Big Smoke by
Gareth Joseph
pbk out March 03
(Review)
at £6.99
Set almost entirely in south London, mainly Brixton, this involved tale revolves around Ditton
and Milk, the lead characters of a previous book by Gareth Joseph. Most of the characters,
apart from a few white villains, are West Indians, including Ditton and Milk, who are long-
time friends and associates. Milk gets his name from the initials of his name and works as a
debt-collector and general enforcer, having little regard for legality. On the other hand, Ditton,
another retired small-time crook, now runs a legitimate bar and gymnasium and has a
reputation for being an arbitrator and peacemaker in the endless feuds of the district.
The plot is long and tortuous, starting with a peremptory demand by a big-time villain for the
pair to find the killer of his nephew and the recovery of stolen money. The writing is excellent
and for those who are interested in the rather grim milieu of south London, life there is
graphically portrayed with all its petty crime, violence, casual killings and total disregard for
the laws of the land.
My major criticism was that there are too many characters crowded into the story, it being
difficult to keep track of who's who without incessant back-turning of pages and searching for
names. Not my kind of book, but it takes all sorts, as they say.
(
Bernard Knight
ex Home Office Pathologist and author of the highly acclaimed Crowner John series)
Big Smoke by
Gareth Joseph
