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Set in Brussels in the late ’70s, this intricately plotted novel has a rather dark atmosphere and a bit of a Noir vibe to it. The reader finds themselves in the middle of a murder investigation, through the eyes of Scottish journalist, Neil Bannerman. He’s been sent to Brussels by his editor, who really just wants him out of the way. But when Neil’s host, a fellow journalist, is found dead alongside a British Cabinet minister, Neil finds himself in the middle of a bit of a mess. Neil Bannerman is a wonderfully rounded character, beset as he is with the cynicism inherent in his profession as a journalist, but also the way that he reveals another side to his character in his interactions with the daughter, Tania, of his murdered friend. May builds up a superbly empathetic connection between the two of them, particularly in his sensitive portrayal of Tania cast adrift in a world that her autism complicates further, and this is a real standout feature of the book. Refreshingly, May casts an almost empathetic light on the perpetrator of the crimes, and reserves a good degree of bile for some of the less than savoury characters that inhabit the world of journalism and politics so there’s a great mix of heroes and villains. After dinning at Slater’s home and meeting his autistic daughter Tania he ops to leave and stay at a nearby hotel. He had never liked Slater and the feeling was mutual. When Slater is subsequently found murdered along with a junior minister, at his home, there is a witness to who has done this, his autistic daughter who has a sharp mind and talent for detail and drawing but the inability to communicate which results in outburst of screaming and frustration. Unfortunately she did not see the man’s face, but the killer is already planning to tie up that loose end. THE 12 MILLION COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE LEWIS TRILOGY, THE ENZO FILES AND THE CHINA THRILLERS This is a sort of re-release of Peter May’s original novel, Hidden Faces published in 1981, but it has a few tweaks to bring it in line with Peter May’s current thoughts and writing style. The story follows reluctant reporter Neil Bannerman who is sent out to Brussels to follow the political developments with the new European Union, that will directly and indirectly affect Scotland. Bannerman is a bit of an odd ball that doesn’t really play well with others. He soon as a run in with the resident reporters and is not best pleased when he finds out that he will be sharing the home of yet another fellow reporter that already lives in Brussels.
In my recent review of Saga of the Swamp Thing, Book Six I noted that the storytelling from Alan Moore as he closed his run on the book felt tired, and that Moore had said all he had to say when it came to Swamp Thing. When Moore walked away from Swamp Thing he had been a part of the book for almost four years, having written 42 of the 44 issues published between taking over the book in issue #20 and when he walked away with issue #64. What does this have to do with Ed Brubaker? Well by the time we get around to The Man With No Face Brubaker had also been on Captain America for exactly 42 issues (43 if you want to count Winter Soldier: Winter Kills which is tangentially related to Captain America but lays some of the groundwork for "The Death of Captain America" arc. Unlike Moore, who seemed to be ambivalent at best toward the end of his Swamp Thing run, Brubaker's tank seems to be still full of gas.Very apt to be reading this at the very time our position with Europe is almost just as tragic as the murder in the book. There’s an added edge to the Brussels intrigue and darkness and this book captures that and more. It’s full of intrigue about who visits the EU, the type of bubble those working inside are kept in, the visiting journalists, the double dealing…you can tell the author has spent time in the inner circles. MY THOUGHTS: This is the second book I have read by this author in a short period of time. Peter May is a man who paints pictures, gloriously detailed pictures, with words. I could 'see' as I read. And although I did not enjoy this story as much as my previous read by this author, the writing remains superb. Originally published in 1981 with the title "Hidden Faces", The Man with No Face by Peter May is a slow burning, detailed thriller which saw investigative journalist Neil Bannerman head to Brussels from Edinburgh to follow a political investigation. Little did he know a colleague plus a British minister who had a meeting together would be found dead, a matter of hours after his arrival, with the autistic daughter of his colleague distraught nearby. The Man With No Face may be 40 years old, but it has aged well. It's a strong book and I really loved reading a book set at the end of the 70s. Bannerman is in the right place at the right time and using all his investigative experiences he sets about discovering the truth. He is very concerned for the safety of Tania, now an orphan, but more importantly a vital witness. Always a hard man, he is surprised at the strong protective feelings he has developed for Tania. He fears for her safety and this spurs him on to action.
As Bannerman settles into Brussels, he seems to be at odds with other Brits their, including an old colleague who is not too pleased to see, though he does seem to take a shine to young Tania, the poor mute girl who is terrified after what she witnessed, and seems to have a brilliant talent for art, which may help find her Father's killer, Bannerman seems to have Fatherly feelings for her, and things from his past, hold a lot of guilt for him, as he once fathered a child when he himself was a young lad, and wonders what become of his long lost daughter.
About Author Peter May
Neil Bannerman, an Edinburgh journalist has been sent to Brussels to cover the political news. To save costs his newspaper has billeted him in an apartment with a fellow journalist, Tim Slater, who is a widowed father with a young autistic daughter called Tania. One Sunday when his usual babysittter is unable to work, Slater is forced to take his daughter to a meeting with a British government Minister. While playing in the cloakroom of the Minister's house, Tania witnesses an assassination and sees the assassin leaving the house. As Tania is not verbal, she can't tell the police what she saw but with a gift for accurate drawing, she gives the police a drawing of the man she saw but stops short before drawing his face. The assassin Kale, is also still in Brussels, and is under instruction to take care of unfinished business, following the assassination, we get to know about his past too, and his own fears come into play. As the facts slowly begin to emerge under Bannerman's scrutiny, he comes to suspect that the shootings may have a deep and foul link with the rotten politics that brought him to Brussels in the first place. And as Kale threatens to strike again, Bannerman begins to feel a change within himself. His jaded professionalism is transforming into a growing concern for the lonely and frightened Tania, and a strong attraction to a courageous woman named Sally--drawing him out of himself and into the very heart of a profound, cold-blooded, and infinitely dangerous conspiracy. Finally got to the "Good" but not "great" volume for Ed Brubaker's run. I knew it had to happen eventually.
Jaded Edinburgh journalist Neil Bannerman is sent to Europe, intent on digging up dirt. Yet it is danger he discovers, when two British men are found murdered. Raymond Theodore Robinson (October 29, 1910 – June 11, 1985) was a disfigured American man whose years of nighttime walks made him into a figure of urban legend in western Pennsylvania. Robinson was so severely injured in a childhood electrical accident that he could not go out in public without fear of causing a panic, so he went for long walks at night. Local tourists would drive along his road in hopes of meeting the Green Man or Charlie No-Face. Most became disappointed to see no such person, however, they passed on tales about him to their children and grandchildren regardless, and people raised on these tales are sometimes surprised to discover that he was a real person who was liked by his family and neighbors. [1] Injury [ edit ] Morris, Debbie Wachter (October 5, 2007). "Local Green Man legend headed for the big screen". New Castle News. Ellwood City, Pennsylvania: Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. Flight: Phillip could float and fly short distances, though whether this was through intangibility or shadow manipulation is unrevealed. [7]To think that many things in this novel have been inspired by real events makes it even better. I like a dose of authenticity around the stories! Enhanced Intangibility Physiology: The comparative version of the Chinese Super-Soldier, the "Man With No Face" can become tangible at will, normally intangible. He could also turn all or part of his body, allowing projectiles to pass through him without harm. When he passed through living beings, energy discharges caused them intense pain. The Man With No Face could apparently manipulate shadows, allowing him to disappear into and travel through areas of darkness and cause his coat to billow around him. [1] The Man With No Face is a book that was originally published in 1981, but now, after getting a ‘ light revision', has been re-published with Quercus Books. In the introduction again, May says that the portrayal of Tania’s autism is “a reflection of prevailing opinion at the time”. I must say I think it’s stood the test of time very well, and still reads to me as far more authentic and less sensationalised or mawkish than many of the more recent fictional portrayals of people with autism. The reader is occasionally allowed inside Tania’s mind where we see her frustration at her inability to express herself, and that helps to explain her sometimes extreme behaviour. It’s a sympathetic and somewhat understated picture, and I found her entirely credible. I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank the publisher and Agnes for inviting me to be part of this blog tour!
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