Reviewed by: Keith Nixon
Genre: Crime Fiction
Approximate word count: 15-20,000 words
Availability
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Author:
Ian Ayris
has had a love of writing since childhood and has had some forty short stories
published, most recently a novel, Abide
With Me. Ian is currently studying for a degree in English Literature. He
lives with his family in Essex in the UK.
Description:
Jason Dean
is going to have his worst day ever. First, he has to collect some debts. Then
he has to kill a man.
Appraisal:
This is one
of the best stories I’ve ever read. There, I’ve said it. And I’m not taking it
back. I’ll explain why…
We wake up
very early one morning with Jason, he’s in bed with his wife who loathes him
but we’ve no idea why. He tells us he’s going to have a very bad day, in fact
Jason must have one of the longest faces in literature. He’s truly unhappy.
Whilst having some food and a coffee in perhaps the worst café in the world
Jason reveals he’s got to collect some cash for a local hard man, Micky Archer,
then kill a guy.
Jason goes
to see Micky to find out the names of who has to pay. In an incredible scene,
the two hard men argue about Wagner and Shostakovich of all things. It
transpires that Jason, despite living on one of the worse estates in the
country (which Ayris deftly paints, a perfect backdrop) is extremely well read
(although not well schooled which comes over in the narration).
Jason
proceeds on his debt appropriation mission with mixed success, including
witnessing a suicide. Whilst walking around this hellhole dealing with the
locals, the hard man treats us to insights on the classical music he listens
to, the books and poetry he’s read, and how they make him feel. Like Sylvia
Plath and the parallels she draws to Jason’s life. It’s totally at odds with
the person we’re reading about, adds real dimension to Jason’s character, and
throws his surroundings into stark contrast. He doesn’t want to be who he is,
but Jason feels he has no choice. He doesn’t want to murder a man, but he must.
Another brilliantly written scene.
Throughout
the story, Jason is also thinking about his daughter, Sophie. Towards the end
of the book he reveals why he has such a heavy heart in a truly emotional, heart-wrenching
scene. I really wish I could tell you more, but I don’t want to spoil the
surprise. It completely caught me out and brought everything to a well thought
out conclusion.
The
characters, besides Jason, are excellent. I particularly like Micky. Finally Jason’s
monologue and the dialogue are both excellent, for example the classical music
argument:
I know he’s only kiddin, cos we been
mates for years. But it don’t make it no fuckin easier sittin here in his
comfortable three bedroomed semi, drinkin tea out of a china cup and listenin
to him bangin on about fuckin Wagner, whilst at the same time he’s beratin the
fuckin genius of Shostakovich…
‘Nietzsche was right,’ I says,
quiet, sort of under me breath.
Micky’s eyes start to bulge. He puts
his tea down.
‘What did you say?’ he says, leanin
forward, squeezing his eyebrows together.
The pair
then proceed to fight over Nietzsche’s interpretation of Wagner - this
incredibly rough, violent pair arguing over classical music and philosophy
having discussed debt collection and murder.
And back to
the beginning. This is a superbly written novella. I can’t find a fault
anywhere with it. One of the best stories I’ve read. Ever.
Ever.
FYI:
Adult
language, some scenes of violence.
Format/Typo Issues:
None.
Rating: ***** Five Stars
1 comment:
Great review. I had to buy the novelette, which is superbly written.
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