The Death Defying Pepper Roux

In this fast moving, witty and constantly surprising tale, young Pepper Roux, convinced by his viciously devout Aunt that he is marked for death on his fourteenth birthday, flees the angel assassins he believes are stalking him, and, assuming the persona of his sea captain father, sails away to begin a journey through a past France that is recognisable from story rather than history. Driven by necessity, constantly escaping imprisonment or death, drifting in and out of the criminal world, assuming a number of different names and occupations, including telegram boy and Foreign Legionnaire, naïve but resourceful Pepper is dogged by unscrupulous employers, mysterious enemies and his own fears, and achieves an undeserved reputation for sinking ships, riot, terrorism, fraud, mutiny and murder. Yet, always well intentioned, Pepper unwittingly makes friends wherever he goes, and they come to his aid in a magnificently staged climax, and an aftermath in which the complications of his hectic flight are finally unpicked. This is a clever and restlessly inventive story. Still, I have to confess a blind spot. On occasion, I admire rather than fully enjoy Geraldine McCaughrean’s work. There is something about the dazzling play of words and narrative that spins me away rather than draws me in. This is one of those occasions.