Catford, South-east London, 2003. Miles Askew, charming but feckless, works for a small-time private investigation agency. Born to privilege, at 38 his career and relationships are a car crash.
One August weekend Miles’ easy existence is obliterated when a lover gives him an alarming ultimatum, and a seemingly straightforward investigation into local greyhound racing erupts with the suspicious death of a colleague.
As Miles desperately grapples for atonement and justice, he is forced to confront both ruthless criminal conspirators and his own conflicted loyalties. Bribery, blackmail and violent death play out against a shifting social backdrop of Blair’s England and Catford’s criminal past, and Miles finds the odds of escaping unscathed increasingly stacked against him.
What did I think?
I just had to read Catford Dogs as soon as I heard about it as I remember finding its name very amusing when I saw it listed in the racing pages as a youngster. With corruption both on and off the track, the book delivered so much more than I expected and I absolutely loved it.
There are some great characters in the book and I loved the main character of private investigator Miles Askew. He's never really had to work hard for anything in his life but he certainly needs to roll his sleeves up and get stuck in when he's put on the case of strange goings on at the dog track. Dogs that should be winning are losing but the owners and trainers can't work out what's going on so one owner turns to Fox Forensics to solve the case.
As Miles digs deeper into events at the track, he uncovers a fraud that goes deeper than he could ever have imagined and it's a little too close to home for his liking. As the various threads of the story weave through the prose they all come together beautifully at the end to reveal a stunning tapestry that shocked, surprised and entertained me.
I loved everything about this book: the gritty, descriptive writing, the well-developed, colourful characters, the unusual setting and the riveting, fast-paced plot. I am delighted to see 'Miles Askew Book One' printed on the cover as I have a very good feeling about this series and I can't wait to read more. Very highly recommended.
I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
My rating:
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About the author:
Andy Burn spent years making stuff up for business presentations before pivoting to the novel as a medium for writing fiction. A glittering portfolio career of board level experience in finance, property and media, or an inebriated stagger from one shaky rock to another while trying to dodge the bullet? Opinions vary but either way Andy’s working life has brought him into close contact with the best and worst of the business world. The bullies, the corrupt, the greedy, the charlatans, and the bullshit pedlars, but some pretty decent people too. He’s also slept in a refugee camp and blown stuff up in North Africa, studied Matisse, and walked hundreds of miles of coastline for good causes. Life experience peppers his writing. In his spare time he takes divots off golf courses or oils his gun collection. He lives in West Somerset with a very tolerant family and some intolerant dogs.
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