The Batch Magna Caper by Peter Maughan
The third in the continuing saga of the Batch Magna denizens, a collective of terminally quirky, charmingly potty, elegantly eccentric, unique characters who celebrate the joys of living in a special place half in Wales, half in England and perennially in thrall to the latest bit of juicy gossip.
If you haven't already done so, I would strongly advise reading the first two books first (“The Cuckoos of Batch Magna” and “Sir Humphrey of Batch Hall”) which will set you up to enjoy this one even more. This book is quite different from its predecessors, to the point that, at first, I hardly recognized the style and locale. Instead of spinning the same cosy yarn, Peter Maughan has courageously introduced a very different criminal thread that weaves its way through the well-loved cloth of the tales of Batch Magna. It takes a brave man to muddy the waters that so many have become addicted to, but fear not: he hasn't lost the plot but rather found another one. The book opens in a shady pawnbroker's shop where a cast of new-to-us villains plan a daring robbery, a wage snatch, of such magnitude that, if successful, it would change their lives for ever. The books are set in the 70's, so £100,000 represents a fair fortune, even when split among the five unlikely partners. To balance the criminal element, the author brings in the opposing forces of the law, in the shape of a female sergeant affianced to her inspector, and sundry other police officers of various rank. |
And here the author displays his full grasp of humanity in crafting another set of unforgettable personalities, as distinct from each other as they are from the characters of the previous books. The heist sets off a complex, convoluted and frequently hilarious comedy of errors which challenges the truism about honour among thieves and the interrelated loyalties of the Batch Magna river community, until we, and they, are so confused that it is difficult to know whom to trust.
All our favourite river rats are present: the Commander and Priny, faced with a life-changing decision; Jasmine and her brood of children of uncertain number; Annie and Owain, very much in the swing of things; Phineas Cook, plumbing new depths of depravity; and the land-locked ones: Miss Wyndham, Tom Parr and the rest of that motley lot. To my delight, most of the later action centres on Batch Hall, once more a family home, where (two years on from the last book) Sir Humphrey and Lady Clementine run a fledgling B&B with capable help from Humph's mother Shelly and toddler daughter Hawis.
But the new character who, for me, steals the show is 10-year-old George, a fatherless boy taken under Humph's substantial wing. Trained and hardened by the pages of the Intrepid, and similar boys' adventure comics, George lives his real life adventures big and in Technicolor with stoic acceptance of the curious world of adults. The caper is finally wrapped up with a bang but many important issues are left unresolved and, with fiendish deliberation, Maughan divulges that more is on the way in his fourth instalment, “Man Overboard”. Oh goody!
All our favourite river rats are present: the Commander and Priny, faced with a life-changing decision; Jasmine and her brood of children of uncertain number; Annie and Owain, very much in the swing of things; Phineas Cook, plumbing new depths of depravity; and the land-locked ones: Miss Wyndham, Tom Parr and the rest of that motley lot. To my delight, most of the later action centres on Batch Hall, once more a family home, where (two years on from the last book) Sir Humphrey and Lady Clementine run a fledgling B&B with capable help from Humph's mother Shelly and toddler daughter Hawis.
But the new character who, for me, steals the show is 10-year-old George, a fatherless boy taken under Humph's substantial wing. Trained and hardened by the pages of the Intrepid, and similar boys' adventure comics, George lives his real life adventures big and in Technicolor with stoic acceptance of the curious world of adults. The caper is finally wrapped up with a bang but many important issues are left unresolved and, with fiendish deliberation, Maughan divulges that more is on the way in his fourth instalment, “Man Overboard”. Oh goody!
This book turned out to be much, much better than I expected. Killian and Eden take their time getting together, but there is a welcome lack of the usual idiotic situations that most authors in this genre trot out in order to spin the story out. The two protagonists have baggage (Killian much more so than Eden), and they come from very different backgrounds, but they also share some common ground. As characters, they are strongly defined, believable and authentic, and they are both likeable as human beings rather than being dumbed-down into stupid caricatures to make them appealing. Dual narrator is my least favourite writing style, but this author manages to create two voices distinct enough not to be annoying.
Some strong themes shape the lives of the main protagonists and their immediate circle: infidelity, child abuse, substance addiction, the harsh world of MMA professional fighting, and violent drug mobsters. All are treated with honesty and integrity, without resorting to gratuitous melodrama. The sexual encounters are explicit but tasteful and always essential to the plot.
This is a story that stayed with me after I reached the end, and I see that there is a sequel focusing on the hero’s younger brother, and his ex-girlfriend. I hope Killian has a significant role in it as he is a truly compelling character. Excellent writing style and an intriguing plot. The ending reaches a satisfactory conclusion, while leaving the story open to the sequel.
Some strong themes shape the lives of the main protagonists and their immediate circle: infidelity, child abuse, substance addiction, the harsh world of MMA professional fighting, and violent drug mobsters. All are treated with honesty and integrity, without resorting to gratuitous melodrama. The sexual encounters are explicit but tasteful and always essential to the plot.
This is a story that stayed with me after I reached the end, and I see that there is a sequel focusing on the hero’s younger brother, and his ex-girlfriend. I hope Killian has a significant role in it as he is a truly compelling character. Excellent writing style and an intriguing plot. The ending reaches a satisfactory conclusion, while leaving the story open to the sequel.
Brain: The Man Who Wrote The Book That Changed The World by Dermot Davis
An unusual, compelling, satirical look at the dysfunctional world of writing and publishing. The madness in this book is so real and so possible, it is chilling in its accuracy. I found myself at times nodding in complete agreement, and at others laughing to the point of tears. In effortlessly engaging prose, Dermot Davis delivers a non-judgemental, impassioned discourse, condensing the human condition down to the twin universal truths: we go through life not knowing who we really are; and we are all terribly alone.
The story is an all-too-commonplace contemporary tale of unrewarded talent. Ever since his graduation, when he triumphantly won a minor literary award, Daniel Waterstone has pursued his self-appointed destiny of joining the great classic novelists by penning a definitive work which will herald a new renaissance in American literature. Ten years on, his life is narrow and Spartan, he has no friends, practically no family (his mother, an emotionally cold woman, lives far away) and his only interactions are with his greedy literary agent and a sweet and wise eighty-three year old librarian. Women are a mystery to Daniel and one for which he seems to have no time or inclination ... until he meets Clare, a beautiful musician. But Daniel's initial enthusiasm is sadly dampened when she turns out to be utterly bonkers. |
Daniel has published two novels, both well received by critics, but ignored by the buying public. When his agent drops the bombshell that his publishers have rejected his latest masterpiece and want their advance back, Daniel hits rock bottom. In a desperate mental state, literally starving and unable to pay for his rent or utilities, he starts writing a bitter, over-the-top satire, lampooning the latest best-selling self-help guides. What happens next is a whirlwind of craziness and greed-fuelled nonsense which, eerily, mimics real life.
Daniel is a quirky, improbable hero. At first, there is nothing about him to like; he is vain, self-centred and arrogant, condescendingly believing himself superior to the masses. But, as the story unfolds, and Daniel's life quietly unravels, we discover a core of understated decency and uncomplaining honesty that endears him to us and makes us root for him. The supporting characters are economically but effectively portrayed. There are some cartoonish villains and a couple of likeable, supportive souls, but Daniel carries the whole book on his resigned shoulders. His moral dilemma is clearly defined, and I enjoyed the scathing, clear-sighted depiction of the routine exploitation of talent by certain members of the publishing industry. The narrative is well paced, always lively but gathering speed and momentum in concert with the increasingly surreal craziness of the developments. A clever, often hilarious, and very honest book that should appeal to a large segment of the reading public, and one that I would be happy to read again.
Reviewed for the Kindle Book Review. The Kindle Book Review received a free copy of this book for an independent, fair, and honest review. We are not associated with the author or Amazon.
Daniel is a quirky, improbable hero. At first, there is nothing about him to like; he is vain, self-centred and arrogant, condescendingly believing himself superior to the masses. But, as the story unfolds, and Daniel's life quietly unravels, we discover a core of understated decency and uncomplaining honesty that endears him to us and makes us root for him. The supporting characters are economically but effectively portrayed. There are some cartoonish villains and a couple of likeable, supportive souls, but Daniel carries the whole book on his resigned shoulders. His moral dilemma is clearly defined, and I enjoyed the scathing, clear-sighted depiction of the routine exploitation of talent by certain members of the publishing industry. The narrative is well paced, always lively but gathering speed and momentum in concert with the increasingly surreal craziness of the developments. A clever, often hilarious, and very honest book that should appeal to a large segment of the reading public, and one that I would be happy to read again.
Reviewed for the Kindle Book Review. The Kindle Book Review received a free copy of this book for an independent, fair, and honest review. We are not associated with the author or Amazon.
Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey
The first thing I noticed about this author is her incredible talent for rendering conversations. In fact her narrative is so dialogue-driven that her protagonist often has spirited and convincing exchanges with his inner self. Although written before 1949, the writing has a timeless quality, a very modern tightness, and I found the style very “easy on the ears” and thoroughly enjoyable. This book is unusual in that it draws the reader inside the story and invites you to unlock the mystery.
The plot's plausibility is heavily dependent on a couple of unique coincidences but, once you accept the premise, everything else follows. In fact, for me the precariousness of the situation adds tension and, although the ending was not a huge surprise, the way all the loose ends are tied up is very satisfying. Josephine Tey has deftly created some very likeable but complex characters: Brat is at once tough and vulnerable, an opportunist with a conscience. Simon is charming and cast as the victim but full of contradictions. Aunt Bee is typical of a generation of war-time women who had to be strong and unselfish for the sake of others. Each of the main characters is believably human, annoying at times, but always engaging. |
This book is perfectly suited for all ages, there is no gore, bad language, gratuitous sex or unsettling content and the potentially contentious adult subjects are masterfully handled. And, finally, horse enthusiasts will be happy to find that the substantial equestrian content is accurate and realistic and Tey's undisguised love of horses comes entirely devoid of saccharine.