Mind's Eye Review
I noticed this book in the library. I had been a big fan of the excellent White Devils, but - criminally - I lost the book, the title and the name of the author amidst a pile of 300 or so paperbacks stored at my parents house during a move into my apartment a few years back. Eventually I came across White Devils during a hunt for Stephen King's Dark Tower, and thus emboldened I endeavoured to pick up some more of McCauley's work.
Having no other experience of the author I expected the same taut, action-packed, neo-political novel White Devils had been. In fact Mind's Eye is quite a departure in a number of ways. Gone is the broad scope of a future Africa, replaced with a meandering 30-something wandering through London, attempting to track down a graffiti artist whose artwork has parallels to a childhood accident that renders him susceptible to epileptic fits. Gone is the tight dialogue of White Devils, replaced with light, chatty conversation, even amidst violent action scenes. This works: to a point. While McCauley nods a head at humour you never really feel convinced these characters are real.
The difference is style is also remarkable. If I read both books without knowing the author I would not have thought they were the same person.
On the front of the book is a quote from Michael Marshall Smith, and I'm not surprised this author is here. McCauley's style is similar to Marshall-Smith's, most notably with the characters and his invocation of London, but here he lacks Smith's humour and ability to write from the heart.
The story is engaging at first, but shows its cards too early and the last third drags on. McCauley writes London well, but fails to match this once we leave England and head abroad. Another surprising turn, seeing as White Devils crossed many countries without once failing to convince.
I think I'll pick up more McCauley work in the future, but I admit Mind's Eye is a disappointment.
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