REVIEW: SNAKESKIN

Snakeskin by Courttia Newland (Abacus)

Snakeskin is a detective novel for 21st century Britain. Set in modern day London and Leicester, it follows the exploits of a small time private investigator, Ervine James, who is hired to solve the brutal rape and murder of a black politician’s daughter after the police fail to resolve the case.

At first far right groups are the prime suspects but as Ervine delves further, things begin to get complicated and even more ominous. Suspicions of political murder arise as it emerges both the victim and her politician father were leading double lives. Only when the politician is murdered does Ervine come across the truth.

On the surface this is a quality Raymond Chandler style thriller re-interpreted with an urban style that reflects its setting in multi-racial British cities. On a deeper level it is a perceptive analysis of racism and attitudes towards ethnic minorities in the 21st century.

With his third novel, Courttia Newland has successfully achieved his goal of distancing himself from the tag of ‘black’ writer. This book will appeal to everyone who likes thrillers and detective novels.

However, Courttia does not disguise his black roots and it is clear that Snakeskin is used to address issues that confront black people in everyday life. This is done in a subtle yet arresting manner. It encourages the reader to think about his or her treatment of others, and that can only be a good thing.

It would be unfair to dwell on the racial aspects of Snakeskin too much. More importantly we should concentrate on one fact: this book is a damn good read. The characterisation is commendably strong, with the actions and feelings of the characters coming across as interesting and wholly believable.

The phonetic dialogue and black urban slang can take some getting used to for the uninitiated, but it is not over done (like that of a certain Scottish author I could mention) and adds to the atmosphere of the story.

The settings of this novel are depicted with great clarity and realism. Courttia bases the setting on real places, especially London’s South Bank and Leicester City Centre. Anyone who has ever visited these places would find it hard to disagree with the depiction.

Of course no detective novel would be complete with an intriguing plot and Snakeskin does not disappoint. The plot rolls along at a steady pace and you can never tell where it is going next. Like all good thrillers it keeps you wanting to know more and does not reveal its goal until the very end.

There are occasional points in the book where the tension sags a little, but these are kept to a minimum. Anyway, the stylish mixture of sex, violence and urban strife leaves the reader wanting more.
With Snakeskin, Courttia Newland has breathed new life into the modern detective novel - he just keeps getting better.