Book Review: The Chameleon's Shadow

Reviewed By: Lynn Harnett

The Chameleon's Shadow     Amazon US TPB Amazon US HC Amazon UK PB Amazon UK HC Amazon Canada TPB Amazon Canada HC
Minette Walters
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Serial Killer   Psychological Suspense
Alfred A. Knopf, Jan. 2008
Mystery, British, psychological suspense, veterans

British Lieutenant Charles Acland, facially disfigured by a roadside bomb in Iraq, the two other men in his command killed, finds himself subject to uncontrollable rages as he slowly regains his memory and begins to heal. Impulsive attacks on his mother and ex-fiancée, as well as noticeable hostility towards women in general have earned him the close attention of psychiatrist Robert Willis.

Despite Acland’s terse replies and willful resistance, Willis persists, introducing him to a female colleague in London (whose chatter drives Acland nuts). Living ascetically and eating little, Acland keeps to himself in a rented room until he’s arrested for an assault on an elderly man.

Though the old man escaped death, the assault is clearly related to three earlier murders of men who were gay or bisexual and ex-military. A little delving and the police find Acland a perfect fit for the crimes. Luckily for Acland they don’t have any evidence and he does have a few friends, among them a smart, no-nonsense, butch-lesbian weight lifter doctor, Jackson, who takes him in and puts up with a lot. In less capable hands Jackson would be one of those gruff, heart-of-gold clichés that form the bedrock of lazy, feel-good movies, but Walters can handle her and even make us believe.

Acland, too, grows as the novel develops, exposing vulnerabilities and a strong ethic along with a truly sinister side that makes him just a bit scary and unpredictable. Not Walters’ best, but an absorbing read from one of Britain’s top crime writers.

Lynn Harnett

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Lynn Harnett