Doppelgänger, Harbinger of Evil is Michel Craig’s debut novel. Set across the cities of Leeds, Amsterdam and Edinburgh, this book tells the story of Kirk and Kyle who could have been twins, separated at birth (although the question of whether they truly are remains part of the mystery), and how their once-separate lives suddenly, and quite dramatically intersect.
The characters
The main characters are Kirk and Kyle, two men who are physically extremely similar, but whose upbringings and present lives could not be more different. One is single, a football player and antiques dealer, with a secret life now and then, the other married and a gangster. They know nothing about each other until their paths cross in Amsterdam.
It is at this point that events begin to spiral and matters grow increasingly complicated for both of them..
The story
This is a story of innocence and criminality, filled with intrigue and layered with complications. Gangsters, drug dealers, pimps and a number of other unsavoury characters are introduced to us as the story unfolds, and we get an inside view into the so-called ‘‘gentlemen codes’ of those criminals.
On the other hand there is a football team with lads who just want to have a good time and win some games.
Add in a woman waiting for an inheritance and a husband who values her money over her life, and you have a story of betrayal weaving its way through the plot as well.
The book’s ending left me with some questions, an extra chapter to work out a few more points would have been a good idea.
Style and self publishing drawbacks?
As this book was self-published, it hasn’t undergone the usual editing or proofreading processes. This means the reader will find the odd typo or a comma out of place here and there, but I found I could ignore those and follow the text anyway.
The lettertype is quite large, so don’t be worried about the book having 246 pages – it is in fact a relatively quick read
Each chapter is in first person narrative, with the name of the person whose thoughts or day it describes just under the chapter title. I found this confusing, and I had to keep checking who the narrator was at most chapters.
Conclusion
Overall, the book was an interesting read, though maybe not as scary a thriller as I hoped (but that is just my taste for the extreme). Whilst the book has an intriguing plot line, by the end of it I was left with questions as the ending didn’t quite work for me. However, as a debut – especially one that has not benefited from professional editorial input – it demonstrates that Michael Craig has real potential as a storyteller. With a bit more polish and structural tightening, his future work could well deliver the gripping, page-turning narrative this one aspires to be.
