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The Silver Skeleton
In the mid-1980s, a local bully and petty criminal is kicked unconscious late one night in a Birmingham suburb by four assailants, who believe their victim to be dead as they panic and flee the scene of the crime.
The lifelong allies conceive a plan to eliminate themselves from suspicion. They endure a tortuous week, awaiting their fate, but then learn that the victim - dead or alive - has vanished inexplicably. His whereabouts remain a mystery.
The events leading up to the murderous attack reveal four mischievous teenage friends prolonging a final carefree summer together before committing to either university studies or joining the workforce. To a backdrop of the songs of The Smiths and the haunts of the local Birmingham music scene, one of the quartet is engulfed by an unexpected romance, while another reveals his sexuality to mixed reactions at a time when society was less accepting of such openness.
Their anonymous world seems idyllic until a life-changing incident compels the friends to commit a vicious murder in a moment of fury.
In the present day, a catalyst for a reunion of the once inseparable group, who had drifted apart during the past three decades, forces them to confront the long-suppressed demons of that vicious attack in the eighties.
The simultaneous discovery of a crudely-buried skeleton in a renovated city centre building casts suspicion upon the reunited friends, one of whom knows more about what is dubbed ‘The Silver Skeleton’ than was previously divulged.
As the case is being investigated by a police detective, who is a former adversary of one of the four friends, personal grievances lingering from the eighties and suspicions of infidelity threaten to cloud the judgement and decision making of all concerned. Justice is in danger of being pushed aside in favour of revenge to ensure that someone - rightly or wrongly - will be accused of the crime of murder.
The lifelong allies conceive a plan to eliminate themselves from suspicion. They endure a tortuous week, awaiting their fate, but then learn that the victim - dead or alive - has vanished inexplicably. His whereabouts remain a mystery.
The events leading up to the murderous attack reveal four mischievous teenage friends prolonging a final carefree summer together before committing to either university studies or joining the workforce. To a backdrop of the songs of The Smiths and the haunts of the local Birmingham music scene, one of the quartet is engulfed by an unexpected romance, while another reveals his sexuality to mixed reactions at a time when society was less accepting of such openness.
Their anonymous world seems idyllic until a life-changing incident compels the friends to commit a vicious murder in a moment of fury.
In the present day, a catalyst for a reunion of the once inseparable group, who had drifted apart during the past three decades, forces them to confront the long-suppressed demons of that vicious attack in the eighties.
The simultaneous discovery of a crudely-buried skeleton in a renovated city centre building casts suspicion upon the reunited friends, one of whom knows more about what is dubbed ‘The Silver Skeleton’ than was previously divulged.
As the case is being investigated by a police detective, who is a former adversary of one of the four friends, personal grievances lingering from the eighties and suspicions of infidelity threaten to cloud the judgement and decision making of all concerned. Justice is in danger of being pushed aside in favour of revenge to ensure that someone - rightly or wrongly - will be accused of the crime of murder.
264 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 2017
About the author
Michael Preston
1 book9 followersMichael Preston is a sports communications consultant and former journalist, who grew up in Birmingham, England, distracted by the post-punk era of 70s and 80s music and non-league football. He lives in New Orleans.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 2, 2024
Overall, 3.75/5. The story was engrossing and had good characters – some more flat that others; I had a hard time keeping track between John, Sully, and Andy, but I did like how they were very realistic people. The world is full of dirtbags, and I like when books have them in the ensemble.
My main issue and cause for star deduction was, most of the time, the writing was too much. The amount of descriptions and backstories and non-plot-enhancing-memories were so tedious; they weighed the plot down heavily. Yes, the writing is great and high-level, and I love an atmospheric novel, but if EVERYTHING is described, nothing is. It’s like putting every type of sauce on your sandwich – sounds great in theory, but it just ends up falling apart and being pain to eat. But, the story was engrossing and the writing good (albeit it crowded) enough to keep it solidly in the B+ range.
My main issue and cause for star deduction was, most of the time, the writing was too much. The amount of descriptions and backstories and non-plot-enhancing-memories were so tedious; they weighed the plot down heavily. Yes, the writing is great and high-level, and I love an atmospheric novel, but if EVERYTHING is described, nothing is. It’s like putting every type of sauce on your sandwich – sounds great in theory, but it just ends up falling apart and being pain to eat. But, the story was engrossing and the writing good (albeit it crowded) enough to keep it solidly in the B+ range.
May 7, 2018
The Silver Skeleton moves back and forth between the 1980s and the present day in the investigation of two events that are oddly similar. The story line was OK, but I didn't connect with or find any of the characters especially sympathetic. I also would have liked "thicker" descriptions of time and location. The books I like the best pull me into the setting, and this one didn't.
I received a free review copy of The Silver Skeleton through Goodreads Giveaways.
I received a free review copy of The Silver Skeleton through Goodreads Giveaways.
September 6, 2025
A pretty good murder mystery. Worth a read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews