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1979: The UK has only been in the EU a few years, but this is the year of murder…
The Man with No Face
What you need to know before your trail
1979. Jaded Edinburgh journalist Neil Bannerman is sent to Europe, intent on digging up dirt. Yet it is danger he discovers, when two British men are found murdered.
One victim is a journalist, the other a Cabinet Minister: the double-assassination witnessed by the former’s autistic daughter. This girl recalls every detail about her father’s killer – except for one.
With those around him rocked by the tragedy, Bannerman is compelled to follow his instincts. He is now fighting to expose a murderous conspiracy, protect a helpless child, and unmask a remorseless killer.
Travel Guide
BookTrail Travel to European Brussels
There’s a lot going on in Brussels in 1979. The UK only joined the EU a few years early so everything was new and the corridors of power and corruption had not yet been walked along. (UK joined EEC in ‘73, confirmed by 1975 referendum)
This is a fascinating look inside the workings of the EU – from the Berlaymont building of the EU Commission which ressembles a star from above, the secretive Council of Ministers and the IPC where the world’s press congregate and try to get the next salacious story from the corridors of power.
The Schuman area is very much a bubble where you rarely see Belgians unless they work for the EU. Diplomats and journalist work in the areas of Square Ambiorix and this is where Gryffe works in the books.
The secrecy, the talks in the shadows, the flats set aside for new members and double dealing in the bars in and around the EU buildings
This is a shady area and make no mistake of that in the novel:
Belgium is also a mix of a country:
This great country of course is really an uneasy alliance of two very different cultures. Two countries you might say. The Flemings in the north and the Walloons in the south. The language of the north is Flemish and in the south it is French. But our differences go much deeper than language. They are cultural., historical. Brussels may have been crowned the new political capital of Europe A great cosmopolitan city.’ he snorted his derision. But it is pure veneer, Monsieur.
Streetview Maps
A) Belgium - Brussels - Rue de la pavie - the hit
B) Belgium - Brussels - Rue du commerce - the apartment
Booktrailer Review
Susan: @thebooktrailer
Very apt to be reading this at the very time our position with Europe is almost just as tragic as the murder in the book. There’s an added edge to the Brussels intrigue and darkness and this book captures that and more.
This was a fascinating novel. First of all, I used to work in Brussels in the very buildings featured in the book. To say this freaked me out was an understatement…
BookTrail Boarding Pass: The Man With No Face
Destination :Brussels Author/guide: Peter May Departure Time: 1979
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