Tangled Web UK Review July 2007
Dragon Head by
Roy Lewis
hbk out July 07
Published by Constable
at £18.99
What an unexpected pleasure to find a new novella from a mainstream publisher. While Dragon Head, at a
refreshing 208 pages, bucks the current trend, it is the nineteenth Arnold Landon mystery, and was thus probably
considered less of a risk. It appears the chunky 'airport novel' has all but filled the niche formerly occupied by
novellas in the crime fiction market. This is a shame as not only has the novella been significant to literature in
general (Conrad, Kafka, and Hemingway), but for many years formed the staple of mystery and detective fiction in
particular (McBain, Robert. B. Parker, Block and many others). One of the strengths of the novella is that it is, of
necessity, usually fast-paced. Unfortunately this one is not.
After a promising prologue, it is a full quarter of the way through the tale before any significant conflict
is introduced. Landon and two of his colleagues from the Northumberland "Department of Museums and
Antiquities" witness the murder of a dubious Dutch businessman in a Chinese restaurant in Newcastle. But just
when it seems the story is about to take off it grinds to a complete halt with the introduction of Detective Chief
Inspector Jack O'Connor and a lengthy exposition on Triad gangsters. As the novella takes its title from the leader
of a Triad group – the Society of Ghost Shadows – some explanation is necessary, but not so much, and certainly
not all at once.
The setting of the mystery in the Newcastle's Oriental community is an original one, and is linked to
Landon by his department receiving a legacy of Chinese porcelain and his Eurasian colleague, Portia Tyrrel.
Newcastle is reportedly one of the areas where Triad influence is strongest in the UK and the backdrop and
premise are both credible, offering a great deal of potential. There is also an imaginative take on Triad
recruitment, which is used to produce a clever twist later in the novella. The characters are well fleshed-out and
Mr Lewis is to be commended for avoiding one of the pitfalls common to crime and thriller fiction – and the
novella, especially – the two-dimensional character. His characterisation is not only strong, but the interaction
between his characters complex and realistic.
The fact that so many of the ingredients of a compelling read are here makes Dragon Head even more
frustrating. While the dramatis personae, setting, and plot are all crafted with sufficient or abundant skill, the pace
is just too slow to support the narrative. It inevitably picks up in the second half, resulting in a conclusion which
does justice to the finer elements of the work. But this is very much a mixed offering: those who enjoy a slow,
leisurely pace will find it interesting and entertaining; those looking for an exciting, gripping read may
be disappointed. Caveat emptor.
(
Rafe McGregor
)
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