Like a shot of ouzo, Bruce-Lockhart’s debut is strong and distinctive.
The Lizard is British actor Dugald Bruce-Lockhart’s debut novel, a suspenseful and atmospheric thriller set in 1980s Greece.
In this fast-paced story, a struggling university student’s eagerness to please and a recent heartbreak lead him to make reckless decisions and ultimately commit murder. Wounded from his recent dumping, Alistair Haston is determined to prove his love to ex-girlfriend, Ellie. Impulsively, he books a last-minute holiday to Greece in the summer of 1988 to follow her and win her back, planning to work to support himself along the way.
However, the best laid plans don’t always work out, let alone those that are hastily cobbled together on a shoe-string. It is on the ferry journey from Athens’ Piraeus Port to the island of Paros that Alastair meets charismatic Australian, Ricky. Alastair, keen to locate Ellie and in desperate need of cash to do so, quickly takes up Ricky’s offer of a job to housesit an artist’s villa with little question. It is from there that Alastair’s plans rapidly begin to unravel, finding himself caught up in Ricky’s ‘crew’ and the trouble that accompanies them.
Narrated in the first person by innately likable protagonist, Alastair Haston, the reader connects to the story. Dugald Bruce-Lockhart is adept at building on the connection with the reader that is formed and plays on the juxtaposition of his main character’s disposition as a studious, reliable and seemingly unremarkable individual, against his dubious actions. Having disclosed in the opening pages that Alastair has ‘ended up in jail for murder’ Bruce-Lockhart then takes the reader back through time in the main part of the story to discover how this came to be. This works wonderfully at capturing the curiosity of the reader.
Bruce-Lockhart has a gift for crafting characters which capture the imagination. It is abundantly clear that he has drawn inspiration for many of the key characters from a host of action films of that era. The character of Ricky, described as possessing a distinctive green lizard tattoo, strong Australian accent and love of broad brimmed hats, immediately draws strong comparisons to Crocodile Dundee. This technique could have easily felt contrived but Bruce-Lockhart exercises restraint in his deployment, thereby enhancing the overall 1980s feel of the story without it becoming a parody.
The Lizard, with its fast-paced, compelling storyline, will appeal to lovers of thrillers, particularly fans of William Boyd. However, it would also form a fantastic introduction to those not familiar with the genre.
Reviewed by Daniella Feltrin
Distributed by: Bloomsbury Australia
Released: April 2020
RRP: $29.99
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