Deadfolk

I thought this was the funniest book I'd read in years. It's bleak, depressing, dirty and *hilarious*--also the villain who narrates the tale is curiously likeable. Seriously, this book is a winner. Worth every penny. Buy it.

Deadfolk stars Royston Blake -- a guy you would not enjoy bumping into down a dark alley but you will love on the page. He is a pub doorman with troubles, and his attempts at getting past them lead to one crime after another. All he wants is to be a respected pillar of the community. He has the physical stature but lacks self-awareness, and winds up getting and giving nothing but grief. The book is populated with characters that you can almost smell -- even before they wind up dead and rotting. The setting -- the town of "Mangel" -- is English backwater by way of the Twilight Zone, and the ripe language reflects that. But really it's not that far removed from midwest or Tex vernacular. There were some words I just did not know but I kind of rode the context -- you're not going to miss any big plot points over them. Also the local argot gets you more involved in the surroundings. When you look at this place you can see how someone like Royston Blake can happen. You kind of feel for him. I recommend Deadfolk to anyone who favors originality, knows how to laugh, and doesn't baulk at some nastiness. This is a book that reads well and is SO different from the usual fare. Royston Blake is a real piece of work.