The Other Half – Mark Billingham & My Darling Clementine

Not too sleazy, not too cruel, Billingham’s fragmented tale of disenchantment in down-town Memphis is bleak enough for late middle-aged Marcia’s precious moments of optimism to seem heroic. She is just surviving in case her Jimmy returns. Her lonely vigil is punctuated perfectly by the Country songs of Michael Weston King and Lou Dalgleish who create a poetic atmosphere of humour and heartbreak.

‘The embers are as precious as the flames’ goes one of their lyrics, and this whole show smoulders beautifully. Look out for more from this excellent combination of crime-writer and Country duo. They promise they’ll be back!

The Old Market, 8 October 2015
[rating: 4.5]
Andrew Connal