John Crow's Devil

Marlon James debut novel. Having read the brilliant A Brief History of Seven Killings this pales in comparison. Be that as it may I enjoyed it. A crazy mix of Jamaican voodoo (Obeah), religious fundamentalism, a fight between good and evil (never sure who or what was good or evil but part of the tale I suppose), lots of violence and fantasy this could make a good film for anyone that likes horror.

Set in Jamaica, 1957, in the village of Gibbeah, and revolves around the Holy Sepulchral Full Gospel Church of St. Thomas Apostolic. In the opening pages, a charismatic stranger arrives, heralded by black vultures (John Crows) crashing into the windows of the church. The stranger, who calls himself Apostle York, drags the alcoholic and off-the-rails preacher, Hector Bligh, from the church, and takes his place - setting off a series of conflicts as the two struggle for power.

Magical realism, Obeah, Old Testament punishments, sex, brutal violence and no shortage of sin.

I was taken with the writing style, and the characters (despite them all being flawed, damaged and unlikeable), and the Jamaican words and phrases were not often hard to understand, although I had to check up on a few as I went.

I don't read a whole lot of fiction, but when I do, I like it gritty. No shortage of grit in this, the first book of the acclaimed Jamaican author Marlon James.

Four stars from me.