I think unfortunately Peter May just isn’t the right author for me. Good writing and interesting storylines, but unfortunately just not for me. I would recommend his books, but they’re just not for me.

Great thriller that kept me turning the pages, a great story with intriguing characters that kept me guessing. Highly recommend to others!

I have thoroughly enjoyed previous Peter May books but sadly this one was not for me.
It was rather slow and unfortunately did not captivate me.
Looking forward to reading more by Peter May set in current times.

a little slice of literary as well as British history! I really enjoy Peter May's books and was delighted to read this earlier novel. As always its brilliantly paced and plotted with a fantastic sense of place. A timely read!

Unfortunately, the Man With No Face had languished on my TBR pile for a while. Well more fool me. For those of us who enjoy good old detective cases, where we have to follow the clues and watch the bodies pile up then this is right up your street.

The book is a reprint of an 80s novel, but its stood the test time. (Although I did giggle at people queuing up for a phone box at Brussels Airport.

Kale is a hit man hired to “hit” two men in Brussels. Go in do the job, collect your money, leave.

Bannerman a cynical Edinburgh journalist is banished to Brussels to dig up some dirt on the forthcoming British Parliamentary elections. There he stays with fellow journalist Slater, and his autistic daughter. However, Slater, a British Politician are found in apparent murder suicide, which turns out to be a hit. Unknown to the “hit man” the hit was witnessed by Slater's Autistic daughter. Whilst not able to communicate orally details of the hitman, she produces a very detailed drawing of the Man With No Face.

The plot is a very well-paced thriller with a race to get the Hitman before he gets to them. I really wasn’t disappointed and will be looking up more books by Peter May.

Thankyou Netgalley for my ARC in return for an honest review.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Quercus Books and the author, Peter May, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of The Man With No Face in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I thought this book provided a good read. The storyline was well thought out and written with well drawn characters. I have always found that this author provides intriguing stories. This book was no exception.
Peter May = guaranteed good read.
3.5 stars.

Hold the front page... 5 stars

When a new editor takes over at The Edinburgh Post and begins to dumb it down in an attempt to increase circulation, top investigative journalist Neil Bannerman makes his feelings only too clear. So he is swiftly banished to Brussels, to the headquarters of the EEC (as the EU was called back then), tasked with digging up some stories in the run-up to the forthcoming British Parliamentary elections. No-one is expecting quite such a big story though. Bannerman’s fellow journalist, Tim Slater, is murdered along with a rising man in British politics, Robert Gryffe. When the story is quickly hushed up on orders from on high, Bannerman’s journalist interest is only more heightened, and he sets out to discover who carried out the killings and, perhaps more importantly, why.

This is one of Peter May’s earliest books, first published in 1981 and now being republished. In the introduction, May says he carried out a “light revision” of the text, but made only minor changes. When I learned it was such an early novel and long out of print, I lowered my expectations going in, but was intrigued to see how one of my long-term favourite authors started out. Well! No need to make allowances – this is a great thriller, right up there with the best he’s ever done!

Mostly we see the story from Bannerman’s perspective though in the third person, but there are also chapters throughout where the perspective shifts to Kale, the hired assassin who carries out the killings. This doesn’t in any way diminish the mystery, since Kale doesn’t know who has hired him or why – he’s simply doing a job. These chapters give an extra edge of darkness to the story. Kale is a damaged man, unsurprisingly given his profession, and a cold, clinical killer who doesn’t make mistakes. Until this time. Unknown to him, Slater’s young autistic daughter, Tania, has witnessed the killings, but her condition makes her unable to speak. She can draw however, and she draws a detailed picture of the killer, with just one thing missing... his face.

Bannerman is an excellent protagonist – hard, uncompromising, relentless when he’s on the track of a story, but with his own vulnerabilities and troubled past. He is drawn towards Tania, and she, sensitive to others’ feelings and starved of affection, finds herself equally drawn to him. So when it seems she might be in danger because of witnessing the crime, Bannerman has an extra reason to find the killer. Tania has a regular babysitter, Sally, who provides a love interest for Bannerman, but she of course also has a troubled past! I wouldn’t describe the book as full-on noir, but there’s certainly a noirish feel to it with all these damaged characters and corrupt politicians. But May doesn’t overplay his hand, and allows at least some of his characters some hope of redemption, all of which prevents the tone from becoming too bleak.

In the introduction again, May says that the portrayal of Tania’s autism is “a reflection of prevailing opinion at the time”. I must say I think it’s stood the test of time very well, and still reads to me as far more authentic and less sensationalised or mawkish than many of the more recent fictional portrayals of people with autism. The reader is occasionally allowed inside Tania’s mind where we see her frustration at her inability to express herself, and that helps to explain her sometimes extreme behaviour. It’s a sympathetic and somewhat understated picture, and I found her entirely credible.

The plot is complex and Bannerman’s search for the truth is again very credible, well within the realism of investigative journalism. May, of course, was a journalist himself back in the day, so it’s hardly surprising that the aspects surrounding the newspaper business ring true. The book is set in 1979, so no internet or mobile phones, and it reminded me how much I preferred thrillers back in the days when the protagonist was a real old-fashioned gumshoe, always on the move, dealing with people face to face. There is some violence, but nothing that felt overly graphic or out of place, and there’s a real and increasing sense of danger as the story unfolds, all leading up to an excellent thriller climax.

I must say I loved this as much as any of his later books, and am now hoping that Quercus dig out his other early thrillers and dust them off. A special treat for fans, but would work just as well for newcomers to his work. Highly recommended! It’s left me wanting to go back and re-read all his China thrillers, too...

NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Quercus.

I'm a big fan of Peter May and his Lewis trilogy rank in my list of all time favourite reads.
Wasn't sure what to expect from this one give that it was written a few decades ago but I wasn't disappointed. He has a fabulous ability to bring his characters to life, with a well written plot you are are effortlessly drawn into their world.
It's a fast paced thriller and I didn't miss the use of "modern" technology, on the contrary I found this added to my overall enjoyment.

Originally published in 1981 as Hidden Faces, and with a little polish here and there, but remaining by and large faithful to the original text, has reissued it for a new generation of readers as The Man With No Face. Written in the 1970s when May himself was a journalist reporting on the upheaval and consternation of Britain aligning itself with the EU, (oh happy days in the light of the current political debacle) the book is based on real life events, amid the corridors of power in Brussels…

Rich with political intrigue, as a slippery politician and a scheming journalist meet their respective murderous ends, I was fascinated by how little politics and political power changes over the course of decades, and responds significantly little to shifts in society. May conveys this world of corruption and power perfectly throughout as jaded, but tenacious Neil Bannerman starts to dig deeper into the outwardly appearing case of murder-suicide that sends shockwaves through the political community in Brussels and London. Of course, there are darker forces at work and with it a deepening sense of danger as Bannerman launches his own investigation, and forms deep attachments to the nearest and dearest of one of the victims.

I think what struck me most about this book is the sense of resistance to change in political circles, and that the story that May constructed over four decades ago is so easily interchangeable with the current political climate, and the groundless fears that being aligned with Europe had then as well as now. Equally, and sadly, that political corruption is something that never goes away, where the self inflating egos of men (predominantly) become even more avaricious with the heightened status and power they attain, and their increasing distance from those they are meant to represent the best interests of. In addition to this May also shines a rather unflattering light on those members of the fourth estate in this wilfully backstabbing and competitive atmosphere, where the copy is all, and professional allegiances are manipulated to get the column inches. It’s an altogether scurrilous world, and May imbues it with colour, tension and a dry wit that resounds with the reader. It’s a real world of dog eat dog, and a lot of them with their eyes on the juiciest bone…

Neil Bannerman is a wonderfully rounded character, beset as he is with the cynicism inherent in his profession as a journalist, but also the way that he reveals another side to his character in his interactions with the daughter, Tania, of his murdered friend. May builds up a superbly empathetic connection between the two of them, particularly in his sensitive portrayal of Tania cast adrift in a world that her autism complicates further, and this is a real standout feature of the book. Refreshingly, May casts an almost empathetic light on the perpetrator of the crimes, and reserves a good degree of bile for some of the less than savoury characters that inhabit the world of journalism and politics so there’s a great mix of heroes and villains.

I am seldom disappointed with Peter May and The Man With No Face proves once again May’s versatility as a writer whichever world his characters are inhabiting. A strangely prescient read with a good dollop of dramatic tension, and yet underpinned by some real heart-warming interludes. Recommended.

I’ve been a big fan of Peter May’s work since the Lewis trilogy. I’ve read almost all of his back catalogue and have loved each series and standard alone so far. So I was really looking forward to this, particularly as I’d recently visited Brussels, where the story is set.

Overall I really enjoyed the book, although possibly not quite as much as the Lewis trilogy or a couple of his stand alones. Initially I seemed to get some of the characters muddled up and wasn’t sure which direction things were going to head. However, soon enough it fell into place and felt like the Peter May books I’ve come to love. Characters leapt out of the page, becoming “real” as I followed them on the ride,

I was initially disappointed to learn that May’s ‘new’ book was written four decades ago. But I needn’t have worried: this is every bit a top class Peter May thriller. It’s a bit over-written in places (the misplaced enthusiasm of a young author) but otherwise it is up there with best of his output. Great story, interesting characters, good complex plot, let down slightly perhaps by a slightly cheesy ending. Very well worth the read.

Journalist Neil Bannerman is not popular with the new editor at the Edinburgh Post but he is surprised to be sent to Brussels to cover the European Parliament. His temporary host is found dead at the home of a cabinet minister and, despite the evidence pointing to the contrary, the case is quickly closed assuming the two men killed each other. Bannerman is left to pick up the pieces and those pieces include a now-orphaned autistic child who is being hunted by the real killer.
I do like Peter May's writing but this book is an old one which has been re-published, probably to cash in on Brexit. The plot is predictable but no less exciting and May's prose encourages engagement. The problem is that this all feels very dated now, a bit like reading Fleming's Bond novels or an Agatha Christie, it's not old enough to be a classic but is irritating because so many of the references are unknown to a younger audience (Smith's Rhodesia for example). A good book of its time but releasing it now feels like cashing in!

Peter May wins me over every time and this book is no exception. His ability to bring characters alive and their intricate lives so believable is second to none.
Neil Bannerman is a Scottish investigative journalist who is sent to Brussels by his new editor. Unbeknownst to him he was sharing that journey with a trained assassin.
Within days of his arrival 2 men are found dead one a politician and the other Bannermans fellow journalist.
Was it a falling out between the two men or was it a double murder. Bannerman puts his own life and career in the line to get at the truth.
A great read for fans of Peter May.

This was released a while ago and it is a political thriller. I have liked all this authors book and whilst this was not the best I still enjoyed it if that makes sense. Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher.

The Man With No Face is set in 1970’s Brussels at the time when Britain had just committed itself to the new Europe. His writing is flawless and it drags you into the story from the start. As with all of Peter May’s novels one of the standout things for me is how the settings always play as big a part as any characters. A lot of that is down to the amount of research he undertakes. The Man With No Face is a crime thriller that seems as relevant today as it was then and is a definite must read for anyone who likes their mysteries with a political backdrop and a hard hitting theme.

Originally written in 1981 the story is set in the winter of 1979 and is a story of its time, encompassing the culture, attitudes and politics of the era and highlighting the lack of technology which makes information sharing a lengthier process. We take mobile phones and the internet so much for granted, it’s an interesting reminder of how things were accomplished back in the day. Peter May has painted an atmospheric picture with well defined characters and a dark thread running through the narrative.

Controversial Scottish reporter Neil Bannerman is sent to Brussels, ostensibly to cover the developments following the European Union, but also because his new editor wants him out of the way while he decides what to do with him. Although Bannerman is a good reporter, he isn’t a team player. He’s on the lookout for any scurrilous stories he can dig up. He’s a complex protagonist, with issues from his past impacting on his present life and choices.

Also travelling to Belgium is Kale, a hired assassin and a man hardened by his experiences to the extent he has no feelings of guilt or remorse about what he is being paid to do.

It’s been arranged for Bannerman to stay with Tim Slater, another reporter based in Belgium who lives with his young autistic daughter, Tania. Bannerman hasn’t been in Belgium any length of time before there is a double murder—Slater along with a British Cabinet Minister are shot and killed, the murder witnessed by Tania. The powers that be claim they shot each other but Bannerman has serious doubts, based on Inspector du Maurier’s considerations and a drawing by Tania, showing a man with no face where the murder took place.

The Man With No Face is a political thriller with clandestine intrigue and conspiracies, suspense, murder and just the merest hint of a romance. As Bannerman slowly unearths information surrounding the murdered men, he has no idea of the danger he’s putting himself in as his investigation gains momentum. The edges of his world-weary cynicism are being systematically worn away by the feelings awakened in him by Tania’s carer and his anxiety over Tania herself. This secondary thread of Bannerman’s connection with Tania, and her characterisation, is very well done. Much less was known about autism and the treatments available weren’t particularly helpful at the time of this story. It’s obvious the condition has been well researched.

Peter May always brings his characters and settings to life with detailed, colourful, easy to read and engaging writing.

Very disappointing. A "light revision" of a book written years ago and it shows. I really dislike it when publishers do this, and feel a bit conned by it.

A rerelease of a book written early in his career and apparently lightly revised by the author, The Man with No Face is not just a mystery, but also a piece of historical fiction. Peter May takes us to Brussels in the 1970's when the European Common Market was thriving in all its political and manipulative glory.

I loved all the little details - milk in bottles, people smoking everywhere and anywhere, leaving a few pennies as a tip for the waitress under a plate or saucer, door to door vacuum salesmen, telephone boxes that needed piles of coins in order to have a conversation. The way things were.

I enjoyed the whole book very much. My heart broke for Tania whose autism would have been so little understood back then and I was on tenterhooks while the assassin was out to kill her. All of the characters were realistic and Bannerman was a worthwhile hero. All very entertaining and an indication of the excellent books Peter May would produce later. Definitely worth a read!

This is a slightly re-worked version of a novel originally released in 1981. It's a slow-burn crime thriller, set in Brussels & the EU parliament. There were some aspects I really liked about the story (The little girl, Tania, the snowy setting and the Du Marier, the police guy). But others didn't work for me e.g. the attitudes towards women, and the way the women were written, felt awkward to read. I know it's basically a historical novel now, but still, the relationship story line felt clunky and awkward. The story unravels really very slowly, so this didn't feel like one of those thrillers that you can't put down. But still, I stayed engaged & wanted to know how thing would work out at the end.

It was refreshing that Bannerman was having to do a lot of legwork to figure out what was going on since this was pre-internet, pre-mobiles etc. and that aspect of the book appealed to me.

Originally published in 1981 with the title "Hidden Faces", The Man with No Face by Peter May is a slow burning, detailed thriller which saw investigative journalist Neil Bannerman head to Brussels from Edinburgh to follow a political investigation. Little did he know a colleague plus a British minister who had a meeting together would be found dead, a matter of hours after his arrival, with the autistic daughter of his colleague distraught nearby.

Bannerman’s determination to unlock answers in the investigation went against the Brussels police, who were willing to shut the investigation down – but Bannerman continued with little help. His concern for Tania and her suffering; his horror at what he was gradually uncovering; and his certainty there was a cold-blooded killer out there – all led Bannerman into danger for his own life. The detailed sketch Tania drew of the man she saw – but who had no face – meant the killer was also aware he’d been seen…

The Man with No Face is intriguing, slightly long-winded, but ultimately fascinating with the lack of technology making everything so much more difficult than investigations are in this day and age. I always enjoy Peter May’s work; this one is different because of when it was written – he has much more experience today. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.