This is one of the most misleading titles I have ever come across. The book is neither brief, nor is it the story of seven killings with its suggestion of serial murders. Very briefly, at the most superficial level, it narrates the story of Bob Marley, the Jamaican reggae singer, the target of an assassination attempt in the 1970s.Bob Marley is referred to as the ’Singer’ in the book and the assassination attempt on his life is touched upon constantly. But for what purpose? Not clear in the story which is confusing, chaotic and kaleidoscopic.
The real life political backdrop to the story is the bitterly contested elections in1976 between Michael Manley, the leader of the social democratic People’s National Party (PNP) and Edward Seaga of the rightist Jamaican Labour Party (JLP). The politics of either party has no relevance to the story line. What plays a very important role is the confusion and mayhem the elections let loose on Jamaican society.
There are many characters in the book and James has given a useful list at the beginning. These many characters (the reader initially has to refer to the introductory list often), speak directly to the audience. This no doubt adds many dimensions to the story, but also adds to the confusion (first time readers of James will find it particularly so).
Of these numerous characters in the book, one of the important earlier ones is Papa-Lo, the don of ‘Copenhagen City’. He is capable of murdering a school boy on the flimsiest of suspicions. His opposite number, the don of the Eight Lines, Shotta Sherrif, plays a part only by default. However, what these characters do is introduce and expand on the theme that pervades the whole book—drug smuggling, violent crimes, vicious warfare with no quarters given, where boys, even as young as 12 years, kill and are killed with brutal regularity.
For the sake of clarity and to get some sort of handle on the story, let us deal with three characters who appear more or less throughout the book. First, there is Josey Wales. Initially an assistant to Papa-Lo he soon assumes a more central role. Josey is a thug, pure and simple, with allegiance only to Mammon in the form of drug smuggling. His most important assistant initially is the Weeper and later Eubie, the ‘dilettante’ crook. Though never openly treacherous towards Papa-Lo, Josey soon usurps the old man’s empire running rough shod over his mentor’s doubts and fears.