What's it all about ...?
When notoriousmillionaire banker Lars Anderson hangs himself from the old oak tree in frontof his Kent mansion his death attracts little sympathy. One less shark islittle loss to a world nursing a financial hangover. But the legacy of a lifetime of self-serving is widespread, the carnage most acute among those he oughtto be protecting: his family. He leaves behind two deeply damaged children anda broken wife.
Meanwhile, in a wealthysuburb of Glasgow, a young woman is found savagely murdered in her home. Thegenteel community is stunned by what appears a vicious, random attack. When DSAlex Morrow, heavily pregnant with twins, is called in to investigate, she soondiscovers that behind the murder lurks a tangled web of lies. A web that willspiral through the local community, through Scotland and ultimately right backto a swinging rope hundreds of miles away.
What did I make of it ...?
This is the second bookin which Denise Mina brings us the character of DS Morrow and for me is the one whereshe really gets into her groove with this individual. I use the word“individual” deliberately because Morrow is so well drawn she feels like a realperson. Next time I’m up in Glasgow I fully expect to bump into her.
It’s in the depiction ofher characters where Mina excels. A little slice of description, an action,some carefully crafted dialogue and they take flesh before your eyes. Addingheft to this is her ability to record the interaction between her characters:to demonstrate their finely nuanced behaviour.
End of the Wasp Season isostensibly a police procedural, but Denise Mina’s talent takes it beyond anyperceived limitations of that sub-genre into a multi-layered human drama. Witha dollop of violence and generous helping of mystery to keep us crime addictshappy. As a reader you know pretty much from the off “who-dunnit” but that’snot the point of this excellent novel. This is people-watching on an intimate andat times uncomfortable level.
And it’s this ability todraw her characters that makes you care. Mina enlists your sympathy even forthe suspected killer, despite the fact he’s spoiled rotten and given everyadvantage in life. Real life is never that straightforward. We life in a worldof contrast, a rainbow of gray if you will, and few writers highlight that aswell as Denise Mina does.
If you prefer a read chock fullof red-herrings and the chance to deduce who the bad-guy is, this is not thebook for you. I can also understand ifreaders who are new to Denise Mina feel the pace lags in places. For me, however, End of the Wasp Season is a vibrant,thought-provoking read and one that is an excellent addition to this talentedauthor’s oeuvre.
