THE BURDEN OF PROOF

by James Barlow ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1968

London's seamiest slip is showing in this novel which concentrates on reeking odors, shrieking shop girls, sleazy sex and savage criminals. Vic Dakin, psychopath, has built an empire on fear. He's a homosexual sadist whose first love is Mum. One unwilling object of his affection is Lissner, small time but tough gambler/henchman who is forced into Vic's benevolent boudoir. Vic's power-structure stretches from West End to Parliament with a patsy in MP Draycott, so-called ""liberal"" leader who extends his liberalism to excessive orgiastics. The hook is really put into Draycott through Nan Rizzolo, a magistrate's exwife who pays off a syndicate gambling debt by attending one of Draycott's. . . house warmings, shall we say? Trying to keep up with all this is a very busy bobbie, one Matthews, whose wife and children are eventually threatened. But eventually Vic's mob botches a job and blood will out. The characters are catch-all shakedowns. . . prototypical and the plot is hardly deeper than the assorted cuts, bruises and maimings sustained and maintained throughout.

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1968

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1968

Categories: FICTION