The Execution by Hugo Wilken
Matthew is a completely self-involved Englishman working for a human rights organization trying to secure the release of an African political prisoner destined for execution. For one reason or another, he is called on to identify the body of a co-worker’s wife who was killed in an auto accident. That marks the beginning of the out-of-control spiral descent of his life.
The book is very well written and a pleasure to read. Wilken is very good at describing feelings: of rage, of ennui, of confusion. The story does lack something, though, and I’m not quite sure what it is. I guess it’s that the climax never really climaxes. With the long, drawn out descent, I sort of expected some kind of epiphany or, I don’t know, something. Still, as a character study, it’s really good.
