Reading for pleasure: August 2022

Something To Do With Luck?

Sex, Drugs & Rock ’N’ Roll Has Never Been Told Like This Before

Graham W B Smith (Amazon: £9.99)

Most first novels, they say, are at least semi-autobiographical. For the sake of Graham Smith and those near and dear to him, I really, really hope that’s not the case here. I have no idea whether Graham has ever picked up a bass guitar, never mind cast aside his day job to go on the road with a band like Champions of the Underdog. Or had such adventures as did the book’s heroes, or arrived in style at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut with the expectation of signing the deal which would see them break into the big time.

I’m not quite sure if, in best legal tradition, I should declare an interest before penning this review. Graham’s dad is the Former Brewing Giant with whom I have broken bread on many occasions doing research for my Tom Eats! column. I have commented on a few versions of this manuscript and am namechecked in the acknowledgments. Let’s be more specific. Graham says that there are various people without whose help the book wouldn’t have been completed. He then reconsiders, concluding, “actually, it would have, but it would have been shite”.

The first page sets the tone, they say. Highly appropriate, as two adjectives which come to mind a lot when reading this are “scabrous” and “scatological”. The tales of the Champions of the Underdog’s tour of Scotland are not always for the sensitive – but they are invariably laugh out loud funny. The strong cast of characters is headed by our hero Jimmy, flanked by the duplicitous Sid and the hugely talented, laid back Bobby McGee. There is the lovely on and off inamorata Debs and, of course, Dannie Foster. No great spoiler alert to say that the High Court of Justiciary also has an important part to play.

A rollicking and rogering tale this, picaresque with a capital F. I enjoyed this book enormously.

Bad Actors

Mick Herron (Baskerville: £18.99; e-book £9.99)

Readers may be aware that Apple TV has commissioned Herron’s Slough House books for a series starring Gary Oldman in the lead role. This is the eighth instalment of this tremendous series of books and, while it may be a well worn phrase, in this case it is well earned: they only get better.

This time Herron delves into the world of politics, the novel set against a backdrop where the Prime Minister appears to have left the running of the country to Sparrow, his special adviser “with half the Cabinet terrified of him, and the rest scared stiff”. Sparrow is a “‘disruptor’, a self-described architect of the new future… it was also his habit to proclaim fake news a good thing, since it forced people to question what they heard”.

He has his sights set on taking over control of MI5 and, as such, Diana Tavener, First Desk, finds herself under scrutiny and in personal jeopardy. Her forebear, Claude Whelan is tasked with the job of her removal. Again, Jackson Lamb comes to her aid, belying the perception that he and she have little time for each other. Largely they disagree, but beneath the bluster and challenges, there is a deep desire to ensure the safety and stability of the establishment: that order will be maintained. Her Russian counterpart has slipped into London unnoticed. Why is he there? What is his game plan? The net slowly and deliciously envelopes those it must.

To say more would spoil a tightly drawn and fast paced narrative. The cast of characters is, as always, brilliantly drawn. While River Cartwright is largely absent, we are introduced to Ashley Khan, whose introduction to Jackson Lamb was when he broke her arm! Relax and enjoy the journey.

Rizzio

Denise Mina (Polygon: £7.99; e-book £3.99)

This slim volume was picked up while on holiday. Not sure how it passed us by. Don’t let it pass you by. This is the first of three books which will revisit specific events in Scottish history. The next is Hex, by Jenni Fagan, said to revisit the North Berwick witch trials. 

Easily read in one sitting, Mina retells the murder of David Rizzio at the hands of Lord Darnley, the King Consort, and 56 co-signatories to an agreement that Rizzio was to be murdered. The writing is spellbinding and simply draws one in. The book opens with Darnley and Rizzio playing tennis, a match watched over by Henry Yair, Lord Ruthven’s retainer. He is a central and darkly comical character of the novella, both at the scene of the murder and his subsequent murder of Father Black, a priest. “Yair was always a killing spree looking for an excuse”. Yair “loves the severity of Calvinism, the purity of it.” Darnley and Rizzio’s relationship is unambiguous, although known only to themselves and the Queen, Mary. “Rizzio doesn’t know they’re planning to kill him tonight. He hears rumours and sees whispering, he knows something is going on, but something is always going on: that’s the essence of court life.” 

With Rizzio dead, the conspirators dissolve Parliament and, as they arrived, so the great and the good depart: “they gather their servants and vassals and grooms and maids and wives and mistresses and children, their horses and carriages, cartloads of furnishings, pack up their city lives and leave. The city is deathly quiet”. Outstanding.