Title: EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK
Author: Bernard O’Keeffe
ISBN: 978 1739 4716 06
Publisher: Muswell Press
Pages: 354
Blog Tour Organised by Random Things Tours
‘When the body of Alex Ballantyne is found in Barnes Pond the police are baffled. Who could want to kill the newly retired teacher? Investigations bring them to St Jude’s, the prestigious private school where Ballantyne taught, and to the discovery that Ballantyne had been blackmailing several of his colleagues. Sex. Money. Drugs. It seems that Ballantyne knew all about his victims’ secrets, and they were prepared to pay to buy his silence. Is one of the St Jude’s staff the killer? And, if so, which one? DI Moriarty’s on the case and he’s soon discovering that nothing is quite as it seems.’
So runs the blurb of ‘Schooled in Murder’, a crime novel written by Ben Joseph, who is found dead in Barnes Pond the morning after giving a talk as part of the Barnes Book Festival.
DI Garibaldi and his team are shocked to discover that the writer has been killed in exactly the same place, and in exactly the same way, as the victim in ‘Schooled in Murder’.
When they look at the novel they see more connections with real life. Ben Joseph is the pseudonym of Liam Allerton who, like the victim in his novel, is a retired teacher. And he taught at St Mark’s, a school very similar to St Jude’s, the school in his novel.
But is that where the similarities end? How much of Allerton’s own life, and the lives of those he knew, had he put into his novel? And could the clue to the killer’s identity lie in its pages?
Official Summary
23 February 2024
Bernard O’Keeffe is another new-to-me author, I have had loads of fun adding new authors to my TBR and Anne Cater, from Randon Things Tours has been a wonderful help in increasing my author base.
“Every Trick in the Book” is a crime novel that intertwines the worlds of fiction and reality, adding layers of complexity to an already intriguing mystery. The story opens with the discovery of Alex Ballantyne; ‘s body in Barnes Pond, leaving the police perplexed about who would want to harm the newly retired teacher. As Detective Inspector Moriarty delves into the investigation, he uncovers a web of secrets and scandals involving the prestigious private school, St Jude’s, where Ballantyne taught.
The plot takes a metafictional turn when Ben Joseph, the author of the crime novel” Schooled in Murder:., is found dead in the same manner and location as his fictional victim. DI Garibaldi and his team are astounded by the eerie parallels between reality and fiction, raising questions about the boundaries between the two.
The author (O’Keeffe – I thought I should clarify as there is reference to more than one author in this review) explores the connections between the author’s life and his novel, as Ben Joseph is revealed to be the pseudonym of Liam Allerton, a retired teacher much like his fictional counterpart. The setting, St Mark’s, mirrors the school in his novel, St Jude’s, adding an extra layer of intrigue. The narrative raises thought-provoking questions about how much of an author’s life can be embedded in their work and whether the novel itself holds clues to the real-life murder.
The author uses a blend of suspense and psychological depth, keeping you engrossed as you navigate the intricacies of the investigation. He portrays the tension within the academic and personal lives of the suspects. The pacing is adeptly controlled, ensuring a steady buildup of suspense and maintaining the momentum until the final revelation.
This book has a light-hearted, easy-to-read feel to it. I enjoyed the author’s quirky voice throughout this crime novel as he explores the relationship between fiction and reality. This complex narrative challenges perceptions and keeps you guessing while you are focusing on keeping track of fiction and “reality”. This book is a must-read for crime fiction fans who appreciate a unique twist to the genre.
REMEMBER TO VISIT THE OTHER TOUR STOPS
Also by Bernard O’Keeffe
The Final Round
Introducing Detective DI Garibaldi, a country-music loving, self-educated detective, and the only cop in the Metropolitan Police who can’t drive a car.
On the morning after Boat Race Day, a man’s body is found in a nature reserve beside the Thames. He has been viciously stabbed, his tongue cut out, and an Oxford college scarf stuffed in his mouth. The body is identified as that of Nick Bellamy, last seen at the charity quiz organised by his Oxford contemporary, the popular newsreader Melissa Matthews.
Enter DI Garibaldi, whose first task is to look into Bellamy’s contemporaries from Balfour College. In particular, the surprise ‘final round’ of questions at this year’s charity quiz in which guests were invited to guess whether allegations about Melissa Matthews and her Oxford friends are true. These allegations range from plagiarism and shoplifting to sextortion and murder…
About The Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Bernard O’Keeffe taught English before turning to crime writing. The Final Round, the first DI Garibaldi novel was published in 2021, followed by Private Lessons in 2023. He lives in Barnes, SW London, where the series is set.
Thank you to Anne Cater for including me on this blog tour. This book is a light easy read that you will find yourself flying through even as you try to keep up with the difference between reality and fiction within the story. If you are looking for unique crime fiction, then this is something you would enjoy. Until next time…Happy Reading!
Sounds like a great read!
Thanks for the blog tour support x
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