Hammer, by Joe Mungo Reed, is a nicely written novel that is billed as a thriller, but reads more like a drama. It takes place mostly in London in the years 2013-14.
The first character we meet is Martin, an ambitious youngish man working at a London auction house. His backstory is meticulously drawn, including his eccentric parents and best friend James. Later, during an important auction, Martin reconnects with Marina, an old friend, who is now married to Oleg, a Russian oligarch. This connection with a rich oligarch is an exciting development in Martin's career, but while he is dazzled with dealing with Oleg, he is also drawn into an affair with Marina.
Oleg's story is partially shrouded in mystery--we know that many people in his native country consider him to be a crook, that he obviously took advantage of difficult, chaotic times in Russia to make his fortune. After Oleg's mother dies and he goes to visit a cousin still living in his hometown, he becomes remorseful, and sets out on a bizarre and ill-advised plan to enter politics, to become the next Russian president and save his country.
It is more than halfway through this novel that Oleg decides to sell his entire art collection to fund his campaign. This is when Oleg's hubris really gets the better of him. He believes, deep down, that he is always correct and can do anything he wants, so there is no stopping him. Unfortunately and inexplicably, he does not seem to understand that he is putting himself and those around him in danger.
While reading this, I learned about Malevich, an important Russian avant-garde painter, and enjoyed some of the symbolism used in this story, particularly the description of a certain painting that is sent to Martin. Overall, though, I felt that these intriguing details did little to help me understand or like the main characters, or make the plot more compelling.
Hammer was an enlightening cultural experience for me, and I am grateful for it. Thank you to Simon Schuster and Netgalley!
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