Reviews

A Patient Man

This bold and striking work by Scott pushes and pulls you in all directions, conveying humble upbringings on Canvey Island, boyish mischief and playfulness, and adult flaws and skulduggery. As soon as you’re settled in for a comfy mystery, another twist or jaw-dropping conundrum places it more in thriller territory. The descriptions of lives and places are vivid and earthy, and a step back to 70s Essex with all its quirks and hang-ons from the East End. Often bittersweet, A Patient Man is filled with humour and subtlety, yet uncompromising and delivered with brutal honesty until the final scene plays out.

James Smith – 5 STARS

Thank you NetGalley and Troubadour Publishing/Matador for the eARC.
What a wonderful book, I absolutely loved it, a must read!

Mikey is an 8-year old who lives on Canvey Island just outside of London, where he roams free and wild, having the time of his life. His parents don’t seem to care about him going to school, so why should he? He gets up to some funny and not so funny antics, all the while scavenging for the odd coins to buy himself drinks and fast food. His mother isn’t the kind of mum who cooks, she’s too busy going to the pub with her best friend. His dad spends most of his time in London, hovering on the edges of the big crime syndicates.

Everything changes when an elderly couple, Peggy and Bert, up the street from them wins an enormous amount of money from the Lotto and end up being the victims of a cruel crime, leaving Peggy dead. Life as Mikey knows it, is no more and Bert’s revenge causes Mikey’s family to fall apart irrevocably.

I found this book so touching; Mikey’s love for his mum is heartbreaking and his Dad is quite an appealing character, but not so his half sister and brother. Although that’s not surprising considering the appalling conditions of their home life.
The story ends on a hopeful note and I have to say this is an extraordinarily insightful mystery that makes you think about retribution and what it does to one’s psyche. Highly recommended!

Hannelore C, Reviewer – 5 STARS

(Courtesy of NetGalley)

Elizabeth, William…and Me

An engaging comedy with some thought provoking themes

This warm, humorous and entertaining novel tells the unlikely story of the arrival of Elizabeth I and William Shakespeare into the life of its modern day heroine, Ally. Unlikely, but the story is told with such a degree of conviction and infused with such an intimate knowledge and understanding of Shakespeare’s work that it becomes entirely convincing. There are elements of the picaresque in its fast moving romp through 21st century Britain which offers a wry, contemporary perspective on modern life rooted firmly in the present, whilst at the same time the Elizabethan perspective through which this modern world is filtered gives it an engaging originality and brings the story to life. S Lynn Scott’s wide knowledge of Shakespeare’s work breathes new life into the old, familiar stories whilst illuminating her own modern tale. As the story develops, there is a growing complexity in the characterisation, particularly in the character of William, whom she develops with great affection into a sensitive and empathetic person who reflects back all the novel’s themes. In the later parts of the novel, the work takes on a more sombre tone, as we begin to learn more about Ally’s nature and what brought her to the point where the story begins. This highly enjoyable comedy also has a darker side which explores human nature in its fragility and complexity, just like the best of Shakespeare’s comedies. An excellent first novel, and I’ll look forward to the next!

Jackie E (5 Stars)

Brilliant….

Brilliant – funny and at times sad, a thoroughly entertaining read. Loved the characters and the unusual story line. Could not help but warm to the central character Ally and the complex situation she found herself in. Didn’t want the story to end and thoroughly looking forward to more from S Lynn Scott.

Kaly S (5 Stars)

Wonderful

A lovely journey through reality, imagination, tragedy and history. One woman the Rocky Horror show and the most famous author ever. Warm and unexpected. Read it!

T Budworth (5 Stars)

Bloody Brilliant

I heard an excerpt from the book read out by Lynn Scott, the author. I was intrigued and bought the book. I will miss Elizabeth and William – such wonderful characterisations.

JacquieT (5 Stars)