BOOK REVIEW: Absent Victim - David Roy

TITLE: Absent Victim
AUTHOR: David Roy
PUBLISHED BY: Hobart Books

A mystery thriller with a difference, what’s not to like? An intriguing tale; there’s no body, no motive, no name and readers will be wondering, who did Stephanie Kuler kill and why? After she asks a private detective to investigate a murder, he tells her to go to the police instead, but when she recounts the rest of the story, intrigued, he takes on the case.

The main character, the private detective (readers never know his name), recounts the tale and explains how he has been given this perplexing scenario by wealthy client Stephanie Kuler. After initial reservations about taking on the case he reconsiders as he decides the money will be useful.

Strangely, there isn’t a body, no reason for the murder and no name for the supposed victim; but surprisingly Kuler knows she is the murderer. She can’t remember who she’s murdered; she doesn’t know whether the person she’s killed is male, female, an adult, or a child; she doesn’t know when, where, how, or why. She just knows somehow that she’s committed a crime and needs help. If the mystery is solved, it means jail for her but she is determined to find out for herself what has happened. However, the case, already strange, gets far weirder as the plot progresses.

Is it a case of déjà vu; is the mind playing strange tricks and memory being distorted over time? This stimulating mystery explores the dark side of memory and its impact.

The story is set in the midst of the COVID pandemic; it is an exciting who-done-it with a twist (although readers already know who-done-it from the word go). Laced with satirical observations and snippets of historical information about Northern Ireland’s past, this is a multifaceted read.

Alongside the main plot runs several subplots and there are also several other characters who are vital to the story, including the Private Eye’s sidekick Billy and his ‘Billie-isms’.

Absent Victim is an enjoyable, fast-paced read that contains a unique plot, one that will have readers guessing right to the finale and it will then leave them with another idea to digest. I was kept entertained until the very last page especially with the amusing humour and sarcasm which featured heavily throughout.

Undoubtedly, this is a well-scripted psychological crime thriller; it will keep readers on tenterhooks as the story unfolds, they won’t be left disappointed. It is an unusual, enjoyable, crime thriller which is brilliantly told, with the author's witty narrative and character dialogues a welcome addition to a well-told thought-provoking story.

Reviewer - Anne Pritchard