Review: The Blue Tango

It's based on the real life murder of Patricia Curran, found dead in Ireland on 13 November 1952. Right from the getgo, the investigation is handled in a careless manner. She's the daughter of a well-connected judge, living an upper middle class life. The time of death is misidentified because a family member believed she was "still breathing" when he tried to revive her. The pathologist believes she died of gunshot wounds, when in fact she was stabbed thirty-seven times. A suspect is eventually collared and convicted, but it's soon apparent that he was a victim of circumstance and is not the killer.

I reveal all of this because MacNamee makes these facts crystal clear right from the beginning. The novel, though about a real-life crime, presents the facts in a non-linear fashion. We get glimpses into each of the main characters' minds and lives, from the suspect to Patricia's father, mother and brother, to her boyfriend at the time of her murder, to the local investigator who is actually trying to deal with the facts and inconsistencies while fighting off the showy out-of-town cops who create their own truths, and into the feelings and actions of Patricia herself. Yet for all this kind of narrative may be an extreme risk, MacNamee carries it off beautifully.

While I was reading the book I was reminded of a kaleidoscope--turning the fragmented images over and over into a cohesive whole that brings all the fragments together in ways we never thought possible. THE BLUE TANGO is such a kaleidoscope, but instead of bringing absolute order out of chaos, we instead create the order ourselves. MacNamee never names his suspects in the book, but through casual mentions of vital evidence, I came to my own conclusion fairly early on.

And as I read on, my sense of outrage and disbelief grew. The interrogation tactics used on the suspect were particularly galling, yet not unbelievable--especially in light of such tactics used against the Central Park Jogger Five, for example. In hindsight, there was SO much missed, but instead of drawing out the conclusions for the reader, MacNamee lets the reader decide for oneself.

I must say that Eoin MacNamee is one of my real finds of the last few months, whether writing under his own name or writing highly intelligent thrillers under the pseudonym of John Creed. Whatever the book is, he is well worth reading. THE BLUE TANGO, in particular, is a real tour-de-force.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Sarah - RAM

Book Review: The Blue Tango