‘Who the Hell is Harry Black?’ By Jake Needham

My Review (5 stars out of 5)

Eighty-six-year-old Harry Black dies while out walking on the beach. But his apparently quiet existence in a small town in the Gulf of Thailand isn’t quiet enough for whoever shoots him. What did Harry Black know that threatened his life, and who did he tell?

Former police inspector Samuel Tay is now retired and living an even quieter life than Harry Black. Struggling to find ways to fill his time, Sam is intrigued when someone sends him a parcel. The unexpected gift turns out to be a mobile phone—one connected to a Triad boss known only as ‘Jones’. Knowing he owes Jones a favour, Sam agrees to at least consider the proposal the gangster puts to him…

This is book seven in the Inspector Samuel Tay series, and as with all the others, it’s an absolute cracker. The story drew me in from the first page, painting an intriguing picture of an old man who knows he won’t be around for much longer. As Sam Tay begins to investigate, he finds that clues to Harry Black’s life are scarce, and those he does find, only lead to more unanswered questions. Meeting Harry Black’s attractive granddaughter, Sam wonders if a possible romance might be on the cards, but as with everything in Sam’s life, nothing ever runs smoothly, and as he digs deeper into Harry’s death, he manages to rake up information that pushes his new friend away.

I loved every bit of this book, not least for the way Mr Needham manages to squeeze in that familiar layer of gentle humour that sizzles along on every page. I also loved the visits from Sam’s dead mother, and how she throws up even more questions her son can’t answer. Along with Sam’s usual awkwardness around women, strangers, and conversation, his inability to deal with technology and his recent decision to give up smoking, only add to the fun.

Another excellent thriller from this highly talented author.

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