How a Gunman Says Goodbye by Malcolm McKay

How a Gunman Says Goodbye by Malcolm McKay

This is the middle book of a trilogy, but I haven’t yet read the other two.  This one stands alone and I suspect that’s true of the others, although there are connecting characters, along with all three being set in Glasgow, Scotland.

The Necessary Death of Lewis Winter

How a Gunman Says Goodbye

The Sudden Arrival of Violence

Peter Jamieson is a mob boss and like all mob bosses, he runs a large organization, complete with enforcers and gunmen, and held together by loyalty, fear, and violence.  Frank MacLeod is one of the gunmen.  In fact, he is the oldest and best.  Been working for Jamieson for decades. Never failed and hard to see how he ever could.

But nothing lasts forever.

In How a Gunman Says Goodbye do not expect the usual shoot-em-up.  Hardnosed, yes, but this book crawls deep into the organizational and individual psychology of organized crime.  Even in a superb look at the life of criminals, such as The Sopranos, you only get a glimpse of individual minds, the worries and frustrations.  In Gunman, you get a detailed picture of worries, ambitions, loyalties, and apprehensions.  The author must surely have some friends ‘in the business.’

Sociopathic and psychopathic minds are inherently interesting. We have an almost morbid fixation on those who are willing to accept the vicious as normal. Serial killers are at the top of the list and a gunman fits the mold, even if he’s not the one who picks out the targets or gives the order.

Well worth pondering: How does a gunman think he fits into an organization?  How are orders directed and carried out?  What are the jealousies that separate members of the same gang?  Why do some gang members become disillusioned and others grow only more steadfast?  How do girlfriends and lovers fit in?  Is there inherent pleasure in taking a human life, or is the act given no more thought than stepping on an ant, or shooting a squirrel?

In short, How a Gunman Says Goodbye takes you into the inner workings of organized crime and those who choose to live the life. The author narrates, not only day-to-day operations, decisions, doubts, and balances, but also the minds of killers.

Frank MacLeod is a gunman, a killer. He’s has been around a long time.  Longer than most and has more friends at the highest levels than most.  But, when are friendships really friendships and when are they only conveniences?

Questions pile on top of questions and if you’re picking up this book and expecting murders and mayhem on every page, you’ll be disappointed.  If, on the other hand, you want to know what the daily life of a gang member is like and can be satisfied with only punctuations of violence, you’ve come to the right place.  This book is intriguing and fascinating, and built on complexities and the angst of the characters over what comes next and the big and complicated question of how does a gunman say goodbye?

How a Gunman Says Goodbye is deeply absorbing and if it’s not the fast pace you’re used to, it’s still a page-turner that plays on the reader’s mind and rivets you on your journey to the astonishing ending.

Whacky News From London - July 2015

I didn’t make this stuff up.  Comes from last Wednesday’s The Times. 

Don’t Expect Us to Show Up to Burglaries, Police Chief Warns

Report a burglary?  The London Police will make a note of it.  Other crimes the downsized police force will ignore include anti-social behavior, dope smoking, and criminal damage.  Residents are requested to do their own investigations and report back.

“I want to report my $$$ Porsche burgled.”

“Name please, address please, and time you advised the alleged criminal of his rights.”

Blackmailer put heiress’s pictures on porn websites

James Casbolt got 37 years for posting photos of his ex-wife on porn sites. Heiress Haley Meijer, worth some £5 billion turned down her ex-husband’s request for a miserly £2 million.  He admitted making threats against his wife’s family, but claimed mental illness.

At roughly $1.55 per £, £5 billion is $7.75 billion.  So, let’s see.  Haley Babe balked at giving her mentally ill, grieving husband a paltry $3.1 million, or .00041 percent of her estate. By the time her penniless husband is released, he’ll have lost his hair, his teeth, and be fit only for sucking on soft cookies.  Meanwhile, if his house is burgled while he’s incarcerated… well, make a note of it.

Wife wins £3.6 million from dead husband.  She’d given him £17.3 million when they divorced, but he killed himself and left his wealth to his adult brothers instead of his children.

This woman is a banker at heart, who Mark Twain says is a person who willingly loans you an umbrella, but wants it back at the first sight of rain, or in this case before the ink is dry on the death certificate.

Looks like this woman doesn’t give up anything easily.  Sure, she'll give the money to the children.

Lecturer who exposed Tim Hunt, updates ‘misleading’ online CV.

What did Noble Laureate Tim Hunt say to get himself sacked from his honorary position at The City University?

“Three things happen when women are in the lab…You fall in love with them, they fall in love with you, and when you criticize them, they cry.”

Yes, it was a joke.  Hahahaha  You’re sacked!

Connie St Louis, a professor of science journalism reacted to this raw sexism with alarm and tweeted the quote.  Just forgot to mention it was said in jest.  Uh-oh, her bad. Oh, by the way, she lied on her CV (curriculum vitae, approximately a resume).  The City University quickly jumped into action to “help her correct her CV,” reconstruct what this paragon of truth really meant to say, and added a couple of things which this time are really, really true.

Said joking things about women, the cad!  Lied on her CV, well, obviously we didn’t do enough to help her.

Jane Austen lovers beware!

Hackers have begun to use extracts from Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility (1811).  Passages have been wrapped around malicious software to fool scanners into thinking they are on a respectable web page.

Jane replies:  I remain astounded at their infelicitous affectations that replace the soundness of bonafide civility with repressive notes of faux intellectual propriety where none exists.

Obesity up in the UK, calories and sugar down

Here are the basics:

About 15 million persons of immense size in Britain. Between 1974 and 2013, among Brit adults, daily caloric intake dropped from 2534 to 2192, yet average weight went up.

Average Weight Gain, per adult é 2 kg (about 4.4 pounds)

Calories ê 4.1%

Sugar intake ê 7.4%

Wait just a soda-can popping minute!  Didn’t experts tell us dropping calories and reducing sugar intake would make us lose weight.  The Institute of Economic Affairs compiled the data.  The Brits had economists compile the data?  That explains it.

Obese Claimants who refuse treatment may be denied benefits.

I suspect treatment includes gradually weaning off of Oreos, and voluntary pizza reduction therapy.  But, according to The Institute of Economic Affairs, they will still gain weight. (see article above)

I say, quit picking on the morbidly obese!  In the UK, 25% of heavy drinkers and 80% of druggies on heroin or crack cocaine receive benefits.  The government review, led by Dame Carol Black, the health advisor, will look at how companies can be encouraged to employ people who are struggling to recover from addiction and are otherwise worthless (added).

Sorry, I refuse to have Dr. Jack Daniels do my laser eye surgery, assisted by calorically challenged Cornelia Crumpet.  Of course, if you wait, there is a very good chance your National Health Service surgery will be performed by medical students working on your cadaver.