Mo Hayder’s The Devil of Nanking
Dutchess here. My nominee for best crime novel of the year is The Devil Of Nanking by Mo Hayder. Please don’t leak this to the other members of the selection committee, some of whom, embittered by circumstance, often resort to browbeating when the final round looms. The rules governing the Wellington Leg Book Regatta are not simple. Last year there were fisticuffs after the Governing Board issued new directives in regard to drinking and reading. One wonders about the legitimacy of the entire process. Mrs. Chalfont-Smythe championed Ian Rankin to the point of issuing double dog dares to those in opposition; the ensuing melee at the earl’s Pool of Reflection left many scars.
DCI Borchardt is the wild card this year. He keeps his cards close to the chest. I think he’s leaning toward Barry Eisler. Borchardt buttonholed AJC Howard after Black Friday’s shopping frenzy at Mrs. Henn’s High Street Emporium. She reported an argument between the two men near her When in Rome display of swords and chest armour; Mrs. Henn is still seeing that Fed Governor fellow who spoke so passionately about the inverted yield curve at the Rudoplh christening.
Must fly. Gaston Warburton is waving. I fear he’s in the Michael Connelly camp. I do wish the Earl were here with his horse mounted infantry. This is chaos.