Mark Gatiss, Devil in Amber

Devil in Amber

Mark Gatiss

Scribner, Jan 2007, $13.00

ISBN: 0743283961

In the 1920s His Majesty's Secret Service Agent Lucifer Box has a license to kill; he does just that when he shoots obese drug lord Hubbard the Cupboard partially for being an American though his foe does cut him with a razor. However, just after the blood flows, Lucifer's younger Secret service rival Percy Flarge arrives on the scene, as always too late to matter. Percy takes a silk handkerchief from Hubbard to stop the bleeding.

Lucifer takes a sexual aside from saving the world while he waits for his next killing assignment. Joshua "the dwarf" Reynolds informs Lucifer he is to observe The Fascist Anglo-United States Trinity (F.A.U.S.T.) as they anticipate something big occurring from this devilish pact, specifically the "Amber Shirts" demonized group led by Olympus Mons, who promotes the end of democracy because it is too ineffective, inefficient and takes away from his power. Lucifer hates the assignment because his sister Pandora is a bon Mons follower. As Box is boxed in upstate New York by snow and a murder accusation, Lucifer knows he must flee the States because whatever Mons and Amber Shirts plan it will occur in England as Olympus and Pandora sail on the luxury liner Stiffkey.

Nothing is sacred as Mark Gatiss puns politics, democracy, espionage, history, the paranormal and religion with this humorous lampoon sequel (see THE VESUVIUS CLUB). The storyline is fast-paced and enhanced by illustrations that give a pulp feel to this wonderful satire. Lucifer is at his best as he boxes his way out of boxes caused by those on his side as much as the opposition.

Harriet Klausner