SOLVED. Man and his flies!! [s]

[Victoria]

I was thinking about this earlier and could remember the character clearly but for the life of me can't remember what book he is in - or anything about the story or anything.

He is a background character and I think there is a cafe in the town that he and the main character frequent (possibly). Anyway, he has a habit of gluing flies to pieces of string and then tying the string to himself. The fly is constantly buzzing around him but can't get away because of the string.

I vageuly remember seeing this in a film after as well.

Anyone got any ideas?

[Joanie]

I have been thinking about posting this one too! I'll be interested to see if anyone remembers this one, it's been bothering me for a while.

[Monica]

I believe this is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt -it wouldn't let me tag it for some reason

[Victoria]

Yeah, that would make sense - and he had the flies around him when he was on the jury for the court case! Thanks! :D

[Lisa]

Victoria, Are you saying it's solved? Thanks for letting us know one way or the other.

[Tess]

This reminds me of the Stephen King short story "The Death of Jack Hamilton," which is included in the collection "Everything's Eventual: 14 Dark Tales."

Here's part of the description I found in Wikipedia:
"The story is written in the first-person. Homer Van Meter, a member of John Dillinger's gang, tells of the slow, painful death of fellow gangmember Jack Hamilton. Van Meter begins by describing Dillinger's death outside the Biograph Theater at the hands of Melvin Purvis's men (who is referenced several times throughout the story as the character's nemesis), as well as addressing the theory that it wasn't actually Dillinger that was killed."

Does that help?

[Victoria]

Hi, sorry Lisa - yes, I was saying it was solved. It didn't ring massive bells but I think it is probably the correct answer. I didn't mean to be vague! :)

[Joanie]

That sounds right to me too and it makes sense with there being a film version too.

[Lisa]

Thanks Victoria. Yay, another one solved! I'll change the folder/title for you