Book Review: "He Died With His Eyes Open" by Derek Raymond

I don't know how I found this book but the blurb of it was absolutely compelling. This is another one of those books I have read for my New Year's Reading Resolution. I wanted to read more books by authors I hadn't heard of and I don't think I had ever heard of this guy before this point of reading the blurb to the book. I quite literally found it randomly when searching for cheap Kindle books. Again, this is going to one of those reviews where I go 'this was surprisingly really good...' and yes, it is part of a series so I just hope I don't get addicted to it. Here we go then...

The novel begins with the unnamed protagonist, a cynical and introspective detective from the Metropolitan Police’s Department of Unexplained Deaths, being assigned to investigate the brutal murder of an unidentified man. The department, colloquially known as the Factory, is a division dedicated to low-priority cases—murders that do not attract public attention or political pressure. These cases often involve victims from the fringes of society, and the Factory’s work is largely ignored by the rest of the police force.

The victim in question is found battered and lifeless on the side of the road, his body left in a state of horrific disarray. His death, violent and impersonal, reflects the harsh indifference of the city that surrounds him. As the detective begins to dig into the victim’s life, he discovers that the man, a middle-aged alcoholic named Charles Staniland, was not just a victim of a brutal crime but also a deeply complex and tormented individual.

Through his investigation, the detective pieces together Staniland’s life, uncovering a tragic figure alienated from the world around him. Staniland was once a man of promise but had descended into despair, isolated from his family and trapped in the grip of alcoholism. He was a man who yearned for connection but was ultimately abandoned by those closest to him. His writings—intimate, raw, and brutally honest—provide the detective with a window into his thoughts, revealing his frustrations, regrets, and philosophical musings on the bleakness of modern existence.

The tapes Staniland left behind become central to the narrative, serving both as a clue to understanding his murder and as a profound commentary on the human condition. Through these writings, the detective begins to see Staniland not just as a victim but as a reflection of the suffering and alienation that permeates the society they both inhabit. The more the detective reads, the more he is drawn into Staniland’s world, blurring the line between investigator and participant. This is where it starts to become a whole new thing and even the reader thinks this is a bad situation. Honestly, I normally don't do these raggedy noir crime novels but this one is actually pretty interesting because of the weird ethics of the detective on the case.

The London of He Died With His Eyes Open is not the romanticised city of popular imagination but a dark, decaying labyrinth filled with poverty, vice, and despair. Raymond’s depiction of the city is unflinchingly bleak, painting a picture of urban life that is as oppressive as it is compelling. The settings—seedy pubs, grim housing estates, and shadowy alleyways—are described with vivid, visceral detail, creating an atmosphere of suffocating hopelessness.

The city itself becomes a character in the story, its harsh realities shaping the lives of its inhabitants. This environment mirrors the novel’s themes, emphasising the fragility of human connection and the destructive effects of societal neglect. Raymond’s London is a place where morality is ambiguous, and survival often comes at the expense of integrity. This is probably most clear when each person is being interrogated and the bartender mentions that people didn't like the murdered man. The whole case because of this one line has now widened.

As the detective delves deeper into Staniland’s life, he uncovers a web of betrayal, greed, and violence. The investigation leads him into the murky world of Staniland’s associates, revealing a cast of characters who embody the worst aspects of human nature. From manipulative lovers to ruthless criminals, these figures highlight the cruelty and exploitation that often go unnoticed in society’s margins.

The detective’s pursuit of truth is relentless, and his methods are unorthodox. He relies on intuition and empathy, immersing himself in Staniland’s experiences to better understand the events that led to his death. This approach blurs the boundaries between investigator and victim, as the detective’s identification with Staniland grows increasingly personal. Honestly, as it became more personal, I could kind of see where it was heading but it did take its time to get there - which I respected.

All in all, I thought that this book was a thought-provoking read which I think I'll continue to read the rest of the series of in some time. For now though, I would like to read something that is not so graphic and blunt with the acts of violence in which a man's brains have poured from his skull after a savage attack.