Dead I Well May Be

Combine a great writer and an equally great reader and you have the ultimate in storytelling pleasure. Gerard Doyle's talent makes you believe the protagonist himself is seated in the chair next to you and is telling you his story. I cannot praise Mr. McKinty's prowess enough either. Every bit of his tale melds so seamlessly you never notice the wheels and pulleys and other writerly mechinations. My only problem -- where to find another such book?

Dead I Well May Be is Adrian McKinty's superb debut thriller that is sharply tough, wonderfully descriptive and filled with a story that takes one unexpected turn after the other. From the turmoil of Belfast to the chaos of Harlem and a living hell in Mexico, every location is brought to vivid life thanks to McKinty's prose. Here is a gritty hardboiled story complete with violent gangsters and a desperate struggle for survival. It's a story of vengeance that is tough, uncompromising and grabs you demanding that you pay close attention. When Michael Forsythe leaves his home in Belfast, he is only 19 but is already a hard man, exposed to the gang violence that dominates his city. He arrives in New York where he is employed by crime boss Darkey White for whom he works as muscle to enforce his protection and loan shark rackets. While working for Darkey, Michael proves himself to be a dependable man to have around, earning the respect of all the other men in Darkey's crew. He's a violent man displaying an almost sociopathic lack of emotion after severely crippling another man in a cold-blooded revenge attack. The story is narrated by Michael and even while everything appears to be going well for him, he warns us of the events that are soon to follow. He points out the men he will kill and the way they will die, men he will later work for and the fact that his life is about to be drastically altered. These snapshots give us a chance to look forward, whetting our appetite for the major events that are still to take place. One of the things that is going well for him is a secret affair he is having with Bridget, Darkey's girlfriend. He is well aware that he would pay a high price should Darkey find out about it but he likes to flirt with danger and carries on regardless. Little is he to know that the "simple little job" he is sent to Mexico for is going to be that high price. This is a consistently fast-paced story concentrating on the cut-throat world of the small-time hoods of New York's Harlem and The Bronx. Smattered amongst the colourful descriptions of the neighborhoods in which Michael lives and works are some intense scenes that graphically demonstrate what a cold-blooded man he is. But for all of his violent tendencies he instills an aura of the underdog, a quality that makes you want to like him. His fellow Irish thugs are all young men who seem to be playing the part of hard men whereas Michael is the real deal. This is about as in-depth as McKinty allows the characterisation to go for Michael's partners - Scotchie, Fergal and Andy. We never really know much more about them than the fact that they are young hoods who talk big and act big when they're armed. A lot of this is because the story is told from Michael's perspective and is indicative of how little he bothers to get to know them. Dead I Well May Be is a book of two halves with the first all about survival on the New York streets fighting for territory from rival gangs, urb

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, found it ingrossing, clever, and spellbinding. The novel's anti-hero, Michael Forsythe is both street-smart and an intellectual. His keenly observant eye gives the reader insight into characters, places, and circumstances that escape the average writer or reader. He is both cocky and aware of his and others limitations. McGinty's placement of this Irish immigrant in Harlem circa 1990 creates a tightly wound, explosive plot that intrigues and does not fail to deliver. Michael Forsythe is a character cut from the same mold as Walter Mosley's "Easy Rawlins" and Chester Himes' "Bob Jones". I highly recommend this novel.

A thriller that is history, fantasy, poetry and a portrait of New York as well, woven together as a very original, innovative page turner that makes one think and also keeps the adrenalin going.