THE CONCRETE ROUNDABOUT (TCR)

Cold Hands by John J. Niven

This was Niv’s attempt to be taken more seriously as an author. The J. being a dead giveaway. He was always slightly pretentious old Niv, but this is actually a rather good crime thriller.

Basic plot. Donnie, an expat Scot living in snowy Saskatchewan, aspires to a screenwriting career, but finds himself writing reviews of DVD’s for his local paper, a paper owned by his wealthy father-in-law, and edited by his wife. He lives an idyllic life, before some horrific incident from his Ayrshire past catches up with him.

It’s a tough read this, with some of the scenes truly horrific, not least the ‘incident’ from his past. He’s very good at invoking the town we both grew up in, Irvine on the west coast of Scotland. Reading him, I can almost picture the assorted characters that we grew up around. I know the person that the bully in this is obviously based on. I avoided the Delta Bar, the roughest pub in town. I know that he went to Ravenspark Academy, and that it features in most of his work. There’s even a fantastic callback to our, sadly, late friend Keith at one point.

Like I say, it’s a good read. Not my, or indeed his, usual genre, but not too shabby. I’m happy to say that the three of his that I’ve still got to read are back to his trademark black humor. Because after this I seriously need some light refreshment.

Cold Hands by John J. Niven

This was Niv’s attempt to be taken more seriously as an author. The J. being a dead giveaway. He was always slightly pretentious old Niv, but this is actually a rather good crime thriller.

Basic plot. Donnie, an expat Scot living in snowy Saskatchewan, aspires to a screenwriting career, but finds himself writing reviews of DVD’s for his local paper, a paper owned by his wealthy father-in-law, and edited by his wife. He lives an idyllic life, before some horrific incident from his Ayrshire past catches up with him.

It’s a tough read this, with some of the scenes truly horrific, not least the ‘incident’ from his past. He’s very good at invoking the town we both grew up in, Irvine on the west coast of Scotland. Reading him, I can almost picture the assorted characters that we grew up around. I know the person that the bully in this is obviously based on. I avoided the Delta Bar, the roughest pub in town. I know that he went to Ravenspark Academy, and that it features in most of his work. There’s even a fantastic callback to our, sadly, late friend Keith at one point.

Like I say, it’s a good read. Not my, or indeed his, usual genre, but not too shabby. I’m happy to say that the three of his that I’ve still got to read are back to his trademark black humor. Because after this I seriously need some light refreshment.

Have you read The Amateurs by John Niven? That would give you some light refreshment. It’s very funny.

I'd prefer The Moon's a Balloon by David Niven. Quality.

I'd prefer The Moon's a Balloon by David Niven. Quality.