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The Last Tiger by Tony Black

Tony Black is a prolific author, putting most of us, me included, with his output, genre variation and downright skill. His most recent novel is The Last Tiger, which has been getting rave reviews. I was lucky enough to get an early peek... Here's my view.



Myoko's life has been turned upside down. He and his family arrive in Tasmania, a world that's the opposite of the one he's just left. Myoko's father had a farm until Russian authorities took it over. Now his family are scraping a living at a large sheep farm. But Myoko's father quickly discovers a new role - that of tiger hunter. Once common, the tiger has been all but wiped out by farmers - a pest that preyed on livestock and livelihoods, hated by everyone.

But Myoko, after several direct experiences with tigers, vehemently disagrees with his father and, when what is perhaps the last lair is discovered, father and son clash.

This is a story of head vs. heart, the past vs. the present, reality vs. the supernatural. The father, who must provide for his family pitted against Myoko who's desperate to save a stately animal. However, there are also several dark secrets that Black skilfully weaves into the narrative through periodic flashbacks to the family's life on the farm and the reasons for their flight to Tasmania.

The Last Tiger is beautifully told - the nearest a novel could come to poetry without being such. The descriptions are rich and vivid, the reader is entirely immersed in the family's lives and their tribulations. The clash between father and son, the mother's descent into instability and superstition to save her husband with the fate of the tigers enmeshed with them. The sense of place is strong, the characters bright and alive.

A powerful tale of man and the environment.

Abide With Me - Ian Ayris

Abide With Me is the story of the two fourteen year-old boys, Kenny and John, growing up together in the East End of London during the late 1970’s and into the 1980’s. One is very odd, the other very normal. Inexplicably drawn together their lives eventually take very different turns until fate brings them back together again.

If you’ve read any of my previous reviews you’ll know I favour the genres of crime / thriller / noir (delete as applicable). So to pick up a coming of age novel is somewhat of a departure. However, I was so blown away by the quality of writing in Ayris’ A Day in the Life of Jason DeanI felt compelled to read this full-length novel. And I’m very glad I did.

Written in the first person from John’s perspective, Ayris immediately paints a strong view of working class London life in a small community with close friends and family – good and bad. John lives reasonably well, not poor, not rich. He’s full of life, loves his football and his school days. His neighbor, Kenny, couldn’t be more different. He comes from an abusive background and it shows. The kid is withdrawn, uncommunicative, and downright weird.

However, John finds himself drawn to protecting Kenny at school and as a result develops friends and enemies that remain in place through this teenage and eventually adult years.

Like A Day In The Life… Ayris pulls the emotional heartstrings very well, it is easy to immerse yourself in this powerful story of two very different children. The characters are highly compelling, the strongest part of Abide With Me. As a reader I really wanted to know what would happen to the pair, particularly when their paths diverged for a period (John ends up in prison and has a pretty brutal seven year stretch) and then ultimately cross paths again. Kenny eventually repays John’s faith in an incredibly emotional final scene.

The prose and dialogue are excellent, locally themed, but this adds to the story, rather than detracts. John’s voice is excellent, it varies throughout the story as he matures and then ends up in trouble. You can feel the character developing through his eyes. Very well done.

This is an excellent debut novel and readers that enjoy strong, compelling, and raw characterization would do well to pick it up. 

Rating - 5*

News and Reviews

Caffeine Nights are releasing six novellas all about Konstantin Boryakov, the tramp from The Fix. They're backstory and a lead up to a new novel in 2015.

The first to be released was Dream Land which is on an Amazon countdown, another couple of days to go.

Here's the blurb:

DREAM LAND, Konstantin’s first 48 hours in Margate. Neither will be the same again. 
From the author of best-selling THE FIX, comes an introduction to Konstantin Boryakov, the enigmatic tramp who claims to be ex-KGB and in hiding. A man with a dark past and a darker future.
 
Konstantin has just arrived in the UK, Margate to be specific, having escaped persecution by the authorities in his own country. The second he steps out of a car he gets into trouble, targeted by local villain Dave the Rave. But Dave chose the wrong man to pick a fight with… 

Just out is Plastic Fantastic:

From the author of best-selling THE FIX, comes another chapter in Konstantin Boryakov’s life, the enigmatic tramp who claims to be ex-KGB and in hiding. A man with a dark past and a darker future.
Fidelity Brown has a problem. She owes a local up and coming hard man cash, lots of it. Cash she doesn’t have because her night job – a dildo wielding, rubber clad dominatrix going by the name of Plastic Fantastic – isn’t paying enough yet. 

But Fidelity thinks she knows someone who can help her… 

All Konstantin Boryakov wants is to be left alone. Cast out by the organisation that had nurtured and trained him Konstantin is a man without purpose, that is until Fidelity comes knocking on his door.
Cue double dealing, kidnap and revenge as Konstantin rises again. 




Dream Land has been positively reviewed over at Crimesquad today:

"...a tight punchy novella..."
Synopsis:
Konstantin has just arrived in the UK, Margate to be specific, having escaped persecution by the authorities in his own country. The second he steps out of a car he gets into trouble, targeted by local villain Dave the Rave.

But Dave chose the wrong man to pick a fight with...

Review:
Nixon has penned a tight punchy novella with a distinct voice. Dream Land is anything but dreamy and the whole feel is that of gritty noir fiction in which there are no winners, only degrees of losing.

Konstantin and Dave the Rave dominate the story as they both strive for their individual goals. For me Konstantin was the far more interesting character and I’d love to know more about his past.
Reviewed by: G.S.
CrimeSquad Rating:    



http://www.crimesquad.com/reviews.asp

Next out is Fat Gary...

It's Been A While...Sorry!

My blog has been offline for far too long, it'll be back soon with more reviews and news.

For now just let me say I've two new novellas out - Dream Land and Plastic Fantastic. Both are available through my publisher, Caffeine Nights, and at Amazon.