As a member of Phoenix Athletics Club since 1981 the author knows his sport . He ’ s got a knack for storytelling too . Throw in an obvious talent for illustrations and it ’ s a winning combination . Each page is full of colour and every picture presented in the bold retro style that has become synonymous with Collicutt ’ s work .
I love running , but even if athletics usually leave you cold the sporting strand of the plot is all about increasing the drama of an unashamedly oldfashioned murder mystery .
I hope that this book is a great commercial success that allows Paul Collicutt to keep exploring the interesting new direction he ’ s carving out . I have a suspicion that it will be , but even if you have to hunt out a copy , The Murder Mile is a great example of an underrated art form . Something every picture book should aspire to .
Reviewed by Neil Sorrell 37