Friday 11 November 2011

HOW THE BOOK TREATED ME: VIVA LA MADNESS BY J.J. CONNOLLY


Okay, I posted a few weeks back that I’d picked up a copy of Viva La Madness by J.J. Connolly and I said I’d let you all know how the book treated me. This is the sequel to Layer Cake, a long-time favourite read of mine, which went on to become a favourite film; J.J. Connolly wrote the screenplay and did a mighty fine job.

A long awaited sequel; it’s something like ten years since Layer Cake was first published but well worth waiting for.

Almost 450 pages, Viva La Madness is long and sometimes I struggle with this length of novel. I’m happy to report I had no such problems. The narrative hooked me from page one, keeping me wriggling on the line like an exhausted kipper.

Set in 2001, Viva La Madness picks up the story of the anonymous drug dealing hero from Layer Cake; now retired, keeping his head down and picking up a suntan in the West Indies. But he is soon pulled back to Blighty and the cut-throat, murky drug business by his friend and associate Mister Mortimer.

Cue an amazing cast of characters and a story line with heavy London underworld gangsters, gun toting Venezuelan drug cartels, international money laundering and high tech banking fraud.  

Written in the same first person point of view as Layer Cake, Viva La Madness has a truly authentic voice, witty sharp dialogue, and a complex plot. Moving at breakneck pace; Viva La Madness is believable, farcical and violent at times as our hero finds his life literally on the line and begins to regret his decision to come out of early retirement, longing again for the sunny, easy life of the Caribbean.

Viva La Madness treated me well and is highly recommended reading.

Friday 4 November 2011

DRUNK ON THE MOON: 6


The latest instalment of the innovative Drunk on the Moon series has just been released. For those of you not in the know Drunk on the Moon is an inspired succession of hardboiled noir/horror short stories featuring Roman Dalton; a retired detective and once a month, barking at the full moon werewolf.

Paul D Brazill wrote the first instalment and from there different writers have picked up the keyboard and baton. This concept allows the writers to have fun and take the characters and tales in a different direction.

The latest, Silver Tears, penned by John Donald Carlucci finds Roman in the sights of a nasty serial killer who wants a bite of the action. Another terrific story, as are the previous five.

The series brought to you by those lovely people at Trestle Press currently stacks up like this:

Drunk on the Moon by Paul D Brazill
Drunk on the Moon 2: Fear the Night by Julia Madeleine
Drunk on the Moon 3: The Darke Affair by Allan Leverone
Drunk on the Moon 4: Insatiable by BR Stateham
Drunk on the Moon 5: Getting High on Daisy by Richard Godwin
Drunk on the Moon 6: Silver Tears by John Donald Carlucci       

At just £0.86p or $1.34 a pop all are tremendous value for money and just the perfect story format for the Kindle.

Go on treat yourself and give it a clickety-click!

Tuesday 1 November 2011

BLASTED HEATH


Blasted Heath has launched today. An innovative and exciting digital publishing venture; congrats and good luck go to all involved.