Sunday, September 23, 2007

12:23 Paris, 31st August 1997


Author: McNamee, Eoin Publication Date: 2007 Category: Literary suspense Who'll want to read it? Conspiracy theorists. Point of no return: Having read Eoin McNamee's last 4 books, reading this was a foregone conclusion.
Classic line: "The thing he liked about tailing someone was that it added an extra dimension to the subject. He liked to think of himself as bringing ambiguity and drama to people's lives" page 5. What's it all about? Eoin McNamee possesses a certain mastery in writing novels based around actual people and events. 12.23 is set in Paris on the weekend Diana Spencer died. It is a fictional account of the lead up to the fatal accident in the Alma tunnel. We see most events from the point of view of a washed up ex-special forces operative employed to "watch and report" on people connected with Diana Spencer. McNamee portrays a chilling world of espionage and corruption - a world in which to "sanitize" is to remove all protective surveillance from the vicinity of a subject, leaving assassins clean access to their target. The story explores some intriguing possibilities about the weekend of "Spencer's" death (as she is continuously referred to in the novel). McNamee's ability to portray the inner nuances of so many different characters creates a rich and plausible cast. Even if you don't like the topic, you will be entranced by the atmosphere created.
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Interview with Eoin McNamee from the Belfast Telegraph, 23.09.2007:

Sunday, September 09, 2007

User Agreement

Users may not post illegal or inappropriate content such as pornographic material; material that infringes copyright; defamatory material; material that contains racial vilification, cruelty or violence; material that invades or interferes with privacy of any person, personal information, such as telephone numbers, addresses, photographic images, of individuals without their express permission. Users to ensure that content does not breach copyright legislation e.g. author, title and publication details of material reviewed to be included. Content will be reviewed by a moderator for suitability. Material may be freely copied, modified and redistributed without seeking permission of the creator.