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Simon Kernick lives outside of London and has set his -so far - two novels within that evidently crime-ridden city. His first novel, The Business of Dying introduced an ambiguous and interestingly ambivalent character, a frustrated policeman who moonlights as a hitman happy to dispose of criminals in a way forbidden to him in his daytime job. While Dennis Milne does not appear in The Murder Exchange (although there is a reference to him) the police protagonist of this book, DS (formerly DI) Gallan works out of the same London police station and is equally frustrated with the system. He is convinced that organised crime has penetrated the higher echelons of the police force and knows that although an officer may be free from taint of that kind of corruption, he may be swayed by political considerations. In the previous book, Dennis Milne, despite being a murderer, had the sympathy of the reader whose wish would be that the anti-hero escape detection. The Murder Exchange is told in the first person from two viewpoints - those of Max Iversson, a former mercenary, now a partner in a security firm, and that of John Gallan, the detective sergeant. Iversson is possessed of few scruples when it comes to furthering his own financial career yet is oddly likable so that the reader feels for him as he becomes enmeshed in dangerous, unforeseen circumstances that threaten his very life. On the other hand, the first person narrative of John Gallan also captures the readers interest and empathy. The srory begins with an excerpt from one of the later chapters of the book - an interesting stratagem - set at the time of the pivotal action of the book. The first part of the tale then reverts to nineteen days in the past whilst the conclusion of the account is set eight days after the dénouement. Because the tale is related from the two opposing points of view and the fact that the voices are virtually indistinguishable from each other, the reader is left wondering (unless she cheats by looking at the final chapters) who it is that is facing death. The action proper begins with Max Iversson and his partner in the security firm Tiger Solutions, Joe Riggs, becoming involved in protecting Roy Fowler, the nominal owner of the Arcadia nightclub. Fowler tells Iversson that he is being forced to sell the establishment and wishes a bodyguard to be present when money and deeds change hands. Instead of this being a simple transaction, it turns into a shooting match which leaves several corpses littering the scenery and Iversson on the run. Iversson takes refuge in the flat of Elaine Toms, a former school mate who becomes his lover. Subsequent to this, Elaine tells Max that she has been almost raped by the scion of one of the largest crime families of London and they hatch a kidnap plot to exact revenge from Krys Holz. This is a gory, fast-paced tale. It contains many convolutions in addition to its over-the-top violence but is a thoroughly involving and ingenious narrative provided one can overlook the improbability of the form of Iversson's revenge. Perfidy, lack of homour amongst thieves, betrayal as well as a look at gangland London feature in the novel. The author is not without a sense of humour - there is a wonderful example of this when a naked and bleeding man attempting to be unobtrusive, staggers through the streets of London carrying half a million pounds sterling in a hold-all on his back. The Murder Business garnered a goodly readerhsip for Kernick, The Murder Exchange should increase his following.
Reviewed by Denise Wels, July 2003
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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