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THE IGNORANCE OF BLOOD is the final book in the Javier Falcon quarter and while it certainly can be read and enjoyed on its own I am sure that it would be a much richer and more fulfilling experience for those who have read the previous books in the sequence. Javier Falcon is an Inspector in the Seville police force who has pledged to hunt down all those responsible for a terrorist attack in Seville; the attack was made to look as if it was the work of Islamic extremists but in fact had nothing to do with them. Falcon is however, in addition to his police work, involved with counter-terrorist activities as he 'runs' an agent called Yacoub, who is also his closest friend, who has penetrated a Moroccan terrorist organisation called the GICM. But the action of this particular book is initiated when a Russian Mafioso who is defecting from one faction to another is killed in a motorway accident; his car is found to contain millions of euros and a number of computer discs, which upon examination reveal footage of influential men engaged in sexual activities with prostitutes and drug-taking, clearly intended for blackmail purposes. Falcon is also concerned with the case of the ex-judge who was discovered trying to dispose of the body of his wife, who was also Falcon's ex-wife! The action becomes even more personal and desperate when the young son of Falcon's lover, Consuelo, is kidnapped. Falcon is convinced that the Seville bombing, the case of the ex-judge, the activities of the Russian mafia and the kidnapping are somehow linked. His judgements are mostly right but all the various levels of deception and counter-deception are only revealed in the final chapters. If the foregoing attempt at a plot summary sounds both incompetent and convoluted, while the former is the reviewer's fault, it may also be said that the second is undoubtedly true. THE IGNORANCE OF BLOOD has an extremely complex plot structure in which characters and issues - the Russian mafia, prostitution, sex slavery, drugs, Spanish politics, terrorism, Islamic extremism, violence against women and others - are mingled together to create a very heady brew. There are at least three climactic events at the end in which all the threads of both plot and character are finally brought together and explained. There is absolutely no question that Wilson is a master of plot. Which is not by any means to be either critical - mastery of plot is a rare gift - or to suggest that plot is his only strength. Characterisation is often fascinating, particularly when it centres on Falcon himself, Yacoub and Consuelo. While the majority of the book is told from Falcon's viewpoint there are highly effective switches to the viewpoint of the latter two characters which provide narrative impetus and variety. This narrative impetus is also maintained by action sequences which are generally very well executed. In terms of weaknesses there are moments at which the reader may be simply overwhelmed by the plot complexity; this may be less true for those who have read the preceding books in the quartet, and it may also be something that the reader enjoys or not according to personal taste. It is also true that some of the background analysis, especially in respect of the aims of the Islamic group, is somewhat unconvincing. As a portrait of Spanish society the depth of Russian mafia penetration is also staggering - you would certainly think twice about visiting the Costa del Sol for your holidays if you took this book as fact! The Russian Mafiosi themselves and their code of honour struck me as a little improbable (not to mention hard to tell apart!). But these are probably minor quibbles in the face of the book's many attractions. THE IGNORANCE OF BLOOD boasts brilliant plotting, good characterisation and not just one but three climactic scenes of real drama. If the other books in the quartet are as good as this last one then Robert Wilson has achieved something of real note.
Reviewed by Nick Hay, July 2009
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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