Reviewed by: Keith Nixon
Genre: Crime
Approximate word count: 15-20,000 words
Availability
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Author:
Darren
Sant’s childhood was spent living between two large housing estates. The
locations and characters provided the inspiration for Sant’s stories.
To learn
more about the author visit his website.
Description:
After being
made redundant the aptly named Potter decides to turn his hand to private
investigation. After receiving several calls enquiring whether he really was a
dick for hire, flame haired beauty Moonchild Burgess swishes into his office
and he gets his first case.
Appraisal:
As well as
the Moonchild blackmail case Potter is quickly called upon to find a missing
dog and to follow a 15 year old girl whose father thinks she’s getting herself
into some trouble. Unfortunately the case is not as straightforward as it seems
– Moonchild’s husband is a very shady and particularly nasty gangster. To cap
it all a mystery man is trying to track Potter down.
I
thoroughly enjoyed this novella. It’s a fun read that doesn’t take itself too
seriously. On the other hand the story is well constructed, the prose bright
and energetic. It’s well balanced and articulate rather than blunt and
sarcastic.
The
characters are strong, in particular the lead, PI Potter (Christian name not
revealed and in itself a pun – the action is based in Stoke, which used to have
a huge ceramic pottery industry) but supported by a cast of others who aid and
abet the investigations he undertakes – Martin the barman, Dennis the chip shop
owner (and landlord) and Simon the copper. It is Potter himself who narrates
the story and we receive his sense of humour loud and clear.
The sharp,
witty dialogue is used well to keep the humour and entertainment rolling.
The three
investigative strands soon interlink and brings the tale to a conclusion with
the bad guys getting their just desserts in a very satisfactory ending.
This is
reputed to be the first in a series. I look forward to seeing the rest,
hopefully in a longer format to fully develop Mr Potter.
FYI:
British
tongue in cheek humour.
Format/Typo Issues:
None.
Rating: ***** Five Stars
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