Australian-born, now London-based, Wilcken's exceptionally
well-done debut: the story of a professional do-gooder who, trying
to save a man from the gallows, finds himself entangled in a web of
his own devising. Matthew Bourne works for Africa Action, a London
NGO that monitors human-rights abuses across the continent. His
particular concern there is one Jarawa, a dissident who has been
condemned to death on suspicious murder charges, and he hopes that
he can rouse enough public indignation over the case to bring
political pressure to bear on Jarawa's government. But Matt has
some diplomatic crises of his own. He has begun an affair with a
South African art dealer who wants to represent his painter wife
Marianne, and he soon learns that Marianne is simultaneously
carrying on with Oxford professor Richard Weldon. Even worse, from
Matt's point of view, is the discovery that Richard is connected
with Freedom Africa, a rival NGO trying to take over Jarawa's
defense. In fact, Matt suspects that interference from Richard and
his organization may account for the strange unwillingness of
Jarawa's wife, now exiled in London, to cooperate with his efforts
on the dissident's behalf. All this is in the back of Matt's mind
when he murders Richard in a fit of rage, but his first concern
(after disposing of the body) is how he will work out his life with
Marianne. Now pregnant with their second child, she is increasingly
despondent, and her depression turns to hysteria as the mystery of
Richard's disappearance drags on. The situation at work does not
improve with Richard's disposal, either: Matt receives an odd,
rambling letter from Jarawa himself, claiming that he has "come to
terms" with his guilt and wants Matt to drop his case. Guilt is
certainly an issue at hand for Matt, but unlike his Catholic wife
he has no one to confess to except the police. Can he bring himself
to that? Nuanced, compelling, and fresh. (Kirkus Reviews)
'Unnervingly cool prose...an entertainingly urbane thriller [whose]
suspense lies not in the whodunit, but in watching a perfect life
unravel.' Daily Telegraph Matthew Bourne suspects his partner,
Marianne, of having an affair - though he has just embarked on one
himself. Then one day a colleague's wife dies in tragic
circumstances, and Matthew is called to identify the body. Only
much later does he realise that this incident has seeped into his
life like a slow poison...A riveting narrative of mystery and
menace, 'The Execution' is a stunningly accomplished novel.
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