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October 2007
Killer Tune
Author: Dreda Say Mitchell
Publisher: Hodder
RRP: £11.99 (paperback)
Review by: Andrea Enisuoh
Killer Tune is the much-anticipated second novel from the award-winning author of Running Hot, and is a book that proves that writer Dreda Say Mitchell is steadfastly carving out a niche for herself in British crime-writing.
This is fast-paced, multi-layered and, just as importantly, crammed with quality writing. Refreshingly it is set in an urban environment that many of us will recognise. Lord Tribulation (LT for short), the rap-sensation of the moment is about to sign a major recording contract. That is until a young boy firebombs a house while listening to his music.
What follows is a far reaching attack on the music that LT champions; from politicians to members of the public, questions are being raised. Do characters like LT glamorise a criminal lifestyle through their music? Should such artists be celebrated or condemned?
With the loss of a lucrative recording contract and the suspicious death of his reggae legend father, LT’s life seems to be going into freefall. This descent is halted by the reappearance of his childhood sweetheart Bernie who after walking out on him 15 years before, still manages to motivate him enough to investigate the death of his father.
What follows is an intriguing retro trip to the time of the 1976 Notting Hill Carnival – a period of racial and political turmoil. Through a series of cleverly hidden tapes the secret past of LT’s father is revealed.
As much as the carefully crafted plot draws you into this story, so will the vivid imagery and lyrical descriptions of the people that inhabit its streets. Then there is the musical backdrop that Mitchell has ingeniously woven into the novel. From Vivaldi to Natalie Cole, T-Rex to Bob Marley, the soundtrack of this story is integral to the narrative.
Engaging, suspense-filled and intriguing, Killer Tune has Mitchell shining a light on a particular time and place in the most innovative of ways.
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