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Review
Praise for The Straw Men:
‘Just when you think there’s nothing new under the sun in the world of the suspense novel, along comes one hell of a nasty spider call The Straw Men. It’s brilliantly written and scary as hell. Be the first on your block to stay up all night with this one; it’s a masterpiece, reminding us that even paranoids really do have enemies.’ STEPHEN KING
'A staggering, suspenseful journey through the darkness of American crime … succeeds in revitalising the serial killer novel with assured gusto… A new beginning for a major British writer, whose crime debut instantly moves him into the Thomas Harris division' Guardian
‘Brilliantly plotted, stunningly written … I read this in one go … if this isn't a hit, I am a monkey's uncle. And I don't think I am’. Independent on Sunday
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Customer Reviews
The story is pacey and punchy, with lots of gore thrown in but it has to be said there is no chase to the finish here. People get killed, nobody stops it because nobody knows what's happening except the reader who can guess what's happening from a relatively early stage in the story. The final showdown is good, but not as good as The Halls (in my opinion that is) and the 'revelation' of the story carries a lack of credibility that makes me wonder if there was a point in it at all.
All that said the characterization is excellent and that's where the book shines. Ward's escalating disassociation from society... and tandem gravitation towards Paul is wonderfully played. Simultaneously the spectre of Bobby Nygard is clearly one that will be with him to stay and he has to deal with that. (I must say, I missed Bobby very much in this book. Without him to spar with Ward's wit and cleverness had little opportunity to shine through.) The damage done to Nina career wise and mentally is carefully illustrated - particularly in her relationship with the newly expanded character of SAC Charles Munroe. Paul's past and personality are explored making him seem both more, and so much less than human adding a tangible ambiguity to his situation that makes your mind think - hard. Meanwhile, as always, Zandt's character is played largely through actions and not words. Sadly, there weren't too many of those.
The main reason this book gets 4 stars and not the 5 that Straw Men recieved is because as it proceeds it becomes a more and more lopsided affair due to the inclusion of Ward and Nina's POVs but a lack of Zandt's. While I appreciate that keeping his actions secret did enhance the suspense of the novel, it also damaged it's flow and some of the credibility of Zandt's actions and by default the plot. By keeping Zandt in the frame, Marshall could have made things more even-handed and the revelations of the third act would have had more weight, if perhaps less wow-power... that is... if you can believe those revelations or not.
Of course, real life isn't evenly segmented like that so perhaps I have little right to comment.
Like I say, good book but roll on the next because this one was meant have the words 'to be continued...' stapled to the back cover.
Either he or his publisher decided it would be spiffy to merge the two into one, linking the stories by any means possible. As it turns out, the link is very tenous, and for most of the novel the two threads are wholly separate, only coming together for the denouement.
The Straw Men thread sees Ward Hopkins and buddies up against the Upright Man and is pacey and entertaining. It lacks the surprise elements of the previous book - a problem for all sequels - but still makes for a compelling and competent thriller.
The other thread is a bit of an oddity - I am deliberately saying very little about the storyline as it is easily spoiled. It is well written but doesnt quite grip the reader
Both stories are squeezed into 500 pages, and it is the Straw Men story that suffers most from this brevity - there was enough here for a full novel. Some short cuts are taken, and more than a few questions left unanswered.
For all this, the Lonely Dead is still a good read, and is certainly better than the average thriller. It disappoints for what is could have been, rather than what it is. Hopefully next time Marshall won't compromise.
Four stars.
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