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A Faulty Eviction
The high-pitched wail and yelp of sirens managed to cut through the random ascent of tobacco smoke emanating from the residents who circled the lifeless form. After two gut-churning deaths at Pendrick Court within the last twenty-four hours, only Edna had been expecting a third...
England, 2019. Kevin Douglas, tyrannical landlord of Pendrick Court, is sending eviction notices to his eccentric community of tenants. The law is not on their side, but the ten residents - Kevin's own son included - have no intention of moving out. They band together to fight the evictions and form a war cabinet. Just how far will these desperate militants go?
As the two-week battle for Pendrick Court becomes a media circus, it starts to spiral out of control. Will the motley crew hold on to their homes? And will all of them make it through the fortnight alive?
A Faulty Eviction is one of the funniest books you'll read this year as it reveals the alarming lengths to which innocent victims are prepared to go when commercial greed threatens their security...
England, 2019. Kevin Douglas, tyrannical landlord of Pendrick Court, is sending eviction notices to his eccentric community of tenants. The law is not on their side, but the ten residents - Kevin's own son included - have no intention of moving out. They band together to fight the evictions and form a war cabinet. Just how far will these desperate militants go?
As the two-week battle for Pendrick Court becomes a media circus, it starts to spiral out of control. Will the motley crew hold on to their homes? And will all of them make it through the fortnight alive?
A Faulty Eviction is one of the funniest books you'll read this year as it reveals the alarming lengths to which innocent victims are prepared to go when commercial greed threatens their security...
- GenresHumor
346 pages, Paperback
Published April 6, 2021
2 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 29, 2024
"And we'll have to fork out a deposit before we get ours back from Kevin Bloody Douglas. I am not moving."
Bibliophiles who would give anything to discover high-quality authors, you are in luck!
Section 21 is the 'no fault' ending of an Assured Shorthold Tenancy, a UK-based clause that permits the landlord to evict tenants without good reason. When landlord, Kevin Douglas, serves this notice, it unfurls a wave of disturbance amongst the recipients. Unwillingness to relocate—-a natural human instinct—causes ordinary, manageable tenants to become such that they cease to be manageable, and goodwill turns into hate. Author Garwood gifts his readers a chance to grasp this reversion of human sanity through a prose that steers characters into existence faster than icicles from zero-degree water.
But he allows his readers to approach the matter, so arguably grave, amidst a scatter of chuckles. When I began reading this book, I had no idea that after a certain point I would be eagerly seeking a character's biting remarks at every page-turn but such an illicit interest was squeezed out of me by a lava-loaded chap by the name of Robert, whom I came to regard with scorn much later.
Moreover, the author’s writing sports spellbinding metaphors. Example-> “The meetings never took place and the table had become a Petri dish for a growing culture of paperwork that now teetered in lofty, random piles.”
Overall, my appeal for the novel transcends many in that it is uniquely designed, for it carries a tale densely-populated with human whereabouts and yet engraved with arresting descriptions, certain transfixingly-intelligent conversations, and the unmistakable understanding that in reality only streams of desperation in hearts and minds underpin the whole humorous battle. I laughed, cried, trembled, shrieked exclaims, felt like slapping someone, and ached to depart from this unique piece, never for once losing sight of the monstrous insensitivity contained in the passing of such a law.
It is clear that this topic means a lot to this author and that he wished to communicate that the stress of an eviction of this kind is another serious cry deserving of a hearing amongst all the crises of the world. Being forced to become homeless just because a law exists for it is not a sweet thing---such a relevant topic for a novel!
This is a unique book I feel blessed to have taken a chance on! I thoroughly thank this talented author for writing such a beautiful book!
Highly recommended!
And oh I am eagerly waiting for its sequel! There will be one!
Bibliophiles who would give anything to discover high-quality authors, you are in luck!
Section 21 is the 'no fault' ending of an Assured Shorthold Tenancy, a UK-based clause that permits the landlord to evict tenants without good reason. When landlord, Kevin Douglas, serves this notice, it unfurls a wave of disturbance amongst the recipients. Unwillingness to relocate—-a natural human instinct—causes ordinary, manageable tenants to become such that they cease to be manageable, and goodwill turns into hate. Author Garwood gifts his readers a chance to grasp this reversion of human sanity through a prose that steers characters into existence faster than icicles from zero-degree water.
But he allows his readers to approach the matter, so arguably grave, amidst a scatter of chuckles. When I began reading this book, I had no idea that after a certain point I would be eagerly seeking a character's biting remarks at every page-turn but such an illicit interest was squeezed out of me by a lava-loaded chap by the name of Robert, whom I came to regard with scorn much later.
Moreover, the author’s writing sports spellbinding metaphors. Example-> “The meetings never took place and the table had become a Petri dish for a growing culture of paperwork that now teetered in lofty, random piles.”
Overall, my appeal for the novel transcends many in that it is uniquely designed, for it carries a tale densely-populated with human whereabouts and yet engraved with arresting descriptions, certain transfixingly-intelligent conversations, and the unmistakable understanding that in reality only streams of desperation in hearts and minds underpin the whole humorous battle. I laughed, cried, trembled, shrieked exclaims, felt like slapping someone, and ached to depart from this unique piece, never for once losing sight of the monstrous insensitivity contained in the passing of such a law.
It is clear that this topic means a lot to this author and that he wished to communicate that the stress of an eviction of this kind is another serious cry deserving of a hearing amongst all the crises of the world. Being forced to become homeless just because a law exists for it is not a sweet thing---such a relevant topic for a novel!
This is a unique book I feel blessed to have taken a chance on! I thoroughly thank this talented author for writing such a beautiful book!
Highly recommended!
And oh I am eagerly waiting for its sequel! There will be one!
December 18, 2021
For the past several weeks, I’ve hung out in the company of the British residents who reside at Pendrick Court. And what a delightful time I’ve had getting to know each one of them.
From the first page, I felt like I was moving among the characters as they went about their everyday business. Then, just as I was settling in with tea and biscuits, the eviction letters came and threw us all into a state. What would the tenants do now? The two months they were given to move was hardly enough time, and most of them had lived at Pendrick Court for several years. But from this tragedy, friendships are forged as the residents come together and form a plan to thwart the dastardly landlord who had no qualms about seeing them homeless. The ensuing plot was priceless! I have laughed, and I have cried - and would have gladly joined in to help my newfound friends.
There are characters here for everyone to love, along with one or two pantomime baddies who are easy to loathe. Humor interlaced with darkness rounded out a delicious read.
Garwood’s prose is snappy and intelligently written. This story is filled with love, loss, laughter, and yes, even murder. I couldn't have asked for a more entertaining read. If you are a fan of a great underdog tale, witty British humor and unexpected twists, then this is the book for you! I highly recommend A Faulty Eviction!
From the first page, I felt like I was moving among the characters as they went about their everyday business. Then, just as I was settling in with tea and biscuits, the eviction letters came and threw us all into a state. What would the tenants do now? The two months they were given to move was hardly enough time, and most of them had lived at Pendrick Court for several years. But from this tragedy, friendships are forged as the residents come together and form a plan to thwart the dastardly landlord who had no qualms about seeing them homeless. The ensuing plot was priceless! I have laughed, and I have cried - and would have gladly joined in to help my newfound friends.
There are characters here for everyone to love, along with one or two pantomime baddies who are easy to loathe. Humor interlaced with darkness rounded out a delicious read.
Garwood’s prose is snappy and intelligently written. This story is filled with love, loss, laughter, and yes, even murder. I couldn't have asked for a more entertaining read. If you are a fan of a great underdog tale, witty British humor and unexpected twists, then this is the book for you! I highly recommend A Faulty Eviction!
July 9, 2021
Kevin Douglas, a self-absorbed landlord with laser-whitened teeth and a taste for shiny suits, is keen to evict all of his tenants at Pendrick Court – a property development comprising several apartments.
What Kevin hasn't bargained on is that the building’s coterie of likeable misfits, one of whom is his own son, have other ideas. Having received their eviction notices, the proletariats form a haphazard alliance and rise up against their oppressor in ways that Kevin couldn't have imagined.
Debut author, Daniel Adam Garwood, proves himself to be something of a craftsman in the art of farce.
There is some great comedic writing here and his tongue-in-cheek, irreverent writing style reminded me of the Tom Sharpe books that I read as a young teen. And I was pleased to see that his grammar was on point – often a rarity these days.
The rebellious tenants are an unorganised bunch and each has a distinctive voice (watch out for Edna, the geriatric drama queen, who often gets her words in a muddle): “Well, I've got arithmetic at the moment – an irregular heartbeat.”
The author has a sharp (very British) sense of humour and there is no shortage of playful banter, much of which is wickedly scathing.
“I'm thinking about joining the army.”
“You can't even push a supermarket trolley straight. Who's gonna let you loose with a machine gun?’”
“Those legs wouldn’t look out of place on a greyhound.”
Although slapstick at times, the black humour was a joy to behold and had me chuckling throughout. A satisfying, enjoyable read!
What Kevin hasn't bargained on is that the building’s coterie of likeable misfits, one of whom is his own son, have other ideas. Having received their eviction notices, the proletariats form a haphazard alliance and rise up against their oppressor in ways that Kevin couldn't have imagined.
Debut author, Daniel Adam Garwood, proves himself to be something of a craftsman in the art of farce.
There is some great comedic writing here and his tongue-in-cheek, irreverent writing style reminded me of the Tom Sharpe books that I read as a young teen. And I was pleased to see that his grammar was on point – often a rarity these days.
The rebellious tenants are an unorganised bunch and each has a distinctive voice (watch out for Edna, the geriatric drama queen, who often gets her words in a muddle): “Well, I've got arithmetic at the moment – an irregular heartbeat.”
The author has a sharp (very British) sense of humour and there is no shortage of playful banter, much of which is wickedly scathing.
“I'm thinking about joining the army.”
“You can't even push a supermarket trolley straight. Who's gonna let you loose with a machine gun?’”
“Those legs wouldn’t look out of place on a greyhound.”
Although slapstick at times, the black humour was a joy to behold and had me chuckling throughout. A satisfying, enjoyable read!
October 4, 2021
As eviction threatened ten residents, (England, 2019), my funny-bone was entertained…with page turning havoc, antics, humorous escapes, sharp-witted dialogue, and a medley of colorful characters —
I was laughing and hooting….enjoying the story, (fabulous plot premise), —
but when a tenant (Anah), learned her adult son (Michael), had died —the sorrow and grief exasperated from thirty years of estrangement —
my heart ached.
As a parent who is semi-estranged from a daughter….I felt the loss, the ‘what-could-have-been’, the ‘what-should-of-been’, the ‘years-of-miss-opportunities’, quite deeply.
The silver-lining *Godsend*—was a fourteen year old granddaughter, (Melissa)….who Anah met for the very first time —(when she showed up at Anah’s apartment to tell her that her father, Anah’s son, had died.
“A Faulty Eviction” (terrific debut), was a ‘greater’ success ‘because’ it wasn’t all slapstick humor…rather it was provocative as well as entertaining.
Daniel Adam Garwood explored irresponsible behaviors, pain it caused others, a community that aligned together for a common goal and purpose, and my god….an honest-to-the-core FULL RANGE OF EMOTIONS…..
THERE is so much more I want to say….( about each character, the story, etc.),
but by the end of this novel I felt so emotionally tender….(sad as could be to leave these characters (my little friends in my head)….
….I no longer want to share much….I’m STILL DEEP IN FEELINGS!
I need this private time to think and reflect — rather than blabber-details at the cost of honoring my own private heart.
I LOVED THIS BOOK ….(ten times more then expected). I grew close to these textured characters - their quirks - charm - challenges - and humanity.
I absolutely love them — and want them to COME BACK. If a sequel is written or a mini series is made - I’m there!
I NEVER expected this British (comic-propaganda?), to be so moving - heartfelt and bittersweet.
I have two slight comparisons….
…..At times this book reminded me of the TV series called “Only Murders in the Building” …. a mystery comedy starring Steve Martin, and Martin Short …..(it’s a positive compliment)
And…
……The only other ‘author’ who came to mind when reading “A Faulty Eviction” was Jonathan Tropper (one of my all time favorite comic-tragic authors); a ‘go to’ author when I want something lighter than a Holocaust-type book — but also wanting HUMAN-RELATIONSHIPS to feel real…. (wanting substance and a few laughs)
THIS IS THAT TYPE OF BOOK…..
and….
Daniel Adam Garwood - a new author to me — becomes a new ‘go to’ author I’ll want to read again….( should he write another comic-tragic type book- and I hope he does)….
A couple of excerpts ….(I could have picked dozens):
“Those bastards threw dog shit at his windscreen, whipped up a media witch hunt, protested outside his home and business after a foiled attempt to burn them down, sent a lewd sex aid through the post, broke into his sanctuary and destroyed his property, and ‘he’ was expected to apologize. There was more chance of a posthumously published work by Stephen Hawkins arguing that Flat-Earthers were right all along than Kevin apologizing to anybody”.
“Trotting into the living area and collapsing onto the decrepit sofa, she used a tepid cup of coffee to facilitate the swallowing of an antihistamine tablet. Then, tilting back her head, she pulled out each lower eyelid in turn and gently squeezed a bottle of eyedrops until a pearl of liquid fell into each eye”.
“With blurred vision, she checked her watch, she needed to hurry because Anah was expecting her before ten o’clock. She unscrewed the top of a bottle indigestion liquid, took a hearty swig, then massaged soft paraffin appointment in to each shin. That would have to do for now”.
“It’s a different world now. Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll have given way to food intolerances, veganism, and Korean pop music. South Korean, that is K-pop.
LAST SENTENCE IN THE BOOK….
“I hope 2020 will be a marvelous year for us all”
Kinda sad….don’t ya think?
Wonderful is as wonderful is. Highly recommended!
I was laughing and hooting….enjoying the story, (fabulous plot premise), —
but when a tenant (Anah), learned her adult son (Michael), had died —the sorrow and grief exasperated from thirty years of estrangement —
my heart ached.
As a parent who is semi-estranged from a daughter….I felt the loss, the ‘what-could-have-been’, the ‘what-should-of-been’, the ‘years-of-miss-opportunities’, quite deeply.
The silver-lining *Godsend*—was a fourteen year old granddaughter, (Melissa)….who Anah met for the very first time —(when she showed up at Anah’s apartment to tell her that her father, Anah’s son, had died.
“A Faulty Eviction” (terrific debut), was a ‘greater’ success ‘because’ it wasn’t all slapstick humor…rather it was provocative as well as entertaining.
Daniel Adam Garwood explored irresponsible behaviors, pain it caused others, a community that aligned together for a common goal and purpose, and my god….an honest-to-the-core FULL RANGE OF EMOTIONS…..
THERE is so much more I want to say….( about each character, the story, etc.),
but by the end of this novel I felt so emotionally tender….(sad as could be to leave these characters (my little friends in my head)….
….I no longer want to share much….I’m STILL DEEP IN FEELINGS!
I need this private time to think and reflect — rather than blabber-details at the cost of honoring my own private heart.
I LOVED THIS BOOK ….(ten times more then expected). I grew close to these textured characters - their quirks - charm - challenges - and humanity.
I absolutely love them — and want them to COME BACK. If a sequel is written or a mini series is made - I’m there!
I NEVER expected this British (comic-propaganda?), to be so moving - heartfelt and bittersweet.
I have two slight comparisons….
…..At times this book reminded me of the TV series called “Only Murders in the Building” …. a mystery comedy starring Steve Martin, and Martin Short …..(it’s a positive compliment)
And…
……The only other ‘author’ who came to mind when reading “A Faulty Eviction” was Jonathan Tropper (one of my all time favorite comic-tragic authors); a ‘go to’ author when I want something lighter than a Holocaust-type book — but also wanting HUMAN-RELATIONSHIPS to feel real…. (wanting substance and a few laughs)
THIS IS THAT TYPE OF BOOK…..
and….
Daniel Adam Garwood - a new author to me — becomes a new ‘go to’ author I’ll want to read again….( should he write another comic-tragic type book- and I hope he does)….
A couple of excerpts ….(I could have picked dozens):
“Those bastards threw dog shit at his windscreen, whipped up a media witch hunt, protested outside his home and business after a foiled attempt to burn them down, sent a lewd sex aid through the post, broke into his sanctuary and destroyed his property, and ‘he’ was expected to apologize. There was more chance of a posthumously published work by Stephen Hawkins arguing that Flat-Earthers were right all along than Kevin apologizing to anybody”.
“Trotting into the living area and collapsing onto the decrepit sofa, she used a tepid cup of coffee to facilitate the swallowing of an antihistamine tablet. Then, tilting back her head, she pulled out each lower eyelid in turn and gently squeezed a bottle of eyedrops until a pearl of liquid fell into each eye”.
“With blurred vision, she checked her watch, she needed to hurry because Anah was expecting her before ten o’clock. She unscrewed the top of a bottle indigestion liquid, took a hearty swig, then massaged soft paraffin appointment in to each shin. That would have to do for now”.
“It’s a different world now. Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll have given way to food intolerances, veganism, and Korean pop music. South Korean, that is K-pop.
LAST SENTENCE IN THE BOOK….
“I hope 2020 will be a marvelous year for us all”
Kinda sad….don’t ya think?
Wonderful is as wonderful is. Highly recommended!
July 29, 2024
"And we'll have to fork out a deposit before we get ours back from Kevin Bloody Douglas. I am not moving."
Bibliophiles who would give anything to discover high-quality authors, you are in luck!
Section 21 is the 'no fault' ending of an Assured Shorthold Tenancy, a UK-based clause that permits the landlord to evict tenants without good reason. When landlord, Kevin Douglas, serves this notice, it unfurls a wave of disturbance amongst the recipients. Unwillingness to relocate—-a natural human instinct—causes ordinary, manageable tenants to become such that they cease to be manageable, and goodwill turns into hate. Author Garwood gifts his readers a chance to grasp this reversion of human sanity through a prose that steers characters into existence faster than icicles from zero-degree water.
But he allows his readers to approach the matter, so arguably grave, amidst a scatter of chuckles. When I began reading this book, I had no idea that after a certain point I would be eagerly seeking a character's biting remarks at every page-turn but such an illicit interest was squeezed out of me by a lava-loaded chap by the name of Robert, whom I came to regard with scorn much later.
Moreover, the author’s writing sports spellbinding metaphors. Example-> “The meetings never took place and the table had become a Petri dish for a growing culture of paperwork that now teetered in lofty, random piles.”
Overall, my appeal for the novel transcends many in that it is uniquely designed, for it carries a tale densely-populated with human whereabouts and yet engraved with arresting descriptions, certain transfixingly-intelligent conversations, and the unmistakable understanding that in reality only streams of desperation in hearts and minds underpin the whole humorous battle. I laughed, cried, trembled, shrieked exclaims, felt like slapping someone, and ached to depart from this unique piece, never for once losing sight of the monstrous insensitivity contained in the passing of such a law.
It is clear that this topic means a lot to this author and that he wished to communicate that the stress of an eviction of this kind is another serious cry deserving of a hearing amongst all the crises of the world. Being forced to become homeless just because a law exists for it is not a sweet thing---such a relevant topic for a novel!
This is a unique book I feel blessed to have taken a chance on! I thoroughly thank this talented author for writing such a beautiful book!
Highly recommended!!
And oh I am eagerly waiting for its sequel! There will be one!
Bibliophiles who would give anything to discover high-quality authors, you are in luck!
Section 21 is the 'no fault' ending of an Assured Shorthold Tenancy, a UK-based clause that permits the landlord to evict tenants without good reason. When landlord, Kevin Douglas, serves this notice, it unfurls a wave of disturbance amongst the recipients. Unwillingness to relocate—-a natural human instinct—causes ordinary, manageable tenants to become such that they cease to be manageable, and goodwill turns into hate. Author Garwood gifts his readers a chance to grasp this reversion of human sanity through a prose that steers characters into existence faster than icicles from zero-degree water.
But he allows his readers to approach the matter, so arguably grave, amidst a scatter of chuckles. When I began reading this book, I had no idea that after a certain point I would be eagerly seeking a character's biting remarks at every page-turn but such an illicit interest was squeezed out of me by a lava-loaded chap by the name of Robert, whom I came to regard with scorn much later.
Moreover, the author’s writing sports spellbinding metaphors. Example-> “The meetings never took place and the table had become a Petri dish for a growing culture of paperwork that now teetered in lofty, random piles.”
Overall, my appeal for the novel transcends many in that it is uniquely designed, for it carries a tale densely-populated with human whereabouts and yet engraved with arresting descriptions, certain transfixingly-intelligent conversations, and the unmistakable understanding that in reality only streams of desperation in hearts and minds underpin the whole humorous battle. I laughed, cried, trembled, shrieked exclaims, felt like slapping someone, and ached to depart from this unique piece, never for once losing sight of the monstrous insensitivity contained in the passing of such a law.
It is clear that this topic means a lot to this author and that he wished to communicate that the stress of an eviction of this kind is another serious cry deserving of a hearing amongst all the crises of the world. Being forced to become homeless just because a law exists for it is not a sweet thing---such a relevant topic for a novel!
This is a unique book I feel blessed to have taken a chance on! I thoroughly thank this talented author for writing such a beautiful book!
Highly recommended!!
And oh I am eagerly waiting for its sequel! There will be one!
February 11, 2022
How would you feel if you were—through no fault of your own—evicted from where you were living and had little time to find a new residence? Tenants band together and, wow, do they take the matter into their collective hands! Darkly humorous, the observations of lives hanging in the balance are realistic as well as they are edgy. This is a well-crafted, fast paced work. Since it’s not a long novel, I was amazed at how skillfully Garwood dealt with this rather extensive cast of characters. Hard to believe this was his first published novel! Although the ending isn’t unexpected, I was more than satisfied with it, as justice finally gets served. It did take me more than a minute to keep a couple of the minor characters straight, but once I was able to, they added even more credibility to this wildy entertaining tale!
May 29, 2021
I really enjoyed this story. At times I was laughing out loud - great balance between acidic one-liners and joyful and calamitous scenes. At other times 'A Faulty Eviction' was farcical although it was never unbelievable. Wrapped to the gills with anti-heroes, bitterness, dysfunctional partnerships, double-crossing and beautiful prose. The dialogue was incredible and it achieved that important (but rare) quality in comedy-dramas - the reader changes their mind constantly as to who their favourite character is. Those endearing characters, with tenderness and kindness one moment, suggest a dark side or dubious past the next. My predictions through the novel were wrong, but the ending was far from disappointing.
The interplay between relationships and partnerships was really interesting. Not only does Daniel Adam Garwood have a sensitive and focused ear for dialogue, but his skill in developing friendships and working through the nuances of difference of opinion in his characters was really well executed.
I cannot wait to see if there is a sequel or another novel by Daniel Adam Garwood. Give this great story a try - a writer to keep your eye out for in the future. No spoilers in this review - just read it!
The interplay between relationships and partnerships was really interesting. Not only does Daniel Adam Garwood have a sensitive and focused ear for dialogue, but his skill in developing friendships and working through the nuances of difference of opinion in his characters was really well executed.
I cannot wait to see if there is a sequel or another novel by Daniel Adam Garwood. Give this great story a try - a writer to keep your eye out for in the future. No spoilers in this review - just read it!
September 26, 2021
Social Realism With a Twist?
A faulty eviction isn’t easy to pull through – even if it is within the letter of the law. Daniel Adam Garwood knows that “life swarms with innocent monsters” and sets that thought as the motto for his debut. The first chapter is short and to the point: after covering his first (the second) victim with a powder-blue panda throw, he announces that – all in all – three deaths will happen.
Obviously, you might wonder why. It’s all down to the landlord at the refurbished brewery, Pendrick Court. Meet money-grabbing Kevin Douglas, also the owner of several corner shops, who wants to evict all his tenants. Will he succeed? The answer forms and decides the plot of A Faulty Eviction. The action spans two weeks, the aforementioned three deaths, a heightened media circus, and ten irate residents, including the landlord’s son. Not only that, but DAG also supplies an abundance of quirky details and a few rather disgusting actions.
Elements of farce, black humour, satire, tragicomedy, slapstick, and serious exhibits enliven the conflict. The characters are believable, notably Nigerian-born Anah Agu and her eccentric cat. Around her crowds hypochondriac Edna, dysfunctional couple Megan and Jack, incongruent Susan and Robert, Paul Stokes – plumber and engineer, Sean who uses his flat as storage for his father’s shops, retired Alan who enjoys the odd glass, as well as trendy Jessica. Barring the villain of the piece (Said Kevin Douglas) – the quirky cast is singularly attractive.
Well-crafted and well-written, A Faulty Eviction is a remarkable debut.
A faulty eviction isn’t easy to pull through – even if it is within the letter of the law. Daniel Adam Garwood knows that “life swarms with innocent monsters” and sets that thought as the motto for his debut. The first chapter is short and to the point: after covering his first (the second) victim with a powder-blue panda throw, he announces that – all in all – three deaths will happen.
Obviously, you might wonder why. It’s all down to the landlord at the refurbished brewery, Pendrick Court. Meet money-grabbing Kevin Douglas, also the owner of several corner shops, who wants to evict all his tenants. Will he succeed? The answer forms and decides the plot of A Faulty Eviction. The action spans two weeks, the aforementioned three deaths, a heightened media circus, and ten irate residents, including the landlord’s son. Not only that, but DAG also supplies an abundance of quirky details and a few rather disgusting actions.
Elements of farce, black humour, satire, tragicomedy, slapstick, and serious exhibits enliven the conflict. The characters are believable, notably Nigerian-born Anah Agu and her eccentric cat. Around her crowds hypochondriac Edna, dysfunctional couple Megan and Jack, incongruent Susan and Robert, Paul Stokes – plumber and engineer, Sean who uses his flat as storage for his father’s shops, retired Alan who enjoys the odd glass, as well as trendy Jessica. Barring the villain of the piece (Said Kevin Douglas) – the quirky cast is singularly attractive.
Well-crafted and well-written, A Faulty Eviction is a remarkable debut.
May 5, 2021
An excellent debut novel full of quirky characters. Humour is not my usual choice of reading matter, but who can resist dipping in when the author is known to them?
I could see this as on tv as a comedy series, pulling in a cult following.
I could see this as on tv as a comedy series, pulling in a cult following.
June 12, 2021
A very enjoyable read, one of those books which you could read in one sitting. The characters are your normal sort of people found in a community but the event behind the story brings them together in a way that is both comic and tragic. It deserves a sequel.
September 22, 2021
A brilliant book that had me hooked from the opening page! So many twists and turns - a community that comes together and looks out for one another! An utterly consuming read! Definitely recommend!😁
November 2, 2021
I loved this book. Well-rounded characters and an original storyline. It had pathos, mystery and a good dollop of humour. An excellent debut novel and I look forward to reading more of his work.
June 8, 2022
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: A Faulty Eviction
Author: Daniel Adam Garwood
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 16
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content: 7/10
Cover: 2/5
Of the 16 readers:
13 would read another book by this author.
8 thought the cover was good or excellent.
12 felt it was easy to follow.
14 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 2 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
11 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
13 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“The author has a rare wit which I very much enjoyed.” Male reader, aged 43
“I must say, I loved getting to know the residents of Pendrick Court. The author is excellent at developing his characters and keeping me chuckling.” Female reader, aged 69
“Although there were a few too many characters to keep track of, I enjoyed the originality of the plot and the characters. This is a warm, relaxing story with a comfortable pace. Personally, I felt it was a bit short. But I will be hunting out this author´s next novel.” Female reader, aged 39
“This is an odd mix of sadly tragic and highly comic. Interesting!” Female reader, aged 44
To Sum It Up:
‘A compelling character-led drama populated by a host of memorable characters. A RED RIBBON WINNER and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: A Faulty Eviction
Author: Daniel Adam Garwood
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 16
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content: 7/10
Cover: 2/5
Of the 16 readers:
13 would read another book by this author.
8 thought the cover was good or excellent.
12 felt it was easy to follow.
14 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 2 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
11 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
13 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“The author has a rare wit which I very much enjoyed.” Male reader, aged 43
“I must say, I loved getting to know the residents of Pendrick Court. The author is excellent at developing his characters and keeping me chuckling.” Female reader, aged 69
“Although there were a few too many characters to keep track of, I enjoyed the originality of the plot and the characters. This is a warm, relaxing story with a comfortable pace. Personally, I felt it was a bit short. But I will be hunting out this author´s next novel.” Female reader, aged 39
“This is an odd mix of sadly tragic and highly comic. Interesting!” Female reader, aged 44
To Sum It Up:
‘A compelling character-led drama populated by a host of memorable characters. A RED RIBBON WINNER and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
September 11, 2023
Got bored along the way. Wanted to DNF by page 246 but I persevered since I had time to kill at the library. Which part of this book is humor? Idk, I didn't laugh once. Too many unnecessary details and segues about the tenants, and they're not even interesting. I only liked Anah, and almost liked Edna. I probably liked Toby the most so that says a lot.
Really did not work for me but probably other people might find it entertaining. I am sorry Mr. Garwood.
Really did not work for me but probably other people might find it entertaining. I am sorry Mr. Garwood.
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