Hawthorn & Child by Keith Ridgway6/9/2023 ![]() ![]() Hawthorn & Child contains frequent references to sleep and dreaming – very apt for a book that operates under a kind of dream-logic, where the division between what is real and imaginary is never clearly defined. The book’s mystery stems not the typical ‘whodunnit’ question, but something more complex. Each of these protagonists has a clear voice and as well as keeping the narrative fresh, they help paint a picture of a very modern London, in all its diversity and sprawl. These are written from various viewpoints – as well as the eponymous detectives, they also include the teenage daughter of their boss, a low-level thug working for a shady outfit lead by the dapper Mishazzo (whose name features throughout, and is one of the links between each section), and some other, more unusual characters. ![]() You’d do well to think of the book as a series of eight linked short stories, rather than a single narrative. Approach it with a more open mind, however, and you’ll be rewarded with a singular – albeit mysterious – reading experience. If you come to it expecting an investigation, and a culprit, and a resolution, you’re going to be disappointed. But there the similarity with traditional police procedurals ends. Is Hawthorn and Child a crime novel? It takes its title from the names of two detectives, and also features criminal acts and gangsters. ![]()
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