Patricia Hall, Dead Reckoning

Patricia Hall

Dead Reckoning

ISBN: 0312321538

St. Martin's, Apr 2005, $23.95, 288 pp.

A John Doe murder case is assigned to Michael Thackeray at the same time that journalist Laura Ackroyd stops an attack on two Pakistanis by a gang of British youths. Though appreciative of Laura's aid, the younger Pakistani tells her he doesn't want the police called as they do nothing since 9/11 New York. Meanwhile, the Yorkshire town is stunned with the news that the prime employer, Earnshaw's Mill, is closing with mass layoffs expected.

Michael's case goes nowhere as even identifying the victim has been stalled while Laura begins looking into the plight of the Asian immigrants since 9/11, including lack of action by Michael and his law enforcement peers. The mill rumors have led to deeper racial unrest between the long time locals and the new foreigners with the British Patriotic Party using the tension for political advantage. When Frank Earnshaw fails to hear from his son Simon, who quit mill management to return to school, he notifies Michael. The corpse has been identified with two isolated groups sharing the same community blaming the other for the homicide and other woes.

The conflict between the two racial groups is brilliantly depicted so that the audience feels the fears and concerns of both, especially as Laura finds racial and religious bias and abuse, but is rewarded by being considered a traitor to her patriotic roots. The who-done-it adds tension, but the killer's motive seems tame, almost inane, especially in light of the plight facing the Bradford townsfolk. DEAD RECKONING is a terrific Thackeray-Ackroyd entry that plays stronger as a social commentary of the times than as a police procedural although Michael does his usual bang-up investigation.

Harriet Klausner