A Snowball in Hell
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founder | Christopher Brookmyre |
| Products | Book |
A Snowball in Hell (2008) serves as the conclusion to Christopher Brookmyre's suspense trilogy centered around DI Angelique de Xavia. Both Angelique and her adversary Simon Darcourt first appeared in A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away (2001), while Angelique took a leading role in The Sacred Art of Stealing (2002), where she encountered Zal Innez, the third pivotal figure in Snowball. Brookmyre regards Snowball as a continuation that follows two distinct earlier works.
Plot summary
Taking place five years after the events of the earlier novels, Angelique de Xavia is now assigned to an anti-terrorism unit in Paris. However, she is summoned back to London when Simon Darcourt—previously believed dead after their last confrontation—resurfaces, releasing videos showing kidnapped celebrities subjected to torture and occasional murder.
At the same time, Zal Innez, who is being hunted by both Scottish and American criminals as well as law enforcement agencies, finds work as a magician aboard a cruise liner, captivating audiences with his performances.
Angelique receives a message from an individual holding her parents captive, demanding Darcourt’s apprehension in return for their release. Collaborating with a team dedicated to capturing Darcourt, she seeks out Zal, trusting his intellect to outwit both Darcourt and those responsible for her parents’ kidnapping. As they investigate, they discover Darcourt is battling cancer. Zal unravels Darcourt’s deceptive tactics as the narrative advances toward its climax.
Characters
Primary viewpoint figures:
- Angelique de Xavia: At 35 years old and morally drained after half a decade combating terrorism, she contemplates leaving the police force. Unlike her role in Sacred Art, she now faces the challenge of rescuing a criminal she is tasked with pursuing.
- Simon Darcourt: Narrated from his own perspective, he shifts from narcissism to sadism, inflicting torment on victims before their deaths while displaying biting disdain for humanity, contributing much of the novel’s dark humor. His name alludes to a character from Robertson Davies's "The Rebel Angels."
- Zal Innez: The offspring of a Glaswegian magician and a Latina showgirl, born in Las Vegas and formerly incarcerated, he flees blackmail threats and fears reprisals from gangsters due to past betrayals and thefts. With guidance from an elderly mentor, he emerges as the acclaimed magician ("Maximillian") his father had envisioned.
Themes
While the initial two novels are situated in Glasgow and align with Tartan Noir, this installment predominantly unfolds in London. It is one of two Brookmyre works highlighted by Len Wanner in his 2015 publication Tartan Noir: The Definitive Guide to Scottish Crime Fiction (the other being Quite Ugly One Morning). Wanner draws attention to the "moral dimension of Brookmyre's narrative approach," especially through the voice of the "Sadean" philosopher-terrorist Simon Darcourt.
The story offers a satirical critique of celebrity culture, pop music, and reality television, with Simon’s "Wildean" sharpness emphasizing popular culture’s reliance on audience perception. The darkly comedic motif of "Dying to be Famous" ties into a jihadi’s pursuit of notoriety, providing a stark contrast to Angelique’s refusal to become an ethnic emblem for law enforcement.
Angelique de Xavia presents a unique viewpoint on issues such as racism, sectarianism, and chosen allegiances, representing the "post-colonial detective" concept discussed by Ed Christian and Peter Clandfield. Her character transcends conventional noir or Black protagonist stereotypes by grappling with intricate identity challenges, culminating in her acceptance of her parents’ assimilationist values within Snowball.
A consistent theme throughout the trilogy contrasts Zal’s crafted, entertaining magic with Simon’s egotistical lethal cunning. Ultimately, Zal’s perceptiveness triumphs over Simon’s manipulative intellect.
Reception
Although the novel secured the 2009 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize, it garnered a more mixed critical response compared to earlier works in the series. Critics often reflected Wanner's perspective—acknowledging Simon's sharp humor while expressing concern over his egotistical and merciless traits. Several reviewers found themselves less connected to the characters as a whole.