The Players by Minette Walters

An ARC review for Netgalley

Oh dear, what a disappointment this turned out to be. I hadn’t read Minette Walters for years, not since The Scold’s Bridle and Fox Evil. They were excellent: taught, tense thrillers/ whodunnits with real pace and verve.

After something of a hiatus, Walters, now 75, has turned her hand to historical thrillers. This latest one is set in the 1680s in the dying days of King James II’s reign, taking in the Monmouth rebellion, the Bloody assizes of Judge Jeffreys, and the peaceful transition to William and Mary. A fascinating, dramatic few years of British history that does not often feature in historical fiction. It should be a gift to a skilled and experienced novelist but Walters manages to turn this literary gold into something dull and dreary.

The main characters are excellent, (with some caveats): Lord Granville and his mother are scarcely believable as liberal aristos, whose driving concern is always for the little people, ensuring they get justice, no matter what the risk to them personally. It’s as ludicrous as the portrayal of above stairs folk in Downton Abbey who just love the plebs downstairs. It’s so well done however,and the two are such appealing characters, that disbelief is willingly suspended, and the reader finds themselves willing them on to succeed. The character of Lady Althea is also beautifully drawn as Walters explores 17th century attitudes to disability. The love interest is really well done, with Althea’s shyness and reluctance to believe in Granville gradually overcome. It’s a bit of a cop out however, as Walters shies away from any scenes where love is declared and we are left a little cheated as we are simply presented with the aftermath in the epilogue.

The main problem here is that Walters seems to be obsessed with her research into the period, hence the number of reviews that home in on that. “Immaculately researched” is always a bad sign in my opinion. It shows that research has become an end itself, rather than serving the story. There are interminable scenes where she goes through the mechanics of the legal system, transportation, local and regional, explaining in great detail how those people awaiting trial for sedition could be sprung from captivity. Perhaps Walters is too big a figure to be edited, but this is exhibit A for assertive intervention. Without it, we’re left with a novel that’s at least a hundred pages too long. Shame – the characters, plot and historical scenario promised much but deserved a lot more. Maybe next time.

Christmas Crackers

My books of the year, 2024

Sally Rooney triumphs with the novel of the year, a welcome return to form after the disappointing Beautiful World, where are you? Stylistically and structurally interesting, this portrayal of two brothers, separated by age, temperament and position in society, groping their way to recovery after the death of their father, is subtle, sensitive and engaging. Rooney explores how lack of communication in relationships entrenches misunderstanding and generates misery, but with a glimmer of hope that rapprochement is possible.

Full review here: https://growl.blog/2024/11/15/intermezzo-by-sally-rooney/

Andrew O’Hagan’s weighty state of the nation novel is but a short head behind Rooney. Caledonian Road is a positively Dickensian romp through London society, skewering the establishment, the media, populism, the ghastly Tory party and their upstart illegitimate child, Reform UK, to name but a few. Clever and clear sighted, the novel rises above satire through its multi layered plot delivering thoughtful, engaging and moving relationships to add heart to its steely intellectual societal analysis. Can’t wait for the TV adaptation.

Full Review here: https://growl.blog/2024/07/03/caledonian-road/

Jonathan Coe on top form with this clever dissection of the rise of far right think tanks in the US and here alongside the rise of the cosy crime genre. At times it’s hard to tell which he is more appalled by. It’s structurally clever, placing the murder of a journalist who has spent forty years since leaving Cambridge investigating the murky dealings of the poshos he endured as a provincial oik. He has paddled along a back water while they rub shoulders with the rich, the privileged and the powerful. Very funny, very sharp, pleasingly meta. Almost nudged O’Hagan out of second place. But not quite.

Elizabeth Strout does what she does best – an immaculately observed portrayal of small town life for a cast of older characters, focusing on Lucy Barton once again. The seemingly meandering tales they tell each other hide an interesting murder plot from years before, but that is almost a distraction from the forensic examination of love, friendship and relationships amongst people who are getting old and reflecting on the choices they have made in their lives.

Percival Everett made the Booker shortlist for this re-imagining of Huckleberry Finn from the point of view of James, the slave. It’s a lovely, skilful piece of work that has at its heart an ingenious conceit that twists our understanding of the slave master relationship. Although it’s clever, by the end I was beginning to grow tired of what is essentially a one trick pony. Still, worthy of your consideration for end of year reading, or gifting.

Nathan Hill’s breakthrough debut, The Nix, was one of the great American novels of the last few years, but that was back in 2016. It’s been a long wait, but trust me, this follow up is worth it. The opening section that sets up the central relationship is an absolute treat. It doesn’t quite maintain that ( it’s a big book) but it’s still a triumph. Beautiful prose, compelling relationships and characters, Hill makes Jonathan Frandsen look like an amateur.

Read this, read her previous novel, The Bass Rock, read anything of hers you can get your hands on and wait eagerly for what she does next. Quite simply, Evie Wyld is a wonderful writer. End of.

David Nichols is the master of romantic relationship novels. Funny, perceptive engaging, You are here is the latest, tracking the start of a romance between two characters, set up by one concerned friend, who are thrown together on the coast to coast walk, from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hoods Bay, on the North Yorkshire coast. This is a minor Nichols work, leaving the reader with a feeling of slightness, insubstantiality, but even so, much better than a lot of the talked about novels of the year. (See Christmas Turkeys, below). A parochial point, I know, but I was particularly thrilled by the references to Teesside and Middlesbrough FC, as the characters started the last leg of the walk. Can’t think of many other cultural works where this happens – Teesside must be the most invisible, most unheralded area of the UK.

Stop Press!

A late entry that I just had to include. I’m only half way through this book, but it’s too good to ignore. If you liked Clare Chambers’ Small Pleasures, you will love this. Suburban lives, small frustrations, unfulfilled relationships threaded through with a weird tale of a Boo Radley figure who comes to light in a near derelict house in Croydon. Sublime.

The Perfect Christmas Presents

Obviously, if you’re looking for gift ideas, I think you’ll find my own books will hit the spot. Zero Tolerance will give you a real insight into the scandal breaking about unethical behaviour in certain Academy Trusts. For the teacher in your life. You can buy the ebook or a paperback, and read the reviews by clicking the link below:

https://wordpress.com/page/growl.blog/1142

Fans of Fantasy, YA and children’s books need look no further than The Watcher and The Friend, from Burton Mayers Books. The sequel, A Cold Wind Blows, is scheduled to come out next year. For a flavour, check out the podcast audio book.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=the+watcher+and+the+friend+r+j+barron&crid=15DH4BU4YWUF5&sprefix=the+watcher+and+the+friend+r+j+barron%2Caps%2C200&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1sQroBTOzo05z1BYyf8Qpm?si=cf7992c0f223469a

Christmas Turkeys

A little unfair this title. Some of these books were just a little disappointing, a little overhyped. Others were just plain dreadful.

Picture the scene: It’s Christmas morning and you’re a little heady from the breakfast prosecco. You rip open the first of a pile of presents, to find The Kellerby Code waiting for you. Your nearest and dearest tell you it’s the word of mouth hit of the year, so funny, like Saltburn and you can’t wait to get started. Let me save you some time here. Put the book down. Forget you ever received it. Wipe it from your memory. Because this is the clear winner of the Turkey of the year. I know this sounds mean, but my longer review will explain why.

The Kellerby Code by Jonny Sweet

What’s happened to the writer who produced The Essex Serpent? Sarah Perry’s atmospheric debut stands clearly as her high watermark, as her Christianity seems to have overwhelmed her concern for craft. Enlightenment is dull and clumsy, and, just like the equally disappointing Melmoth, the critics raved about it. Do any of them actually read the books they are sent? Apologies to Christians everywhere – Happy.. er … Christmas.

A new Jackson Brodie crime outing from The wonderful Kate Atkinson is usually a cause for unconfined celebration. It starts so well – a clever play on cosy crime (bit of a theme this year). Brodie is reunited with Reggie Chase, the feisty, clever orphan from When Will There Be Good News? Chase is now a rookie cop who unofficially teams up with Brodie to investigate a case with links to his latest job. It’s an improbable mash up involving all the classic elements of old school murder mystery: isolated country house, list of stereotypical Agatha Christie suspects, all snowed in together as the bodies mount up. Sounds great fun, and it is, until the twists of the ever more unbelievable plot become tiresome.

William Boyd is the grand old man of English letters, but his latest, a brazen attempt to begin a multi million selling spy series to rival Bond is limp, derivative and lazy. It’s sad to see it and say it but the prose is risible. Every scene begins with a description of the place and the main characters, down to the clothes they are wearing. If that’s not enough to slow the action down, Boyd can’t resist any opportunity to tell us what drinks the character has and then, what they have to eat. ( “ a cheese and onion sandwich and a Dubonnet”) There must be about thirty scenes where Gabriel meets someone in a pub, bar or restaurant. Phoned in, reversing the charges.

Han Kang’s novel won the 2024 Nobel prize for Literature. Seriously, I wouldn’t want to go for a drink with anyone who was on the panel. This was such a deadly dull, dreary trudge, that I gave up after fifty pages. Life’s too short.

Death and The Harlot by Georgina Clarke

An ARC review for NetGalley

Fans of historical crime fiction set in Georgian England will love this reissue from Georgina Clarke. Set in Soho in 1759, it has all the ingredients of a successful historical murder mystery in the vein of Leonora Nattrass: authentic setting, engaging heroine, page turning twisty plot, hints of future romance and the setting up of a series.

It’s a delight. The heroine, Lizzie Hawkins, lives and works as a member of a more genteel brothel, run under the benevolent (mainly) eye of the Madam, Ma Farley. Lizzie tells the tale with a subtle combination of intelligence, warmth and cynicism. From the beginning we can see she is not one of your run of the mill bawds, and as the story progresses, her own back story is gradually revealed. She is drawn into the investigations that take place when one of her clients is found dead in the yard behind a Soho pub. She works closely with Will Blackstone, one of the original Bow Street runners, under the leadership of John Fielding, the brother of the celebrated literary figure, Henry. From initial suspicion and mistrust, they grow to respect each other as Blackstone increasingly realises that Lizzie is someone of depth and integrity.

The plot is unfolded with skill and pace and the reader is carried by this forward propulsion as the mystery thickens and is then resolved after a climactic showdown between Lizzie and the villain.The resolution at the end is both satisfying and carries the promise of more to come in future books. Clarke has written a sequel and a third book is due later in 2025. I will definitely be reading both of them to see what develops between Lizzie and Will.

I had just a couple of doubts about the world Clarke creates. Although she shows the abject misery of the street prostitutes, addled with gin, sleeping rough, and willing to provide any service to pay for food and more gin, there is something strangely sanitised about Lizzie’s experiences as a higher class working girl, and the other members of Ma Farley’s establishment. Lizzie gives full vent to her feelings about her work: her exhaustion, her disgust, her contempt for her clients, but despite that, it seems a relatively safe and tranquil situation that Lizzie is too comfortable with. It’s clear that Clarke knows her stuff and has done a shedload of research about the period, but I felt that the reality would have been more perilous, even for the cosseted girls of Ma Farley’s. I also didn’t quite believe in the wonderful Lizzie, who was a little too untouched by her experiences. She’s a great character: appealing, beautiful, feisty, intelligent, but a little too kind, it seemed to me.

More positively, I thought Clarke was unflinching in her portrayal of the aristocracy and the gentry – callous, entitled predators, slicing through the seedy side of London, blissfully untroubled by the human wreckage left in their wake. Some things never change. Overall, a highly enjoyable recreation of 18th century London life and a compelling crime mystery to boot. My Thanks to Verve publishers and NetGalley for providing a free ARC copy for review.

Month: December 2024