Book Review
The Heirs of Owain Glyndwr
A Ben Schroeder Novel
By Peter Murphy
No Exit Press
A quote to start the history going!
Glendower: Three times hath Henry Bolingbroke made head Against my power; thrice from the banks of Wye And sandy-bottom’d Severn have I sent him Bootless home and weather-beaten back. Henry IV, Part One Act 3, Scene 1"
This book is based on events of 1969 around the investiture of Prince Charles to his exalted status of ‘Prince of Wales’. A title enveloped in history and controversy. Wales being the first colony of England suffered for centuries by whoever sat on the English Throne. Welsh nationalist was fueled by more recent injustices with the flooding of the Tryweryn valley and the village of Capel Celyn. That's enough history because this novel deals with two Welsh nationalists, both potential bombers, and what they intended.
The books location is split between Caernarfon, the seat of the investiture, and the Central Criminal Court (The Old Bailey) in London. You can say that prejudice was working hard here in that a bombing crime that was perpetrated in Wales could be fairly heard in the English Capital! Legally, it was correct but what would the verdict have been with a Welsh jury? The English enforcers were not to take that chance.
The story is based on facts of both nationalist activities of explosions and the perpetrators although Peter Murphy has created his own characters with Caradog Prys-Jones, his sister Arianwen and Dafydd Prosser. These were the three that appeared in the dock at The Bailey. There was one person missing and that was Arianwen’s husband Trevor Hughes. He disappeared.
I loved the way Peter Murphy wrote this tale of Welshness, of a love affair, and the way the plotters went cautiously about their business. In the way it is written it speaks of the love that the plotters had for their town and how the plot involved around the bookshop ran by Trevor Hughes and how he became incolculated into the plot.
The drama of the court proceedings is told skillfully by Peter Murphy and with his legal and courtroom experience it should be the case. Gripping, totally encompassing as the evidence is given and the cross examinations occur. It is great to see the contest between the prosecution and defense councils and the behaviour of each. Some to like and some to dislike. This part makes a damn good read.
The single judge is a star too and being a jury trial he has to be careful.
The result and whatever happens is all there for you to read. and for you to feel that the result fitted the evidence.
I was recommended this book by a friend and I am grateful for it. Having investigated the writer, Peter Murphy, I have come across another new writer I would read more of. Also his recommendation to read the first three chapters of ‘a small town in Germany’ by John Le Carré. It being so well written and atmospheric without anything actually happening. That's another author to revisit.
These events took place prior to The Police & Criminal Evidence Act of 1984 and Judges Rules were the guide of how to conduct interviews of suspects. I was a student of both and a lecturer on the latter. This one was one reason that I enjoyed the court room scenes so much. I have not said anything about the outcome of the trial for that is for you to read about.
Tuesday 28 April 2020
THE BOOK - WILL DEAN AND BLACK RIVER
A Book Review
Black River by Will Dean
Point Blank at one world-publications.com
Another Swedish forest mystery or is it Midsommar Madness?
There's nothing better than the feel of a hardback in your hands. And there is no better pleasure than to enjoy a great read.
Because of Theakestons Old Peculier Crime Writers Festival in Harrogate we have unearthed (for us anyway) many new authors. There is a certain satisfaction about finding new ones and talking about them. Will Dean was one.
I have read his previous ones, Dark Pines and Red Snow and they are both set in a wild Swedish forest. Black River is his third drama and he has pushed the boundaries out further to create a different kind of suspense. When two young women go missing and with one there are fragments of evidence to suggest that she has not gone freely. Tammy Yamnim is the first and we already know she is part of Gavrik life by being the owner of a Thai Takeaway. Then another women goes missing.
By this time,Tuva Moodyson, a journalist on The Gavrik Posten, has been our super investigative sleuth in past stories has fled ‘the toy town’ of Gavrik. She returns at a fair lick to try and locate her missing friend, Tammy, hopefully before it's too late. Dean weaves back in other characters from before and that gives a feeling of familiarity. Of course there are some with issues and others that appear anything but ‘ordinary’.
All his stories have had a different ‘bent’ and this one has broke further out and away from what can be considered as the norm. We don't like to read the same old rubbish anyway! He has included some very odd people with very strange lifestyles. You can enjoy reading about them as the story unfolds. The search for the missing ones include tramping through Elk forests and bogs and we soon get to understand the unpleasantries that exist among the trees.
No way will I ever give a plot away. So no more detail except to say if you want something different then give it a try. Michelle read it before I did and proclaimed it was his best so far.
Upon reflection I found that there was far too much time spent searching, re-visiting venues and checking on possible perpetrators to the extent where I failed to see what was being achieved. We had surprises that were not relevant to the main story that only added a little more suspense. I liked the odd scenario that was different and this writer seems to excel in throwing in the unusual. The ending was quirky and needs to be read to find out who survived or not! Enough for now and we even learn that another adventure could be on the way for Tuva.
I am a fan and I will read that one when it's published.
Black River by Will Dean
Point Blank at one world-publications.com
Another Swedish forest mystery or is it Midsommar Madness?
There's nothing better than the feel of a hardback in your hands. And there is no better pleasure than to enjoy a great read.
Because of Theakestons Old Peculier Crime Writers Festival in Harrogate we have unearthed (for us anyway) many new authors. There is a certain satisfaction about finding new ones and talking about them. Will Dean was one.
I have read his previous ones, Dark Pines and Red Snow and they are both set in a wild Swedish forest. Black River is his third drama and he has pushed the boundaries out further to create a different kind of suspense. When two young women go missing and with one there are fragments of evidence to suggest that she has not gone freely. Tammy Yamnim is the first and we already know she is part of Gavrik life by being the owner of a Thai Takeaway. Then another women goes missing.
By this time,Tuva Moodyson, a journalist on The Gavrik Posten, has been our super investigative sleuth in past stories has fled ‘the toy town’ of Gavrik. She returns at a fair lick to try and locate her missing friend, Tammy, hopefully before it's too late. Dean weaves back in other characters from before and that gives a feeling of familiarity. Of course there are some with issues and others that appear anything but ‘ordinary’.
All his stories have had a different ‘bent’ and this one has broke further out and away from what can be considered as the norm. We don't like to read the same old rubbish anyway! He has included some very odd people with very strange lifestyles. You can enjoy reading about them as the story unfolds. The search for the missing ones include tramping through Elk forests and bogs and we soon get to understand the unpleasantries that exist among the trees.
No way will I ever give a plot away. So no more detail except to say if you want something different then give it a try. Michelle read it before I did and proclaimed it was his best so far.
Upon reflection I found that there was far too much time spent searching, re-visiting venues and checking on possible perpetrators to the extent where I failed to see what was being achieved. We had surprises that were not relevant to the main story that only added a little more suspense. I liked the odd scenario that was different and this writer seems to excel in throwing in the unusual. The ending was quirky and needs to be read to find out who survived or not! Enough for now and we even learn that another adventure could be on the way for Tuva.
I am a fan and I will read that one when it's published.
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