My Blog Break is over & The Man With No Face

Published on by Margaret

I’m back home and looking forward to getting back into blogging. I was in hospital for three weeks – but now I’m recovering, trying to get back to ‘normal’.

It has been very odd as I lacked the desire to read, or concentrate on anything really. I’ve read just one book so far this month – The Man With No Face by Peter May, which I’d started before I went into hospital. This was first published in 1981. May made ‘some very minor changes’, before it was republished in 2018.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Description from Goodreads:

A POWERFUL AND PRESCIENT THRILLER FROM THE MILLION-SELLING AUTHOR OF I’LL KEEP YOU SAFE, COFFIN ROAD AND THE BLACKHOUSE.

A REPORTER WITH NO FEAR

Jaded Edinburgh journalist Neil Bannerman is sent to Brussels, intent on digging up dirt. Yet it is danger he discovers, when two British men are found murdered.

A CHILD WITH NO FATHER

One victim is a journalist, the other a Cabinet Minister: the double-assassination witnessed by the former’s autistic daughter. This girl recalls every detail about her father’s killer – except for one.

THE MAN WITH NO FACE

With the city rocked by the tragedy, Bannerman is compelled to follow his instincts. He is now fighting to expose a murderous conspiracy, protect a helpless child, and unmask a remorseless killer.

I did find it a bit repetitive, which for once was good as it kept reminding me what was going on. It’s a complex plot told mainly from Bannerman’s perspective with insights into the hired assassin’s and daughter’s viewpoints. It’s called ‘The Man with no Face’ because Tania, the daughter is a talented artist and she draws the scene with the assassin’s face left blank.

There’s a lot more I could say about the book. It’s a thriller with some violence but nothing I couldn’t cope with – and I’m squeamish! I thoroughly enjoyed it with all its twists and turns and increasing level of danger right up to the climax. Highly recommended!

12 thoughts on “My Blog Break is over & The Man With No Face”

  1. So glad that you’re home and recuperating, Margaret! I don’t blame you for not having much ambition under the circumstances. I am glad you enjoyed this one, though. Peter May is, I think, so very talented, and weaves a sense of atmosphere expertly. I’m glad it worked for you.

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  2. Good to see you back and blogging. I sympathize with the lack of ability to concentrate on reading. I was in the hospital for just two days a few years ago, and during and after that it took me at least a week, maybe two, to get back to reading. I remember being surprised and unhappy about that at the time.

    Good review. I will have to look into this book by Peter May.

    TracyK at Bitter Tea and Mystery

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    1. Thanks, Tracy – I suppose the anaesthetic and actual operation makes it inevitable that I was unable to concentrate on anything at all. I was hoping to read but it was impossible for quite a while.

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  5. Glad to see you back, Margaret, and I hope you’re well on the road to a full recovery. I hope your reading picks up again too now you’re home. I really enjoyed this one, partly because I always think a journalist makes for an interesting main character – not so many credibility issues as with lots of other kinds of amateur ‘tecs.

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  7. So glad to hear that you are home from hospital. I know only too well how lovely it is to be released as I too was in for several weeks this past autumn.
    I usually enjoy books by Peter May, however I’ve not yet read this one.

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