Tuesday, 1 January 2019

David Quantick - Go West


Rating: 4/5

Review:
Very entertaining

I like David Quantick’s journalism and broadcasts very much and I’m pleased to say that I enjoyed Go West, too. It’s amusing, completely bonkers in places and rather a gripping read.

Charlie Bread is an “Antiques Whisperer” who is employed to spot fake antiques. He is sent to Devon to examine a manuscript...and things get complicated. An absurd but entertaining plot ensues involving sinister men pursuing him, a beautiful but mysterious woman who keeps cropping up, fake identities and so on, plus a strange journey though the South West of England.

David Quantick is an accomplished and witty writer, so the book is a pleasure to read. Don’t expect a serious thriller, although it is quite an exciting story; there are ridiculous coincidences and unexplained absurdities in places, but I didn’t mind that at all. The whole thing works on its own terms and we also get quite a lot of obscure musical references (of course) and some enjoyable commentary on aspects of English life and travel which reminded me a little of some of Stuart Maconie’s books – which is high praise.

Go West is involving, witty and often funny and it is built on rather erudite foundations which gives it some substance, too. Recommended.

(My thanks to Unbound for an ARC via NetGalley.)

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