Dead of Light

The Macallans rule the criminal milieu in their northern England town. Callous,brutal and ruthless as any mafia family,they have an extra something which has ensured their iron grip on power for many generations.When Macallan males reach puberty,they come into magical talents,linked to the moon, which enables them to physically maim,mutilate or murder their unfortunate victims with barely a touch.

Benedict Macallan has beenregarded as a freak by his family,for he never developed a magic talent.Despised,pitied or condescended to,Ben has ''disinvested'' himself from the family,going to university,making normal friends,avoiding his family.

Ben reluctantly attends the funeral and is shown by relatives just how horrifically his cousin has been killed.With his unique dispassionate,outside/inside view,Ben is enlisted to discover the murderer.It is clear as more deaths occur that someone is culling the weakest Macallans.How long will it be before Ben with his nonexistent talents will be a target?

This book,a BFS nominee in 1996,is an intriguing mix of horror,whodunnit,and mafia family saga,with an interesting portrayal of an unusual family,well written and exciting.Highly recommended.

The sequel,Light Errant,won the BFS award in 1998.Long time fans have never given up on the hope that Chaz Brenchley will return to the character sometime.