Book Review | Call Him Mine by Tim MacGabhann

Journalist, Andrew, and his boyfriend and photojournalist, Carlos, stumble onto a dead body while out searching for a story. The circumstances around the death are suspicious, and in his quest to find out more, Carlos winds up being killed. Andrew is determined to finish Carlos’s story and figure out who is behind the murders.

Nobody asked us to look. Every day, ever since, I still wish we hadn’t. 

Call Him Mine is a gritty, visceral thriller about corruption, grief, and revenge. I really liked the lyrical prose and the immediacy where you’re placed right in the middle of the action. There are expositions on the political and socio-economic status of Mexico, specifically Poza Rica, but it never felt like an infodump. The story is told from a journalistic perspective so Andrew is chasing a story, meeting with sources, and trying to avoid being targeted by crime groups that may or may not be working with the police.

The book reminds me of the movie Sicario in its bleak illustration of people’s lives and the brutal violence that’s inflicted on them. The author used to be a journalist in Mexico and it’s evident from the descriptive way he writes. It makes you feel like you’re there with the characters. Even the supporting characters come across like real people, and the threat from all parties feels deadly. There are scenes that actually had my heart pounding!

I would’ve had a hard time reading this book if not for Andrew’s affable demeanour and sense of humour as he quietly deals with his grief. He’s struggling to stay sober while being haunted by memories of Carlos. His friendship with his colleague Maya is a bright spot amidst the sadness. That said, the book takes a baffling turn in the last third when Andrew gets involved with a new man. I found it awkward and hard to believe because it’s only been two weeks since Carlos died. I also thought the ending is abrupt with questions left remaining.

Call Him Mine is an unflinching thriller about crime and heartbreak in Mexico, where the search for justice comes with a price.

CW: graphic violence

About the author: Tim MacGabhann

Photo by Ignacio M