Night Train

Martin Amis

Amazing book. One of those that makes you really look at people and wonder, and at times avoid their eyes completely. It may be a temporary effect but it's powerful. I loved Amis' The Information for it's clever language and plot. But I'm appreciating his range now. Night Train appears to be merely an effective detective novel but becomes an intense psychological suspense story as well. Another bonus is that Night Train doesn't have you searching for your dictionary as is sometimes the case with Amis.

S P O I L E R

Do NOT read this unless you've already read the book!

Night Train by Martin Amis

Female chicago Detective Mike Gallagher is called in by her old homicide boss and friend to investigate his daughter Jennifer's apparent gunshot suicide. He thinks her lover Trader must be responsible. Why? THREE gunshots to the head, very demure victim found nude, beautiful, kind, everything going for her. Having known Jennifer well herself, Mike is just as suspicious as Colonel Tom and begins an intense investigation.

The case becomes more puzzling when a suicide note turns up in the mail and Mike eliminates all remaining suspicions about Trader and other suspects. Suicide it is. Seems the case could be closed but Mike begins a psychological autopsy because such an ideal life as Jennifer's demands a reason for suicide.

Mike follows clues to a serious psychological problems that Jennifer hid from everyone, especially her father. And ultimately Mike is led to a final revelation that Jennifer invented and left these clues so mask the fact that in the end life was just a big disappointment she wanted to exit.. She didn't want her loved ones to blame themselves which they assuredly would have given she was such a wonderfully perfect human being.

Surprisingly Mike opts to keep Jennifer's biggest secret and reports to Colonel Tom that the suicide was a manifestation of mental illness. No need for the innocent to suffer. That they would suffer from the truth is evidenced by Mike's own suicidal reaction to her findings. Final question: Is Mike bent on destruction because of guilt that she contributed to Jennifer's bleak outlook? Or is it because life can't possible be worth living if Jennifer didn't value hers?

All this said, at times I thought Martin Amis, the London novelist, was evident in some of his word choices. The best example being when Chicago detective Mike says, "I am a police". Amis even makes this usage "a police" into some sort of thesis I never understood in the opening paragraph. Perhaps someone can enlighten me on this point.