SHIFTING SKIN
Chris Simms
Publisher:
Orion
ISBN: 075286856X
July 23rd, 2006
 |
SHIFTING SKIN
Written by
CHRIS
SIMMS
In his fourth novel, Shifting Skin, Manchester
Crime author, Chris Simms, has taken the cosmetic surgery
industry and used it as a backdrop for what is, to date, his most gripping
and adventurous storyline. Beauty, they say, is skin deep, though in these
times of excessive vanity, it might be possible to argue otherwise as
more and more of us – especially those burdened with the status
of “celebrity” – go voluntarily under the knife to achieve
the ideal “look”.
The “Butcher of Belle Vue” has struck again. Like the first
two victims, the third has been partially skinned and dumped on waste
ground – her muscles, tendons and ligaments exposed to full view,
though this time the face has also been removed.
Jon Spicer, together with new partner, Rick Saville, are on the investigating team when a woman approaches Jon, insisting that she has heard “The Butcher” claiming his third victim in a next-door room of a run down hotel in Belle Vue. Her only proof, however, is a business card with the name “Alexia” scrawled across the back.
Trawling through the twilight world
of Manchester, Spicer’s investigation unearths secrets that force
him to examine his own faults and to confront the violence and prejudices
that lurk within each of us.
From first page to last, this is as compelling a read as anyone has a right to wish for. The tension is palpable, with the snappy interaction between Spicer, Saville and those they come across, being both natural and comfortable enough to allow the reader to breathe in the atmosphere of the places they visit.
Never over elaborate in its description, relentless
in its pace and laced with intelligent metaphors for the modern world,
Chris Simms has again created a monster-sized value
pack of twists and turns, that will keep the reader enthralled until
its final, dramatic pages.
9/10
Excerpt from the novel, ‘Shifting Skin’
by Chris Simms.
DI Spicer – Michael Mahon.
Pete Gray – Nick Poole.
“The site is getting
bigger and better every week - many thanks for your glowing report on
Shifting Skin.”
Chris
Simms 2006
Order this book online - Linghams Booksellers
break the rules as I see fit.” - Chris High 2003.