London in Black
"'I pounded my way through ‘London In Black’...' "
Synopsis:
LONDON 2027
Terrorists deploy London Black, a highly sophisticated nerve gas, at Waterloo Station. For ten percent of the population - the ‘Vulnerables’ - exposure means near-certain death. Only a lucky few survive.
LONDON 2029
Copy-cat strikes plague the city, its Vulnerable inhabitants kept safe by regular Boost injections. As the anniversary of the first attacks draws near, DI Lucy Stone, a guilt-ridden Vulnerable herself, is called to investigate a gruesome murder of a scientist. Her investigation soon unearths the possibility that he was working on an antidote – one that Lucy desperately needs, as her Boosts become less and less effective.
But is the antidote real? And can Lucy solve the case before her Boosts stop working?
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Review:
‘London In Black’ is one of those dystopian books you are drawn towards, having lived through the recent pandemic. We thankfully didn’t experience the chaos of Lutz’s London, but here is also the fear of many of the populace being exposed to a nerve gas that can kill. As with Covid, some are affected whilst others are not. It is a Russian roulette as to who this gas affects. Whether it is a germ or nerve gas, I could feel the fear of the unknown felt by Lutz’s cast of characters. Lutz’s story revolves round DI Lucy Stone who isn’t the most approachable person in the room. I was worried that her spikiness would put me off empathising with her, however, Lutz is clever at showing Stone’s softer side as her own personal story is unravelled throughout the main thrust of the investigation. She is not simply dealing with a murder, but a race to find a legendary cure that will save her as well as countless other ‘Vulnerables’ who are running out of time as the ‘Boosts’ efficacy seems to be wearing off. Lutz paints a picture of London in turmoil. It is quite 1984-esque. I pounded my way through ‘London In Black’ and although this is not my usual choice, I found Stone engaging and someone I could rout for. I am not sure if Lutz will take us back to London 2027, but I look forward to reading his next one.
