Mik lives in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, but travels the length and breadth of the UK as a Project Manager. He's a long-time crime fiction fan, with bookshelves groaning under the weight of signed copies from some of the greats of the genre. He's also a reviewer, and an aspiring crime writer, with hopes of joining his literary heroes on a shelf near you in the not too distant future.
Jo Nesbo’s Macbeth is set in a 1970’s Scottish town riddled with gangs, drugs and influential people who are too easily bought. The Police department has been front and centre of the corruption, but is finally beginning to throw off this image and rid the town of the gang-leader Hecate.
Macbeth is the head of the SWAT team, and incidentally is also an ex-addict. His no-nonsense attitude to law enforcement is beginning to worry his nemesis Hecate, who sets in motion a risky plan to put Macbeth in a position of power and then manipulate him. Being guided by an ambitious, yet manipulative casino owner, Macbeth soon finds himself spiralling out of control, as he becomes more paranoid and desperate to cling onto power.
I found this thriller to be a slow starter, as it took time to get my mind around the characters and what their individual agendas were. A couple of times I had to go back and read a chapter again to make sure I understood it - but then (out of the blue) this book gripped me, holding me in a vice-like grip.
What was initially a complex and intriguing plot quickly became a brutal bloodbath and power struggle, which leaves you wondering if any character is safe. Nesbo is completely ruthless, yet still makes this thriller so compelling and addictive that the desire to reach the conclusion kept me awake until the very early hours.
There is treachery, greed, desire and plenty of action that had me desperate to finish it, and the dénouement did not disappoint as the conclusion is delightfully dark.
You don’t need to have any knowledge of the original Shakespearian tragedy (that provides Nesbo with its title and theme) in order to enjoy Macbeth but ensure you have a comfortable chair before commencing this thriller, because once this book has you in its grip, you’re inside the dark imagination of Jo Nesbo for the duration.
