Every character in this novel, and the list is long, is beautifully written.

Potts is the type who used to try to save the world, but now, with age and wisdom, knows it is sometimes impossible.Īpart from a wonderful plot, the strength of this novel resides in the characters. Sergeant Potts is the officer dragged into the narrative, charged with investigating the shooting. You know the story, busted back to uniform, once a detective, months away from retirement. Then there is the archetypal Irish policeman. Unfortunately, the Elephant’s father has passed away and he has no idea where this possession is. His father was released from prison before the Governor, and apparently, he was holding on to a possession for the Governor awaiting his release. The Governor looked after the Elephant’s father while his father was in prison. Another major character, a gangster known as the Elephant, is visited by an old Irish gangster known as the Governor, nicknames abound in this novel. while Sportcoat remains blissfully unaware that the event even happened. So now everybody is just waiting for Deems to exact revenge, avoiding Sportcoat like a bad smell. The proverbial golden child with a cannon for an arm, who was going to grow up and play in the major leagues before becoming a drug dealer. The drug dealer, Deems Clemens, was a favourite pupil Sportcoat taught at Sunday School, and coached at baseball. Everybody is baffled, including Sportcoat himself, as to why he would do such a thing. He is the character that everybody knows, the drunk that seems to be everywhere, the type of character whose nicknames are often preceded by the adjective “harmless”.Īn adjective that no longer suits after the botched shooting. Sportcoat is only one nickname used by the members of the church and the people who live in the Cause Houses. Sportcoat is 71 years old, a deacon at the Five Ends Baptist Church, and a raging alcoholic.

It is quite impressive how all these stories link and come together at the end.

And every major character in this novel has their own story, their own story that somehow, sometimes tenuously, connects to the main narrative.

This action, successful or not, affects every major character in this novel. True to his character he fails, only managing to blow an ear off. The novel opens with the main protagonist, Sportcoat, trying to shoot the local drug dealer in the face.

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