First edition  | |
| Author | Christopher Brookmyre |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Satire, Crime, Detective, black humour |
| Published | 2001 (Little Brown, London) |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & (Paperback) |
| ISBN | 0-316-85743-2 |
| OCLC | 47194021 |
| LC Class | PR6052.R58158 B54 2001 |
| Preceded by | Boiling a Frog |
| Followed by | The Sacred Art of Stealing |
A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away (2001) is Christopher Brookmyre's sixth novel. It features the first appearance of policewoman Angelique de Xavia, who is one of the main characters in The Sacred Art of Stealing (2002).
Plot summary
Anti-terrorist forces are put on alert when it is learned that the notorious international terrorist the Black Spirit plans to perform an attack on an unknown British target.
Meanwhile, 30-something Raymond Ash is struggling to cope with the banality of his new life as an English teacher, having sold his video game shop and decided to settle down with his wife and new baby. While visiting Glasgow airport he sees his old friend Simon Darcourt who supposedly died when terrorists blew up an airliner a few years before. He has no idea that Darcourt is in reality the Black Spirit. Darcourt for his part sees Raymond and decides to settle an old score with him by incorporating him into his terrorist plot.
Raymond ends up being abducted by Darcourt's terrorists and escaping, then finds himself aiding policewoman Angelique de Xavia in a valiant attempt to foil their plot, the two being the only people with a chance of reaching the site of the attack in time - the hydroelectric plant at Dubh Ardrain.
Characters
- Angelique de Xavia
- Police officer, who also turns up in a couple of Brookmyre's other novels, The Sacred Art of Stealing and A Snowball in Hell (2008).
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- Simon Darcourt
- International terrorist-for-hire, who also returns in A Snowball in Hell (2008). Goes by the alias of the 'Black Spirit'
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- Raymond Ash
- 30-something year old English teacher and first time dad. An old friend of Simon's who helps Angelique to stop the terrorist attack after being kidnapped by Simon's terrorist group.