the book of evidence - john banville

the story reminded me of agatha christie's book title 'murder is easy'. the book is about an upper class indolent man - freddie. he has come back to ireland from the mediterranean island that he has made his home. he has to raise money to return to the leader of a violent gang of criminals whom he has cheated. his wife and son are still at the island.

while trying to rob a painting from a neighbour, he is interrupted by a house maid, whom he murders.

freddie's narrative is full of ambiguities - is he homosexual or not? does he love his wife and son or not? does he hate his mother who has taken to living with a stable girl after freddie's father dies? did he mean to kill the girl? can a well educated upper class man show such bestiality to another human being? the murder was unplanned and was not traced for a while- is murder so easy? is it only the police and the legal system that is to be dealt with after a murder and not one's conscience? are all the amorous exploits which freddie recounts normal, if there is no moral frame work?

the ease with which freddie recounts the murder as well as his darkest, innermost secrets to the judge, forms the entire book. the narrative is dark, the contrast with everyday events is chilling, a masterly tale by banville.