What do you think?
Rate this book
المدينة الخاوية
ماذا لو استطعت أن ترسم أحلامك؟
داخل القلب المظلم لمدينة مهجورة، على جزيرة مزقتها الخيانة والحرب، يكمن سر رهيب...
"فرانسيس بينثيم" فنان ناجح. اختار العزلة فخلق لنفسه حياة جديدة على جزيرة بعيدة.
داخل القلب المظلم لمدينة مهجورة، على جزيرة مزقتها الخيانة والحرب، يكمن سر رهيب...
"فرانسيس بينثيم" فنان ناجح. اختار العزلة فخلق لنفسه حياة جديدة على جزيرة بعيدة.
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2018
4 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Gary Raymond
3 books16 followersGary Raymond is a novelist, critic, editor and broadcaster. He is one of the founding editors of Wales Arts Review, and has been editor since 2014. He is the author of two novels, The Golden Orphans (Parthian, 2018) and For Those Who Come After (Parthian, 2015). He is a widely published critic and cultural commentator, and is the presenter of BBC Radio Wales’ The Review Show.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 21, 2024
مش عارفة اللى كتب وصف الكتاب ده وصفه على اى اساس بصراحة ..
رواية جذبتني في البداية وبعدها كملتها بملل ومهتمتش بأى أحداث ولا بأى شخصية . حتى التويست في النهاية كان سخيف .
محسيتش بأى روح للرواية ومش عايزة حتى اكتب عنها رفيو .
٢٧ / ٨ / ٢٠٢٢
رواية جذبتني في البداية وبعدها كملتها بملل ومهتمتش بأى أحداث ولا بأى شخصية . حتى التويست في النهاية كان سخيف .
محسيتش بأى روح للرواية ومش عايزة حتى اكتب عنها رفيو .
٢٧ / ٨ / ٢٠٢٢
January 3, 2019
The Golden Orphans really did take me by surprise. I kind of knew what to expect by looking at the cover and the blurb but I was quite wrong with my predictions. This is the winning formula!
The story takes place in Cyprus and the way the author has set the scene is glorious. The Cypriot lifestyle, the island’s history, the dodgy Russians, the abandoned city of Famagusta, the artistic element, how the conflicts that the characters deal with are instantly visible and palpable.
How a BIG story like this fit into 155 pages whilst not impacting on the wonderful prose only demonstrates Raymond’s skillful penmanship! In essence The Goldern Orphans is a straight-foward story that looks at the events over a matter of days, the characters and plentiful secrets make it for a thrilling read.
I have to admit, I scoffed and muttered ‘Of course!’ when the Russian guy was yet again the baddie… I actually joke with my husband now, with sarcasm- Oh, look we’ve run out of milk! The Russians did it! I’m really so over the Russian/Eastern European guys being the baddies. It’s a stereotype I really don’t like. Maybe because I’m Eastern European myself. But, I didn’t take this stereotype – I never do- as an insult. It simply takes away the ‘fresh’ element in books sometimes…
The book starts off with one of the strangest funerals and introduces mystery from the get go. I couldn’t help but keep turning the pages. As I got to know Francis following his death through the eyes of his ex-student, I found myself thinking- Now, there is an interesting guy. But Francis had got himself mixed in with the aforementioned Russian. And now Francis was dead, the Russian has a need to replace him… to do what? I tell you not because it’s one of the more unique reasons! They do say there’s method in madness!
Behind the front of laid back and sunny Cypriot way of life, secrets are buzzing away waiting to interrupt the daily routine and everyone seems to be at work for things to go kaboom. As the story came to conclusion, Raymond delivered revelation after revelation and the final twist made thr air crackle with electricity- ohhh!
Would I recommend it? Absolutely I would. It’s a few hours well spent!
You’re not into thrillers? Doesn’t matter! It’s not at all graphic with endless bloodshed or detailed torture. The Golden Orphans is more of a ‘still waters run deep’ kind of book with enjoyable prose and refined taste.
The story takes place in Cyprus and the way the author has set the scene is glorious. The Cypriot lifestyle, the island’s history, the dodgy Russians, the abandoned city of Famagusta, the artistic element, how the conflicts that the characters deal with are instantly visible and palpable.
These guys you see walking around with their chests puffed out, looking all mean and dangerous, they all go home and cry, wanking into a watermelon. It’s all children’s games, and normal people like you and me get caught up in it, because like toddlers they have managed to make everything about them.
How a BIG story like this fit into 155 pages whilst not impacting on the wonderful prose only demonstrates Raymond’s skillful penmanship! In essence The Goldern Orphans is a straight-foward story that looks at the events over a matter of days, the characters and plentiful secrets make it for a thrilling read.
I have to admit, I scoffed and muttered ‘Of course!’ when the Russian guy was yet again the baddie… I actually joke with my husband now, with sarcasm- Oh, look we’ve run out of milk! The Russians did it! I’m really so over the Russian/Eastern European guys being the baddies. It’s a stereotype I really don’t like. Maybe because I’m Eastern European myself. But, I didn’t take this stereotype – I never do- as an insult. It simply takes away the ‘fresh’ element in books sometimes…
The book starts off with one of the strangest funerals and introduces mystery from the get go. I couldn’t help but keep turning the pages. As I got to know Francis following his death through the eyes of his ex-student, I found myself thinking- Now, there is an interesting guy. But Francis had got himself mixed in with the aforementioned Russian. And now Francis was dead, the Russian has a need to replace him… to do what? I tell you not because it’s one of the more unique reasons! They do say there’s method in madness!
Behind the front of laid back and sunny Cypriot way of life, secrets are buzzing away waiting to interrupt the daily routine and everyone seems to be at work for things to go kaboom. As the story came to conclusion, Raymond delivered revelation after revelation and the final twist made thr air crackle with electricity- ohhh!
Would I recommend it? Absolutely I would. It’s a few hours well spent!
You’re not into thrillers? Doesn’t matter! It’s not at all graphic with endless bloodshed or detailed torture. The Golden Orphans is more of a ‘still waters run deep’ kind of book with enjoyable prose and refined taste.
October 23, 2018
The atmospheric opening of The Golden Orphans sees our unnamed narrator arrive in Cyprus for the funeral of his friend, fellow artist and mentor, Francis Benthem. Initially it appears he is to be the only mourner but the arrival of four other people at the graveside is just the first sign there will be mysteries aplenty to unravel. One of the mourners is enigmatic Russian, Illy Prostakov, Francis Benthem’s former employer. Illy subsequently summons our narrator to the remote villa where he resides in order to reveal the unusual nature of his ‘inheritance’ from Francis.
Contrary to what the reader might expect from the book blurb, Francis Benthem plays a peripheral role in the story. The reader comes to knows Francis – what he thought, said or might have done – only through the accounts of others, principally the book’s narrator.
In a way, what fills the gap created by Francis’s absence is the island of Cyprus itself. The author has chosen to use its troubled history since partition to expose a side of the island that is darker than a person who knows it only as a holiday destination would probably recognise. There’s an air of mystery, unreality and artificiality in the way it is depicted with secrets hidden under the surface and people pretending things are normal when they’re not. As one character says, ‘… this is a crazy island. What you see is more than you can possibly understand, and you don’t see the half of it.’ The Cyprus the reader experiences in the book is a temporary refuge for misfits and for those seeking escape. As the narrator describes it, it’s ‘an island of shipwrecked souls.’
The reader is a good way through the book before the meaning of its title is revealed. Similarly, the ‘abandoned city’ referred to in the blurb features only towards the end of the book. For me, there were a few loose ends and some plot lines and scenes that seemed to belong in a more conventional thriller. However, the author’s crowning achievement in The Golden Orphans is creating such an unsettling, noir-ish, dreamlike (at times, more nightmare-like) atmosphere.
The Golden Orphans is a taut, intense read. For a relatively short book, it packs a big punch.
Contrary to what the reader might expect from the book blurb, Francis Benthem plays a peripheral role in the story. The reader comes to knows Francis – what he thought, said or might have done – only through the accounts of others, principally the book’s narrator.
In a way, what fills the gap created by Francis’s absence is the island of Cyprus itself. The author has chosen to use its troubled history since partition to expose a side of the island that is darker than a person who knows it only as a holiday destination would probably recognise. There’s an air of mystery, unreality and artificiality in the way it is depicted with secrets hidden under the surface and people pretending things are normal when they’re not. As one character says, ‘… this is a crazy island. What you see is more than you can possibly understand, and you don’t see the half of it.’ The Cyprus the reader experiences in the book is a temporary refuge for misfits and for those seeking escape. As the narrator describes it, it’s ‘an island of shipwrecked souls.’
The reader is a good way through the book before the meaning of its title is revealed. Similarly, the ‘abandoned city’ referred to in the blurb features only towards the end of the book. For me, there were a few loose ends and some plot lines and scenes that seemed to belong in a more conventional thriller. However, the author’s crowning achievement in The Golden Orphans is creating such an unsettling, noir-ish, dreamlike (at times, more nightmare-like) atmosphere.
The Golden Orphans is a taut, intense read. For a relatively short book, it packs a big punch.
October 26, 2018
You can read all my review on Blog - Books Teacup and Reviews
4.5 Stars
The Golden Orphans was literary mystery fiction that revolved around main character- a nameless British artist and how he got involve in mysterious dark secret when he attended funeral of his mentor and father figure successful artist, Francis Benthem. The book was about life crisis, secrets, finding the lost one, art and philosophy, and self-development.
From the blurb I guessed this was going to be more than the usual mystery thriller and I was right about it. Writing was beautiful, engaging, and impressive. Initially, I didn’t know where the story was going. First two chapters were enough to ring the alarm bell. I had lot of questions in very few pages. Book was written from main character‘s perspective.
I liked the way main character maintained the balance of his need for money, respect and morals. What made him different and likable was his conscience, he was true to himself. His development was brilliant, loved the way he found his passion and art back and how he tried to do better for himself and for other characters. As we go along in the book we know more about Francis Benthem, who was the turning point in main character’s life and how important he was in story without existing. Francis Benthem’s former employer- Mr Prostakov was quirky, crazy, and mysterious.
It was fun to solve the mystery of Mr Prostakov, why he needed artist to solve the mystery of his unusual dreams, suspicious guests at his house and weird behavior of all the characters. I loved how author portrayed characters’ life crisis, the picturesque geographical descriptions of Cyprus, its culture and dark history along with a philosophical view. What made the plot more interesting was the story and revelation behind the title ‘The Golden Orphans’. All of these was interwoven in such complex and beautiful structure that kept me guessing till the end.
Plot twist was great. I like the way climax was written. Too many things happened in last 30% of the book. My small complain was regarding the end. It felt bit rushed and predictable.
Overall, it was short, unique, intriguing and suspenseful book. I highly recommend it to readers who love mix of suspense and literary fiction.
NOTE: I RECEIVED E-COPY OF THIS BOOK AS PART OF BLOG TOUR, IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
4.5 Stars
The Golden Orphans was literary mystery fiction that revolved around main character- a nameless British artist and how he got involve in mysterious dark secret when he attended funeral of his mentor and father figure successful artist, Francis Benthem. The book was about life crisis, secrets, finding the lost one, art and philosophy, and self-development.
From the blurb I guessed this was going to be more than the usual mystery thriller and I was right about it. Writing was beautiful, engaging, and impressive. Initially, I didn’t know where the story was going. First two chapters were enough to ring the alarm bell. I had lot of questions in very few pages. Book was written from main character‘s perspective.
I liked the way main character maintained the balance of his need for money, respect and morals. What made him different and likable was his conscience, he was true to himself. His development was brilliant, loved the way he found his passion and art back and how he tried to do better for himself and for other characters. As we go along in the book we know more about Francis Benthem, who was the turning point in main character’s life and how important he was in story without existing. Francis Benthem’s former employer- Mr Prostakov was quirky, crazy, and mysterious.
It was fun to solve the mystery of Mr Prostakov, why he needed artist to solve the mystery of his unusual dreams, suspicious guests at his house and weird behavior of all the characters. I loved how author portrayed characters’ life crisis, the picturesque geographical descriptions of Cyprus, its culture and dark history along with a philosophical view. What made the plot more interesting was the story and revelation behind the title ‘The Golden Orphans’. All of these was interwoven in such complex and beautiful structure that kept me guessing till the end.
Plot twist was great. I like the way climax was written. Too many things happened in last 30% of the book. My small complain was regarding the end. It felt bit rushed and predictable.
Overall, it was short, unique, intriguing and suspenseful book. I highly recommend it to readers who love mix of suspense and literary fiction.
NOTE: I RECEIVED E-COPY OF THIS BOOK AS PART OF BLOG TOUR, IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
September 21, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
A cracking little thriller that kept me entertained.
A cracking little thriller that kept me entertained.
October 23, 2018
At 155 pages, The Golden Orphans is a short novel, it’s dark, it’s fast-paced, it’s thrilling, it has this almost mystical quality to it that really lured me in! This novel opens with a funeral, and that was absolutely the right choice for this shorter novel, because it means the plot begins right away, there’s no wasted scene-setting. The scene-setting was achieved as the story was told – this novel is set in Cyprus, and Raymond used this location to create an atmospheric read, as the plot moves through Paralimni, Ayia Napa and Famagusta, this novel is clouded in dark, moody tones.
The Golden Orphans creates this sense of unease within the reader, the writing is stunning, and this first-person narration style had me hooked. It’s only when I began writing this review that I realised the main protagonist was never named, and this explains why I felt such a sense of mysteriousness while reading this novel. All we know is that he is a British artist. This mysteriousness is further strengthened by the Russian benefactor, Prostakov, who believes having his dream painted will unlock his past! Our unnamed narrator meets many interesting characters from an array of backgrounds, and as he details his time in this country, you cannot help but be completely drawn in to this mystery.
One of the things I really loved about this novel was the revelation of the ‘Golden Orphans’ – who they are and how they came to be. This, again, added to the mysteriousness of this novel, creating a short, but impactful read! As a literary thriller, The Golden Orphans ticks all the boxes. I did predict the ending, so it was somewhat anti-climactic, however I like the way it was done, I’m a fan of Raymond’s writing style so the delivery of the ‘reveal’ was very good.
One of the fantastic things about blogging is the opportunity to read books you might not have otherwise known about, and I just know The Golden Orphans will be a book I reread in the future because I really enjoyed it. While it wasn’t perfect, it was engaging, thrilling, mysterious and incredibly atmospheric, and if you’re a fan of dark, yet beautiful writing, you may just want to give this novel a read!
*My thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book*
The Golden Orphans creates this sense of unease within the reader, the writing is stunning, and this first-person narration style had me hooked. It’s only when I began writing this review that I realised the main protagonist was never named, and this explains why I felt such a sense of mysteriousness while reading this novel. All we know is that he is a British artist. This mysteriousness is further strengthened by the Russian benefactor, Prostakov, who believes having his dream painted will unlock his past! Our unnamed narrator meets many interesting characters from an array of backgrounds, and as he details his time in this country, you cannot help but be completely drawn in to this mystery.
One of the things I really loved about this novel was the revelation of the ‘Golden Orphans’ – who they are and how they came to be. This, again, added to the mysteriousness of this novel, creating a short, but impactful read! As a literary thriller, The Golden Orphans ticks all the boxes. I did predict the ending, so it was somewhat anti-climactic, however I like the way it was done, I’m a fan of Raymond’s writing style so the delivery of the ‘reveal’ was very good.
One of the fantastic things about blogging is the opportunity to read books you might not have otherwise known about, and I just know The Golden Orphans will be a book I reread in the future because I really enjoyed it. While it wasn’t perfect, it was engaging, thrilling, mysterious and incredibly atmospheric, and if you’re a fan of dark, yet beautiful writing, you may just want to give this novel a read!
*My thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book*
October 26, 2018
“You are the painter?” he repeated. I nodded.
"Mr Prostakov wishes to extend you an invitation to his home…" he handed me a card from his jacket pocket; "…at noon tomorrow"
The Golden Orphans was a trip into the unknown for me, as I had absolutely no expectations before I opened the first page. I was unprepared for the literary style used by Gary Raymond, which I found extremely poetic, beautiful and quite intense.
The Golden Orphans tells the tale of an artist who has fallen on his luck. His relationship with his girlfriend is in difficulty, as financial concerns are slowly destroying their relationship. A surprise summons to attend a funeral of his old colleague and mentor, Francis Benthem, in Cyprus takes our narrator on quite a profound journey.
Our unnamed narrator attends this rather stark and lonely affair with questions buzzing around his head. Why was he summoned? What was Francis Benthem doing here in Cyprus? Beginnings of frustration set in but a calling card is left for him to call to the house of a wealthy Russian, an eccentric man who was the benefactor of Francis Benthem.
He soon discovers that Francis Benthem painted for this Russian, Illy Prostakov and had set up house on the private grounds of this man to assist him in a very bizarre activity, as he searches through his dreams for the elusive group, known as The Golden Orphans. This quest is now being handed over from teacher to pupil, as Prostakov wishes to continue his peculiar personal crusade to uncover a mystery that has frustrated and pained him for years.
As a reader we are taken on a magical journey through the streets and sounds of the villages of Cyprus. The descriptions are just beautiful, with each town painted in it’s own unique fashion, but it is that of Famagusta that haunts.
Famagusta is a town that exists in Cyprus, now known as The Ghost City, a place that was once considered the most exceptional of the island. Following the Turkish and Cypriot troubles in 1974, the city was abandoned, left to ruin into a shadow of it’s former beauty. It still has the signs of glory that would have existed in it’s heyday but now it’s a city full of haunted memories.
Gary Raymond uses the story of Famagusta as the background to the Russian’s eccentric and tormented behaviour, as he searches for something among the rubble, something he is looking for through the painting of his dreams.
I know this might all sound a little airy but I really do not want to give too much away. There is a mysteriousness to this novel that is quite surreal at times but yet brilliant in it’s formulation. The Golden Orphans is a short novel, at approximately 150 pages, but boy does it pack a literary punch. This is a quite a cryptic story as you follow threads and are never too sure who is really of good character and who is not. Suspicions are rife making for a very fascinating read.
Curious. Intelligent. Thrilling. Fascinating.
"Mr Prostakov wishes to extend you an invitation to his home…" he handed me a card from his jacket pocket; "…at noon tomorrow"
The Golden Orphans was a trip into the unknown for me, as I had absolutely no expectations before I opened the first page. I was unprepared for the literary style used by Gary Raymond, which I found extremely poetic, beautiful and quite intense.
The Golden Orphans tells the tale of an artist who has fallen on his luck. His relationship with his girlfriend is in difficulty, as financial concerns are slowly destroying their relationship. A surprise summons to attend a funeral of his old colleague and mentor, Francis Benthem, in Cyprus takes our narrator on quite a profound journey.
Our unnamed narrator attends this rather stark and lonely affair with questions buzzing around his head. Why was he summoned? What was Francis Benthem doing here in Cyprus? Beginnings of frustration set in but a calling card is left for him to call to the house of a wealthy Russian, an eccentric man who was the benefactor of Francis Benthem.
He soon discovers that Francis Benthem painted for this Russian, Illy Prostakov and had set up house on the private grounds of this man to assist him in a very bizarre activity, as he searches through his dreams for the elusive group, known as The Golden Orphans. This quest is now being handed over from teacher to pupil, as Prostakov wishes to continue his peculiar personal crusade to uncover a mystery that has frustrated and pained him for years.
As a reader we are taken on a magical journey through the streets and sounds of the villages of Cyprus. The descriptions are just beautiful, with each town painted in it’s own unique fashion, but it is that of Famagusta that haunts.
Famagusta is a town that exists in Cyprus, now known as The Ghost City, a place that was once considered the most exceptional of the island. Following the Turkish and Cypriot troubles in 1974, the city was abandoned, left to ruin into a shadow of it’s former beauty. It still has the signs of glory that would have existed in it’s heyday but now it’s a city full of haunted memories.
Gary Raymond uses the story of Famagusta as the background to the Russian’s eccentric and tormented behaviour, as he searches for something among the rubble, something he is looking for through the painting of his dreams.
I know this might all sound a little airy but I really do not want to give too much away. There is a mysteriousness to this novel that is quite surreal at times but yet brilliant in it’s formulation. The Golden Orphans is a short novel, at approximately 150 pages, but boy does it pack a literary punch. This is a quite a cryptic story as you follow threads and are never too sure who is really of good character and who is not. Suspicions are rife making for a very fascinating read.
Curious. Intelligent. Thrilling. Fascinating.
November 2, 2018
A down on his luck English artist has traveled to Cyprus for the funeral of his old friend and mentor, Francis Bentham. He had no idea Bentham had been living in Cyprus and wondered who had invited him. It seems he is the only mourner, apart from the priest, until the mysterious and obviously wealthy Russian, Illarion (or Illie as he likes to be called) Prostakov arrives with his entourage. The narrator discovers Prostakov was Bentham’s employer and has paid for the funeral. Prostakov had employed Bentham for the sole purpose of interpreting his recurring dream on canvas, which he hoped would lead him to a revelation from his past that has tormented him for years.
Unusually, the narrator is nameless. He has money and personal problems at home, so has no wish to rush back to debts and a failing relationship. An invitation from Prostakov to take over where Bentham left off would solve his money issues at least. Despite not being sure it’s as simple as it appears, he accepts the offer and is ensconced in a converted water tower situated in Prostakov’s estate. The cast of characters all have an air of mystery about them and not all are as they seem, especially those who frequent the ominous and quite menacing underbelly of Ayia Napa. Cyprus is a character in its own right and a large part of the story.
There’s an underlying sense of apprehension present from the start as the author creates an unnerving, and sometimes dark but atmospheric narrative, not least because of the people who the narrator comes into contact with—he describes them as ‘shipwrecked souls’—but also because of the division of the island which occurred during the Turkish invasion in the 1970s. This plays into the plot eventually and takes the narrator to the abandoned, war-torn Famagusta for the climax of the story. In complete contrast to Ayia Napa, there is only desolation and decay in this once thriving area of Cyprus.
'Famagusta rose from the scrub like a giant carcass, the whitewashed bones of abandoned buildings rutting up into the skyline, each crawled over with linden and the charcoal-grey branches of barren poplars.'
We travel with the narrator as he navigates the surface glamour of the island, finding it confusing yet exotic, a place that never changes. Disturbing secrets are uncovered as he becomes more aware of the dangers swirling around him, seeming to include Furkan Balaban, a bar owner, and Stelly, an evil-looking drug dealer. As he tries to unravel the mystery of Prostakov’s dream sequence he gets drawn deeper into the nightmare that is unfolding. I had no idea what to expect and the conclusion to the story is shocking in more ways than one.
It’s only late in the book the interesting meaning of the title becomes clear. A relatively short and unpredictable read that packs quite a punch.
I chose to read and review The Golden Orphans based on a copy supplied by damppebbles and the author.
Unusually, the narrator is nameless. He has money and personal problems at home, so has no wish to rush back to debts and a failing relationship. An invitation from Prostakov to take over where Bentham left off would solve his money issues at least. Despite not being sure it’s as simple as it appears, he accepts the offer and is ensconced in a converted water tower situated in Prostakov’s estate. The cast of characters all have an air of mystery about them and not all are as they seem, especially those who frequent the ominous and quite menacing underbelly of Ayia Napa. Cyprus is a character in its own right and a large part of the story.
There’s an underlying sense of apprehension present from the start as the author creates an unnerving, and sometimes dark but atmospheric narrative, not least because of the people who the narrator comes into contact with—he describes them as ‘shipwrecked souls’—but also because of the division of the island which occurred during the Turkish invasion in the 1970s. This plays into the plot eventually and takes the narrator to the abandoned, war-torn Famagusta for the climax of the story. In complete contrast to Ayia Napa, there is only desolation and decay in this once thriving area of Cyprus.
'Famagusta rose from the scrub like a giant carcass, the whitewashed bones of abandoned buildings rutting up into the skyline, each crawled over with linden and the charcoal-grey branches of barren poplars.'
We travel with the narrator as he navigates the surface glamour of the island, finding it confusing yet exotic, a place that never changes. Disturbing secrets are uncovered as he becomes more aware of the dangers swirling around him, seeming to include Furkan Balaban, a bar owner, and Stelly, an evil-looking drug dealer. As he tries to unravel the mystery of Prostakov’s dream sequence he gets drawn deeper into the nightmare that is unfolding. I had no idea what to expect and the conclusion to the story is shocking in more ways than one.
It’s only late in the book the interesting meaning of the title becomes clear. A relatively short and unpredictable read that packs quite a punch.
I chose to read and review The Golden Orphans based on a copy supplied by damppebbles and the author.
September 3, 2018
This is a very slim novel at just 155 pages, but my goodness it's one hell of a read. Probably a little out of my usual comfort zone, I admit that I was attract by the Cypriot setting. Once I'd read the first couple of pages, I was well and truly sucked in. It's intriguing and clever and keeps the reader firmly on their toes.
I spent many summers in Ayia Napa, Cyprus and I do love to read a book where I can recognise the setting. I was at the opening night of the Castle nightclub, oh so many moons ago, and some of the most important parts of the story take place in that dark, steamy club.
An English artist is summoned to the funeral of his mentor. The funeral is in Cyprus and has been paid for by the mysterious Illy Prostavok; a Russian who appears to have plenty of money, and plenty of 'family' staying with him. Our narrator is never named and for me, this added something more to the story, it's full of mystery and intrigue, with characters to doubt and to dislike.
The setting is sublime. Ayia Napa is known as the party capital of Cyprus, yet this author digs deep into the dark underbelly of the town. Uncovering links to the Russian mafia, to drugs, to modern day slavery, it's a hotbed of strange people and strange happenings.
The later parts of the story find our narrator in Famagusta; the complete opposite of Napa in every way. An abandoned place, with cars still on the streets and curtains flapping at empty windows; taken by the Turks when they invaded the island in 1974 and left to rot, slowly ever since. I've stood on the dividing line in Nicosia, and looked over at the empty and desolate place that was once a bustling centre. I took a boat trip to just as near to Famagusta as it is possible to go, and it's clear that in its heyday this was a busy and cosmopolitan town. This author has cleverly used what is now an eerily quiet and deserted town as the setting for the exciting and explosively nail-biting ending to this thrilling story.
I'm aware that I've not talked about the plot and that the Cypriot setting has taken over my thoughts. However, it really is a fast paced literary thriller with a fabulous contemporary narrator who has his own personal issues to contend with as well as trying to discover quite what's going on around him.
There's a dark, quite forbidding feeling about the writing, yet it's packed to the brim with intriguing, excellently created characters.
The Golden Orphans is a great read, I devoured it in one afternoon and was so impressed by the structure, the plot and of course, that incredible setting. Highly recommended.
I spent many summers in Ayia Napa, Cyprus and I do love to read a book where I can recognise the setting. I was at the opening night of the Castle nightclub, oh so many moons ago, and some of the most important parts of the story take place in that dark, steamy club.
An English artist is summoned to the funeral of his mentor. The funeral is in Cyprus and has been paid for by the mysterious Illy Prostavok; a Russian who appears to have plenty of money, and plenty of 'family' staying with him. Our narrator is never named and for me, this added something more to the story, it's full of mystery and intrigue, with characters to doubt and to dislike.
The setting is sublime. Ayia Napa is known as the party capital of Cyprus, yet this author digs deep into the dark underbelly of the town. Uncovering links to the Russian mafia, to drugs, to modern day slavery, it's a hotbed of strange people and strange happenings.
The later parts of the story find our narrator in Famagusta; the complete opposite of Napa in every way. An abandoned place, with cars still on the streets and curtains flapping at empty windows; taken by the Turks when they invaded the island in 1974 and left to rot, slowly ever since. I've stood on the dividing line in Nicosia, and looked over at the empty and desolate place that was once a bustling centre. I took a boat trip to just as near to Famagusta as it is possible to go, and it's clear that in its heyday this was a busy and cosmopolitan town. This author has cleverly used what is now an eerily quiet and deserted town as the setting for the exciting and explosively nail-biting ending to this thrilling story.
I'm aware that I've not talked about the plot and that the Cypriot setting has taken over my thoughts. However, it really is a fast paced literary thriller with a fabulous contemporary narrator who has his own personal issues to contend with as well as trying to discover quite what's going on around him.
There's a dark, quite forbidding feeling about the writing, yet it's packed to the brim with intriguing, excellently created characters.
The Golden Orphans is a great read, I devoured it in one afternoon and was so impressed by the structure, the plot and of course, that incredible setting. Highly recommended.
October 24, 2018
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
I thought that this book was very enjoyable!
This is a fairly short book at 155 pages but in those pages it really packs a punch and you get a well written, well developed story with some fascinating characters! The pace for the book is superb and I loved that it was a genuine page turner.
The plot is great, there is suspense, plot twists and so much more crammed within the pages, I read it in no time at all and loved every page!
4.5 stars from me for this one rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon - very highly recommended!!
I thought that this book was very enjoyable!
This is a fairly short book at 155 pages but in those pages it really packs a punch and you get a well written, well developed story with some fascinating characters! The pace for the book is superb and I loved that it was a genuine page turner.
The plot is great, there is suspense, plot twists and so much more crammed within the pages, I read it in no time at all and loved every page!
4.5 stars from me for this one rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon - very highly recommended!!
October 30, 2018
★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
I keep running into artists in the novels I read -- like in Tom Rachman's The Italian Teacher, Russo's Bridge of Sighs, or even Hawley's Before the Fall -- there are other examples, I'm sure -- but they're not coming to me right now. I've never understood the appeal, really, but I hold out hope that one day I'll get it. And I shouldn't be running out of opportunity anytime soon -- it's a vocation that draws authors like flies to honey.
Gary Raymond's artist protagonist is a little different than the typical depiction. He's a successful artist -- to some extent, anyway -- but not a genius (misunderstood or not), he's not a superstar. In fact, his best days are probably behind him, and he knows it. But he's still plugging away at it, while pursuing an otherwise self-destructive lifestyle. He's invited to a funeral in Cyprus at just the right time -- his finances are in shambles and his relationship is in a similar state, the largest question being which will fall apart first.
Not only is he invited, but his trip is paid for -- so he can go. Francis Benthem is the deceased, and at one point in time he was a teacher, a mentor for the narrator (I should say that Raymond didn't name him, I'm not being negligent) -- he was like a father to him, really. So he goes to the funeral, and for most of it, is the only one present besides the priest. Eventually, Mr. Prostakov (Benthem's employer, who paid for everything) and a few other people show up and leave quickly. Their appearance both confuses and intrigues the narrator.
Actually, that describes just about everything about Cyprus -- it confuses and intrigues him. So he spends time getting to know the island, the people on it and, when given the opportunity, Mr. Prostakov. Illie Prostakov is an enigma wrapped in a riddle, wrapped in a hint of a stereotypical wealthy Russian with a murky past and revenue stream. He presents the narrator with a business proposition -- take up residence in his home and replace Benthem. He's a little vague as to the artistic duties required, so I will be, too. But the money's good enough to take care of problems back home, so the narrator takes the job -- not realizing the trouble and mystery that he's put himself in the way of.
Unlike Bentham, the narrator won't just take things at face value -- he asks questions, and when he doesn't get answers, he tries to find them (he might not be great at it, but he tries). Who is Prostakov? What's he doing? Who are the people he surrounds himself with? Asking these questions isn't the safest thing he could do -- getting answers is probably worse.
The island of Cyprus isn't just the setting of the novel, it's practically a character. While the narrator is trying to understand his employer and his employer's aims, most people are more concerned with getting him to understand Cyprus. Everyone's description (I don't have a hard count, but I'd guess at least a dozen are given) is different, but combined you begin to get an idea what life on the island is like. In the end, I think we get a fuller understanding of Cyprus than we do anything that the narrator is looking into.
Which is not to say that he doesn't get any answers. He does, as does the reader. Raymond doesn't leave you frustrated like that.
There's a feel to this book that makes you think it'll be one thing, but it's not. The characters seem to be certain types, and most are -- but they don't act the way you think they will. The conclusion seems surely to be headed in one direction, but it ends up giving you a different ending. Everywhere you look, Raymond doesn't do what you expect -- which is both refreshing and annoying (you'd like to be right occasionally).
I'm not that convinced this is really a thriller -- but it's being marketed as one. As a thriller, I think it's missing a sense of urgency, of real danger. But I think things moved too quickly, and without the depth called for in a literary book. A little more time after our narrator took the job and trying to accomplish it before the plot moves forward, more time spent on the painting (and talking about the process) would've helped. A greater sense of hazard, of peril from Viktor or Illie would've helped a lot on the thriller front. In the end, the book wasn't quite sure it knew what it wanted to be -- and a mix of the two genres would've worked, but it needed to be a bit more of one of them (or both) to really be effective. It was just always lukewarm.
That said -- it never, not for a minute, failed to hold my interest. I may not have been very invested in the outcome or characters, but I was glued to it. Frankly, I think the narrator was the same way -- he wasn't invested in his relationship back in London, his career (really), or anything that was happening around him on Cyprus -- but he couldn't stop himself from sticking a toe in here and there, from involving himself just a little bit in everything. As he was confused -- so was I. As he was intrigued -- so was I. Raymond did a very effective job in getting the reader (or at least this reader) to see things from his protagonist's eyes.
Raymond's given us something unique here. I've talked before about books that I can respect and admire more than enjoy. This is one of those -- the writing and approach of this novel exceeds any affection or excitement I might have for it. It's not the kind of thriller you can finish and move on from easily -- I'm going to be thinking about this for a while. The characters will linger in my imagination, but the reality he depicts will stay around longer. This isn't a novel that lends itself to a rating any more than it lends itself to a genre-classification, so take it with a grain of salt.
My thanks to damppebbles blog tours for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided, including a copy of this book -- which didn't influence the above post, beyond giving me something to post about.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
I thought for a moment. “I think I am about to do something stupid.”
“In Cyprus you only need ask yourself one question,” Tara said, deadly serious. “Is it out of desperation?”
I keep running into artists in the novels I read -- like in Tom Rachman's The Italian Teacher, Russo's Bridge of Sighs, or even Hawley's Before the Fall -- there are other examples, I'm sure -- but they're not coming to me right now. I've never understood the appeal, really, but I hold out hope that one day I'll get it. And I shouldn't be running out of opportunity anytime soon -- it's a vocation that draws authors like flies to honey.
Gary Raymond's artist protagonist is a little different than the typical depiction. He's a successful artist -- to some extent, anyway -- but not a genius (misunderstood or not), he's not a superstar. In fact, his best days are probably behind him, and he knows it. But he's still plugging away at it, while pursuing an otherwise self-destructive lifestyle. He's invited to a funeral in Cyprus at just the right time -- his finances are in shambles and his relationship is in a similar state, the largest question being which will fall apart first.
Not only is he invited, but his trip is paid for -- so he can go. Francis Benthem is the deceased, and at one point in time he was a teacher, a mentor for the narrator (I should say that Raymond didn't name him, I'm not being negligent) -- he was like a father to him, really. So he goes to the funeral, and for most of it, is the only one present besides the priest. Eventually, Mr. Prostakov (Benthem's employer, who paid for everything) and a few other people show up and leave quickly. Their appearance both confuses and intrigues the narrator.
Actually, that describes just about everything about Cyprus -- it confuses and intrigues him. So he spends time getting to know the island, the people on it and, when given the opportunity, Mr. Prostakov. Illie Prostakov is an enigma wrapped in a riddle, wrapped in a hint of a stereotypical wealthy Russian with a murky past and revenue stream. He presents the narrator with a business proposition -- take up residence in his home and replace Benthem. He's a little vague as to the artistic duties required, so I will be, too. But the money's good enough to take care of problems back home, so the narrator takes the job -- not realizing the trouble and mystery that he's put himself in the way of.
Unlike Bentham, the narrator won't just take things at face value -- he asks questions, and when he doesn't get answers, he tries to find them (he might not be great at it, but he tries). Who is Prostakov? What's he doing? Who are the people he surrounds himself with? Asking these questions isn't the safest thing he could do -- getting answers is probably worse.
The island of Cyprus isn't just the setting of the novel, it's practically a character. While the narrator is trying to understand his employer and his employer's aims, most people are more concerned with getting him to understand Cyprus. Everyone's description (I don't have a hard count, but I'd guess at least a dozen are given) is different, but combined you begin to get an idea what life on the island is like. In the end, I think we get a fuller understanding of Cyprus than we do anything that the narrator is looking into.
Which is not to say that he doesn't get any answers. He does, as does the reader. Raymond doesn't leave you frustrated like that.
There's a feel to this book that makes you think it'll be one thing, but it's not. The characters seem to be certain types, and most are -- but they don't act the way you think they will. The conclusion seems surely to be headed in one direction, but it ends up giving you a different ending. Everywhere you look, Raymond doesn't do what you expect -- which is both refreshing and annoying (you'd like to be right occasionally).
I'm not that convinced this is really a thriller -- but it's being marketed as one. As a thriller, I think it's missing a sense of urgency, of real danger. But I think things moved too quickly, and without the depth called for in a literary book. A little more time after our narrator took the job and trying to accomplish it before the plot moves forward, more time spent on the painting (and talking about the process) would've helped. A greater sense of hazard, of peril from Viktor or Illie would've helped a lot on the thriller front. In the end, the book wasn't quite sure it knew what it wanted to be -- and a mix of the two genres would've worked, but it needed to be a bit more of one of them (or both) to really be effective. It was just always lukewarm.
That said -- it never, not for a minute, failed to hold my interest. I may not have been very invested in the outcome or characters, but I was glued to it. Frankly, I think the narrator was the same way -- he wasn't invested in his relationship back in London, his career (really), or anything that was happening around him on Cyprus -- but he couldn't stop himself from sticking a toe in here and there, from involving himself just a little bit in everything. As he was confused -- so was I. As he was intrigued -- so was I. Raymond did a very effective job in getting the reader (or at least this reader) to see things from his protagonist's eyes.
Raymond's given us something unique here. I've talked before about books that I can respect and admire more than enjoy. This is one of those -- the writing and approach of this novel exceeds any affection or excitement I might have for it. It's not the kind of thriller you can finish and move on from easily -- I'm going to be thinking about this for a while. The characters will linger in my imagination, but the reality he depicts will stay around longer. This isn't a novel that lends itself to a rating any more than it lends itself to a genre-classification, so take it with a grain of salt.
My thanks to damppebbles blog tours for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided, including a copy of this book -- which didn't influence the above post, beyond giving me something to post about.
February 20, 2019
“Until the Russian turned up with his entourage, I was the only person at the funeral, and I had come two and a half thousand miles to be there” ….. so begins this captivating story. The reflection comes from the never-named narrator of this haunting story, an artist who hasn’t sold a painting for more than four years, is in debt and whose relationship with his girlfriend, Clare, has become increasingly fraught because of this. When he receives news from a solicitor in Larnaca that he is a named beneficiary in the will of his old art teacher, and one-time mentor, Francis Bentham and that a return flight has been booked and paid for so that he can attend the funeral, he is intrigued. He had lost touch with Francis ten years earlier, had no idea that he had moved to Cyprus and so the question of who had arranged and paid for this trip is a mystery. What he discovers soon after the funeral is that it was Illarion (or Illie as he prefers to be called) Prostakov, the wealthy Russian who had been Bentham’s benefactor. In exchange for a self-contained home and studio in the grounds of Illie’s secluded estate, Francis was expected paint the Russian’s recurring dream, attempting to capture its elusive meaning on canvas, and by doing so reveal something from Illie’s past which continues to haunt and elude him. Although he spends night after night attempting to do so, he never succeeds in satisfying Illie’s demands so, knowing of the link between the two artists, Illie is keen for the younger man to take Bentham’s place. With the prospect of being able to earn enough to settle his debts and maybe kick-start his creative abilities, the novel’s protagonist agrees.
The opening sentence of this novel immediately begins to set the scene for a story which is full of mystery from beginning to end, where nothing, and no one, is what it seems, and where anything which hints at offering an answer just leads to the uncovering of even more intrigue. Is Illie a Russian mobster or just a rich oligarch; are the other three people who live in the grounds of his estate really a father and his attractive teenage daughters? What is the mystery behind Illie’s obsession with his recurring dream? Why did Francis find it too elusive to be able to capture it on canvas? Will the narrator be any more successful? Will any of the inhabitants of the local towns of Paralimni and Ayia Napa be able to offer any clues? There is Lou, the young English girl working as a waitress, Tara who runs the local art gallery, her younger partner Furkan, owner of a bar, and the menacing, reptilian-like drug dealer Stelly, whom our protagonist is warned to avoid at all costs. All seem to have their own secrets.
Central to the story is the history of Cyprus, particularly in the aftermath of the 1974 Turkish invasion, when the permanent division of the island, by a physical boundary, led to the displacement of so many people and the continuing tensions between the Greeks and the Turks. It is an island whose geographical location has, over the centuries, brought influences from Europe, the Middle East and Africa, introducing a wonderful mix of cultures. However, it was this invasion which transformed the city of Famagusta from a vibrant, affluent tourist destination into a ghost-town, divided by a wall, abandoned and sealed-off by the Turks. The narrator hears rumours about this city, some of which suggest that the Russian mafia use it as a hide out. However, a key to his search for the truth becomes centred on the local legend of the Golden Orphans. Mystery surrounds the more than thirty children who were abandoned to living a feral existence in the city following the invasion. Who are they, where are they now and how do they feature in his investigations? Eventually he must enter the city and confront the secrets it holds. What he discovers there leads to the shocking revelation which marks the end of his stay on the island.
From his opening sentence the author laid the foundations for a story which is full of mystery and tension, not only about the characters he creates, but also about the island they inhabit. There are times when there is an almost surreal quality to the events being described and the experiences of the narrator of the story and, throughout, I felt an unsettling sense of apprehension about what was about to happen, what direction the narrative would take. I felt as constantly wrong-footed as our protagonist did! I was particularly captivated by the explorations of how the narrator attempted to understand Illie’s dream in order to “translate” it onto canvas. This was a fascinating demonstration of how difficult (not to say impossible!) it is to capture something as illusory and complex as the internal images of another person.
The author brought Cyprus to life in a very powerful and atmospheric way but, for the most part, this was not a portrayal of the sunny, fun-filled tourist destination island, although some of the scenes set in Ayia Napa did reflect this side. Instead, it showed a much darker and sinister underbelly, one which featured drugs, violence, kidnap and murder and painted a picture of a community still dealing with the massive social upheaval caused by the partition of the island. A scene in the Troodos Mountains, with its lush forests, its pockets of snow and the presence of military forces, where, from the summit of Mount Olympus, you can see the contrasting landscapes of much of this fascinating but troubled island, was symbolic of so many of the divisions its people are living with.
Although there is a lot of action and tension in this relatively short novel, it never felt rushed and I always felt confident that the author was in total control of the reflective pacing which resulted in its dramatic resolution. I loved the cast of interesting, often ambiguous characters who made this story such a captivating, thought-provoking read – and I was delighted, if also a little saddened, to be reminded of happy memories of an island I visited in the years before partition.
October 30, 2018
*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author and to Emma Welton of damppebbles blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
The Golden Orphans is a short novel, but so packed with suspense and atmosphere that it feels like weighty literature.
Set in Cyprus, mainly in party town Ayia Napa but with a brief incursion into the abandoned ghost town of Famagusta, Gary Raymond has really captured the contradictions of experience inherent when a tourist trap also has a dark history and a simmering present.
The plot presents mystery layered upon mystery: nothing and no one is what they seem, and the characters speak in cryptic riddles and portentous utterances. This, combined with the poetic detail in the description of the setting, lent a heavy dreamlike air to the novel and kept me in tense suspense throughout, as events flowed swiftly past – unrelated and yet intricately interconnected.
I found the blurb a little misleading, as Francis Benthem’s only role in events was as the catalyst that brought our narrator into play, and the painting of dreams, whilst deeply intriguing, plays little part in the investigation (which actually revolves around the protagonist’s casual conversations with locals, along with a hefty dose of his own intuition for anomalies).
Much still remains ambiguous by the end of the story, even as one of the main questions is answered in a shocking twist climax. Even the name of our protagonist narrator remains unknown, and the final word goes to the anonymous clergyman of the beginning with his casual ‘Forget it Jake, it’s Chinatown’ style dismissal.
The Golden Orphans is an atmospheric incursion through a dreamlike Cyprus, in search of answers which slip away to be replaced with more questions and confusion. I highly recommend this to anyone who prefers their crime thrillers with a literary style.
He looked me in the eyes, and his were only partially focused, partially glassy, and a little bloodshot, and he said, “I need you to paint. I need this. Francis kept me sane much of the time.” He laughed, and it was light, not at all desperate or reaching. “We would sit on that balcony and talk and drink and then I would come back here to the house and sleep it all off and in the morning I would come back to the tower and he would have that day’s painting for me, and he would often be asleep in the chair or up in the bed by the time I came back, so I would tiptoe around and pick up the painting and take it with me and leave him sleeping. And the next night we would do the same again, and then again, and he would paint and I would take it, and the circle went on.”
“But what did he paint for you, Illie?”
He looked at me fully, the glassiness dissipating in his eyes.
“I want you to paint my dreams,” he said.
– Gary Raymond, The Golden Orphans
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
The Golden Orphans is a short novel, but so packed with suspense and atmosphere that it feels like weighty literature.
Set in Cyprus, mainly in party town Ayia Napa but with a brief incursion into the abandoned ghost town of Famagusta, Gary Raymond has really captured the contradictions of experience inherent when a tourist trap also has a dark history and a simmering present.
The plot presents mystery layered upon mystery: nothing and no one is what they seem, and the characters speak in cryptic riddles and portentous utterances. This, combined with the poetic detail in the description of the setting, lent a heavy dreamlike air to the novel and kept me in tense suspense throughout, as events flowed swiftly past – unrelated and yet intricately interconnected.
I found the blurb a little misleading, as Francis Benthem’s only role in events was as the catalyst that brought our narrator into play, and the painting of dreams, whilst deeply intriguing, plays little part in the investigation (which actually revolves around the protagonist’s casual conversations with locals, along with a hefty dose of his own intuition for anomalies).
Much still remains ambiguous by the end of the story, even as one of the main questions is answered in a shocking twist climax. Even the name of our protagonist narrator remains unknown, and the final word goes to the anonymous clergyman of the beginning with his casual ‘Forget it Jake, it’s Chinatown’ style dismissal.
The Golden Orphans is an atmospheric incursion through a dreamlike Cyprus, in search of answers which slip away to be replaced with more questions and confusion. I highly recommend this to anyone who prefers their crime thrillers with a literary style.
He looked me in the eyes, and his were only partially focused, partially glassy, and a little bloodshot, and he said, “I need you to paint. I need this. Francis kept me sane much of the time.” He laughed, and it was light, not at all desperate or reaching. “We would sit on that balcony and talk and drink and then I would come back here to the house and sleep it all off and in the morning I would come back to the tower and he would have that day’s painting for me, and he would often be asleep in the chair or up in the bed by the time I came back, so I would tiptoe around and pick up the painting and take it with me and leave him sleeping. And the next night we would do the same again, and then again, and he would paint and I would take it, and the circle went on.”
“But what did he paint for you, Illie?”
He looked at me fully, the glassiness dissipating in his eyes.
“I want you to paint my dreams,” he said.
– Gary Raymond, The Golden Orphans
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
October 31, 2018
I'm grateful to the publisher for a copy of this book to review as part of its blogtour.
Many years ago (the early 70s), when I was very young, my parents went off for a holiday in Cyprus. This was before the Turkish invasion of 1974, but not long before - they came back reporting hearing gunfire out in the countryside. It was close enough to the events that I can still remember my mother reacting to the news: "that's where we were!"
Forty years on, all that seems very remote - to me sitting here in England. But the reality is a divided island, displaced people and abandoned towns and even cities - alongside the hedonistic tourist trade.
Raymond embraces both these contradictory strands in his story of a painter summoned to the island for the funeral of his former mentor, Francis Benthem. In an opening scene reminiscent of Harry Lime's funeral in the The Third Many, Benthem is laid to rest with minimum ceremony, the only other attendees being a Russian businessman and his family.
The Graham Greene vibe in the book - appropriate for a divided community plagued by "grifters, gangsters and wide-boys" - is then skilfully intercut with something I found reminiscent of the games with reality in John Fowles' The Magus, as our unnamed (I don't think he is ever identified) artist is drawn into the pulsing nightlife and confronts the nature and history of the island. Commissioned to - what exactly? - by Prostakov, the Russian who buried Benthem, our protagonist soon finds himself out of his depth.
There is a great deal going on in this book, though it's perhaps only apparent in hindsight just how much. On top of the divisions on Cyprus and their impact - such as the presence of those "Golden Orphans" - there are overtones of people-smuggling, organised crime and violence. But it's hard to pick out who the angles are - if anyone is? - until the dramatic climax.
If then. I still wasn't sure at the end what all the factions were that had been in play - which is probably realistic given the history and nature of the island itself - but what is clearer is the impact on the narrator who seems to be at a crossroads in his life and relationships. As much as the drink and drug wrecked young people in the clubs of Napa, he seems to have come to Cyprus to find a place apart from his life. Offered, perhaps, an escape he doesn't seem able to accept that (unlike Benthem). In the end I felt this narrator to be the most intriguing mystery of all (we get hints - such as his ability to "...embalm myself in morally complicated environments...") and one who isn't resolved, leaving the reader to assess what will happen next.
Raymond's writing is sharp - while this is s short book without a lot of time to develop his characters (apart from that central enigma of a painter) he repeatedly skewers a mood or setting ("there is nothing more accurate than silence") never more so than when describing the abandoned city of Famagusta, left as on one afternoon in 1974, the city my parents told me about when they returned from their holiday/
A fascinating novel about a fascinating place, with much more in it than the apparently short length would suggest.
Many years ago (the early 70s), when I was very young, my parents went off for a holiday in Cyprus. This was before the Turkish invasion of 1974, but not long before - they came back reporting hearing gunfire out in the countryside. It was close enough to the events that I can still remember my mother reacting to the news: "that's where we were!"
Forty years on, all that seems very remote - to me sitting here in England. But the reality is a divided island, displaced people and abandoned towns and even cities - alongside the hedonistic tourist trade.
Raymond embraces both these contradictory strands in his story of a painter summoned to the island for the funeral of his former mentor, Francis Benthem. In an opening scene reminiscent of Harry Lime's funeral in the The Third Many, Benthem is laid to rest with minimum ceremony, the only other attendees being a Russian businessman and his family.
The Graham Greene vibe in the book - appropriate for a divided community plagued by "grifters, gangsters and wide-boys" - is then skilfully intercut with something I found reminiscent of the games with reality in John Fowles' The Magus, as our unnamed (I don't think he is ever identified) artist is drawn into the pulsing nightlife and confronts the nature and history of the island. Commissioned to - what exactly? - by Prostakov, the Russian who buried Benthem, our protagonist soon finds himself out of his depth.
There is a great deal going on in this book, though it's perhaps only apparent in hindsight just how much. On top of the divisions on Cyprus and their impact - such as the presence of those "Golden Orphans" - there are overtones of people-smuggling, organised crime and violence. But it's hard to pick out who the angles are - if anyone is? - until the dramatic climax.
If then. I still wasn't sure at the end what all the factions were that had been in play - which is probably realistic given the history and nature of the island itself - but what is clearer is the impact on the narrator who seems to be at a crossroads in his life and relationships. As much as the drink and drug wrecked young people in the clubs of Napa, he seems to have come to Cyprus to find a place apart from his life. Offered, perhaps, an escape he doesn't seem able to accept that (unlike Benthem). In the end I felt this narrator to be the most intriguing mystery of all (we get hints - such as his ability to "...embalm myself in morally complicated environments...") and one who isn't resolved, leaving the reader to assess what will happen next.
Raymond's writing is sharp - while this is s short book without a lot of time to develop his characters (apart from that central enigma of a painter) he repeatedly skewers a mood or setting ("there is nothing more accurate than silence") never more so than when describing the abandoned city of Famagusta, left as on one afternoon in 1974, the city my parents told me about when they returned from their holiday/
A fascinating novel about a fascinating place, with much more in it than the apparently short length would suggest.
October 25, 2018
A short, sharp thriller which will keep you guessing. 4/5 stars.
This review was originally posted on my book blog.
It’s been ages since I read a book when I honestly had no idea what to expect next. This was the greatest pleasure in reading The Golden Orphans which will keep you guessing the whole way through possibly because it refuses to fit neatly in any one genre: it’s part mystery, part thriller, and almost a coming of age story, if a character can “come of age” as part of a midlife crisis! Refreshingly, the author never gives into the temptation to over-explain, instead trusting the reader to keep up and not mind finding out exactly what’s going on at the same time as the main character.
The setting adds to this mystique and air of ambiguity. The Golden Orphans draws on both the geography and history of Cyprus creatively, taking us beyond the infamy of Ayia Napa to show us some of the reclusive beauty of the island which attracts artists and all sorts of wanderers. The history of the invasion and partition of Cyprus is touched upon a few times and the consequences of these events turns out to have greater repercussions on the plot than is immediately obvious.
The main thread of the story involves attempts to paint dreams, and there is often a dreamlike quality to sections of the narrative as our narrator is often disorientated in environments which are entirely alien to him, divorced as they are from his greyer day-to-day in England. At points this made me to feel there was almost something mythical about the story, and indeed another plot line does turn out to have something very important in common with a famous Greek myth (I’ll say no more to avoid spoilers!).
The characters are all interesting, if various shades of suspicious. The artist main character is sympathetic even though he could have come across as an indebted drifter; he has the clearest moral boundaries of all the characters and it’s good to be in his company when others behave questionably.
Overall: if you’re looking for a quick read (incredibly, only 155 pages) which will keep you entertained and guessing right up to the final twist, I highly recommend The Golden Orphans.
This review was originally posted on my book blog.
It’s been ages since I read a book when I honestly had no idea what to expect next. This was the greatest pleasure in reading The Golden Orphans which will keep you guessing the whole way through possibly because it refuses to fit neatly in any one genre: it’s part mystery, part thriller, and almost a coming of age story, if a character can “come of age” as part of a midlife crisis! Refreshingly, the author never gives into the temptation to over-explain, instead trusting the reader to keep up and not mind finding out exactly what’s going on at the same time as the main character.
The setting adds to this mystique and air of ambiguity. The Golden Orphans draws on both the geography and history of Cyprus creatively, taking us beyond the infamy of Ayia Napa to show us some of the reclusive beauty of the island which attracts artists and all sorts of wanderers. The history of the invasion and partition of Cyprus is touched upon a few times and the consequences of these events turns out to have greater repercussions on the plot than is immediately obvious.
The main thread of the story involves attempts to paint dreams, and there is often a dreamlike quality to sections of the narrative as our narrator is often disorientated in environments which are entirely alien to him, divorced as they are from his greyer day-to-day in England. At points this made me to feel there was almost something mythical about the story, and indeed another plot line does turn out to have something very important in common with a famous Greek myth (I’ll say no more to avoid spoilers!).
The characters are all interesting, if various shades of suspicious. The artist main character is sympathetic even though he could have come across as an indebted drifter; he has the clearest moral boundaries of all the characters and it’s good to be in his company when others behave questionably.
Overall: if you’re looking for a quick read (incredibly, only 155 pages) which will keep you entertained and guessing right up to the final twist, I highly recommend The Golden Orphans.
October 27, 2018
The Golden Orphans is set on the Island of Cyprus, but does not portray the sunny, fun holiday island you would expect but a much darker sinister view; drugs, secrets, lies and murder. Told in the first person narrative, by a unknown narrator who goes to Cyprus to funeral of a friend and fellow artist Frances Bentham. Frances was employed by Illy Prostakov to paint his dreams, and the cash strapped narrator follows in his friend's footsteps and falls into the sphere of the Russian and his very different world.
This whole book is based on secrets, lies and unknowns and all the characters seem to be hiding something or not what they seem. The narrator is unknown, apart from that he is an artist from England and has a girlfriend, Claire. Illy is very secretive, just what are these dreams about, and why does he need them captured on canvas; a near impossible task to capture what is in someone else's head in paint. There are the guests staying with Illy, Evgeny and teenage girls Darya and Dina who seem to be in hiding. At times this whole mysterious and surreptitious plot is like one of Dalí's Dreamscapes; no-one or anything is quite what it first seems.
The plot takes in the history of Cyprus since it's segregation and invasion of the Turks in 1974 that effectively divided the Island. This history is very simplistic however, and could maybe have been elaborated on. The Golden Orphans in the title refer to those babies and young children orphaned when Famagusta was divided in two and many Cypriots were killed. At 180 pages this book is a bit short for me as I felt there was a lot of room for development of plot and characters and there were a few loose ends However, there was slightly sinister atmosphere, a darkness to Cyprus, a place full of mis-fits running away from something. There is certainly plenty of action in this shot book with gun fights, murder, dark characters, a kidnap conspiracy and a chase; maybe good things do come in small packages.
The anonymity of the narrator and the ambiguity of the other characters in The Golden Orphans adds to the atmosphere and intensity of the narrative. This is a suspenseful, pacy and dramatic literary thriller, that builds to a dramatic crescendo; an intelligent mystery.
This whole book is based on secrets, lies and unknowns and all the characters seem to be hiding something or not what they seem. The narrator is unknown, apart from that he is an artist from England and has a girlfriend, Claire. Illy is very secretive, just what are these dreams about, and why does he need them captured on canvas; a near impossible task to capture what is in someone else's head in paint. There are the guests staying with Illy, Evgeny and teenage girls Darya and Dina who seem to be in hiding. At times this whole mysterious and surreptitious plot is like one of Dalí's Dreamscapes; no-one or anything is quite what it first seems.
The plot takes in the history of Cyprus since it's segregation and invasion of the Turks in 1974 that effectively divided the Island. This history is very simplistic however, and could maybe have been elaborated on. The Golden Orphans in the title refer to those babies and young children orphaned when Famagusta was divided in two and many Cypriots were killed. At 180 pages this book is a bit short for me as I felt there was a lot of room for development of plot and characters and there were a few loose ends However, there was slightly sinister atmosphere, a darkness to Cyprus, a place full of mis-fits running away from something. There is certainly plenty of action in this shot book with gun fights, murder, dark characters, a kidnap conspiracy and a chase; maybe good things do come in small packages.
The anonymity of the narrator and the ambiguity of the other characters in The Golden Orphans adds to the atmosphere and intensity of the narrative. This is a suspenseful, pacy and dramatic literary thriller, that builds to a dramatic crescendo; an intelligent mystery.
November 3, 2018
Originally posted at: https://bookboodle.co.uk/2018/11/03/b...
This book wasn't at all what I expected; I genuinely thought I was going to get a murder mystery whodunnit novel...oops. What I did get was a dramatic, intense, darker tale set in one of the most beautiful locations.
Our unnamed narrator is an ordinary chap who finds himself in extraordinary circumstances; commissioned to paint dreams, mixing with Russian gangsters (I think) and all sorts of other unsavoury characters. I didn't really get Illie's desire to have his dreams painted, and I do appreciate sometimes you don't have to get it but I do think with his contacts and financial resources he could have achieved the same result in an alternative way (but hey ho there's the plot!). I'm also not sure why our main character isn't named. But to be honest, I felt the same with Rebecca - someone please give me an idea why. I don't know if this added anything to the story or detracted.
Having visited Cyprus many years ago, I enjoyed the historical aspects surrounding Famagusta and the Turkish invasion. I would have liked some more of this as I really enjoyed the parts that were set here.
This book is described as a "literary thriller" and I can see why. This doesn't feel like or read like a run of the mill suspense novel, it says to me I'm influenced by the likes of Daphne du Maurier and Patricia Highsmith. Whereby, it makes me as a reader feel like I don't always understand or 'get' what I'm reading, but it doesn't mean I've not liked what I've read. It's a different kind of clever read, often poetic.
For a relatively short book I don't think you'll come away feeling short-changed but maybe, as I did, a feeling that some parts could have been explored a little deeper. Overall, a slow and descriptive build-up to a dramatic and climatic end!
(Read and reviewed as part of a blog tour)
This book wasn't at all what I expected; I genuinely thought I was going to get a murder mystery whodunnit novel...oops. What I did get was a dramatic, intense, darker tale set in one of the most beautiful locations.
Our unnamed narrator is an ordinary chap who finds himself in extraordinary circumstances; commissioned to paint dreams, mixing with Russian gangsters (I think) and all sorts of other unsavoury characters. I didn't really get Illie's desire to have his dreams painted, and I do appreciate sometimes you don't have to get it but I do think with his contacts and financial resources he could have achieved the same result in an alternative way (but hey ho there's the plot!). I'm also not sure why our main character isn't named. But to be honest, I felt the same with Rebecca - someone please give me an idea why. I don't know if this added anything to the story or detracted.
Having visited Cyprus many years ago, I enjoyed the historical aspects surrounding Famagusta and the Turkish invasion. I would have liked some more of this as I really enjoyed the parts that were set here.
This book is described as a "literary thriller" and I can see why. This doesn't feel like or read like a run of the mill suspense novel, it says to me I'm influenced by the likes of Daphne du Maurier and Patricia Highsmith. Whereby, it makes me as a reader feel like I don't always understand or 'get' what I'm reading, but it doesn't mean I've not liked what I've read. It's a different kind of clever read, often poetic.
For a relatively short book I don't think you'll come away feeling short-changed but maybe, as I did, a feeling that some parts could have been explored a little deeper. Overall, a slow and descriptive build-up to a dramatic and climatic end!
(Read and reviewed as part of a blog tour)
November 1, 2018
3.5-4*
The book opens with the narrator attending the funeral of his old tutor and friend Francis Benthem. Benthem had come to Cyprus some years before and they had lost touch over the years but he still regarded him as a father-figure, a mentor of his formative years as an artist. It was a curious funeral and our narrator, whose name we never learn, wonders about Benthems death and the life he lived in Cyprus. Who is Illy Prostakov and what was the work Benthem did for him?
Our narrator is curious, some might say too curious for his own good! As we follow him around Cyprus, meeting a variety of strange and fascinating souls in a variety of weird and wonderful places our curiosity equally draws us in.
For a short novel, there’s just 155 pages, it packs in plenty of mystery and given that the language and plot has to be tight you do not feel rushed. This literary thriller is somewhat dark but there is nothing graphic with much of the action coming toward the end of the book. And what an ending it is, nicely done!
Cyprus is splendidly brought to life and we get a real sense of history, culture and setting. I really enjoyed this element of the book. We learn who the ‘Golden Orphans’ are and their origin. The descriptive narration truly enhances the mystery and tension, evoking a real sense of disquiet throughout the book.
Blog tours are such fun as they bring books to your attention that you might not otherwise have come across and so you are able to enjoy different genres or types of genre such as The Golden Orphans. This novel was captivating and for those who like a dark, atmospheric read this book may well be one for you.
My thanks to Gary Raymond and Parthian Books for providing me an e-copy of this book & Emma (#damppebblesblogtours) for inviting me to participate in the blog tour.
The book opens with the narrator attending the funeral of his old tutor and friend Francis Benthem. Benthem had come to Cyprus some years before and they had lost touch over the years but he still regarded him as a father-figure, a mentor of his formative years as an artist. It was a curious funeral and our narrator, whose name we never learn, wonders about Benthems death and the life he lived in Cyprus. Who is Illy Prostakov and what was the work Benthem did for him?
Our narrator is curious, some might say too curious for his own good! As we follow him around Cyprus, meeting a variety of strange and fascinating souls in a variety of weird and wonderful places our curiosity equally draws us in.
For a short novel, there’s just 155 pages, it packs in plenty of mystery and given that the language and plot has to be tight you do not feel rushed. This literary thriller is somewhat dark but there is nothing graphic with much of the action coming toward the end of the book. And what an ending it is, nicely done!
Cyprus is splendidly brought to life and we get a real sense of history, culture and setting. I really enjoyed this element of the book. We learn who the ‘Golden Orphans’ are and their origin. The descriptive narration truly enhances the mystery and tension, evoking a real sense of disquiet throughout the book.
Blog tours are such fun as they bring books to your attention that you might not otherwise have come across and so you are able to enjoy different genres or types of genre such as The Golden Orphans. This novel was captivating and for those who like a dark, atmospheric read this book may well be one for you.
My thanks to Gary Raymond and Parthian Books for providing me an e-copy of this book & Emma (#damppebblesblogtours) for inviting me to participate in the blog tour.
August 18, 2018
Four stars for a fast paced opening: a British artist receives a mysterious summons to an even more mysterious funeral in Cyprus. Many books and films start around an open grave, and this one’s all the better for it, drawing the reader straight into questions of who, what, why?
There’s a cast of sharply drawn characters: the Russian gangster (or is he?); the local miscreant Stelly, two beautiful young girls and the various barkeeps and drinkers of Ayia Napa. Our young artist has his own problems: at home his love life, finances and creative output have all stalled, and with every step he takes the reader wants to cry out: Stop! This really isn’t going to improve matters. But on he goes as the internal and external conflicts ratchet up in time honoured thriller fashion.
Raymond’s Cyprus is a sinister, brittle society, the Golden Orphans of the title symbols of tragedy and division. Ayia Napa sounds nightmarish and Famagusta weird; I haven’t been to Cyprus so I can’t say how accurate his portrayal is but there is certainly a strong sense of location imbued with historical and contemporary anguish.
At sentence level the author occasionally overwrites. He clearly knows what he means even if I didn’t always understand. “The whole room was a merciless battle against the subtlety of shadow.” Plot wise I’d go down to three stars too, because I didn’t always understand what was going on. But I’m easily distracted and tend to skim so that could be my fault. What I did come away with was the sense of some very good ideas, a tense atmospheric play around the genre and a definite interest in reading more by Gary Raymond.
There’s a cast of sharply drawn characters: the Russian gangster (or is he?); the local miscreant Stelly, two beautiful young girls and the various barkeeps and drinkers of Ayia Napa. Our young artist has his own problems: at home his love life, finances and creative output have all stalled, and with every step he takes the reader wants to cry out: Stop! This really isn’t going to improve matters. But on he goes as the internal and external conflicts ratchet up in time honoured thriller fashion.
Raymond’s Cyprus is a sinister, brittle society, the Golden Orphans of the title symbols of tragedy and division. Ayia Napa sounds nightmarish and Famagusta weird; I haven’t been to Cyprus so I can’t say how accurate his portrayal is but there is certainly a strong sense of location imbued with historical and contemporary anguish.
At sentence level the author occasionally overwrites. He clearly knows what he means even if I didn’t always understand. “The whole room was a merciless battle against the subtlety of shadow.” Plot wise I’d go down to three stars too, because I didn’t always understand what was going on. But I’m easily distracted and tend to skim so that could be my fault. What I did come away with was the sense of some very good ideas, a tense atmospheric play around the genre and a definite interest in reading more by Gary Raymond.
November 13, 2018
This is the kind of book that gets under your skin from the start, it has a style of writing that invites you in and a slow tension that creeps up on you without you really noticing but I found that I was entranced easily and didn’t want to put it down.
The Golden Orphans doesn’t take its time, it’s a very slim book at just over 150 pages so you are thrust straight in to the story. The book opens at a funeral on Cyprus and there are plenty questions from the start, not the burning desperate kind but the kind that keep coming back, that hang around in your conscious waiting for the right time to reveal themselves.
I actually really enjoy literary fiction, if I’m in the right mood for it, but do find that generally it relies more on introspection and an engaging writing style rather than on a solid plot line. This book actually has the best of both worlds, it conjures scenes vividly, has enigmatic and worldly characters, and really makes you think about what is being said but also has an intriguing story that you can follow.
The setting is wonderful, Cyprus has such an interesting history, I found it a fascinating backdrop to what was happening, the contrast of the happy island life against the darker past of both the island and some of the characters. I won’t mention much about the story but it has some twists that I wouldn’t have anticipated.
I think this is a book that will play on my mind for quite some time, it might be small but it has a powerful impact.
Originally posted on everywhere and nowhere
The Golden Orphans doesn’t take its time, it’s a very slim book at just over 150 pages so you are thrust straight in to the story. The book opens at a funeral on Cyprus and there are plenty questions from the start, not the burning desperate kind but the kind that keep coming back, that hang around in your conscious waiting for the right time to reveal themselves.
I actually really enjoy literary fiction, if I’m in the right mood for it, but do find that generally it relies more on introspection and an engaging writing style rather than on a solid plot line. This book actually has the best of both worlds, it conjures scenes vividly, has enigmatic and worldly characters, and really makes you think about what is being said but also has an intriguing story that you can follow.
The setting is wonderful, Cyprus has such an interesting history, I found it a fascinating backdrop to what was happening, the contrast of the happy island life against the darker past of both the island and some of the characters. I won’t mention much about the story but it has some twists that I wouldn’t have anticipated.
I think this is a book that will play on my mind for quite some time, it might be small but it has a powerful impact.
Originally posted on everywhere and nowhere
January 30, 2019
Bit of a relief to read a novella. There seems to be a fashion at the moment for novels to be padded out. As if readers need to be given more words so we think we're getting value for money.
This novella has a terrific sense of place, an interesting premise and some sharp writing. Raymond nails the thing about writing an opening line that grabs you, and the whole first chapter is great.
I would have liked the plot to have enabled the Famagusta episode to have been more fully explored. How do you survive in an abandoned town? Was there a community of people holed up there? In which case how would they have got water, power, food? And if not, I would have liked a longer exploration of what could happen to a town abandoned overnight.
I felt there was a lot of faffing about in bars and clubs in the earlier part of the novella at the expense of moving things on. But of course, some of that faffing turned out to be crucial to the plot.
At the end I found myself turning back to the beginning thinking 'hang on a minute, do the ages work for this denouement?' And I suppose they do - just, and with a stretch of the imagination. I need to go back further to check on other elements. Are we told how Furkan and Tara meet? Had Tara & Illie not met until the club - other than in 1970s of course?
And are Golden Orphans a real thing or made up by the author?
I'm hoping to go to an event with the author soon. So maybe I'll get some answers.
This novella has a terrific sense of place, an interesting premise and some sharp writing. Raymond nails the thing about writing an opening line that grabs you, and the whole first chapter is great.
I would have liked the plot to have enabled the Famagusta episode to have been more fully explored. How do you survive in an abandoned town? Was there a community of people holed up there? In which case how would they have got water, power, food? And if not, I would have liked a longer exploration of what could happen to a town abandoned overnight.
I felt there was a lot of faffing about in bars and clubs in the earlier part of the novella at the expense of moving things on. But of course, some of that faffing turned out to be crucial to the plot.
At the end I found myself turning back to the beginning thinking 'hang on a minute, do the ages work for this denouement?' And I suppose they do - just, and with a stretch of the imagination. I need to go back further to check on other elements. Are we told how Furkan and Tara meet? Had Tara & Illie not met until the club - other than in 1970s of course?
And are Golden Orphans a real thing or made up by the author?
I'm hoping to go to an event with the author soon. So maybe I'll get some answers.
June 25, 2020
I was recommended this book and it didn't disappoint me. Cyprus is a place that holds many fascinations and this book delves into the deep divisions that haunt the country and those that live there today.
Gary Raymond has a way of writing that draws the reader instantly into the deep and complex relationships between the characters. Each relationship is unique, each character is complex and many layered. The mystery that the reader finds themselves insidiously embroiled in is enriched even more by the settings where the action plays out.
I was particularly intrigued by the clever structure that the author used for this story, leading me, apparently seamlessly, through a story arc that lured me in. I didn't see the ending coming until I got there.
This novel is a short read, and although outside of my usual comfort zone, it was one that left me wondering where the line between fact and fiction might lie.
Gary Raymond has a way of writing that draws the reader instantly into the deep and complex relationships between the characters. Each relationship is unique, each character is complex and many layered. The mystery that the reader finds themselves insidiously embroiled in is enriched even more by the settings where the action plays out.
I was particularly intrigued by the clever structure that the author used for this story, leading me, apparently seamlessly, through a story arc that lured me in. I didn't see the ending coming until I got there.
This novel is a short read, and although outside of my usual comfort zone, it was one that left me wondering where the line between fact and fiction might lie.
October 31, 2018
I honestly had no clue where this was heading, I kept expecting it to go one way and it just never did. The story kept me on my toes, guessing what was really happening. Who were these people? What was happening? Even finishing the story, I never felt like all my questions had been answered. I was left in a kind of daze, thinking what did I just read? In a good way.
With it being so twisty and not following the path you would think, it kept it interesting. It kept you hooked, you wanted/needed to know what was really happening.
With it being so twisty and not following the path you would think, it kept it interesting. It kept you hooked, you wanted/needed to know what was really happening.
August 1, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyed this smart, well-written literary thriller from Gary Raymond. There were traces of John Fowles, but it was entirely its own beast. Reading it in Cyprus, I found he summoned the atmosphere of the place perfectly, and wove a wonderfully strange tale in between the bars and beaches. One note: the publisher could have done with proofreading it a little better! A fair few typos and inconsistencies, but the story itself is solid.
October 14, 2018
The Golden Orphans is a mystery set on Cyprus. It opens with the funeral of Francis Benthem. The one mourner is an English artist, former student and friend of the deceased.
Illy Prostakov has a recurring dream that he wants painting. He generously offers to pay off all the artist’s current debts if he’ll stay and paint, but can this Russian be trusted? See here for full review https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-bLs
Illy Prostakov has a recurring dream that he wants painting. He generously offers to pay off all the artist’s current debts if he’ll stay and paint, but can this Russian be trusted? See here for full review https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-bLs
August 16, 2018
A literary thriller based in Cyprus, with all the weight of a full blown novel in a short and poignant little novel. Strange goings-on, an existentially plagued artist, dodgy Russian dealings and a beautiful world of luxury, The Golden Orphans continuously propels excitement from its pages in a quick and entertaining way.
November 1, 2018
The author has created a really interesting concept with ‘the Golden Orphans’ and has woven this all together rather nicely for what was a really enjoyable read. It’s a fairly short book and I finished it within a day but it definitely left its mark. There’s a lot of action crammed into these few pages.
October 8, 2018
I enjoyed this - great shades of Graham Greene. Good book for a summer afternoon in the garden. Well paced.
October 25, 2020
A bizarre short story but a real page turner
May 8, 2018
Loved the detailed atmospheric description in this book, and the sense that nothing is quite what it seems, with a shocking revelation at the end. See my full review here - http://createdtoread.com/book-review-...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews