Book Review: The Chicken Shak Spy
Simon Lucas recently published The Chicken Shak Spy, an action thriller about the recent visit of the Pope to the UK. Because it was written this autumn and covers contemporary events, the book feels very up-to-date. Although that means it will never become a timeless classic, The Chicken Shak Spy is a great book for the moment and makes perfect holiday reading. I read it in the spirit of fun escapism, and quickly became immersed in the story. The book is not without subtlety and significance, however, as it tackles some great theological themes in touching narrative.
The plot revolves around the exclusive Hunter Group, a private security firm which assists MI5 on sensitive missions. The book covers the events of about 18 hours during the Pope’s visit to the UK; from the moment the Hunter Group discover a threat against the Pope to the climactic events after his Mass in Hyde Park. Although the narrative cuts between several different character timelines as they begin to converge, the main action revolves around Graham Chapman, the main frontline agent and part-time fried chicken delivery man.
Graham is an endearing character, and he becomes more complex as the story develops. At first he seemed to be quite roughly cast: he is the hapless, lazy, overweight and unfit employee of a fast food establishment. But through the course of the book, Graham’s strengths are brought out as well as his weaknesses. He is extremely loyal, and has great instinct in the field. His judgement is poor, however, and he is both an asset and a liability to the Group. A large part of the suspense of the book rests on whether Graham will deliver in a given situation or whether he will let everyone down. This tension is brilliantly brought out as the Group finds itself divided; some champion Graham’s assets but most think he is a liability. His relationships with colleagues are strained and it is clear that he does not enjoy the life of a spy. Through the book we find out more of his relationship with Jeremy Hunter, the head of the Hunter Group, in what is one of the more interesting sub-plots. I do not want to give anything away, but I expect the interplay between Jeremy and Graham to be critical in the sequel Lucas is currently working on.
The Chicken Shak Spy hurtles through plot developments and offers twists and surprises throughout. It is a little like watching an episode of House: everything seems to be resolved several times, but there is a surprise around every corner. The suspense is not isolated in pockets, though. One of the great aspects of the book as a whole is that the suspense is constantly, quietly, building in the background. The final showdown therefore seems inevitable, even though it comes as a shock. Because it is such an entertaining read, the book is difficult to put down.
The book probably won’t make it onto the Booker Prize longlist, however. The book makes for fun reading, but occasionally the more light-hearted dialogue seems strangely stilted. The constant bickering between Graham and Helena, his senior colleague, is at times comical. For the most part, though, it is like eavesdropping on the back row of a year-8 classroom during a particularly uninspiring lesson on Norman history. I can’t imagine where Lucas got his inspiration. These are stressful circumstances, and I like that the characters speak like “real” people, but I fear that some of the more inane chat stretches credulity a little. This is a shame, because there is enough believable dialogue to suggest that the rest could have been given a bit more attention in editing.
Aside from stylistic qualms, there were a few patches in the plot which seemed outlandish, even for a fun action thriller. There is one moment where a group of four or five armed security guards are felled by a single assailant before they could return fire. Elsewhere, the police are almost invisible through the story despite explosions and gun battles in London and the Home Counties. Either the authorities are ignorant of the fallout of private espionage or they are remarkably permissive. Most curious, though, is the surprisingly passive role the Pope takes in the whole story. Without giving away too much of the plot, he has what must be the most exciting day of his life in several decades but he spends most of it asleep or ignorant of the threat he is under. In fact, by the way he is carried off and driven around South East England, he may as well have been a valuable artefact. I would have liked to have heard more from him. At the very least, I would understand his silence more if he was gagged and bound; instead, he seems to suffer from an acute form of narcolepsy.
These are minor frustrations, however, even if they are persistent ones. Overall, the book is good fun and a thrilling read. I have no hesitation in recommending it. This would be a great book for the beach (if you don’t mind getting your Kindle sandy – it’s available only as an e-book), as a bit of creative escapism. It seems to have an interesting fusion of influences: two parts Spooks, three parts the Da Vinci Code, and one part Inbetweeners. At times it is a mystery (who are the goodies and the baddies?) and at other times it is an almost philosophical appraisal of morality (do the ends justify the means?). Aside from the ecclesiastical storyline, there is a religious flavour to parts of the book. Questions of right and wrong pervade the story, sitting alongside more powerful motifs of substitution and forgiveness. The Chicken Shak Spy is an enjoyable, stimulating read, and I await the sequel!
Posted in Reviews