A Long Way From Home by Brian W Caves

Release: 27th May 2022
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Red Dragon Books
Source: ZooloosBook Tours
Find it at Goodreads, Amazon

A sleepy town in 1960s South Georgia, where to some residents, segregation is more important than catching a killer.

An ex-homicide detective from Chicago called to honor an old promise.

With a rising body count and a community guarding their secrets more fiercely than their children, asking questions could prove deadly for the outsider…

Author Bio

I started as an engineer, then an estate agent, followed by senior management roles in cable TV and telecoms. I spent a few years as a management consultant and now work in the language translation industry.

Moreover, I have played music all my life. I classically trained on the clarinet from eight until fourteen, when my world took a quantum leap forward after hearing Jimi Hendrix and Voodoo Child on the radio. Also, I thought, wow, I gotta do that. I dumped the clarinet, picked up the guitar, and never put it down. I have played alongside topflight musicians, both live and in studios.

From a young age, I read books like Treasure Island, Robinson Crusoe, Black Beauty, Swallows and Amazons, The Famous Five, Billy Bunter, Jennings and Derbyshire, Biggles, and Tarzan. Agatha Christie had a significant impact, as did Georges Simenon. I penned short stories at school – mostly adventure, but it wasn’t until I became hooked on American Crime Noir that my urge to write came crashing to the forefront of my mind. Reading Hammett, Chandler, Jim Thompson, Macdonald, and the master, James M. Cain, had the same effect on my potential writing career as Hendrix had on my music.

Having been further influenced by the greats of Southern literature, I write crime stories based in the Deep South and UK-based dark noir crime set in Northamptonshire, where I reside. Throw into the pot crime and horror short stories and novellas, and you’ll have some idea of what goes on in my head.

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A Long Way From Home Review:

I loved reading “A Long Way From Home” and could not put it down once I started.

Firstly, I must commend the author for the excellent style in writing the tale. I have read many mysteries and crime novels, but this book stands apart from them. The main character, Tom, is someone you immediately root for because of his talent for studying people and willingness to help others. The story has quite a large, eclectic cast, and I loved how it made me feel like I was living with them in Paradise Creek. I loved Tom’s bond with Clayton and Charlotte, which was the highlight. Some memorable characters like Coop and Maryanne have flaws but are still attractive. Yet, we also have sleazy characters, like Swales and Henry, that annoyed me. The author writes the characters so compellingly that you feel a strong emotion toward them.

Moreover, the story is set in the 1960s and covers many themes, from racism and political corruption to voodoo and interracial romance and a compelling murder mystery. I adored the way the author blended so many elements. There were moments when I was at the edge of my seat, especially when some people attacked Tom while he was driving. One of the best moments in the story is the shocking events that happen in Court. The author also wrote the murder mystery well, and I wondered who would be the next victim. Although I figured out who the culprit was before the reveal, it took me a good while to determine the potential suspect. Even how he described the swamps and the lakes as the backdrop was mesmerizing and gave the book a magical touch.

Overall, I thought this book was terrific, and I can’t wait to read more stories featuring Tom Bale.