The Dead on Leave by Chris Nickson is a gripping
crime novel set in 1930s Leeds. From the opening page I was engrossed in both
the story and its historical backdrop.
The novel’s protagonist is the likeable Detective
Sergeant Urban Raven who is tough and cynical but has an underlying insecurity
that becomes most apparent in his relationship with his wife. Urban has facial
scars from injuries sustained in WW1 and this defines how he sees himself and
how others see him and treat him. He refers to his marriage as “beauty and the
beast” and there is the sense that he feels he doesn’t deserve to be happy.
The story begins as supporters of Oswald Mosley
prepare to stage a rally in Leeds which provokes a violent clash with Communist
protesters. This proves to be a challenge for the police and is made worse when
someone is murdered during the melee. Urban and his colleagues, unused to such
serious crimes, struggle to solve the case which becomes even more problematic
when there are two more murders which are somehow linked to the British Union
of Fascists.
The crime element is engaging, especially as Urban
proves to be a good, methodical investigator willing to do whatever it takes to
solve the case. However, the novel has so much more than this to offer. Nickson’s
knowledge of Leeds is evident in the way he expertly describes the drab
landscape of a city still reeling from the Depression. Nickson uses the motif
of vividly coloured advertisements posted around the city to highlight the
bleak reality of a community where the majority of people are unemployed.
Nickson’s historical knowledge also brings
something to the novel as men such as Urban are shaped by their wartime
experiences. Almost every encounter he has with men of a similar age involve
references to the war. At the same time the spectre of WW2 is looming in the
background as Hitler is consolidating his power and his influence is spreading
as a result of the widespread poverty and desperation. The media meanwhile are
focusing their attention on the possible abdication of King Edward Vlll and his
affair with Wallis Simpson.
Despite the fact that the novel is set in the
1930s it feels very relevant to modern Britain and I could relate to many of
the issues it raises. The popularity of the British Union of Fascists as they
play on the fears of people who are suffering the effects of austerity can
clearly be likened to the emergence of groups like Britain First. The idea of ‘fake
news’ is also not new as Nickson refers to it as “Bread and Circuses” where the
media try and set the political agenda by focusing on stories designed to
distract people from what’s really going on.
I really enjoyed Nickson’s exploration of Urban’s
marriage to Marjorie who was his nurse when he returned from the war. Even
though they have done better than most financially, escaping from the slums to
new housing, their marriage is not plain sailing. Marjorie has suffered
numerous miscarriages and the lack of children has created a void between them.
Marjorie feels like she is disappearing and Urban avoids communication by focusing
on work. The difficulties they face are believable and I’m sure lots of readers
will relate to them.
All in all I enjoyed The Dead on Leave very much. It
is well written with a lively plot that kept my interest throughout. If you
enjoy a crime which is steeped in history then I suggest you give this one a
try.
