Reflections

Reflections is an interesting memoir from Robin Beazley. Interesting because of what Robin's life intersected with and interesting because it is a totally honest memoir. Which is not always the case with autobiographical accounts!

He was born  in Greece to a Greek mother and a Canadian father in 1937. He spent the majority of his life living in Africa where he undertook several different occupations such as a geologist, an  accountant and a liquidator. 

He eventually moved to England in the year 2000.

He and his fourth wife now live in Hertfordshire and Robin is retired.

His childhood was interesting to say the least, growing up in war-torn Athens, living through the Nazi occupation, bombing raids and the like.

He was also interested in discovering the genealogy of his family and he gives candid reflections on his work life, his varied careers. Much of his time in Africa was spent in Zimbabwe.

He animatedly and with great humour describes his romantic relationships and the incidents, some amusing, some enthralling that took place during his professional life.

It's published by the Book Guild at £9.49 and can be purchased at  https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

Witch Dust

In Witch Dust we meet Adam and Ophelia, who are the darlings of the entertainment world. Appearances on the Graham Norton Show, Christmas specials and magazine and newspaper features, they are known as Mr and Mrs Magic.

Their daughter Sandra is best described as "long-suffering" in fact, without Murray Silverstone to look after her, it's probably nobody would have sewn labels into her clothes, nobody would have seen her school plays and nobody would have bothered, very much, if she had never seen a dentist ever.

Page 1 contains one of the best lines I have read in a novel: "I've just killed your father."

The story relates how, when the marriage and professional partnership of Mr and Mrs Magic disappears, not in a puff of stage smoke, but with a cloud of adultery ("a chorus girl too far") Sandra suddenly finds a life she never knew she had or that she actually wanted.

From being a part of a family of three, she suddenly finds herself surrounded by a whole passel of family members she never knew existed.

There's the tottering hotel business, a documentary, a hanged maid, ghosts, psychics, journalists and then the situation slides from farce into a potentially very dark tragedy indeed.

And Sandra finds that she isn't fighting to save the income of her family, she's actually fighting for their lives. 

And what did happen to the lion that vanished in mid pounce?

This is an enjoyable and  fast-paced novel from the pen of published author and journalist Marilyn Messik.

It's published by Matador at £7.99 and can be obtained here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

Chasing the Sun With Henry

Gary Brockwell's debut novel Chasing the Sun With Henry looks at how tragic circumstances can impact relationships, perhaps not always in the way one might expect.

Eddie Dungiven is a bored close up magician and children's entertainer. In fact, he is not only bored with his professional life, he is bored with his life in general, including his wife Sally.

Sally has two preoccupations in her life. Cleaning their house and flawed and useless 'get rich quick' scams.

To escape Eddie takes his Collie-Springer cross, Henry, for regular walks on a secluded beach.

Things start to change when he happens upon a beautiful woman called Cerys Sindon.

Eddie's relationship with his wife deteriorates still further as her behaviour worsens and becomes even more erratic and troublesome. In fact, it seems that Sally has not been honest with Eddie. But why?

Could he, should he, enter into a relationship with the alluring Cerys?

However, with the unexpected death of the person who Eddie relied on as a father figure in his life causes him to take stock of his life, what his needs are and the needs of others.

As Eddie seeks for answers he approaches medium Ignatius McKenzie for answers to his problems. Some of the answers are deeply personal revelations and have very important implications for not only Eddie but for Cerys, too. In fact, Cerys has a deep secret that she is trying to hide.

It's a very perceptive novel and works well as a good, adult romance story.

It's published by Matador at £8.99 and can be ordered here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.


 

That's Christmas: Merry Christmas, everyone! What to do for a last m...

That's Christmas: Merry Christmas, everyone! What to do for a last m...: OK, with all the best will in the world, things can go wrong. The present doesn't turn up at all, or it's broken, the wrong size...

From Small Beginnings

From Small Beginnings is a poetical book from the pen of London-born but Irish citizen, Sean Notyeats.

It's a very interesting book which really belongs on the bookshelf of any writer, poet, or teacher of creative writing.

For it is an exploration of the beginning of Sean's journey as a poet.

He examines lyrics from 21st century hip-hop, 19th century comedy operettas and flower power era songs ands explains how,  at the commencement of his journey through poetry, he regarded poetry as an extension of song. But as he continued his research he modified his viewpoint.

He asks an important question "Why be a poet or a storyteller?"  and makes a good and praiseworthy effort to provide some answers.

There are sixty poems covering a wide range of subjects from the condition of the United Kingdom, sex, the situation in Europe, America, Canada, Death, Australasia, business and several others, including wizards.

It's described as an "anti-textbook" but it is this reviewer's opinion that this book should definitely be a required text for all creative writing classes throughout the land.

It's published by The Book Guild at £7.99 and can be ordered here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

Lost?

Lost? is an interesting exploration of Liverpool F. C. as it celebrates 125 years as a football club.

However, there are niggling doubts for the true fans. Is Liverpool F. C. still an elite team? Why is it that, despite all the promises of foreign owners, that the trophy cabinet is all but bare?

The book, by Anthony Carragher, peeks back at the glory days of the past, the current days when the club is flush with dosh and looks towards the uncertain future of not only Liverpool but of English football in general.

For over two decades LIverpool F. C. dominated the football scene at home and in Europe. But of late the victories have dried up and they have not, shockingly, won a league title in over 25 years!

Is this something particular to Liverpool F. C? Or is it indicative of wider problems throughout the game in general?

The author has been able to secure exclusive interviews with key figures from the glory days of the club including former managers, Brendan Rogers and Roy Evans, members of Bill Shankly's family and numerous footballing legends both past and present.

It's a candid look at not only Liverpool F. C., but of the wider football scene in England and it will be a great Christmas present for Liverpool fans and football fans in general.

It's published by Matador at £12.99 and can be bought here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

Much Needed Rain

Much Needed Rain is a gripping debut crime thriller from R. G. Oram.

David Lewelyn is an extraordinary person. He knows when you are lying. Every single time. You can try to control your breathing, make your expression as neutral as you can, but it doesn't matter. He'll know if you are lying.

However, things come closer to home for David when Hannah who he employed as his secretary is found dead in her apartment. She had been bound hand and foot and her murderer had slashed her body repeatedly. 

Because he was with her at her apartment mere hours before she was killed, the LAPD immediately suspect him of being the killer. 

But his DNA does not match the DNA of the killer that had been found in the apartment. In fact, there is no match for the killer's DNA on the National Database.

But does this mean that he should be ruled out as a suspect? Should he be allowed to provide his expertise to the police investigators, under the circumstances? After all, as her employer, he knew her better than anyone else.

Whatever suspects the police manage to find all seem to have incontrovertible alibis. 

However, the truths that they finally uncover are perhaps worse than they could ever have imagined and they discover that murder can be either a game or a very lucrative business.

And that sometimes there are people who just can't be trusted.

This is a very good debut thriller and it's to be hoped that this is the first of many books from R. G. Oram.

It will make a gritty thriller of a Christmas present for the thriller fan in your life. You can order a copy here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.