Where Dead Men Meet

In 1912, an unidentified man leaves a foundling at St. Theresa's Orphanage in London, where a goodhearted nun, Sister Agnes, cares for the boy for seven years. Subsequently, Lorna and Ramsay Hamilton adopt the child and provide him with everything that he needs to succeed. Luke, as he is named, eventually becomes a pilot for the RAF. It is now 1937, and Luke is stationed in the British Embassy in Paris. He suddenly discovers, for reasons that elude him, that a would-be executioner has him in his sights.

"Where Dead Men Meet," by Mark Mills, is initially entertaining, but as it progresses, the novel becomes a melodramatic and byzantine tale of greed, vengeance, and hatred. There are a large number of characters to sort through. Along with the beleaguered Luke, the key ones are Pippi Keller, a beautiful young woman embittered by an unconscionable betrayal, and Borodin, a hit man who may have a sliver of conscience left. The action moves across number of countries—England, France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, and Croatia—while Luke desperately tries to stay a step ahead of his pursuers. In addition, a few years before the outbreak of the Second World War, the Nazis are relentlessly intensifying the pressure on their perceived enemies. The author inserts a subplot about a daring plan to transport a Jewish professor and his family to safety.

To his credit, Mills provides interesting historical tidbits that lend authenticity to the narrative. For example, when Luke visits the Spanish Pavilion during the 1937 Exposition Internationale in Paris, he gazes in awe at Picasso's iconic work of art, "Guernica." Luke marvels at the painting's visceral power to elicit sorrow and pity. Alas, although the mystery piques our curiosity, the plot soon becomes muddled and difficult to navigate. Luke is a decent but bland individual who, throughout the book, is manipulated by others. There are the usual chase scenes, a great deal of gratuitous violence, and in the midst of all this chaos, an improbably romance. Ultimately, the author provides an unconvincing explanation for the copious bloodshed. "Where Dead Men Meet" is a convoluted thriller dominated by sadistic thugs who derive tremendous pleasure from torturing and killing their victims.

Ten years since the publication of the author’s “The Savage Garden,” I continue to tell friends about this superb novel. Having read three of his subsequent books, I wish I could heap the same praise on them, but I cannot. In “The Information Officer” I felt there was insufficient plot development. Here in “Dead Men,” Mills has too many plots and struggles to tie them all together. His protagonist, Luke Hamilton, is an RAF pilot, now a high-level desk jockey in the British Embassy. Someone has him marked for murder, but Luke has no idea why. Things start to percolate when he learns of the murder of Sister Agnes, the nun who raised him in the orphanage. The plot becomes a chase from that point on, trying to avoid the would-be assassins, while trying to find out who and why. None of the characters stand out. Had Sister Agnes survived the first few pages, she could have given the story the boost it needs. The writing drags throughout, totally unlike Mills’ early novels. There is nothing special about this novel.

boring; didn't finish

I bought this book on a whim and am very glad I did. For such an intricate pot, I actually found it less confusing than thrillers often are. I rooted for the good guys (and gals) throughout, and continually enjoyed the surprises along the way.