The Bone Magician (review)

Pim, a young man alone in the world, is barely eking out a living even before his life is threatened by the Silver Apple Killer, a local serial murderer. It is a dire world in which Pim lives, with the city literally divided by a bridge and the protagonist finding himself decidedly on the wrong side. His life of poverty, uncertain lodging, and grim future is made more bearable after he makes a few compassionate adult friends, whose lives may not be much better but who are at least willing to welcome him into the fold. One of the most captivating of his new companions is Juno, the Bone Magician’s assistant, who seems to be hiding some dark secrets of her own underneath her proficient huckster exterior. Interspersed with the main narrative are revealing entries from Pim’s personal journal and advertisements promoting, for example, the murder weapon that the Silver Apple Killer has been using. These creative additions set the scene well, establishing this as a city where few are educated, it is easier to do the wrong thing than the right, and children are required to become adults at an alarmingly young age. Although the killer’s identity is ultimately not difficult to ascertain, the mystery itself is less the point than the sophisticated and haunting exploration of compelling characters whose chances for success or contentment in an unforgiving world are slim. In this standalone companion novel to The Black Book of Secrets (BCCB 11/07), British author Higgins deftly balances the exceedingly harsh circumstances with wry humor, sly commentary on class issues, and a protagonist who has enough wisdom to recognize the fact that his optimism is perhaps misguided but who manages to retain it anyway.