Black Tag by Simon Mayo
REVIEWED BY LINDA HILL
When a demonstration in London’s exclusive Coal Drops Yard leads to a catastrophic fire at the West End Gallery owned by wealthy philanthropists the Nash family, no-one expects an unidentified body to be found in the ashes. It soon becomes clear to investigative journalist Famie Maden that there’s more to this story than meets the eye.
Black Tag: book review & synopsis
Black Tag is absolutely thrilling. It’s a dramatic story with a blistering pace that makes it impossible to put down. Short, dynamic chapters mean that the reader wants to read just one more until the book has been consumed. It’s totally compulsive reading that elevates the pulse and makes the heart thump. It’s truly exciting.
The plotting is magnificent, with several strands that initially seem disparate. As the story continues, so the different aspects intertwine until Black Tag becomes not only gripping but the reader feels awe for the writer’s craft.
The variety of sentences, the pared down descriptions and the totally convincing speech, albeit with occasional expletives, all add up to a fabulous read.
Famie Maden is such a compelling character. Through her website “Howl” she supports international journalists who find themselves under threat from those who would prefer their deeds left unreported. This feels so pertinent to today’s society, with fake news and the danger reporters find themselves in as they report from war zones, making for a completely convincing narrative.
Famie has incredible integrity and is more than prepared to put her own safety at risk to ensure right is pursued. At the same time, she’s not above dubious methods to get her story or to bring the truth to light. Her recklessness, her flaws and her tenacity make her a truly modern heroine. I loved her relationship with her daughter Charlie, who has inherited many of her mother’s personal traits. These are strong, admirable women.
Political and historical intrigue
The themes and concepts explored add to the layers of interest. There’s political manipulation and historical intrigue, there’s friendship and family, and there’s guilt and atonement all woven into a breath-taking story. Through Robert Nash and Howard Taylor’s contributions to the story there’s also a sensitive and intelligent consideration of entitled patriarchy that is freshly and fascinatingly presented.
It’s quite hard to review Black Tag without giving away the plot, but I thought it was superb. Simon Mayo looks into the dark heart of humanity with consummate skill. I’ll be thinking about Black Tag for some time and recommend it most highly.
Black Tag by Simon Mayo is out now (Bantam, HB, £16.99) and available from Amazon.
Read more fiction reviews by Linda Hill including Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney, A Skye Full of Stars by Sue Moorcroft, Foster’s Mill by Val Wood, All I Want For Christmas by Karen Swan, City of Silk by Glennis Virgo, Things We Lose In Waves by Lucy Ayrton and Beautiful People by Amanda Jennings.
