Lime's Photograph by
Leif Davidsen
pbk out October 02
(Harvill)
at £6.99
A translation from Danish of one of the novels of a crime-writer well-
known in Europe, a former foreign correspondent for Danish radio and
television. This is really an espionage book, a post-communism story
involving the remnants of old spy organisations, together with current
terrorism ranging from the IRA to ETA.
Peter Lime is a photographer who earns a very good living by snatching
shots of the rich and famous, especially in compromising situations. He
has lived in Madrid for many years and most of the action of the book
takes place in Spain, until it finally shifts to Denmark, Berlin and
Moscow.
He takes a covert picture of a Spanish Minister enjoying himself with a
lady on a deserted beach and from then on his life erupts into a living
hell, as he is promptly arrested by the Establishment - but this is nothing
to what happens next, though as usual the reviewer is constrained by the
need to preserve the plot.
The writing is good and powerful and seems to have lost nothing in the
excellent translation by Gaye Kynoch. It is little long-winded in parts,
especially where the author strives to describe the atmosphere of Spain
and Madrid, the word-pictures being rather too drawn-out and repetitive.
The book might have benefited from a sterner copy-editor, but is still a
good read, with a satisfyingly-exciting ending.
(
Bernard Knight
ex Home Office Pathologist and author of the highly acclaimed Crowner John series)
