The Noonday Devil

In his fifth novel the author lets modern Britain have both barrels. The sacred untouchables are peppered with shot: the holy and noble working class; the press, guardians of our freedoms, and one or two self-righteous others. Nor does he shy away from the wicked doings of the usual whipping boys of society: businessmen, public schoolboys, and the Church.
Temple Weston is a Warwickshire village that makes ‘Midsomer’ resemble Utopia. Factory owner Sir Benson Hargreave, and his mendacious son indulge in nefarious practices. Liverpudlian teenager Barry Corrigan is horror on wheels, accompanied by his mother Marie who takes unfaithfulness to new heights. The capstone comes in the shape of the Bowcotts; Lord and Lady of the Manor.
Amidst this dystopian world two clerics beat their heads against a secular wall. The Rector is Rufus Coleridge, one-time pop star. A celebrity vicar never off the television screen. His curate, Alfie Starkiss is, perhaps, the only honest and honourable character. Alfie has doubts; not about his Faith but about himself. His humanity never leaves him.
The story unfolds gently, but escalates to crime upon crime.Humour is, however, never too far away; ranging from satire to sheer vulgarity. We would expect nothing less from an author who always comes out fighting.