I had high hopes for Hessman’s Necklace from the outset and I wasn’t disappointed. It was fast-paced, descriptive, with a tight plot and convincingly drawn characters throughout. It was, it was fair to say, a good read.
We first meet Ray engaging in one of his favourite pastimes: a casual romp in the bedroom with someone of the opposite sex. Litchfield’s style of writing at this stage is light, full of humour and whilst Ray’s attitude to his date may not present either of them in the best light, it is an entertaining way to meet Ray and gain an idea of his motivations and the type of character he is. He’s not unlikeable but he is a bit of a rogue.
So when his boss, Walter, has a job for him which is ostensibly to steal a necklace but to do it through the seduction of a woman, it seems that Ray may have a good chance of success – but has Walter underestimated the Reverend, the preacher who has the necklace and his mistress, Merriam who wears it, and has Ray actually been commissioned to perform a robbery which is far more complex and dangerous than first presented?
Well, you will have to read this to find out, of course and it’s definitely worth the effort. Ray is no hero; he is very much flawed but he is also very much aware of it. He doesn’t lie to himself and is a simple being who enjoys sensual pleasure and the idea of the finer things in life but suffers as a result of his own largesse and lack of discipline. He’s a chancer but he’s harmless and as a reader, you want him to be successful in his heist and certainly don’t want any harm to befall him.
The tone of the book does steadily change as the action progresses and the stakes get higher for our man. The beginning of the book and the way we meet him is comic and there is a wryness of humour throughout which permeates the text; however, as Ray gets deeper into his mission, it is clear that this is no simple task and that he is going to have to have his wits about him and Litchfield infuses the book with more tension and less humour, leading convincingly to a surprising climax.
I would recommend – good story, well delivered.
Rachel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
This review was first published on Reedsy Discovery where I was privileged to read it as an ARC.
Scuffed Granny 