A Pilgrimage Around Wales

 

You can buy "A Pilgrimage Around Wales"...Here

157 pages

The Blurb...

In 2015 Anne Hayward spent three months as a pilgrim, travelling on foot to visit some of Wales' holiest sites. In this book she supplies some of the history of those ancient places of pilgrimage, reflects on the experience of being a pilgrim, and meditates upon discussions she had with those she met along her route.

Our Review...

I read this book as part of the 52 books in 52 days challenge... click here for details. This week's prompt was non-fiction recommended by a friend.

I have not read many non fiction apart from the odd biography so this was dragging me out of my comfy spot. So if I was to be in unfamiliar territory I decided to keep familiar themes. It's in Wales, check and has a bit of hiking, check.

So off I went. I wasn't quite prepared for such an engaging book. The author seems to me to be a throwback to the great days of the Empire. A slight, woman in her late 50s. An ex-teacher and Lay Preacher sets out huking around around to visit 4 religious sites. For 3 months! A combination of brave and a bit bonkers? 

What follows is a fascinating account of her adventures. Like a Wales based hobbit off on spiritual journey. It is not fully set chronologically but with three themes in mind.

!. Responses to the many questions and comments made to her along the way.

2. Factual snippets. Background and historical.

3. Reflections on various spiritual issues that cropped up.

Each chapter contains these three segments.

The chapter heading themselves are intriguing including "If I wasn't a Christian, i would pocketed your £90 and thrown your bag in the sea" 

While there was a very useful glossary-end note section, one thing I think was missing was a detailed itinerary and list of campsites she stayed at. Who knows one day, If I ever get to be as fearless as her I may get to walk a few miles in her footsteps

An interesting change of pace book for me. I got to learn a bit about Wales, about ancient historical sites and saints but most of all I got to read about the adventures of this remarkable woman.

Selected Quotes...

Being on foot and carrying a quite heavy pack for a small(ish) woman was both liberating and constraining. The more I walked, and now the more I research and write, it becomes increasingly obvious how little I saw  and how many places, in an ideal world, I could have visited.

What became increasingly clear during those three months was that my research prior to my walk had left me unprepared for the sheer joy of quietly discovering new places and the enourmous sense of achievement I felt each day.

...This was quite a weight for me as I'm not exactly Mrs Universe. However packing a bag like this does make you think about what you really need. This clearly has parallels with life as a whole.

If You Liked This Then You May Like...

The Only Way is West by Bradley Chermside

Britain's Pilgrim Places: by Nick Mayhew Smith & Guy Hayward

On This Holy Island: A Modern Pilgrimage Across Britain

by Oliver Smith 

About The Author...

Anne Hayward read History at Oxford University and went on to become a teacher. She is a Licensed Lay Minister in the Church in Wales In recent years, she has walked thousands of miles to places of pilgrimage in Wales, Ireland, Brittany, England and the Isle of Man, with each pilgrimage beginning and ending at her home in the Brecon Beacons. .

Bomber by Len Deighton

 

487 pages

You can buy Bomber...Here

You can find out more about Len Deighton...Here

• The Blurb...

31 June, 1943. An RAF crew prepare for their next bombing raid on Germany. It is a night that many will never forget. Len Deighton's devastating novel is a gripping minute-by-minute account of what happens over the next twenty-four hours

. Told through the eyes of ordinary people in the air and on the ground - from a young pilot to the inhabitants of a small town in the Ruhr - Bomber is an unforgettable portrayal of individuals caught up in the wreckage of war.

• Our Review...

This review is part of my 52 books in 52 weeks challenge. Details can be found here. The prompt for this week's book was a novel that was longlisted for the booker prize. This was nominated in 1970.

It's not often you get to review a novel that was the inspiration for a Motorhead Album. 

So this was written a mere 25 years after the second world war by an RAF veteran. Considering it is 54 years old it stands up remarkably well. It should be up there with "All Quiet On The Western Front" as anti war book. Not because it preaches a pacifist message, because it does not. It just shows what happens an a bombing raid and lets you draw your own conclusions.

The date (31st June 1943) and the town (Altgarten) are fictitious. Everything else is remarkably real. The research for this novel is gargantuan but not jarringly intrusive on the narrative. 

Deighton gives us 24hrs in the life of a British bombing raid. It is all encompassing. Much like a Tarantino film, we have an array of subtlety interlinking sub-plots from the war weary pilot, the Prussian aristocrat fighter pilot, the aging German radar command officer, his housekeeper, the burgo-master, and fire chief and numerous other characters. Given the vast cast, the author does an excellent job of keeping them separate in our minds. Each has their own issues and hopes. The English class system is quite prevalent here. 

The scale is epic. Given the grand backdrop, the author also does an excellent job of immersing in the day to day lives of the protagonists. The first third of the book is setting out the outline and characters. the second two thirds deal with the raid. This is when the tension ramps up. 

The raid itself features hundreds of bombers. We follow one in particular, nicknamed Creaking Door. The chaos and horrific deaths that ensue both within the British bomber crews and German fighters and just bog standard random people on the ground is immensely moving. We become invested in the people from both sides. I read on in the hope that certain characters make it through the night. It was a bit like the film Titanic in that you know its a disaster, but you just hope your favourites make it out alive. 

All that technical knowledge and heroism, all just to murder each other. If only if could harnessed for a worthwhile cause. 

On a personal note, I was drawn to this novel because my wife's grandfather (now sadly passed) was a P.O.W. His last Prisoner of War Camp, much like Kurt Vonnegut, was at Dresden which was obliterated by the allies towards the latter stages of the war. 1299 bombers dropped almost 4000tons of bombs killing 37,000 people. (for comparison roughly the same population as Port Talbot) He didn't talk about the war, but one day not long before he passed away he told me about it. That was 34 years ago and I've never forgotten. 

Many think the heavy bombing campaign should have been classed as a war crime and reading this novel you can see why. 

• Selected Quotes...

 "there’s no difference between bankrupting a foreign factory in peacetime and bombing it in wartime. Capitalism is competition and the ultimate form of that is war.”

“He’s always wiping his mouth and fingers,” said Beer. “He makes me feel like I’m suffering from some sort of contagious disease.”
“You are,” said Kokke. “It’s called poverty.”

the English believe that only gentlemen can be leaders”

It’s as though the plane goes to bomb Germany of its own predatory volition, as though it takes us along just for the ride”

you don’t believe in this war”  said Cohen “Believe in it? . . . you make it sound like a rumour.” Lambert replied.

• If You Liked This You May Like...

Hornet Flight by Ken Follet

Goshawk Squadron by Derek Robinson

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut click to see our review here

• About The Author...

Len Deighton was born in Marylebone, London, in 1929. His father worked as a chauffeur and mechanic, while his mother was a part-time cook. After leaving school, Deighton took a job as a railway clerk before completing his National Service as a photographer for the Royal Air Force's Special Investigation Branch. Upon his discharge from the RAF, he attended St Martin's School of Art in London in 1949, and by 1952, he had secured a scholarship to the Royal College of Art, from which he graduated in 1955.

Deighton's career path led him to become an airline steward with BOAC. Prior to launching his writing career, he was an illustrator in New York and later, in 1960, an art director at a London advertising agency. He is recognized for designing the first British cover for Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" and later used his artistic talents to illustrate several of his military history books.

With the success of his early novels, Deighton took on the role of cookery writer for The Observer and created illustrated cookbooks. In September 1967, he penned an article for the Sunday Times Magazine about Operation Snowdrop—an SAS attack on Benghazi during World War II. The next year, David Stirling was awarded significant libel damages over the article.

Deighton also authored travel guides and served as the travel editor for Playboy before venturing into film production. He produced a film adaptation of his 1968 novel "Only When I Larf," and with photographer Brian Duffy, acquired the film rights to Joan Littlewood and Theatre Workshop's stage musical "Oh, What a Lovely War!" However, he chose to have his name removed from the film's credits, a decision he later regretted as "stupid and infantile." This marked his final foray into cinema.

In 1969, Deighton left England and briefly settled in Blackrock, County Louth, Ireland. He has seldom returned to England, save for personal visits and a handful of media appearances, the most recent being a 2006 interview that was part of a "Len Deighton Night" on BBC Four.

Q&A With K.J. Dando Author of Lies After Death

 

Recently I had the good fortune to review "Lies After Death" a blistering thriller set in Wales by exciting new talent K.J. Dando. You can find the full review...here

Always keen to spot up and coming Welsh authors we reached out to K..J. Dando for a chat. 

Your debut novel has an air or authenticity regarding tough guy Tom Crane. Can you tell us a little about your background. From school, I served in the British Army and actively engaged in operational duties in Iraq, Kosovo, and Bosnia. I then pursued a career in the health and fitness industry before falling into my current profession as a business manager for a large motor group. So now I work with numbers all day and words in my spare time!

Tell us about your book. My debut - Lies After Death - is about a man called Tom Crane who is plagued by the death of his wife after a tragic car accident five years ago. Crane, who now works as a fixer for wealthy and powerful clients, suddenly begins receiving mysterious letters and phone calls from someone claiming to know the truth about his wife's death. As Crane uncovers more and more secrets and lies, he finds himself being pulled into a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Can he trust the messages, or are they part of a larger conspiracy?

What was the hardest scene to write? They're all difficult in their own way, although I do find writing dialogue slightly more challenging than writing action. So, any scenes that have a lot of dialogue were probably the hardest to write.

How do you develop the characters in your book? I try to develop my characters through their interactions in the story. I think showing how a character reacts in certain situations as well as the things they say, help the reader to understand the character and their values.

Plot or character? Which deserves more attention? In my opinion — both — and probably in equal measures. I think the plot should be exciting and keep the reader guessing as to what's going to happen next. Equally, I think the reader needs to connect and relate with at least one of the main characters, so that they care about them and become invested in their story.

What is your writing process? I plot a skeleton of a story before I start to write, but leave plenty of space to flesh it out.

Is your novel part of a series? I'm hoping Lies After Death will be the first of a series for Tom Crane.

Do you have any plans to develop other books/characters/series? If so can you outline them for us?

I'm currently in the process of writing the follow-up to Lies After Death — watch this space. Hopefully, I'll have an announcement for you soon...

What authors/books influence your work? I'm a big fan of Lee Child and admire what he's achieved with his character, Jack Reacher. I also enjoy reading Clive Cussler's work — his books are always entertaining and full of adventure. As the two authors I've probably read the most, these are the two who have no doubt influenced my writing the most.

Has any book ever “changed” you?

Yes, Lies After Death. As someone with no literature qualifications or experience, getting signed and published gave me the confidence to think that maybe I can write. Maybe I can create stories to entertain people and give them some respite from 'real life'. If you could be a character in any fiction novel, who would it be? That's a tough one! I'd probably have to say Dirk Pitt from the Clive Cussler series. Purely down to the travel, experiences, and adventure. What is your favourite novel and which is your least favourite. I can’t! How do you narrow it down to one favourite? Also, in terms of least favourite —there's books I've started, but stopped within a couple of chapters, knowing it wasn’t for me. But I couldn't name them. I wouldn't want to disrespect the author's work. It wasn't for me, but I'm sure others would enjoy it.

Tell us something most people don’t know about you.

Once upon a time I trained as a tattoo artist. Almost all of the tattoos on my left forearm I did on myself.

2001, A Space Odyssey by Arthur C Clarke

 

You can buy 2001 A Space Odyssey...Here

You can find out more about Arthur C Clarke...Here

228 pages

• The Blurb...

Written when landing on the moon was still a dream, and made into one of the most influential films of all time, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY remains a classic work of science fiction fifty years after its original publication.

The discovery of a black monolith on the moon leads to a manned expedition deep into the solar system, in the hope of establishing contact with an alien intelligence. Yet long before the crew can reach their destination, the voyage descends into disaster . . .

Brilliant, compulsive and prophetic, Arthur C. Clarke's timeless novel tackles the enduring theme of mankind's place in the universe.

• Our Review...

I read this book as part of the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge. Click here for more info. This week's challenge was "lower case letters on the spine." 

The epithet "sprawling epic" applies to a lot of books but none more so than this one. This book's timespan is literally from from dawn of human civilisation to the end of the world. And there in lies the problem, I feel it's too big to work as a novel. Indeed the novel was developed alongside the screenplay for the film. The film was based on a short story that Clarke wrote many years before. I fear that this muddled and opaque creative process influenced the book. 

The story begins when man is just an apelike creature, no different to all the other creatures. A black obelisk, one morning, arrives and performs some mind altering experiments on the apes. After the obelisk leaves the apes have new thoughts and feelings and this is how they developed from apes to humans over the following millions of years. All due to seeds that the obelisk planted in their minds.

Fast forward thousands of years and a black obelisk is discovered on the moon. As a result a mission is sent to a moon of Saturn looking for alien life. However on the journey disaster strikes the ship. And this is just the prelude to an even more disastrous encounter.

NB It's very difficult to talk about the themes of the book without giving away spoilers.

One of the issues is that this is a very visual book. Words are very good at describing intangible things such as thoughts or feelings, visual extravaganzas not so much. Imagine watching a fire work display or having someone describe a firework display using only words, which would you choose. Clarke's magnum opus is full of such displays. 

In addition I have always found that the best books have a way of immersing you in the story. I didn't feel that with this book. I felt I was being talked to, rather than being immersed in... Of course this may just be a me thing.

I still cant make up my mind whether the ending is profound or pretentious. However I did enjoy the section where, while on the mission to Saturn, our astronaut encounters sentient computers/algorithms. Wow. 

But overall it's a bit of a mixed bag for me, I don't know if it works as a novel. It's more of framework for Clarke to theorize on science fiction (future and past.) In fairness to the great man, considering the short story was developed in 1948 and the novel in 1964, he does a bang up job. Among other things he predicts the Ipad and A.I. In fact, as a small homage, the "about the author" section in this review is written by A.I. It even put in the emoji's! I don't know if Clarke would be happy or horrified with this. We are on the road to the future and we cant get off.

• Selected Quotes...

“It was the mark of a barbarian to destroy something one could not understand.”

“The more wonderful the means of communication, the more trivial, tawdry, or depressing its contents seemed to be.”

“. . . Moon-Watcher felt the first faint twinges of a new and potent emotion. It was a vague and diffuse sense of envy--of dissatisfaction with his life. He had no idea of its cause, still less of its cure; but discontent had come into his soul, and he had taken one small step toward humanity.”

“But he knew well enough that any man in the right circumstances could be dehumanised by panic.”

“But was even this the end? A few mystically inclined biologists went still further. They speculated, taking their cues from the beliefs of many religions, that mind would eventually free itself from matter. The robot body, like the flesh-and-blood one, would be no more than a stepping-stone to something which, long ago, men had called “spirit.” And if there was anything beyond that, its name could only be God.”

• If You Liked This Then You May Like...

Contact by Carl Sagan

Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep by Phillip K Dick. Review...here

The Three Body Problem by Liu Cixin

• About The Author...

Let’s delve a bit deeper into the fascinating life of Arthur C. Clarke:

1. Science Fiction and Beyond:

   • Clarke’s imaginative science fiction works captivated readers worldwide. His novel “Childhood’s End” explored themes of human evolution and extraterrestrial influence.
   • His short story “The Sentinel” inspired Stanley Kubrick’s iconic film “2001: A Space Odyssey”. The movie’s enigmatic monoliths and cosmic journey left an indelible mark on popular culture.
   • Beyond fiction, Clarke was a prolific science writer, explaining complex concepts in accessible ways. His nonfiction works covered topics like space exploration, telecommunications, and futurology.

2. Space Odyssey and Legacy:

• The collaboration with Kubrick on “2001: A Space Odyssey” elevated both their careers. The film’s visual effects, philosophical musings, and haunting soundtrack remain influential.
• Clarke’s vision extended beyond the screen. He envisioned geostationary satellites for global communication—a concept that became reality with modern telecommunications satellites.

3. Champion of Space Exploration:

   • Clarke’s passion for space exploration was unwavering. He advocated for manned missions to the Moon and Mars.
   • As chairman of the British Interplanetary Society, he fostered scientific discussions and inspired future generations of space enthusiasts.

4. Life in Sri Lanka:

   • Clarke’s move to Sri Lanka allowed him to explore not only the cosmos but also the depths of the Indian Ocean. His underwater discoveries included ancient shipwrecks and the submerged Koneswaram Temple.
   • His TV series “Arthur C. Clarke’s Mysterious World” delved into unexplained phenomena, captivating audiences with tales of the supernatural.

5. Honors and Titles:

   • Knighted in 1998, Clarke received numerous accolades for his contributions to literature and science.
   • Sri Lanka recognized his impact by awarding him the prestigious title of Sri Lankabhimanya.

In summary, Arthur C. Clarke’s legacy transcends fiction, reaching the stars and the depths of our imagination. 🚀📚

My Top Ten Novels Of All Time

  

 

 

 

  
 

Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrison

⭐⭐⭐⭐

You can buy Make Room! Make Room!...Here

You can find out more about Harry Harrison...Here

240 pages.

• The Blurb...

The planet's population has exploded and resources are stretched to breaking point. And, in a sweltering, overcrowded New York City of 35 million desperate inhabitants, a police detective must try to solve a murder. The basis of the cult film Soylent Green, this eerily prophetic novel is a nightmarish vision of a world in meltdown.

• Our Review...

I read this book as part of the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge. Click  here for details.

This week's prompt was a book with a similar plot to another book. However I have made a faux pas here. Make Room! Make Room! is the book that the 1970s film Soylent Green is based on. There is a famous revelation in the film. 

Spoiler Alert stop here if you do not wish to know what that revelation is!

In the film it is revealed that the mass produced, processed food that everyone eats is actually human flesh. So I assumed the book would be similar so that I could partner it with Tender Is The Flesh by Augustina Bazterrica which deals with a similar industrialised cannibalism theme. Bit creepy I know but the aim was to diversify my reading. So far so good but I had a surprise to find out there is no cannibalism in Make Room! Make Room! (MRMR.) Never thought I'd ever say "I was left deflated by the lack of cannabalism in a novel" I don't know if by diversifying my reading I am becoming a more rounder person or more dark and depraved!

So sadly lacking in mass canabalism but this is a terrfying picture of the very near future. Most dystopian novels, such as 1984, Farenheit 451, Brave New World et al, focus life after the event that caused society to collapse. MRMR paints a slow motion, blow by blow account of the collapse of civilisation and it's seems very real and very near and for that reason is terrifying. 

In MRMR massive over population the world over due to lack of birth control has resulted in all the world's resources such as food, water, fuel being on the verge of exhaustion. Meat is an astronomically expensive luxury. It can only be obtained via shady underground dealers known as "Meat-Leggers" akin to our drug dealers. Set in New York, huge numbers of people sleep in squalor on stairwells and in decaying abandoned cars in parking lots. Cars abandoned because there is no fuel. refuse collects in the street, water is rationed. Riots and crime are rife. In this sprawling metropolis we pick out the story of Billy a young man forced into theiving. He robs the wrong apartment and kills local crime boss Mike. Shirl the gangster's moll is left with nowhere to go and ends up living with Andy, the investigating officer and his room mate an ageing army veteran named Sol. Shirl struggles with living in poverty. All the while Andy is trying to chase down Billy.

While the plot is ok, its characters really only serve only to give an insight into a society collapsing under its own weight.

The scenes with masses of people everywhere in my mind reminded me of recent trips to London over the last few years. I live in West Wales in a rural county with no cities and only two small towns, not too populated and plenty of natural and beautiful open spaces.  When I go to London and travel amid the masses with no natural greenery, lack of personal space, no room on the pavement it makes me uncomfortable. I was shocked when on an escalator on the underground crowded with people, some people were walking or running up and tutting (and worse) because I did not know the city etiquette of standing on one side to allow these people to pass. They thought me rude or possibly weird. I in turn thought how sad their lives must be that must they run up a crowded escalator. When I read MRMR  these memories came back and when I imagined a little scenarios like this, but upped on steroids, I could easily picture the chaos the author was after. 

Disclaimer I fully appreciate that someone from the city may feel uncomfortable in my neck of the woods too. 

The book was published in 1966 and the novel was set in 1999. Fair play the author got a lot bang on. Scarcity of resources, escalating costs, ever decreasing quality of life and so on. However the main driver of these issues is climate change not overpopulation. Climate change was unheard of in 1966. Ironic now that depopulation in the next few hundred years will be a  bigger problem than overpopulation.  That's if climate change grants us a few hundred years. 

I found this to be a fascinating book. Like watching a car crash that I may be involved in one day.

• Selected Quotes..

One time we had the whole world in our hands, but we ate it and burned it and it's gone now.

After the damp hallway the heat of Twenty-fifth Street hit him in a musty wave, a stifling miasma compounded of decay, dirt and unwashed humanity. He had to make his way through the women who already filled the steps of the building, walking carefully so that he didn’t step on the children who were playing below. The sidewalk was still in shadow but so jammed with people that he walked in the street, well away from the curb to avoid the rubbish and litter banked high there. Days of heat had softened the tar so that it gave underfoot, then clutched at the soles of his shoes.

It was hard to get your hands on cash money, and cash money was the only thing that counted. They never saw any at home. The Welfare ration cards took care of everything, everything that kept you alive and just alive enough to hate it.

On the end of a string they carried their prize, a large gray dead rat. They would eat well tonight. In the center of the crowded street the tugtruck traffic moved at a snail’s pace, the human draught animals leaning exhaustedly into their traces, mouths gaping for air.

• If You Liked This Then You May Like This...

Blind Faith by Ben Elton. Click here for review

Logan's Run by William F Nolan.

Day of The Triffids by John Wyndham

• About The Author...

Harry Max Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey; March 12, 1925 – August 15, 2012) was an American science fiction (SF) author, best known for his character the Stainless Steel Rat and for his novel Make Room! Make Room! (1966). The latter was the rough basis for the motion picture Soylent Green (1973). Harrison was (with Brian Aldiss) the co-president of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.

Aldiss called him "a constant peer and great family friend". His friend Michael Carroll said, "Imagine Pirates of the Caribbean or Raiders of the Lost Ark, and picture them as science-fiction novels. They're rip-roaring adventures, but they're stories with a lot of heart."

Lies After Death by KJ Dando

 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

You can buy "Lies After Death"...Here

You can follow KJ Dando Facebook page...Here

• The Blurb...

Five years ago, Tom Crane's world was turned upside down when his wife was followed and killed in a tragic car accident. Despite a thorough investigation, her killer was never found, leaving Crane to live in the shadow of her death.

But now, Crane, who works as a fixer for the wealthy and powerful, begins receiving mysterious letters and phone calls from someone claiming to know the truth about his wife's death. Can he trust these messages, or are they part of a larger conspiracy?

As Crane uncovers more and more lies and secrets, he finds himself pulled into a dangerous game of cat and mouse. But will the truth bring him closure, or will it plunge him even deeper into the darkness?

Lies After Death is a fast-paced, gripping crime fiction novel that will keep you guessing until the very end.

• Our Review...

I reviewed this book as part of the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge. Click  here  for details. This week's prompt is a book begining with the letter L. And after reading a few books outside my comfort zone for the last few weeks, This week I returned to my sweet-spot, Crime Fiction set in Wales. And what a sweet-spot it turned out to be.

After a prologue that sets out where Crane stands on the moral spectrum, we are off and running. Someone is watching him and sending him cryptic notes, telling that local pimp and thug Luke Maddocks is somehow involved in the death of Crane's wife years earlier. Crane tries to follow this lead, while also trying to find the mystery informant. All this in addition to dealing with his dead beat twin brother and reconnecting with his teenage niece who is about to go off the rails with the local wrong 'uns. He does this all with the help of his tech genius, agoraphobic and possibly autistic mate Ricky. Crane's wife's best friend is also still knocking round, still gorgeous and still single. So Crane has his hands full. The plot is an engaging journey with a surprise left turn just before the end.

Lies After Death is a quite simply, excellent debut novel in my niche genre. The opening chapter in particular was punchy and memorable. The lead character of Tom Crane is a Welsh version of "Ray Donovan." A fixer for hire,  intelligent, handsome, independently wealthy with a social conscience. Men want to be be him and women just want him. I have read a few reviews online on Amazon and was surprised by the amount of women readers and how they thought about Crane. 😲 . 

The pacing is just right, not to slow and not to quick. The plot is intriguing without being overly complicated. The supporting roles while not unusual are well drawn. The setting of the mean streets of Cardiff/Caerphilly are a big plus. Next time I'm in Cardiff I shall be looking for the inspiration behind Corkers!

The violence or threat of violence in the book carries an air of authenticity when you consider the author is an army veteran of several war zones. 

Having read several crime novels set in South Wales, I am slowly building up a cinematic universe in my head equivalent to any heroes Marvel can produce. See "If You Liked This Then You May Like..." Section  In addition to Tom Crane fixer from Caerphilly, there is Jonah Greene, Coroner's Officer from Cardiff (The List by Graham H Miller), DI Mandy Wilde ( The Nesting Place by Jacqueline Harret). And finally DI Marc Fagan of Abergavenny (The Dead Will Beckon by Jason Chapman). It's like Stephen Kings Derry/Bangor Maine but less horror and more crime. More murders than Midsommor 😁.

It is a compliment to the author that his creation fits so well into the aforementioned pantheon. It augers well for a bright future for KJ Dando. A blistering debut.

• Selected Quotes...

Beth’s heart had stopped beating the moment her hatchback struck the tree. The other smaller heart inside her continued to beat a little longer. A tiny heart that fought valiantly for its own survival but unfortunately faced a losing battle. Without its mother’s support, the little heartbeat weakened until it eventually faded away.

He was clearly a bodybuilder who was no stranger to steroids and growth hormones. His silhouette looked part man, part mountain gorilla.

In his experience, bodybuilders were never great fighters. They were big and heavy but sloth-like slow. Most of them struggled with the range of motion to throw a decent punch; in fact, most of them struggled with the range of motion to wipe their own arse properly.

“Are you a policeman?” Would he ask to see my ID if I lied? Probably. “No.” “Sorry,” said the cashier, “it’s company policy to only show the camera footage to the police.” “Why?” The cashier shrugged. “To protect people’s privacy and personal data and stuff like that, I suppose.” “Okay,” said Crane. “In that case, I am a policeman.” The cashier peered at him through dubious eyes and stretched one corner of his mouth to the side. “Can I see some ID?” Crane took out his wallet, removed a twenty, and placed it on the counter. The cashier smiled. “Follow me, officer.”

• If You Liked This Then You May Like...

The Dead Will Beckon by Jason Chapman. Review here

The List by Graham H Miller. Review here

The Nesting Place by Jacqueline Harret. Review here

• About The Author...

Keith lives in Wales with his wife, two young daughters and a cockapoo called Buddy. Before he began writing thrillers, Keith served in the British Army and actively engaged on operational duties in Iraq, Kosovo and Bosnia. He then pursued careers in a number of industries until he finally decided to follow his true passion - writing thrillers. When he isn't writing, you can usually find him up one of the many mountains or on one of the many beaches of Wales, probably with Buddy in tow desperate for him to throw the ball again and again and again.