Paterson Loarn's Blog: Paterson Loarn on Goodreads, page 9

The Last Beekeeper by Rebecca L. Fearnley

This is a review of The Last Beekeeper by Rebecca L. Fearnley. Four other novels with the same title are available. They differ in time periods, locations and target audiences, but they are all inspired by the existential threat hanging over bees and other winged insects. This shows the level of international concern about the outcome for humankind, if bees become extinct.
Fearnley’s novel is a dystopian fantasy aimed at young adults. In the world she creates the worst has already happened. Bees have disappeared from the face of the earth. I rarely read this genre (I chose the book because I care about bees) so it took me a couple of chapters to adjust to its fast pace and dynamic action. The story is set in a future distant enough for bees to have vanished from the face of the earth, but too recent for them to be forgotten. Civilisation as we know it has collapsed, and humanity has reverted to a tribal lifestyle. Because there are no bees, crops have to be pollinated by hand. Food insecurity is a reality of everyday life.
The lead character is Solma, a sixteen year old warrior. Like any teenager, Solma has to deal with clashes in her friendship group and figure out who she can trust. She and her brother Warren, who is only seven, are orphans in the care of their aunt Bell. With the help of the old women in the community, Solma has recovered from a traumatic injury and returned to her post with the guards who protect their village. Her main aim in life is to care for her little brother and keep him safe, so when she realises that Warren has a superpower which exposes him to danger from the ruling caste, her world is turned upside down.
There are other young people with magical powers in the community where Solma and Warren live, but only Warren can communicate with bees. A few chapters are written from the point of view of the queen bee herself. This informs the reader about the bees’ struggle for survival in a relatable and empathic way.
The Last Beekeeper by Rebecca L Fearnley is suitable for students aged eleven to sixteen, especially if they are interested in environmental issues. It is the first book in what promises to be an addictive trilogy.

Brouhaha by Ardal O'Hanlon

Ardal O’Hanlon’s debut novel Brouhaha is set on the border between the Republic of Ireland and Ulster. Not long before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, teenager Sandra Mohan left home one dark night. Since then, except for occasional postcards from London, nothing has been heard from her. Young people often leave Tullyanna in pursuit of adventure, so Sandra becomes no more than a puzzling memory. Philip Sharkey and Joanne McCollum also left, but a decade and a half later, they are back. Ambitious Joanne is a reporter for Howareya, the local newspaper. Philip, a drifter and jack of all trades, is mourning the suicide of his childhood friend, Dove Connolly. Their investigations into Sandra’s disappearance raise troubling questions. A clue to the mystery is hidden in a graphic novel created by Dove, who was a talented artist and Sandra’s wannabe boyfriend.

Tullyanna is fictional, but its characters belong in any real-life country town. They include an influential local politician who used to be the local bully, a retired policeman turned soccer coach and a folksy doctor who drives like a maniac. As for the group of boyhood friends surrounding Philip, the like of them can be seen hanging around on street corners in any town, anywhere in the world. What makes Brouhaha truly Irish is the long-term influence of history and politics on events.

O’Hanlon writes with the quirky, eclectic humour which characterises his stand-up performances. His storytelling is punctuated with satirical references to Irish history, popular culture and mythology. He often uses phrases from the local dialect, such as ‘says you’, to give rhythm to long sentences. His prose has a Joycean flow of consciousness. In my opinion as an Ulsterwoman, Brouhaha is best enjoyed by going along with the flow.

A Most Private Bank by Andreas F. Clenow

Jim Dixon, the main character in A Most Private Bank, blows the lid off the cliché that bankers are dull, bureaucratic and risk-averse. Dixon’s world is the international banking community in Zurich. By setting the action against a background of private jets, exclusive hotels and professional assassinations, Andreas F. Clenow has transformed a tale of high-end money management into a rollicking James Bond style adventure.

The action begins when an expensively dressed young woman walks into Dixon’s family finance office and introduces herself as the daughter of a former client. She makes an outrageous, but potentially highly profitable, business proposition. Although he understands the dangers involved only too well, Dixon’s inborn greed compels him to take on the challenge. Gradually he is drawn deep into an intricate, multi-faceted sting. When a close colleague is murdered, he realises his own life is in danger. He is left with nothing to rely on but his own quick wit and business experience.

Fifty year old Dixon, who is going through a divorce, is a hardened drinker and goes in for casual flings with women half his age. The only person he respects is Sandra, his administrator, a Moneypenny figure who knows him well enough to give him a hard time. So far so shady, but Clenow has given Dixon great lines and a cool swagger reminiscent of Humphrey Bogart. I found him intriguing.

I enjoyed reading about the objects the inhabitants of this rarefied environment use to display their status. Dixon has an emotional attachment to his collection of valuable watches. He keeps them in a safe at his office and selects one to wear according to who he is meeting. All kinds of exclusive brands are given a name check. The private plane where Dixon is held captive is described in jaw-dropping detail. It’s fascinating stuff.

I recommend this book to lovers of action adventure and anyone with an interest in the criminal side of international finance.

Brouhaha by Ardal O'Hanlon

Ardal O’Hanlon’s debut novel Brouhaha is set on the border between the Republic of Ireland and Ulster. Not long before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, teenager Sandra Mohan left home one dark night. Since then, except for occasional postcards from London, nothing has been heard from her. Young people often leave Tullyanna in pursuit of adventure, so Sandra becomes no more than a puzzling memory. Philip Sharkey and Joanne McCollum also left, but a decade and a half later, they are back. Ambitious Joanne is a reporter for Howareya, the local newspaper. Philip, a drifter and jack of all trades, is mourning the suicide of his childhood friend, Dove Connolly. Their investigations into Sandra’s disappearance raise troubling questions. A clue to the mystery is hidden in a graphic novel created by Dove, who was a talented artist and Sandra’s wannabe boyfriend.

Tullyanna is fictional, but its characters belong in any real-life country town. They include an influential local politician who used to be the local bully, a retired policeman turned soccer coach and a folksy doctor who drives like a maniac. As for the group of boyhood friends surrounding Philip, the like of them can be seen hanging around on street corners in any town, anywhere in the world. What makes Brouhaha truly Irish is the long-term influence of history and politics on events.

O’Hanlon writes with the quirky, eclectic humour which characterises his stand-up performances. His storytelling is punctuated with satirical references to Irish history, popular culture and mythology. He often uses phrases from the local dialect, such as ‘says you’, to give rhythm to long sentences. His prose has a Joycean flow of consciousness. In my opinion as an Ulsterwoman, Brouhaha is best enjoyed by going along with the flow.

Villager by Tom Cox

Villager is a ramble through the history of a village at the foot of a tor. Hares and wild ponies, a stone circle and a church are on the map. Crows circle the crown of the hill. Mystical voices from distant eras comment on the doings of the living. At times the past of the village orbits eerily close to its present, with startling results. I loved ‘Message Board (2012)’, in which a member of the Beaker tribe who lived in Underhill during the Bronze Age appears to join a WhatsApp chat. Some of the stories have a ‘coming-of-age’ feel. Cox shows how young people fail to appreciate days they will look back on as the best of their lives. Other tales focus on relationships between loners, which scrape the surface of friendship but never reach the core. The passages about rivers are stunning. Cox writes brilliantly about the power of moving water.

The arts are important to the structure of Villager. It opens with a painting and ends with an exploration of the life of a semi-mythical folk singer. The time line is eclectic, with episodes set at variousTom Cox times between 1932 and 2099. The underlying narrative of these episodes is expressed by the tor itself in the sections labelled ‘Me’, which are written in first person and present tense. By personifying the tor and giving it a human voice, Cox expresses some intriguing ideas about time and the earth. ‘I desire love,’ says the tor. ‘I want to see it thrive. But I also want blood.’

In March 21, I reviewed Tom Cox’s previous book, Notebook. I described this collection of jottings as a funny and perceptive examination of the absurdities of everyday life. Cox has moved on from casually observing the world around him to a deeper and darker analysis. Villager is equally as satirical and engaging as Notebook, but there is an increased awareness of ancient wisdom. The author explores links between the experiences of people who lived in Devon thousands of years ago and modern day villagers. The strongest of these links between the generations is the land itself.

I recommend Villager to fans of folk music, lovers of Dartmoor and readers of witty short stories.

Let's Pretend by Laura Vaughan

Laura Vaughan’s debut novel The Favour was one of my favourite books of 2021. Her new book 'Let's Pretend' has the same mix of perception and humour.

In Let’s Pretend Vaughan examines the fake lifestyle of wannabe movie stars and influencers. Former child star Lily, now thirty, agrees to a ‘fauxmance’ with B-lister Adam Harker in an attempt to kick-start her career. Together they set off on a crazy red carpet tour, throwing the reader into constant suspense about what the next twist will be. But Adam has his own problems, and the stellar success he and Lily crave cruelly eludes him.

When Adam is found dead in a swimming pool, Lily fears someone was out to get him - and she may be next. Let’s Pretend is beautifully written. In spite of the serious issues it addresses Lily’s story is told with a light touch, and Vaughan’s brilliantly observed and witty descriptions of her characters made me laugh out loud.

Not a Happy Family

Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena is an expertly plotted and enjoyable ‘whodunit’.

In an opulent mansion, Fred and Sheila Merton host dinner for their three adult children. The occasion is spoiled by Fred's vindictive behaviour, and the evening ends on a sour note. Hours later, the older couple are brutally murdered. Catherine, Dan and Jenna appear to be devastated by the loss of their parents, but because they each stand to inherit millions, they are all key suspects. Was it a member of this spectacularly dysfuctional family who committed the hideous crime? Or did some outsider, with a grudge against the fabulously wealthy Mertons, take a bloody revenge?

Shari Lapena drives the action along by taking her readers inside the minds of her characters. Cleverly, she manages to do this without revealing any clues to their guilt or innocence. There are several sub-plots (some more intriguing than others) which throw in red herrings, and a satisfying twist at the end. The author’s use of present tense creates a sense of urgency. The main characters are realistic and interesting, but too flawed to invite empathy. This means the reader can approach the mystery without emotion, as a puzzle to be solved.

I recommend Not a Happy Family to fans of murder mysteries with a hint of domestic noir.Not a Happy Family

Tunnel of Mirrors by Ferne Arfin

Tunnel of Mirrors by Ferne Arfin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Tunnel of Mirrors by Ferne Arfin spans the first three decades of the twentieth century. It convincingly links an orthodox Jewish family living in the Lower East Side of New York with a Catholic fishing community on Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland. Rachel’s old-fashioned Orthodox father suppresses the aspirations of his large family. Ciaran’s love for his single mother ties him to a subsistence lifestyle reliant on fishing and cliff climbing. Up to the moment Rachel saves Ciaran’s life in New York in 1928, Arfin records their separate journeys. Ciaran makes thoughtless choices and ends up in the wrong place at a dangerous time. Rachel brings disaster on herself and her young son through a failed attempt to achieve personal freedom. Both characters are relatable, and the story of how they finally connect is fascinating.

During Rachel’s teenage years, the neighbours call her a witch because of her strange daydreams and blank episodes. The novel is structured around lyrical passages based on mythology magically passed down to Rachel by a grandmother she never met. I do not read fantasy and I prefer action to lyricism, but I must say these poetic sections are beautifully written. I found Ciaran’s mindset easier to grasp. I was born in Northern Ireland and spent several childhood summers within sight of Rathlin Island, which is now a flourishing tourist destination. Arfin’s handling of New York dialect seems masterful to me. She has also done a very good job in conveying Ciaran’s Irish speech patterns and the legend of the sea-dwelling, shapeshifting selkies.

I found the way Arfen handles dialogue in Tunnel of Mirrors compelling. Reading it was like having access to live conversations from an episode in history of which we only have unreliable memories and anecdotes. This is what enabled me to understand the book’s underlying theme of fatherhood, its inclusive treatment of outsiders and how Rachel and Ciaran come to terms with the age gap between them. I think an Audible version of Tunnel of Mirrors would be excellent.





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