Manchester, England, Murray now lives on the South Coast with his wife and family.
Comments
Post a Comment