As far as I can tell this is a debut novel. It starts as if it is going to be a farce along the lines of Faulty Towers madness meets delightful ‘Dibley-esque’ nonsense.
A very British blend of humour and themes-the aristocracy versus the village, locking horns over a noise abatement issue: an open-air concert.
But this book turns out to be so much more than silly. Far from it, in spite of some rather daft names and some hilariously cliched characters (the rockstar, the opera singer) there are passages and characters through which we explore themes such as disability and despair, isolation and fear. All within the context of this comical, slightly ridiculous and yet entirely believable world: the village of Bedingford. The villains of the peace are truly dastardly and (plot spoiler) naturally get their comeuppance in the end but the plot is like an old-fashioned rickety rollercoaster that throws you up and down and round unexpected corners in a fun but mildly unsettling way. You know the ride will end well (eventually) but the writer keeps a really good sense of tension along the way and keeps you engaged with plenty of unexpected dips and thrills.
The characters are superb. I loved Victoria the 86-year-old Countess whose command of the English language means that she never says five words when 35 words would be more appropriate.
Pip, the central character is so deftly drawn: a young man emerging from the care system and then prison, damaged in so many ways, embraced and rejected and then embraced again. He lives his life like a billiard ball being potted repeatedly with an evil ‘cue’ of malice and misfortune. I’m sure the nod to Dickens in his name is entirely intentional.
But the descriptions of some of his ‘down the hole’ moments were so very moving and written with such insight into the effect of disability and the devastating immobility caused by relentless anxiety and battered self belief, I felt they were written by someone who really knew those experiences from the inside.
A book that gave much more than I expected, I warmly recommend it.
“Because fear can be deafening
But love is louder
…and it’s A Beautiful Noise…“
Live Life Loved 
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