THIRTEEN BY STEVE CAVANAGH

Steve Cavavanagh’s crime novel, Thirteen, is on the short list for Theakestons Old Peculier Crime Writers Festival and competition at the Swan Hotel, Harrogate, Yorkshire.  For me, it's the winner.

Before I read any book I want to know as little about it as possible, but it is easy to be swayed by comment, authors names and publicity.  For this book, knowing it was on a short list was enough.   I never read reviews as I want to form my own opinion and if the writing does not gel or I don't like it, then I put the book down. Not this one. I was hooked straight away. Not only are there page-turners there are chapter-turners as well.   

The front cover gives away two facts.  “The serial killer isn't on trial. He's on the jury.”  There is nothing I can do about that as I suppose they want to sell books!

Innocently, I thought this was a ‘stand-alone’, but it isn't. Eddie Flynn is our hero with a history.  He cannot leave the court room and he just has to defend the impossible-to-defend cases. That's another give away as it is set in and around an American court room.  Don't be put off by that as there is so much more to this book than being stuck in a stuffy court.  

Remember there is a killer out there and maybe more than one.  

A celebrity is on trial for the murder of his wife and a man found in the same bed. Nothing obvious there then! The truth eventually emerges though. We know the serial killer is clever as we are told he is on the jury.  But how clever and who the bloody hell is he, this renegade juror? 

Throw into the mix corrupt cops, (well it is Manhattan) clever people from the FBI and a few diligent hard workers who help Eddie Flynn through it all and keep him alive. There is action too especially in the final chapters.  I often wonder how much injury the characters can endure and still come back fighting hard. I know what sleep depravation feels like, but they go on for hours and hours.  I suppose that's what helps them to become heroes!

There are more twists in this book than I thought could be included in one story. Praise for the writer should be delivered in lorry loads?

It is one of the best crime novels that I have ever read.

MONTNEGRE AND ITS TRUMPETER FINCHES

On Friday 27th June, with hot sun being forecast, the three of us Bryan Thomas and Mark Etheridge were searching this rocky and deeply indented landscape for this seemingly elusive species.

We knew they were up there as reports had indicated their presence.  This terrain is unrelenting, difficult and observation points are necessary.  We had tried before, but only with very limited success although condsiderable time and effort had been made.  Bryan, of all of us, has been the most persistant and, as we know, hard work can pay off.

Patiently we waited with mugs of tea in our hands well before 7:20am.  Sharp ears picked out sounds and it was not until we moved to another vantage point that we ´hit-the-jackpot´.  We saw fly pasts as the birds quickly flew around and soon we were able to identify them by their flight.  They flew onto the ground, perched on fences, on electric wires and seemed unfazed by the car.

We had simply, close-up and clear views.  There were great moments as the cameras clicked away.  Mark has posted on Facebook and Bryan has put a great write up on http://birdingcostablanca.blogspot.com

Bryan returned the following morning and saw them again.

We had previously traveled to Cabo De Gata on two occasions, had only one sighting of a pair and that was it.  Montnegre is only 25 minutes from Alicante Airport and it is an interesting ride to get there and you never know what you will see.  I think on another summer morning we will be working this area again.  Because working at is what we do.

Thanks to both Mark and Bryan for the images.

ANOTHER BITTER WHEAT REVIEW

BITTER WHEAT - FARCE OR UNNECESSARY?

Holly Williams writes in Time Out London ‘REALLY, WHAT IS the point? Why stage this? She has a point or two!
We wanted to watch John Malkovich and to see what David Mamet has produced. And that sold us the seats. It was intense and absorbing and even tedious. It depends why the need or desire to see it.
Sitting during the longish ‘first half’ I wondered what a female writer would have been able to create and what slant she would have had. I suppose I will never know because if Holly Williams advice is taken no one would bother writing on this subject anyway. I can only surmise it would have been different and the female boot would surely have been put into a sensitive area of Barney Fein’s groin.
Her other comments suggest the play was ‘to bait all the right-on liberals’. She says ‘It's tiresome’ and ‘theatrically, its loopy’. All good points and that is where ‘farce’ comes into it!
I cannot see the need for this ‘take’ on a sensitive subject should be portrayed as this does. The sad part is that we are asked to see Barney as the victim. Maybe all aggressive predators with power, influence and money should be viewed with sympathy. I don't see it that way, but surely there is a female writer somewhere out there can deal with this subject in the theatrical sense.
Will we? Or will they not bother?

John Malkovich in Bitter Wheat

BITTER WHEAT.

The front of the programme states ‘The World Premier’ of Bitter Wheat, a new play written and directed by David Mamet at the Garrick Theatre. If that was not enough to grab your attention then there is the huge figure of John Malkovich gripping a golden figurine.

I was reminded of the cliché, ‘A Game of Two Halves’ as this script was a play of two thirds split by two scene changes and a final third of something different! The set was simple and striking with straight lines. A large desk on one side and a black chair and small table on the other was enough. Stage right allowed the only access.

This is not a play for the not-so-dedicated, but for those that enjoy acting. Mr John Malkovich led superbly as Barney Fein and that would have been expected. He was not alone, but other actors were only there to make a point or two. Doon Mackichan, as Sondra, played her supporting part brilliantly as his P.A. and confidante with Joanne Kimbrook as Yung Kim Li. The latter being the subject of his lust. They both gave Barney space to be his powerful arrogant self and all interjections timed to perfection.

The critics will love this. The first part demanded attention to the point of being tedious. It was serious stuff! Humour was absent and we wondered where the ‘farce’ element was going to happen. (It was billed as a farce). A man two seats away from me commented that it would need a major edit before becoming successful.

The last third was funny. It became a farce and we laughed. The ‘turns’ in the script were farcical to the point of being ridiculous. But I didn't care because it emphasised the ridiculousness of extreme power and the consequences.

This is a script taking the ‘trendy’ route, but it is better our there on stage than being chatted about in pubs! It didn't give any answers, but highlighted where we are at. We are all subject to the power of others.