He Died with His Eyes Open

Factory 1

Derek Raymond author James Sallis editor

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Profile Books Ltd

Published:14th Sep '06

Should be back in stock very soon

He Died with His Eyes Open cover

A middle-aged alcoholic is found murdered in West London, leading a cynical detective from the Department of Unexplained Deaths to uncover a dark history filled with deception and compelling villains. He Died with His Eyes Open is the first in Derek Raymond's Factory series.

He Died with His Eyes Open introduces readers to a gripping tale of crime and investigation set against the backdrop of West London. The story begins with the brutal murder of a middle-aged alcoholic, whose lifeless body is discovered on the roadside. The case is handed over to a detective sergeant, whose identity remains unknown. This tough, cynical investigator works in the Department of Unexplained Deaths at the Factory police station, embodying a relentless drive to uncover the truth behind the victim's tragic life and untimely death.

As the detective delves into the victim's past, he uncovers a series of cassette tapes left behind, which serve as a window into the man’s troubled existence. The narrative unfolds as the detective pieces together the fragments of the victim's life, revealing the harsh realities of a world filled with despair and darkness. Throughout his investigation, he realizes that seeking the truth often requires navigating a web of deception, where the most charming individuals can hide the most sinister intentions.

Derek Raymond crafts a compelling police procedural that not only focuses on the crime but also explores the human condition. With rich, authentic dialogue and vivid descriptions, he brings to life a cast of characters that populate the gritty streets of London. As the first installment in the Factory series, He Died with His Eyes Open sets the stage for a profound exploration of justice, morality, and the complexities of human nature in a city rife with challenges.

?A crackerjack of a crime novel, unafraid to face the reality of man?s and woman?s evil? Evening Standard ?A mixture of thin-lipped Chandleresque backchat and of idioms more icily subversive? Observer
A pioneer of British noir? No one has come near to matching his style or overwhelming sense of sadness? Raymond's world is uniformly sinister, his language strangely mannered. He does not strive for accuracy, but achieves an emotional truth all his own. -- Marcel Berlins * The Times *
Cook's prose can make amazing stylistic leaps without once losing its balance? He anticipates James Ellroy and David Peace, among others, in this terrifying determination to disclose the skull beneath the skin? a supreme example of how nasty Britain actually is. -- Time Out ?Witty * perceptive and well written? Big Issue *

ISBN: 9781852427962

Dimensions: 196mm x 128mm x 18mm

Weight: 160g

224 pages

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