.
HIM?
Alive and well and living in Reigate in 1951?
Surely not …!!!
Rowena Furse and Erika von Tirpitz are unlikely friends. Rowena loves gardening and opera - Erika loves gin and men. Despite their differing lifestyles, they have something in common - Mr Morell, an elderly German refugee they have taken under their wing.
One afternoon, led astray by Erika, the usually teetotal Mr Morell drinks some gin and, whilst under the influence, makes an astonishing confession. The revelation sparks a chain of bizarre events - mistaken identity, mayhem at Reigate carnival, and even murder. The trail stretches from leafy Surrey to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands … and back.
Is Morell's claim genuine, or is he, in Erika's words, 'plain bonkers'?
Ben Grimshaw, cub reporter on the Surrey Mirror, tries to fathom it
all out. But it takes his more experienced, more worldly brother, Storm, a Fleet Street journalist, to unravel the truth.
Ultimately, all roads lead to the old fort on top of Reigate Hill.
"This is a very good read for anyone who interested in the Second World War and its subsequent ramifications. For someone like me,
who also knows the Reigate area where the book is based, it becomes fascinating. The storyline is good and strong and encourages
the reader to think in advance how the plot will thicken and then reach its conclusion. It is also interesting in as much as there was a
German national who lives within the Reigate area and whom it was suspected had Nazi contacts during World War II. The story
progresses steadily and the conclusion, when reached, is both surprising and rewarding. This is a book I would recommend to any
reader, whether they are interested in the World War II genre or just like a mystery story." [J.B.]
*
"Having enjoyed the author's short story collection, I decided to read this. At first I thought it was just an enjoyable and slightly saucy
romp through 1950s Reigate, the definition of leafy middle-class suburbia, with a slightly … erm … unlikely plot. However the book
took a darker turn quite shockingly and then delivered another cruel blow - and turned into a thriller. Written well with a very light
and humorous touch - I laughed out loud a couple of times - this was a joy to read. The author's love of a seaside postcard
only adds to the book and the plot actually delivers despite the unlikely premise and setting. Worth reading" [G.G.R.]
*
"An intriguing plot carefully interspersed with factual references. The colourful characters, introduced gradually, entice the reader
further through the book. I couldn't put it down." [G.S.]