Killing Richard Dawson is the debut novel from up-and-comer Robin Baker. It follows 19-year-old sociopath Richard Dawson on the painstaking road to utter self-annihilation. Following his mother’s suicide when Richard is 11, he is all but left to fend for himself. Even lonelier than he was to begin with, he becomes unable to empathise with those around him, yet desperate to connect with somebody, anybody, in order to save himself from what he will become. The way in which Baker approaches the character of Richard is intriguing to say the least. Every observation and opinion expressed by Richard, every nuance of his personality is laced with an almost childlike naivety, which only an extremely competent author would be capable of producing. The leitmotif in this dark, disturbing piece centres around happiness, and how far is too far to go in order to achieve it. Killing Richard Dawson takes the reader on an unsettling journey into the psyche of a man with nothing to lose—but everything to gain. This book might appeal most to 18- to 25-year-olds. That said, it will also have no problem holding captive those who fall outside this demographic. A truly gripping read.
B Owen Baxter works at Emporium Books Australia. He is currently studying writing and linguistics. This review first appeared in the April issue of Bookseller+Publisher. You can read the April 2010 issue online here.
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B Owen Baxter’s review is spot-on. I picked-up this book with no real intention of finishing it, but it was such an intriguing book that I couldn’t put it down. The main characters are young guys who hang-out in nightclubs, picking up girls and doing guy stuff most of the time, and even though that’s not my scene Robin Baker makes the characters quite interesting. I found myself sympathising with the protagonist, a naive sociopath, because many of the outrageous things the he says are true-to-life things that guys do think. The protagonist can’t take hints from girls, he often doesn’t realise he’s doing anything wrong and he fakes emotions to look normal. There’s some very sloppy death scenes that are so bloody it’s almost a comical Tarantino-style splatterfest. Baker also uses some interesting symbolism with the ants. Robin Baker was originally a high school English teacher and has since become a funeral director, so he knows his story as well as his splatter. The story is wrapped up quite cleverly and for a first-time author this book is excellent. I give it five out of five stars.
Have just been able to put it down – upon completion ! An interesting and for the most part absorbing piece of work. The first ten chapters had me glued but for a while thereafter until things begin to hot up between the protagonist and Nick I was for the most part irritated and bored with them all and what generation Y represent – and they can be EXTREMELY boring!!However at 58 I am not of that mindset so I can excuse them…. perhaps.
Persisting on though, the last ten chapters had me riveted to the book. I was dealing with his inner soul and its confused,lonely machinations. From the start I guessed George was his alter ego or inner self.Similarly I was not sure if all around him were in his mind as well and that our protagonist was living a very lonely isolated existence observing himself from a position where perhaps there might have been some hope.
A very good read – especially so for a “gen Y” reader !
Robin Baker’s narration was beautifully executed. I also give it 5/5.
A brilliant novel.