AMALGAMATED ARTS
Author’s Comments & Reader’s Reviews
DEVEREUX
Powerfully evoking the atmosphere and mood of 1930s London, DEVEREUX …and a question of class is an engaging crime novel that introduces a brand new private detective – Clayton Devereux.
Former military intelligence officer, Clayton Devereux, resigned his commission in 1930 and set-up his own detective agency, which he runs with his secretary Rose and the occasional hiring of his street-wise cohort Ollie Jones. Their routine work of divorce and petty crime usually bores the urbane Devereux so he is intrigued, and keen to help, when a former colleague asks him to assist unofficially in the search for an M.I.5 operative who has gone missing.
In a plot that is woven against the actual political and social tensions of the period, the story twists and turns as Devereux’s clandestine investigation gradually uncovers a dangerous and sinister threat to national security and the stability of the country.
Solving the case and finally defeating the forces set against him costs Devereux far more than he was prepared to lose.
Michael Heath describes his inspiration and the writing process of this novel –
The modern world is so full of technology that every new crime novel has to deal with the very latest in surveillance and communications and incorporate every up-to-the-minute gadget and device. I thought it would be very interesting to go entirely against this trend and introduce a new detective to the genre who has no access to any such technologies and innovations. So I set my story in 1935 in pre-war London when all a detective had to help solve a crime were his wits. This was a fascinating period. It was the end of a long established era and social structure that would be forever changed by the upheaval of Europe and the coming world conflict, and one that was riven with political intrigue.
Whilst my detective – Clayton Devereux – is entirely fictional, the political plotting and extreme movements he faces were very real and are a matter of record. I wanted to weave my fiction through the facts of the period and incorporate the very real threat that confronted the pre-war British establishment.
This is my only novel to date written in the first person. I was unsure at first if I could maintain the necessary plot tension within this style – so I decided to write the first two chapters and see how it ‘felt’. Such a style places severe restrictions on an author as to how the plot develops but I discovered that detective fiction is particularly suitable for first-person story telling because it places the reader directly in the mind of the main protagonist. Facts can only be revealed as the detective himself discovers them. In effect, the reader accompanies the detective through every step of the novel.
I have received more mail about this novel than any of my other books and it appears to have been very much liked by my readers. So much so, that I have written a four-part TV adaption of the story and have already begun work on the next Devereux novel.
Reader’s Reviews
“A page turner! – An exciting story, with scenes described in great detail. The characters were developed well and I got to know them easily. I would like to read more of Captain Devereux’s cases please!” – J. M’Clelland
“An exciting adventure – Halfway through this well-written book and I am finding it a very good read. A real page-turner with some clever twists and turns. Recommended.” – Mogsy
“His easy narrative sweeps you along – Devereux is a charming character who draws you in from the start. His easy narrative sweeps you along, compelling you to read on and on, page turning into the night. Great read. Absolutely brilliant!” – Jillian Turner
“Absolutley brilliant! – I absolutely loved it! The characters came across as so real, I couldn’t put the book down, would definitely recommend.” – Jane Bloggson
“Five Stars – Very good book loved it well worth a look once opened could not put it down. An excellent read.” – Amazon Customer
“An excellent read – kept me gripped from start to finish. Fantastic period detail, inventive characters and a plot that gallops along at an incredible pace. Would highly recommend to all fans of the genre!” – Amazon Customer
“A great read! – An engaging read from start to finish!! I don’t get the time to read books, but when a book comes a long that is well written such as Devereux, it’s a lot easier to find the time. From the first chapter, the author entices its reader to be totally immersed into his world which makes its very hard to put down!! A great read!! I will now look to catch up on Mr Heaths other novels!!!” – Rjpen
“Five stars – Great read from start to finish. Would highly recommend it to anyone else.” – Amazon Customer
“Brilliant – Excellent . This should be made into a film.” – Amazon Customer
“If you love crime novels, then you’ll LOVE this book! – As an ex-Londoner I love the fact it’s set in our beautiful capital city and has a real touch of class because of the classic period it’s set in! I love everything about the 1930’s!! A brilliant book, can’t wait to read more from the author!” – Amy Jessop
“Brilliant book – Michael Heath can bring alive the feel of the 1930’s and hold your attention throughout the book I couldn’t put it down until I finished.” – Amazon Customer
“A must read atmospheric detective novel! – This book is impossible to put down! Have also ordered as e-book so I can take it on holiday with me. I was immediately transported to 1930s London, and enjoyed the characters and the twists and turns which had me eagerly turning the pages to see how the story would unfold.” – Amazon Customer
“Five stars – A great read – really enjoyed it!!” – Amazon Customer
“Class in the title – class in the book – It’s great to discover a brand new private detective entering the genre – and marvellous to find the book set in 1935 with such wonderful period feel. I loved the story and the way it mixed the fiction and the fact – and I became really involved with the plot. It certainly kept me turning the pages and I can’t wait for the next Devereux book.” – Boysie
“Four stars – I love a period read. This would make a great TV series. More Devereux please Michael” – Delboy
“Love the book.. brilliant! – This is set 1935 and I loved all the period detail and atmosphere. its great story with lots of surprises and characters really come to life. I loved it!” – Amazon Customer
“Five Stars – Great reading!” – Amazon Customer
“New P.I. on the block does well – As a private eye, new to the genre, Clayton Devereux holds his own against the “big hitters”. The thriller explores the intrigue and deception prevalent in the Pre war establishment. It is fast moving and holds the attention. It is able to conjure up the atmosphere of secrecy and clandestine dealings in the shadowy corridors of power. It ends, offering the possibility of further Devereux exploits ,which I would welcome. I read it on a beach in Greece and enjoyed it . I could see this as a screenplay , certainly it would be shoulder to shoulder with many of film’s thrillers.” – Peter John