When Jack Valentine agrees to help a friend rescue his daughter from a South American drug dealer, he's quickly thrust back into the covert life. Narrator Sean Barrett is exceptional as he presents Jack, a Scotsman, along with characters of many other nationalities. As Valentine covers several countries on his quest, Creed peppers the novel with famous art, artists, and folklore surrounding the Day of the Dead. Barrett adds to the pleasure with his gorgeous or grotesque delivery, depending on the situation. In addition to the story's violence, characters reflect on aging and the end of life, adding to the dark tone of the story. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine--
Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
--This text refers to the
Audio CD
edition.
Review
An old friend asks Intelligence Officer Jack Valentine to wean away his teenage daughter from New York drug baron Riccardo Xaberra. Jack and his old ally Liam track down Xaberra to Mexico - but Xaberra has kidnapped Jack's lover and Liam's sister.An assured, shamelessly exciting page-turner.
Investigator Jack Valentine regularly bites off more than he can chew and his exploits in The Day of the Dead are no exception. Pulled from 'retirement' to help an old friend in need, the Glaswegian lone-ranger is thrust into a web of deceit that pits him against a sinister opponent and tests his survival skills beyond the limit. Packing the thrills in, Creed leads us at a breathless rate through a convoluted plot which has the reader turning the pages faster and faster. For a self-styled rescuer Jack is endearingly bad at pulling off rescues, inevitably ending up worse off than he started. Managing to convey the impression that the whole world is against his dogged endeavours, he gamely worries away like a spaniel at a trouser leg. A crew of disreputable friends, ex-lovers and a host of troubled memories push him on his way to the final showdown. Often wiser than he is, these comrades balance his gung-ho style without giving the game away. The book's weakest point is where it dips into surreality, leaving this excellent gang behind in favour of some unlikely and hastily created baddies. There is nothing to complain of in the excitement stakes, though - your heart will be pounding to the end. Look forward to Jack's next unwilling spree into the world of undercover intelligence - he's not the sort to give up! (Kirkus UK)
