Controversial Scottish reporter Neil Bannerman is sent to Brussels, ostensibly to cover the developments following the European Union, but also because his new editor wants him out of the way while he decides what to do with him. Although Bannerman is a good reporter, he isn’t a team player. He’s on the lookout for any scurrilous stories he can dig up. He’s a complex protagonist, with issues from his past impacting on his present life and choices. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. MY THOUGHTS: This is the second book I have read by this author in a short period of time. Peter May is a man who paints pictures, gloriously detailed pictures, with words. I could 'see' as I read. And although I did not enjoy this story as much as my previous read by this author, the writing remains superb. In the novels, it is implied that Euron Greyjoy hired a Faceless Man to kill his brother Balon. In "The Forsaken" sample chapter of the sixth novel, Euron admits that he had Balon killed, not by his own hands, but does not specify who did. Set in Brussels in the late ’70s, this intricately plotted novel has a rather dark atmosphere and a bit of a Noir vibe to it. The reader finds themselves in the middle of a murder investigation, through the eyes of Scottish journalist, Neil Bannerman. He’s been sent to Brussels by his editor, who really just wants him out of the way. But when Neil’s host, a fellow journalist, is found dead alongside a British Cabinet minister, Neil finds himself in the middle of a bit of a mess.

No-Face is a lonely spirit who begins to follow Chihiro Ogino after having developed an interest in her sincerity. His vocabulary consisted of grunts and moans as opposed to coherent words. Not knowing much about the Bathhouse or about other spirits in general, No-Face learned by example and adapted to his surroundings. The Man With No Face is a political thriller with clandestine intrigue and conspiracies, suspense, murder and just the merest hint of a romance. As Bannerman slowly unearths information surrounding the murdered men, he has no idea of the danger he’s putting himself in as his investigation gains momentum. The edges of his world-weary cynicism are being systematically worn away by the feelings awakened in him by Tania’s carer and his anxiety over Tania herself. This secondary thread of Bannerman’s connection with Tania, and her characterisation, is very well done. Much less was known about autism and the treatments available weren’t particularly helpful at the time of this story. It’s obvious the condition has been well researched. In the Noh tradition, the main performer becomes the mask. When they wear it they can embody any age, gender, or social class. They can become anyone. They can become us. Perhaps that’s what No-Face is meant to be, a reflection of the most vulnerable parts of ourselves.With his assumed large amount of wealth, No-Face became a sensation with the workers who constantly begged for tips from him. After witnessing Chihiro reject his offering of gold, No-Face dropped the gold onto the ground in despair, forcing greedy workers to fight for a piece. Angered in assuming that a worker insulted him, No-Face consumes two other people, and his true nature is revealed to the horrified workers. There’s one final aspect of No-Face we’ve yet to explore–the way he mirrors Chihiro. Drawing on the Noh tradition, if we’re to see No-Face as a blank slate meant to highlight the emotional response of the person who views him, then it stands to reason that he could’ve been showing Chihiro a version of herself. Perhaps, the girl she could have become if she continued on her spoiled path or succumbed to gluttony and greed like her parents. This was a fascinating novel. First of all, I used to work in Brussels in the very buildings featured in the book. To say this freaked me out was an understatement. Mostly we see the story from Bannerman’s perspective though in the third person, but there are also chapters throughout where the perspective shifts to Kale, the hired assassin who carries out the killings. This doesn’t in any way diminish the mystery, since Kale doesn’t know who has hired him or why – he’s simply doing a job. These chapters give an extra edge of darkness to the story. Kale is a damaged man, unsurprisingly given his profession, and a cold, clinical killer who doesn’t make mistakes. Until this time. Unknown to him, Slater’s young autistic daughter, Tania, has witnessed the killings, but her condition makes her unable to speak. She can draw however, and she draws a detailed picture of the killer, with just one thing missing... his face.

Enhanced Intangibility Physiology: The comparative version of the Chinese Super-Soldier, the "Man With No Face" can become tangible at will, normally intangible. He could also turn all or part of his body, allowing projectiles to pass through him without harm. When he passed through living beings, energy discharges caused them intense pain. The Man With No Face could apparently manipulate shadows, allowing him to disappear into and travel through areas of darkness and cause his coat to billow around him. [1] As a monstrous, out-of-control being, No-Face exhibits all the negative traits of those he had swallowed (most significantly, Aogaeru), becoming a brash, arrogant, loud, and selfish creature whose obsession with Chihiro proved troubling for everyone around it. This was an interesting read, occasionally slow in parts, it did hold a unique atmospheric, Brits being abroad, did give you a somewhat fish out of water feel, and the style of writing was very direct and the characters engaging, while not a classic, it was enjoyable, and I would be interested in following more of Mays work. Spirited Away, Hayao Miyazaki’s fantastical tale about a girl named Chihiro who finds herself transported to the Spirit Realm, is hands down Studio Ghibli’s most successful film. In fact, it is the highest-grossing film of all-time in Japan, and it’s easy to see why. The film not only offers us a much-needed break from life’s everyday stressors, it also presents us with a colorful cast of memorable characters. From frog attendants to stink spirits to a bird with the head of an old woman, there’s no shortage of unique characters to take in.Brussels is in flux as the political landscape changes and it is up to Bannerman to see if he can uncover any scandals within the party ranks, some juicy newspaper headlines. Bannerman is to bunk up with a fellow Post colleague, Tony Slater, but on arrival in Brussels he immediately feels that he is not welcome at Slater’s rented accommodation. Slater’s young daughter, Tania, lives with him. Tania is autistic with, as Bannerman discovers, an incredible talent for sketching. Bannerman and Slater clash from the outset with Bannerman’s journalistic intuition pointing to an unease in Slater’s countenance.

Over the course of Earth's history, Flagg keeps appearing, claiming that he just "became" although he has memories of being a marine, a member of the KKK, and the Viet Cong. He even remembers having a role in the kidnapping of Patty Hearst. When Chihiro prepares to leave, Zeniba requests that No-Face stay with her as a helper and stay away from the negative influences in the Bathhouse that could set him off again. No-Face agrees, and stays with her as a humble and kind servant. In his first chronological appearance, during the middle ages, Flagg terrorized the country of Delain and schemed to kill the king and throw the country into chaos. Part of his mega plan was to frame Prince Peter, the rightful heir. Thomas, Peter's naive and resentful brother becomes king and names Flagg his advisor. Due to his inexperience, Thomas gives Flagg large amounts of power and was easily manipulated by the demonic wizard, thus Flagg became the de-facto ruler of Delain. Flagg then plunges the kingdom into the dark ages. Years later it's revealed Thomas knew and witnessed the murder of his father, but was too scared to admit it, even to himself. Thomas fires an arrow into Flagg's left eye, and he disappears. Peter takes his rightful place as king and Thomas leaves with his butler Dennis to hunt Flagg down. They eventually found him, but Flagg apparently survived. They consider themselves servants of the Many-Faced God, a god of death who is unknowingly worshiped by all religions in the world, in the form of one god or another. The weirwood Face for the Old Gods of the Forest and the Stranger of the Faith of the Seven are two such deities. Faceless Men are trained to relinquish their former identities and become "no one", which allows them to become entirely different people, all in service to the Many-Faced God. They also believe that, as servants of death, they must serve above all else and that they must deliver upon certain people the "gift" of death. In the introduction again, May says that the portrayal of Tania’s autism is “a reflection of prevailing opinion at the time”. I must say I think it’s stood the test of time very well, and still reads to me as far more authentic and less sensationalised or mawkish than many of the more recent fictional portrayals of people with autism. The reader is occasionally allowed inside Tania’s mind where we see her frustration at her inability to express herself, and that helps to explain her sometimes extreme behaviour. It’s a sympathetic and somewhat understated picture, and I found her entirely credible.Peter May always brings his characters and settings to life with detailed, colourful, easy to read and engaging writing. Flagg appears in the short story, when Willie has her involvement in activist groups became increasingly militant under the guidance of a Svengali-like leader named Raymond Fiegler (a name with the initials R.F., suggesting that he is Randall Flagg).