An Engrossing Thriller!

 Review by Ronica Wahi

Shamus Dust: Hard Winter. Cold War. Cool Murder.

By Janet Roger

First published: October 28, 2019, Matador.

Kindle Edition Pages: 295. 

ASIN: B07VV4SLHP

Set in London and spanning a few days during which 1947 drew to a close and 1948 just began, Shamus Dust, Janet Roger’s debut novel, is a memorable recreation of a suffering, post-war city. In the novel, the city of London is in the grips of a harsh winter, both literal and metaphorical.

The war had destroyed a substantial part of the city, adversely impacted the economy, and led to shortages; such circumstances, in general, eventually lead to increased disparities and increased crimes. Additionally, this London is struggling to maintain the remnants of the crumbling Empire. The choice of such a time of turmoil, along with the dreariness and gloom of a biting winter, heightens the dark elements and deeds – for it is crime fiction – in the plot. Moreover, the fact that Roger has chosen Christmas and New Year time – a time that brings to mind images of cheer – adds to the overall impact of darkness. There comes a series of murders, linked to the situation that the sought-to-be-reconstructed London finds itself in.

The shamus, Newman, as the unfolding plot reveals, is a sharp, clever, and gutsy man. As the narrator of this work, Newman takes the reader on his journey of learning the “incident” he is informed of and of seeking the truth behind the murders that are committed in quick succession – and takes along on his journey quite literally too as he describes his rides or walks through streets, his movements within different quarters, his climbing up or down stairways, etc. He has an interesting, witty style of putting things, brings in sarcasm and irony, and chooses his moments to reveal things he’s uncovered.

Divided into nine major parts each of which refer to some key event or aspect, the narrative leads to the solving of the mystery in an exciting manner. Versed in crime fiction through her reading, Roger manages to keep the reader hooked till the end. Adventures and misadventures, enlightening and cryptic conversations, moments of revelations, unravelling of characters, forging of bonds, clever conjectures and linking of events all aid in this.

As the details about what possibly could have led to the murders are discovered, the London of 1947-8 can be visualized by the reader. Roger, trained in archaeology, history, and literature, recreates the war-scarred city with huge portions in ruins. The ruined places, the Roman London that lay underneath, the streets that exist are detailed with vividness. Shamus Dust shows not just Roger’s interest in the geography and history of London, but also her keen observation of human nature and behaviour.

Power politics, corruption, deception, fraud, blackmail, prostitution, poverty, and filth are all presented in this dark world. Roger’s sense of observation enables her to offer well-crafted characters – Newman, of course, and also others such as the nurse, the doctor, the lawyer and his wife, and the Councilor and his family. Dressing styles, gaits, British pride, class attributes are illustrated and up the variety.

A facet that adds to the attention to detail and makes the narrative more fascinating is the allusions to the Empire. Certain objects from or inspired by the colonies decorate the spaces of the wealthy and the powerful, references to people such as Sir Bernard working in the colonies or those who have retired from such engagements such as the tea planters Newman spots towards the end, borrowed words such as “rajah” and “memsahibs”, reference to Gandhi find place here.

A shining jewel in this dark, noir-ish world is the language – beautiful, rich, and illustrative. Right from the start, stimulating metaphors greet the reader; in the first chapter, for instance, one line runs thus: “…nights when sleep stands in shrouds and shifts its weight in corner shadows, unreachable.” Often, things are related in style, rather than being directly stated. For instance, in Chapter Thirty-Six, the narrator comments, “The Willards hadn’t heard there was a coal shortage. The room was stifling.” The metaphoric language and witticisms, and the descriptions of the journey, the ways, the destination, the characters and their attires, etc. make the book a treat for a reader who enjoys dwelling on the phrasing and the nuances of the craft of writing. But this kind of treatment also means that this book reads a bit slow and may not be an ideal choice for a reader who only prefers fast-paced crime fiction.

The novel is not entirely unique in terms of how its narrative is fashioned, yet, considering how neatly constructed this work is, it is remarkable. Particularly so since it is a debut. It is deservedly that this novel has already won laurels; it has received much appreciation and coveted awards such as the one for crime fiction in the Beverly Hills Book Awards 2019.

For the thrill of suspense and the thrill of charming language, Shamus Dust  is a recommended read!

Check out Shamus Dust here:

Amazon India link for Shamus Dust (Paperback, Import): https://amzn.to/3FvFhwZ

Amazon India link for Shamus Dust (Kindle): https://amzn.to/2YAcxCe

 

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