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The Headhunter: Not everything is what it seems
193 pages, Paperback
Published August 27, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 30, 2025
It’s not often that the strange world of philately (or stamp collecting to you and me) inveigles itself into the murky world of espionage and clandestine murdering. The only time I can recall it doing so was in L. C. Tyler’s excellent Ten Little Herrings. But I’m delighted to report that the world of perforations, plate blocks, and postmarks is alive and well in the crime genre and now sits centre stage in Spencer D. Hawkes’ The Headhunter - a glorious and riotous sequel to The Postmaster General in which readers were introduced to an unlikely anti-hero in the form of Ian Taylor. In the words of its creator, Taylor is ‘a man of curious stains, unfeasibly large breakfasts, and appalling personal hygiene. He is also – when required – a ruthlessly efficient state-sanctioned killer.’
I enjoyed the whole premise of the first book, which made me chuckle. But Hawkes has pulled off that difficult trick of building on an idea, sustaining the intrigue, and bashing the old funny bone at every turn. The Headhunter is a comic gem, and Mr Hawkes is clearly a very funny man.
Alex Pearl is the author of six titles, including the Finkle & Lovejoy murder mysteries
I enjoyed the whole premise of the first book, which made me chuckle. But Hawkes has pulled off that difficult trick of building on an idea, sustaining the intrigue, and bashing the old funny bone at every turn. The Headhunter is a comic gem, and Mr Hawkes is clearly a very funny man.
Alex Pearl is the author of six titles, including the Finkle & Lovejoy murder mysteries
October 12, 2025
This book serves as a delightful follow-up to the previous “premiere,” continuing its sense of absurdity and surprising twists.
As before, I particularly enjoyed the witty dialogue, especially in the family scenes between the protagonist, his wife, and their two children. The moments where Ian has to explain things to them are quite amusing, the children believing he’s just a minor figure in MI5, while his wife suspects there’s more going on.
While the humor and twists were still enjoyable, the story didn’t quite captivate me like the first book did, perhaps because it lacked the same element of surprise.
That said, a sequel seems not unlikely, especially given that a missing body may always turn up again… who knows?
As before, I particularly enjoyed the witty dialogue, especially in the family scenes between the protagonist, his wife, and their two children. The moments where Ian has to explain things to them are quite amusing, the children believing he’s just a minor figure in MI5, while his wife suspects there’s more going on.
While the humor and twists were still enjoyable, the story didn’t quite captivate me like the first book did, perhaps because it lacked the same element of surprise.
That said, a sequel seems not unlikely, especially given that a missing body may always turn up again… who knows?
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews