REVIEW: Quiver by Peter Leonard
A few weeks back I wondered here whether publishing his first standalone book after 10 years of solid Rebus was a nervous moment for Ian Rankin.
But I suspect that pales into insignificance compared to the pressure of publishing your debut novel when you are the son of Elmore Leonard.
I imagine the sword is decidely double-edged for Peter Leonard, whose novel Quiver was published by Faber earlier this month. On the one hand the name recognition can't hurt, but then imagine having to deal with the inevtiable comparisons with a prolific and celebrated master of the genre often called "the crime writer's crime writer".
All I will say by way of comparison is that the force is strong in the family. This is a terrific debut.
Leonard's story revolves around a colourful cast of criminals pursuing the estate of a wealthy Nascar driver who was killed by his own son with a crossbow in a deer hunting accident. The action shifts seamlessly between well-heeled suburban Detroit and forested northern Michigan as the widowed Kate McCall follows her troubled son to their rural cabin when he can no longer cope with the consequences of his tragic mistake.
Hot on her trail are small-time losers Celeste and her intellectually challenged boyfriend Teddy who are acting in a loose and explosive coalition with hit man DeJuan. Also on the scene is Jack, ex-con ex-boyfriend of Kate whose intentions may not be honourable.
The most striking aspect of Leonard's novel, besides his obvious gift for dialogue, is his Hobbesian view of the criminal mind. There is no honour amongst thieves here, no trust, no loyalty. Only an eye on the main chance and a pathological ambition to take that chance, irrespective of who or what might get in the way.
This degenerate, but exquisite, characterisation is the heart of the book while its soul is Kate and her attempts at bringing her son back from the edge. The collision between heart and soul is tightly told and highly compelling, leading up to a chaotic and violent finale.
Bravo Mr Leonard. And encore!
(For those interested in the father/son angle, there is a fascinating interview on Peter Leonard's website, with Elmore asking the questions.)
