Through The Ruins Of Midnight may very well have created a new sub-genre – True-Fiction
Crime – as it relates individual tales that bypasses serial killers,
bank heists and kidnappings, but crimes those that nonetheless devastate peoples
lives on a daily basis; the domestics, the suicide attempts and the tragedy
of loss. Colin Campbell’s second novel – but debut in the world
of crime – is like a breath of fresh air. Having been a serving police
officer, the author draws characters and situations so well it makes The Bill
look even more pedestrian than it actually is.
Mick Habergham – Ham for short, because his colleagues think his surname
sounds like “Hamburger” – likes working the nightshift.
The world is generally asleep and police work is easier, especially on Sundays.
Well, on any other Sunday than this one, apparently. As he contemplates the
future of his marriage and of his impending retirement, Mick also confronts
so many dilemmas on this patrol it is possible to believe that the night will
never end.
The pace is relentless and the scenarios are so credible it is almost possible
to see the events take place. Ham is such a likeable character that a reader
might actually enjoy being pulled up by him so that they could pass the time
of day. That Campbell has drawn from experience is obvious, but he has done
so with such clarity and precision it never enters the realms of being a lecture
on morality.
This is an excellent book that both informs and entertains, but never preaches
and should be read by anybody with an interest in the pressures faced by the
modern day copper.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Formerly a Chef, publican, shop manager, supermarket shelf-filler,
library employee and deliverer of lambs, Chris High now dedicates
most of his time to writing and journalism. He has successfully collaborated
with singer Chris de Burgh on a collection of song based short stories
available from his Website,
and is currently in the process of completing his first Crime novel.
Chris lives on Merseyside, England, with his cat Tigger and his dog,
Duke. |
