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A Perfect Execution
Jeremiah Bembo lives quietly growing fruit and vegetables which his wife Judith sells at the local market. In secret, under the name of Solomon Straw, he travels the country as England's executioner, carrying out the hangings required by law. In a post-war provincial Britain seamed with commonplace corruption, he strives to maintain a balance of compassion and justice, until a murder is committed which brings his two lives into an inevitable collision. 'A brilliant, terrifying and haunting novel ...it has an almost Dickensian moral clarity ...It combines all the packed action of a thriller with a vision remarkable for its breadth and for its humanity' Evening Standard 'A compelling mixture of murder-mystery, Greek tragedy and love story ...In its exploration of human depravity Tim Binding, like his executioner hero, has taken on a terrible task with grace and intelligence' Sunday Telegraph
344 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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About the author
Tim Binding
24Ìýbooks10ÌýfollowersNovelist Tim Binding was born in Germany in 1947. A former editor at Penguin Books in London, he is a part-time commissioning editor at London publishers Simon & Schuster. He is the author of the novels, In the Kingdom of Air (1993), A Perfect Execution (1996) (shortlisted for the Guardian Fiction Prize), Island Madness (1998), set on Guernsey during the Second World War, and Man Overboard (2005).
He co-wrote a comedy drama series for BBC television in 1998, entitled The Last Salute, working with Simon Nye, creator of the Men Behaving Badly comedy series. On Ilkley Moor: The Story of an English Town (2001), is a memoir and history of the area where he grew up. Anthem, a moving and entertaining story of the horror of war and its consequences, was published in 2003. His latest novel is Sylvie and the Songman (2008) and is illustrated by Angela Barrett.
Tim Binding lives in Kent with his wife and daughter.
He co-wrote a comedy drama series for BBC television in 1998, entitled The Last Salute, working with Simon Nye, creator of the Men Behaving Badly comedy series. On Ilkley Moor: The Story of an English Town (2001), is a memoir and history of the area where he grew up. Anthem, a moving and entertaining story of the horror of war and its consequences, was published in 2003. His latest novel is Sylvie and the Songman (2008) and is illustrated by Angela Barrett.
Tim Binding lives in Kent with his wife and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 27, 2014
It took a little while for me to get into this, but once I was about 50 pages in, I was gripped. The author does a wonderful job of evoking time and place in post-war Britain in the countryside and creates rounded, flawed characters that you want to know what happens to. The story tells the tale of Solomon Straw/Jeremiah Bembo, a man who lives a double life as a respectable farmer and an executioner, responsible for effectively carrying out the hangings of Britain's criminals. At first, Jeremiah seems to have the perfect life, a devoted wife, but then something changes to make him want to seek more from his life and become an exectioner, a choice none of his family can understand. However, his two lives collide with one high profile local crime, with consequences for all those around him. This is a great thriller, but also a moving story about humanity.
January 8, 2013
My favorite book of all-time.
August 17, 2013
This is an excellent book: dark, hypnotic, riveting, it asks questions about how an ordinary man can bear to do a job which sets him apart from family, friends, and humanity itself: a job which he has to carry out in "secret" as much as is possible. The check list that precedes the story is chilling in its thoroughness, yet conveys a sense of how such a profession must depend on a detachment from sentimentality. This is put to the ultimate test when the hangman's two lives collide. Powerful stuff!
August 16, 2015
Mid 4. Binding expertly deals with complex moral issues in this story of Jeremiah Bembo,a seemingly inconsequential market gardener, who under the pseudonym of Solomon Straw performs his role as public executioner. Proud of his talent to quickly dispatch those sent under his auspices, through one case which intrudes on his domestic facade, he is forced to question his identity and to seek true justice.
July 25, 2012
Beautifully written, totally unique story about a part-time executioner who experiences a change of heart under terrible circumstances - part mystery, part thoughtful meditation on life and death and the arbitrary nature of both. This novel was almost impossible to find in the US, but I'm glad I tracked it down.
March 4, 2016
It was a slow starting book, but once it got going it took off! Everyone was connected in some way whether they knew it or not. I would have to say the only thing I didn't really like is there were no chapters, or good stopping points so it took longer for me to read since it meant I had to have a good length of time to sit and read it.
December 21, 2013
This book was a bit slow so it took me longer to read but that's ok because the story was fantastic. That ending? Oh my gosh reminds me of watching Hitchcock movies. Sometimes books in the bargain bins are amazing finds.
July 13, 2016
Another historically oriented novel from Tim Binding, this time loosely based on the "A6 murder" and the hanging of James Hanratty. He evokes the craft of the executioner with chilling clarity. Although there are a lot of shades of good and evil in the story, it is a very moral one.
March 15, 2009
Good book, the protagonist is quite likable even though he's somewhat detestable, which keeps you reading.
Well written, will read TB again.
Well written, will read TB again.
April 26, 2024
Absolutely loved this book, it really had me transfixed. A great work of fiction that could well have been real. Having read the autobiography of Albert Pierrepoint a few years ago this book really brought it all back .. superb 👌
July 29, 2023
dry ass book i left it midway so boringggg
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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