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How A Gunman Says Goodbye by Malcolm Mackay
The Blurb On The Back:
How does a gunman retire? Frank MacLeod was the best at what he does. Thoughtful. Efficient. Ruthless. But is he still the best?
A new job. A target. But something is about to go horribly wrong. Someone is going to end up dead.
Most gunmen say goodbye to the world with a bang. Frank’s still here. He’s lasted longer than he should have …
It’s several months after THE NECESSARY DEATH OF LEWIS WINTER. Callum now lives in a flat paid for by Peter Jamieson, who wants Callum to resume gunman duties. But Callum’s not so keen to be tied to his organisation, plus he has a new girlfriend – Emma – to think about. Fortunately for Peter, his top gunman, Frank MacLeod, has recovered from his hip replacement operation and is ready to go back to work. Peter tasks him with killing Tommy Scott – an ambitious former low level drug runner who’s currently setting up a drug network for Peter’s rival, Shug Francis. But when the job goes wrong, Callum’s got no choice but to put things right, which means that the body count will rise …
The second in Malcolm Mackay’s GLASGOW TRILOGY is another tightly written, taut Tartan noir told in a clipped, economic style that builds on events from the first book while setting up for a bloody showdown in the final volume. There’s more character development here – especially of Callum who’s budding relationship with student Emma exposes him to the things that he misses due to his lifestyle and also the dangers of his work. I particularly liked the growing tension that develops between the two and the way that each is manipulated by others in Jamieson’s organisation who have their own interests to protect. I also liked the way Callum’s dilemma dovetails in with Frank’s story, showing him the kind of life he can look forward to if he stays with Jamieson. Although the plot is pretty simple, it’s well told and shows the grimy reality of two crime gangs going to war and I’m really looking forward to reading the conclusion.
This is really Frank’s book more than Callum’s as it’s his actions that drive the action and result in the bloody consequences. Frank is much more fleshed out here than in the first book – loyal to Jamieson’s organisation he’s an old-school gunman who takes pride in never having been caught, which makes his failure all the more galling. I liked the frailty Mackay gives him as he worries about how his hip replacement is perceived by others in the organisation and a key conversation with Jamieson is heart breaking for all the things that neither man feels they can say to the other and the ending, although inevitable, is nonetheless a moving one.
The Verdict:
The second in Malcolm Mackay’s GLASGOW TRILOGY is another tightly written, taut Tartan noir told in a clipped, economic style that builds on events from the first book while setting up for a bloody showdown in the final volume. There’s more character development here – especially of Callum who’s budding relationship with student Emma exposes him to the things that he misses due to his lifestyle and also the dangers of his work. I particularly liked the growing tension that develops between the two and the way that each is manipulated by others in Jamieson’s organisation who have their own interests to protect. I also liked the way Callum’s dilemma dovetails in with Frank’s story, showing him the kind of life he can look forward to if he stays with Jamieson. Although the plot is pretty simple, it’s well told and shows the grimy reality of two crime gangs going to war and I’m really looking forward to reading the conclusion.
How does a gunman retire? Frank MacLeod was the best at what he does. Thoughtful. Efficient. Ruthless. But is he still the best?
A new job. A target. But something is about to go horribly wrong. Someone is going to end up dead.
It’s several months after THE NECESSARY DEATH OF LEWIS WINTER. Callum now lives in a flat paid for by Peter Jamieson, who wants Callum to resume gunman duties. But Callum’s not so keen to be tied to his organisation, plus he has a new girlfriend – Emma – to think about. Fortunately for Peter, his top gunman, Frank MacLeod, has recovered from his hip replacement operation and is ready to go back to work. Peter tasks him with killing Tommy Scott – an ambitious former low level drug runner who’s currently setting up a drug network for Peter’s rival, Shug Francis. But when the job goes wrong, Callum’s got no choice but to put things right, which means that the body count will rise …
The second in Malcolm Mackay’s GLASGOW TRILOGY is another tightly written, taut Tartan noir told in a clipped, economic style that builds on events from the first book while setting up for a bloody showdown in the final volume. There’s more character development here – especially of Callum who’s budding relationship with student Emma exposes him to the things that he misses due to his lifestyle and also the dangers of his work. I particularly liked the growing tension that develops between the two and the way that each is manipulated by others in Jamieson’s organisation who have their own interests to protect. I also liked the way Callum’s dilemma dovetails in with Frank’s story, showing him the kind of life he can look forward to if he stays with Jamieson. Although the plot is pretty simple, it’s well told and shows the grimy reality of two crime gangs going to war and I’m really looking forward to reading the conclusion.
This is really Frank’s book more than Callum’s as it’s his actions that drive the action and result in the bloody consequences. Frank is much more fleshed out here than in the first book – loyal to Jamieson’s organisation he’s an old-school gunman who takes pride in never having been caught, which makes his failure all the more galling. I liked the frailty Mackay gives him as he worries about how his hip replacement is perceived by others in the organisation and a key conversation with Jamieson is heart breaking for all the things that neither man feels they can say to the other and the ending, although inevitable, is nonetheless a moving one.
The Verdict:
The second in Malcolm Mackay’s GLASGOW TRILOGY is another tightly written, taut Tartan noir told in a clipped, economic style that builds on events from the first book while setting up for a bloody showdown in the final volume. There’s more character development here – especially of Callum who’s budding relationship with student Emma exposes him to the things that he misses due to his lifestyle and also the dangers of his work. I particularly liked the growing tension that develops between the two and the way that each is manipulated by others in Jamieson’s organisation who have their own interests to protect. I also liked the way Callum’s dilemma dovetails in with Frank’s story, showing him the kind of life he can look forward to if he stays with Jamieson. Although the plot is pretty simple, it’s well told and shows the grimy reality of two crime gangs going to war and I’m really looking forward to reading the conclusion.