Don’t you just love it when the main protagonist of the novel you’re reading is a 65 year old, female assassin contemplating retirement? Admittedly, this is the first novel I’ve ever read where the key player has such attributes but, hey, I’m all for senior power!
Strangest of all though, is how you’re rooting for Hornclaw [that’s her name] even though she’s responsible for brutal and savage murders. Thou shalt not kill? But here I am chuckling away at the arthritic antics of this gruesome granny. What is going on?!
Gu Byeong-Mo is what’s going on! A Korean novelist with a dark and delicious sense of humour. This is the first of her novels to be translated into English and translated very well. I might add. But I’m hoping it won’t be the last.
With an energetic and lively narrative, the story drives itself along with a diverse cast of characters, many of them who work for a ‘vermin control company’ the employees of which go by codenames to evade identity. Others not involved in the nefarious task of eliminating others, allow us a glimpse of life in the city of Seoul.
Hornclaw is a wonderful character and ably demonstrates what it is to age, and to find the activities you used to do with ease becoming harder and harder. Despite her dubious profession, she’s not without heart but it’s nuanced - I mean who would call their dog Deadweight?! There are some dreadful things that happen in the story but they are described in such a way that they’re not as horrific as they might be. The descriptions of the violence are stylized, not overly graphic.
But ultimately, it’s a tale of revenge and I’m not going to spoil it by giving any more details but it’s a good plot and a very entertaining read that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
My thanks to Canongate books for a copy and a place in the readalong..
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