A Fear of Dark Water
Craig Russell’s A fear of dark water, is the sixth book in the Jan Fabel series and serves as my introduction to the loveable detective! I think, unless my memory fails me, and for once I don’t think it does, this is also the first fictional book I’ve read set in Germany. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, especially from an eerie looking book jacket, but what I did find between the covers surprised me.
Just as a major environmental summit is about to start in Hamburg, a massive storm hits the city. When the flood waters recede, a headless torso is found washed up.
Initially, Jan Fabel of the Murder Commission fears it may be another victim of a serial rapist and murderer who stalks his victims through internet social network sites, then dumps their bodies in waterways around the city.
But the truth of the situation is far more complex and even more sinister. Fabel’s investigations lead him to a secretive environmental Doomsday cult called ‘Pharos’, the brainchild of a reclusive, crippled billionaire, Dominik Korn.
Fabel’s skills as a policeman are tested to their utmost as he finds himself drawn into an unfamiliar, high tech world of cyberspace, where anyone can be anybody or anything they want. And he quickly realises that he is no longer the hunter, but the hunted.
My first reaction was to the humour. I really don’t know why but I hadn’t expected the dry and humorous dialogue that would often surface – especially between Fabel and his partner Susanne. Not only did it add warmth to the storyline but it added another level to his character and an enjoyable one at that. Russell continues this subtlety with Fabel’s colleagues, giving the reader a deeper insight into the relationships and camaraderie that made the unit work well together. In a stressful job a little humour and sarcasm goes a long way to lighten a dark situation. It worked well.
Given Russell’s background as a police officer, police procedural is well written and enthusiastically received by this reader. Like many books set in a modern 21st century, it’s all about cybercrimes and technology but given Fabel’s technophobic tendencies he leaves this line of investigation to others – he’s on a roll if he can work out how to send and receive text messages on the phone – and let’s not talk about accidentally deleting them!
A fear of dark water is a complex and busy book but the narrative is so well presented that it serves as a very quick and enjoyable read. Raising issues of environmental concerns and the dangerous and powerful world of the cult, machinations are rife as one man’s plans to dominate and control Germany threaten their very existence.
Something thundered around Korn. Deafening. Uncompressible petroleum ballast being voided from the stabilizing tanks. Steel ballast released from the Pharos One’s electromagnetic grip. Now he felt movement. A surge upward pinning him to his seat. He clung tight to the arm rests, trying to control his breathing, his pulse pounding in his ears.
With a number of twist and turns and unexpected discoveries the book works on numerous levels with an impressive characterisation with Fabel playing the protagonist’s role. However, it isn’t just about Fabel, his team play a big part in this well rounded book and they all have something to offer – I never once felt a character was out of place or surplus to requirements – and contribute to the end result.
Fabel himself is an incredibly likeable character, he’s down to earth, hates technology as I’ve already mentioned and knows what he’s about. He’s an assured character. That said he does have a few ghosts to keep him company and regrets as Frank Sinatra once sang – he has a few – but he continues to fight the demons and solve the cases. Fabel is one of those guys you’d like to share a drink with down the local pub – I can’t say fairer than that!
A great book, a wonderful fluid read and not a Weiner Schnitzel or Bratwurst in sight! Highly entertaining.
Published by Hutchinson A fear of dark water is available in Hardback from Amazon.
