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HAGGARD HAWK
by Marcus Barr
Pen Press, March 2007
275 pages
7.99 GBP
ISBN: 1905621000


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Nathan Hawk is a retired DCI with anger management issues. He's ensconced in a pretty cottage in rural England with a Japanese lodger for company and his four children in different parts of the world.

He hasn't really settled to retirement, so when he and the village GP come across a murder one night on their way home from a party, Nathan can't help getting involved. And then there's another death – this one a friend of Nathan's.

We decided some time ago that we wouldn't generally review self-published books, as most of those we received tended to be ghastly and in need of stringent editing. I'm pleased we made an exception for HAGGARD HAWK. The writing is strong and the book's production values pretty high, some iffy word breaks aside.

Mind you, Marcus Barr is no new wannabe writer – he's an experienced scriptwriter, writing under a pen-name, who's written episodes for Poirot, Midsomer Murders, Boon and Lovejoy. HAGGARD HAWK is a highly impressive first novel – apparently there are follow-ups in the works and the TV rights are being negotiated.

In fact, it's rather depressing that a novel as good as this had to be self-published when you consider some of the dross coming out of the mainstream houses. Barr should be one of the few who makes a rapid transition to a traditional publisher.

His scriptwriting background is obvious, as the dialogue is sharp and crackly. There are some good exchanges between Nathan and Hideki, the 17-year-old exchange student. And the supporting cast of villagers is kept to manageable proportions and, thankfully, aren't the stereotyped fare you often see in books.

Barr gets round the issue of the 'amateur' investigator rather neatly by presenting us with a newly-retired, edgy and very restless cop. The situation makes for some lively exchanges with DI Charnley, the man in charge of the case.

The ending is a touch lame and I'm still not sure I'm totally clear on whydunit. But this is an entertaining first novel in what should be a series to watch out for.

Reviewed by Sharon Wheeler, February 2007

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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