The body of a transgender woman Corinne Sawyer, is found in Ferry Meadow, near a spot used by joggers. Corinne was formerly Colin Sawyer with an ex-wife and children plus a new partner. Dolan’s latest thriller has an interesting premise with the potential to be an intriguing story.
DI Zigic and DS Ferreira are the detectives heading up the Hate Crimes Unit based in Peterborough. There have been violent attacks on women as well as transgender women in the area. The transgender community is unhelpful; it does not want to draw attention to itself. But Corinne does not fit the profile of the former rapes or match up with the other assaults against the transgender men.
Of the pair, DI Dushan Zigic is the quiet one; he is also battling a lack of sleep because he has a new baby. DS Mel Ferreira is passionate and outspoken. Hate Crimes and CID are rivals. Petty bureaucracy and obstinate personalities prevent agreement over how the crime is dealt with. DCI Adams from CID wants to charge suspected rapist, Lee Walton. The thinking is that Walton murdered Corrine because he didn’t know that she was a man. Ferreira does not agree.
The policemen from Hate Crimes find evidence of Corinne leading a complicated and convoluted private life. Ferreira says "She seemed to be a chameleon, reinventing herself, editing herself, showing different sides to the different people in her life."
I had a problem with characterisation, Corinne’s family are not convincing, they seem to be made of polystyrene, as their motivations appear illogical. Most of the other people in the book are sadly stereotypical. The novel seemed rushed and tries to hard perhaps to cram in too many issues. Despite this observation, the book is worth exploring as it tackles issues that in today’s world are sadly prescient.
