Jon Morgan is a retired police Superintendent and francophile who, it is said, has consequently seen almost everything awful that people can do to each other. He relishes quality writing in all genres but advises particularly on police procedure for authors including John Harvey and Jon McGregor. Haunts bookshops both new and secondhand and stands with Erasmus: “When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I may buy food and clothes.”
This is the second book in Robert Goddard’s Inspector Taleb series. (Ep, 1 – ‘This is the night they come for you.’) It is a police procedural with a difference – well, several differences actually; the first being that it is set in contemporary, post civil war, Algeria.
The war, ‘La décennie noire’ (The black decade) and its excesses, about which it is illegal to apportion blame for the many, many abuses, as many Algerian authors, now in exile, have found to their cost, loom large and Algeria’s relationship with its former colonial masters in France are also a factor. It is a place and history largely unknown outside Algeria – and France and often denied in both. That alone makes it a fascinating, albeit fictional, read.
Inspector, now Superintendent, Taleb is drawn into the maelstrom of the war’s consequences and those, ‘Le Pouvoir’ who although they have lost overt power, still wield significant influence over Algeria’s government and institutions and have never properly been held to account for their actions and brutality. Taleb himself lost his wife and young daughter to this brutality.
Having, unwisely, agreed (been ordered) to take part in a TV programme on the issues, Taleb says more than he either planned or was expected (ordered) to say. The consequences of this, including the kidnap of a powerful former General’s son, take Taleb to southern France where the plot thickens and it becomes clear that forces beyond his, and Agent Hidouchi’s ken. The latter is one of of Taleb’s few friends / allies and is a rather maverick security service operative.
With more than one life, and possibly the fate of the government, at stake, Taleb and Hidouchi must navigate the machinations of both French and Algerian security forces, to secure the release of the General’s son, and try and say alive.
Goddard is an author of considerable repute with a much deserved CWA ‘Diamond Dagger’ to his credit and his skill as writer of complex and labyrinthine plots shines through this novel. It is taut and sparsely written with a great deal of wry, not to say cynical humour.
The choice of Algeria, with its colonial legacy and more recent, and possibly ongoing, internal strife may seem an odd one but it allows much local colour and where the world weary, misfit detective trope may be a tired one, here, with skilful setting, background and characterisation, Goddard injects new vigour and the protagonists never seem to become one-dimensional, instead, remaining fully rounded, dealing with each and every crisis in a credible manner.
I found that this novel was very difficult to put down and the need to find out whether Taleb and Hidouchi survive was almost overwhelming. The answer to this question does not emerge until the very last pages, in the best traditions of the very best crime / spy writing.
Taleb and Hidouchi are a great, if slightly mismatched team and, notwithstanding the ending of this novel I hope that they make a welcome return.
This series is quality and deserves to run.
Read Robert's feature about the book HERE
