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South By Southwest Wales
Samson Valentine is the best private eye ever to wear a fedora–or at least he was, before he became a washed-up booze hound. There simply isn't demand for a whiskey-swilling Welsh gumshoe who insists he's living in 1940's Chicago. Everything changes when a massive diamond falls into his lap.
Before he's too sure of what's going on, he's swept up in the biggest case of his life. The mob will do anything to get its gemstone back, and they prove it when Sam's friend turns up dead. Now it's personal, and Sam sets out on a one-man mission to take down the Welsh crime syndicate. Armed with little more than his wits and his fists, the odds don't look good. Too much time at the bottom of a whiskey bottle has given him trembling hands and an addled brain. If he's to have any chance of bringing the mob to justice, he'll first need to come to grips with his worst enemy–himself.
Before he's too sure of what's going on, he's swept up in the biggest case of his life. The mob will do anything to get its gemstone back, and they prove it when Sam's friend turns up dead. Now it's personal, and Sam sets out on a one-man mission to take down the Welsh crime syndicate. Armed with little more than his wits and his fists, the odds don't look good. Too much time at the bottom of a whiskey bottle has given him trembling hands and an addled brain. If he's to have any chance of bringing the mob to justice, he'll first need to come to grips with his worst enemy–himself.
261 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2018
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
David Owain Hughes
107 books106 followersDavid Owain Hughes is a word-slinger of horror and crime fiction, who grew up on trashy b-movies from the age of five which helped rapidly instil in him a vivid imagination. He’s had multiple short stories published in various online magazines and anthologies, along with articles, reviews and interviews. He’s written for This Is Horror, Blood Magazine, and Horror Geeks Magazine.
Hughes is the author of six horror novels, four short story collections and a plethora of novellas. Although he predominately writes within the bracket of horror and its multiple sub-genres, he’s recently branched out into crime fiction and is slowly carving out a superb series of crime/noir thrillers under the umbrella title of South Wales.
Hughes is the author of six horror novels, four short story collections and a plethora of novellas. Although he predominately writes within the bracket of horror and its multiple sub-genres, he’s recently branched out into crime fiction and is slowly carving out a superb series of crime/noir thrillers under the umbrella title of South Wales.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 15, 2018
Review: SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST WALES by David Owain Hughes
Not often do I envision a book as film, but SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST WALES is too precious and perfect not to. Every moment I read, while simultaneously marveling at the author's talent, suspensefully hanging on the cliff edge (or knife edge) of the sharp plot, I visualized the film, starring Barbara Stanwyck as the wealthy but enigmatic and mysterious Mrs. Barnes, and Jimmy Stewart as the sometimes bumbling, sometimes swiftly efficient, private investigator Samson Valentine. Ronald Colman was offstage as the supposedly suave con artist, Mr. Barnes. And the always elusive criminal mastermind Xray? Played by the Wizard of Oz, of course. This engrossing scenario was brought to us by prolific author David Owain Hughes, channeling pulp noir author Dashiell Hammett.
Lest you find my casting too outre, I should point out that Samson Valentine, former military, former police detective, is an alcoholic, twice-widowed private detective in contemporary Cardiff, Wales. However, by an extraordinary ability, Samson also believes himself to be a P.I. in 1940's Chicago, a veteran of the era of gangsters, mob sway, and Tommy guns. He doesn't just long for it, he lives it; and he had this reader living it too.
Not often do I envision a book as film, but SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST WALES is too precious and perfect not to. Every moment I read, while simultaneously marveling at the author's talent, suspensefully hanging on the cliff edge (or knife edge) of the sharp plot, I visualized the film, starring Barbara Stanwyck as the wealthy but enigmatic and mysterious Mrs. Barnes, and Jimmy Stewart as the sometimes bumbling, sometimes swiftly efficient, private investigator Samson Valentine. Ronald Colman was offstage as the supposedly suave con artist, Mr. Barnes. And the always elusive criminal mastermind Xray? Played by the Wizard of Oz, of course. This engrossing scenario was brought to us by prolific author David Owain Hughes, channeling pulp noir author Dashiell Hammett.
Lest you find my casting too outre, I should point out that Samson Valentine, former military, former police detective, is an alcoholic, twice-widowed private detective in contemporary Cardiff, Wales. However, by an extraordinary ability, Samson also believes himself to be a P.I. in 1940's Chicago, a veteran of the era of gangsters, mob sway, and Tommy guns. He doesn't just long for it, he lives it; and he had this reader living it too.
March 23, 2019
SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST WALES by DAVID OWAIN HUGHES // 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /
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If you enjoy crime stories as much as me, you'll enjoy thus one too. A modern day detective story with a 40's Chicago vibe, I couldn't put down.
When I was approached by DAVID to read this work of his in exchange for a honest review, I couldn't say no. I love crime as much as I love horror, so I was super keen to start this. Sorry for this review going up later than planned.
I absolutely loved SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST WALES.
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Events start off as Samson finds a envelope that was not supposed to be for him. All because the unit number on his door was hanging the wrong way. Instead of it being a 6, it was a 9. Upon opening the envelope, 2 2 fingers fall out, with a note signed off by someone called Xray. Taking it upon himself to investigate the unit the envelope belongs too, he stumbles in on a bloody scene that makes him get back being a Private Investigator. He unravels more and more. With so many twists and turns, through alley ways, bars, shipping docks and a car case that me may or may not have imagined. One thing is sure I was not disappointed with SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST WALES.
.
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DAVID has created the character of Samson so well, and very relatable. I couldn't help but laugh to myself when Samson tells himself he really should cut down on the whiskey while pouring himself a new glass. As I'm the same but with coffee. I found myself intrigued from the very start, and couldn't stop. DAVID writes in such a way that I felt like I was there in the streets of with Samson. I loved the relationship he has with his dead ex wife, who is constantly in his thoughts guiding him through things. It shows he misses her a lot. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Samson at such parts. SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST WALES is filled with moments that I never saw coming, found myself cheering for Samson and crossing my fingers that nothing happens to him. DAVID has created a story that as the reader I want more, and you will too. As Samson would say: " it's a damn good book Palooka"
.
.
If you enjoy crime stories as much as me, you'll enjoy thus one too. A modern day detective story with a 40's Chicago vibe, I couldn't put down.
When I was approached by DAVID to read this work of his in exchange for a honest review, I couldn't say no. I love crime as much as I love horror, so I was super keen to start this. Sorry for this review going up later than planned.
I absolutely loved SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST WALES.
.
.
Events start off as Samson finds a envelope that was not supposed to be for him. All because the unit number on his door was hanging the wrong way. Instead of it being a 6, it was a 9. Upon opening the envelope, 2 2 fingers fall out, with a note signed off by someone called Xray. Taking it upon himself to investigate the unit the envelope belongs too, he stumbles in on a bloody scene that makes him get back being a Private Investigator. He unravels more and more. With so many twists and turns, through alley ways, bars, shipping docks and a car case that me may or may not have imagined. One thing is sure I was not disappointed with SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST WALES.
.
.
DAVID has created the character of Samson so well, and very relatable. I couldn't help but laugh to myself when Samson tells himself he really should cut down on the whiskey while pouring himself a new glass. As I'm the same but with coffee. I found myself intrigued from the very start, and couldn't stop. DAVID writes in such a way that I felt like I was there in the streets of with Samson. I loved the relationship he has with his dead ex wife, who is constantly in his thoughts guiding him through things. It shows he misses her a lot. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Samson at such parts. SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST WALES is filled with moments that I never saw coming, found myself cheering for Samson and crossing my fingers that nothing happens to him. DAVID has created a story that as the reader I want more, and you will too. As Samson would say: " it's a damn good book Palooka"
March 22, 2019
I’ve come across a few stories from David Owain Hughes in some anthologies and they have been impressive, so I was excited to get stuck into a longer book from this clearly talented writer. I predominately read horror so South by Southwest Wales made a refreshing change. The story is a crime thriller, centring around Samson Valentine, a private detective with a love of whiskey. Sporting a long coat and fedora, Valentine seems to believe he is 1940s Chicago, rather than Cardiff, as he sets about cleaning up the streets after getting mixed up with some unsavoury characters. Hughes has created a fantastic character in Valentine; believable, likeable, witty, and I found myself feeling sympathy for him as his back story was revealed. The tale is fast-paced, with great writing which creates a wonderful atmosphere, and could easily be imagined as a movie. I very much look forward to the second instalment.
June 25, 2018
David Owain Hughes has created a wonderful character in Samson Valentine – a man of sorrows, twice-widowed and finding solace at the bottom of a whisky bottle. This is a high concept book and the merging of Sam’s hallucinatory visions of 1940’s Chicago with the reality of present day Cardiff is done extremely skilfully by the author.
There’s a nice streak of knowing (dare I say post-modern) humour running through the story but there are some very dark sections too – the author doesn’t skimp on his descriptions of the violence and brutality Samson encounters or, more importantly, the darkness that is his alcoholism.
Here you’ll find all the ingredients of a classic noir thriller – mobsters, call girls and MacGuffins galore – but presented in a refreshingly different way. Is this Sam’s road to perdition or redemption? – you’ll have to read it to find out.
There’s a nice streak of knowing (dare I say post-modern) humour running through the story but there are some very dark sections too – the author doesn’t skimp on his descriptions of the violence and brutality Samson encounters or, more importantly, the darkness that is his alcoholism.
Here you’ll find all the ingredients of a classic noir thriller – mobsters, call girls and MacGuffins galore – but presented in a refreshingly different way. Is this Sam’s road to perdition or redemption? – you’ll have to read it to find out.
July 1, 2018
Hughes offers readers what may be the first installment of more to come. In the vein of Sam Spade and Miles Archer, Hughes presents whisky-drinking dick, Samson Valentine. The writing is clean, and the detective is flawed, offering realism to the story, as well as over-the-top gumshoeing that should make readers smile from time to time through the darkness of the tale.
August 14, 2021
Recommended
'South By Southwest Wales' by David Owain Hughes
This book is one of those where you know from the very first page you're really going to enjoying reading it.
The main character is Samson a real old school 1940s Chicago style PI, but unfortunately for Samson he doesn't live in Chicago nor does he live in the 1940s, he lives in modern day Cardiff Wales where he struggles with alcoholism , delusions and doesn't quite fit in. And to top it all off he manages to find himself in a whole heap of trouble when he least expects it.
David has done a wonderful job of creating a old school style PI living in the modern world and I for one absolutely loved Samson as a character , his a man with problems but with a Heart of Gold and man who's willing to go the extra mile to protect those that he loves even when he has nothing left to give. Highly recommended and I'm hoping for a sequel.
For those who are easily offended by bad language this may not be the book for you.
'South By Southwest Wales' by David Owain Hughes
This book is one of those where you know from the very first page you're really going to enjoying reading it.
The main character is Samson a real old school 1940s Chicago style PI, but unfortunately for Samson he doesn't live in Chicago nor does he live in the 1940s, he lives in modern day Cardiff Wales where he struggles with alcoholism , delusions and doesn't quite fit in. And to top it all off he manages to find himself in a whole heap of trouble when he least expects it.
David has done a wonderful job of creating a old school style PI living in the modern world and I for one absolutely loved Samson as a character , his a man with problems but with a Heart of Gold and man who's willing to go the extra mile to protect those that he loves even when he has nothing left to give. Highly recommended and I'm hoping for a sequel.
For those who are easily offended by bad language this may not be the book for you.
July 8, 2018
I haven't read a good, straight-up detective/private investigator mystery novel in awhile, so this read was, as a whole, pretty refreshing.
South by Southwest Wales does a good job of sucking you into the action and mystery almost right away. I wasn't lying when I said that it's pretty much action-packed cover-to-cover, and it's written in a way that, I felt, made it very easy to make an instant-connection with our main character, Samson. I'm pretty 50/50 on most detective stories, because I feel like they all follow a pretty similar mystery "outline" that makes the plot easily predictable, but I was definitely kept guessing with SbSW.
As for the characters themselves, I really liked Samson. He, as I said, was easy to connect with as a character pretty much right away, and I liked his personality all throughout the book. There WAS a plot point involving him - I won't spoil it too much, but it involves his deceased wife - that, I think, was a tad confusing throughout most of the plot, but it was made much more clear by the end of the plot and I especially liked the twist that's thrown in toward the end. I really, really hope that twist isn't just brushed off in later books (if any), and that it might offer up an interesting, perhaps even dark, plot point later on.
The crew of villains was pretty solid too, though the slew of 'clever' villainous nicknames became sort of hard to keep up with after awhile. I remember XRay, of course, and Alligator (LOVE how his nickname comes into play later on, by the way), so I'm hoping that, out of everyone, those were the most important, lol. If so, then the other nicknames don't bother me too much. I think, as a villain, I actually prefer Alligator over XRay, to a degree - his role in the plot was much more minor and fairly brief, but his portion of the plot was probably one of my favorite bits to read.
Roxie was great, too. I really, really liked how she wasn't just some "mindless sex worker" thrown into the plot just for the hell of it - she had character substance and backstory that I really liked, especially given how sex workers tend to get a bad rep. Plus, I LOVE how she was an actual PERSON in the plot and wasn't just some tool for Samson (or other men in the book) to over-sexualize. Mindless characters like that tend to really annoy me, so I'd say that Roxie's the MVP.
This bit won't go into too much detail, but I just wanted to discuss, for a moment, the fact that South by Southwest also has some pretty golden plot-twists - my favorite, actually, is the one involving Mr. and Mrs. Barnes. This detective story is definitely a page-turner and most twists were genuinely surprising and woven very well into the plot. I won't go into them any further - because, duh, plot twists - but they definitely spiced things up.
Overall, South by Southwest Wales was a pretty solid read and I recommend to any action-loving mystery fan. It was very refreshing and, though I didn't necessarily fall in LOVE with the character, Samson, I hope, is a character that a lot of people would enjoy.
South by Southwest Wales does a good job of sucking you into the action and mystery almost right away. I wasn't lying when I said that it's pretty much action-packed cover-to-cover, and it's written in a way that, I felt, made it very easy to make an instant-connection with our main character, Samson. I'm pretty 50/50 on most detective stories, because I feel like they all follow a pretty similar mystery "outline" that makes the plot easily predictable, but I was definitely kept guessing with SbSW.
As for the characters themselves, I really liked Samson. He, as I said, was easy to connect with as a character pretty much right away, and I liked his personality all throughout the book. There WAS a plot point involving him - I won't spoil it too much, but it involves his deceased wife - that, I think, was a tad confusing throughout most of the plot, but it was made much more clear by the end of the plot and I especially liked the twist that's thrown in toward the end. I really, really hope that twist isn't just brushed off in later books (if any), and that it might offer up an interesting, perhaps even dark, plot point later on.
The crew of villains was pretty solid too, though the slew of 'clever' villainous nicknames became sort of hard to keep up with after awhile. I remember XRay, of course, and Alligator (LOVE how his nickname comes into play later on, by the way), so I'm hoping that, out of everyone, those were the most important, lol. If so, then the other nicknames don't bother me too much. I think, as a villain, I actually prefer Alligator over XRay, to a degree - his role in the plot was much more minor and fairly brief, but his portion of the plot was probably one of my favorite bits to read.
Roxie was great, too. I really, really liked how she wasn't just some "mindless sex worker" thrown into the plot just for the hell of it - she had character substance and backstory that I really liked, especially given how sex workers tend to get a bad rep. Plus, I LOVE how she was an actual PERSON in the plot and wasn't just some tool for Samson (or other men in the book) to over-sexualize. Mindless characters like that tend to really annoy me, so I'd say that Roxie's the MVP.
This bit won't go into too much detail, but I just wanted to discuss, for a moment, the fact that South by Southwest also has some pretty golden plot-twists - my favorite, actually, is the one involving Mr. and Mrs. Barnes. This detective story is definitely a page-turner and most twists were genuinely surprising and woven very well into the plot. I won't go into them any further - because, duh, plot twists - but they definitely spiced things up.
Overall, South by Southwest Wales was a pretty solid read and I recommend to any action-loving mystery fan. It was very refreshing and, though I didn't necessarily fall in LOVE with the character, Samson, I hope, is a character that a lot of people would enjoy.
July 8, 2018
Now, it is no secret that I love David’s writing. His stories are absolutely amazing. Most all of what he has written has been horror. There was one previously that was one of my favorites and still is that was not horror. He will scream when I say it was one of the best he has written. That book is Collision Course. I also have a copy of it in my bookshelf. That being said this book definitely shows that David can write in any genre he wants to dive into. That folks take true talent. Trust me you want to read this book. It is a real barn burner. Don’t wait…. go get it right now.
The story starts with a washed up detective named Sampson Valentine. He use to be the best of the best until booze got ahold of him. He is twice widowed he find himself embroiled with the mob in a hair-raising battle of wits, twist and plenty of real gut wrenching gun fights. There is never a dull moment in this book.
This story is set perfectly in the 1940’s. The vivid descriptions will pull you right into the story and you will not want to put it down. I didn’t. I read this in one sitting and didn’t even answer the phone.
The characters, like all of them in David’s books, are full and you come to love some of them and even feel like you know them. The entire feel of this book is brilliant. I don’t care if you like crime novels or not you will absolutely love this. The bad guys in the story will make you cringe and want to hide. They are evil and you feel this with every word you read.
There honestly isn’t anything negative I can say about this book except it ended. Of course that just means that it was good.
Im always afraid to say to much about the story line for fear that I will ruin the experience for another reader but trust me when I say get this book! Thank you David for another awesome read! Here’s to many more my friend!
In my humble opinion David has a real winner here!
The story starts with a washed up detective named Sampson Valentine. He use to be the best of the best until booze got ahold of him. He is twice widowed he find himself embroiled with the mob in a hair-raising battle of wits, twist and plenty of real gut wrenching gun fights. There is never a dull moment in this book.
This story is set perfectly in the 1940’s. The vivid descriptions will pull you right into the story and you will not want to put it down. I didn’t. I read this in one sitting and didn’t even answer the phone.
The characters, like all of them in David’s books, are full and you come to love some of them and even feel like you know them. The entire feel of this book is brilliant. I don’t care if you like crime novels or not you will absolutely love this. The bad guys in the story will make you cringe and want to hide. They are evil and you feel this with every word you read.
There honestly isn’t anything negative I can say about this book except it ended. Of course that just means that it was good.
Im always afraid to say to much about the story line for fear that I will ruin the experience for another reader but trust me when I say get this book! Thank you David for another awesome read! Here’s to many more my friend!
In my humble opinion David has a real winner here!
May 13, 2022
Characters you care about - for me that's the most important part of any novel, film, play etc regardless of genre. If you can throw in a crackerjack of a plot too...massive bonus! Fortunately David Owain Hughes manages both in this 100mph mystery. Written in the noir style of those classic Hollywood movies (Double Indemnity, The Maltese Falcon, even Sunset Boulevard) Hughes has created a character in Samson Valentine that we really can root for. He's had his troubles in the past, some of his own making (alcoholism, over-zealous interrogation) and some not (losing 2 wives to cancer) but it's his willingness to deal with these to help others that gets us on his side. The break neck pace contains a myriad of twists and turns, double crosses and flashes of violence but there's also time for lots of tender moments. These come courtesy of Roxie, a call-girl that Samson befriends, but mostly in imagined conversations with Angie, the 2nd of the aforementioned wives. These conversations show a skilled contrast in Hughes' writing and they were a great way of slowing things down even if only for a few seconds. There are obviously numerous bad guys to off and it's great fun trying to work out who works for who. While on the booze Samson believes that he is living in 1940s Chicago rather than 2000s Cardiff and once again Hughes expertly uses the language of the era to evoke a perfect sense of time and place. I read all sorts of genres but this is unique compared to everything else on my shelves and I totally loved it.
July 13, 2022
South by Southwest Wales - a review by Rosemary Kenny.
Delirious, deluded or demented, that's the question about whisky addicted, cigarillo smoking, former police-officer-turned-PI, Samson 'Sam' Valentine's mental state, as he slips between his real life in Cardiff and the fantasy of being the fictional, 1940s Chicago gumshoe, Sam Spade, that he can't distinguish between.
While, as so very often, propping up his pal Steve's bar, the Jet Hole, with a bottle or two under his belt, Sam gets a new case, that soon leads to a whole world of pain and danger, in which no-one can be trusted 100% and the body count rises exponentially...or is it all in his mind?
Highly recommended to fans of K.C. Sivils' Inspector Thomas 'Sully' Sullivan and Raymond Chandler's noir thrillers.
Grab a copy of David Owain Hughes's 5-star fantastic noir thriller, South by Southwest Wales today!
Delirious, deluded or demented, that's the question about whisky addicted, cigarillo smoking, former police-officer-turned-PI, Samson 'Sam' Valentine's mental state, as he slips between his real life in Cardiff and the fantasy of being the fictional, 1940s Chicago gumshoe, Sam Spade, that he can't distinguish between.
While, as so very often, propping up his pal Steve's bar, the Jet Hole, with a bottle or two under his belt, Sam gets a new case, that soon leads to a whole world of pain and danger, in which no-one can be trusted 100% and the body count rises exponentially...or is it all in his mind?
Highly recommended to fans of K.C. Sivils' Inspector Thomas 'Sully' Sullivan and Raymond Chandler's noir thrillers.
Grab a copy of David Owain Hughes's 5-star fantastic noir thriller, South by Southwest Wales today!
December 10, 2018
David Owain Hughes has proved himself that he doesn't just write about the most deranged and sexually perverted psychos on the planet but can create a likeable character with layers.
All the classic tropes are here for a gumshoe caper, heavily leaning to a British case of crime filled Noir.
However using the classics, booze, broken and hard on his luck, David has created Samson Valentine, P.I with a slight...twist.
Showing how bad the real world can be in the supporting characters and extras in Sam's world we see the lost causes or the trapped souls of criminal life. Thugs, addicts, prostitutes, bent coppers the lot, all melded together with a jazz soundtrack would make a great movie.
Here's looking at the sequel, kid.
All the classic tropes are here for a gumshoe caper, heavily leaning to a British case of crime filled Noir.
However using the classics, booze, broken and hard on his luck, David has created Samson Valentine, P.I with a slight...twist.
Showing how bad the real world can be in the supporting characters and extras in Sam's world we see the lost causes or the trapped souls of criminal life. Thugs, addicts, prostitutes, bent coppers the lot, all melded together with a jazz soundtrack would make a great movie.
Here's looking at the sequel, kid.
October 15, 2018
This has to be one of the best books I have read in years I just could not stop reading it, Samson is just an amazing character I enjoyed reading this so much. You have have to keep reading a bit more to see what he will do next a great story from start to finish and I really hope there will be more books with Samson in I can definitely recommend this book give it a go if you like crime and gangsters you will love this book
February 25, 2023
this was a great start to the South by Southwest Wales series, it had what I was hoping for and thought it worked well in a thriller aspect. The characters were what I was hoping for and thought it worked well as a detective novel. It left me ready to read more in this universe.
I received a free copy of this book via Red Cape Reviews and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Red Cape Reviews and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews