I bought Lockdown by Peter May during a spell of Reader’s Block, which led to a rather prolonged journey through its 398 pages. Over those months, I listened to plenty of audiobooks, but I finally found my rhythm again and polished off the last hundred pages in one go.
Set against the backdrop of a bleak London during a pandemic, this cop story paints a haunting picture of lockdown life. Published in 2020 but written fifteen years earlier, it intriguingly aligns with our recent experiences, depicting a city patrolled by the army, ensuring that anyone caught outside after curfew faces dire consequences. D.I. Jack MacNeil, on the brink of retirement, is desperate to close one last case: the murder of a child. Simultaneously, he grapples with the heart-wrenching reality of his son lying gravely ill in a hospital bed, a victim of the very virus that has transformed society.
The narrative kicks off with a gripping pace, pulling you into the urgency of the situation. However, as the story unfolds, it tends to slow significantly while fleshing out its characters. I found the exploration of Amy and her determination to give a face to the unidentified bones both interesting and somewhat prolonged. While character development is essential, at times it felt like the story meandered, detracting from the central mystery.
It’s worth noting that this book was written in 2005 and remained unpublished until now. As my introduction to Peter May, I was eager to dive into his work, having picked up three of his books in one go. While Lockdown presents a unique premise, I hope it doesn’t set the tone for what’s to come. The narrative felt a bit formulaic, with several threads left unresolved and gaps that made the conclusion less satisfying than I had hoped.
That said, Lockdown is an easy read, with a compelling villain in Pinky, who truly steals the show. His scenes were captivating and added an engaging edge to the story. As a character, Pinky was unsettling yet fascinating, bringing a depth to the narrative that I appreciated.
In summary, while Lockdown has its flaws and occasionally drags, it offers a compelling glimpse into a dystopian scenario that resonates with our current world. I’m curious to see how May’s other works compare, hoping they might deliver a more cohesive experience. If you’re looking for a quick, atmospheric read with an intriguing premise, Lockdown might just be worth your time, especially if you enjoy crime fiction with a twist.
