July 30th 2018. It’s the hottest Summer in fifty years and Joseph Severin, a respectable North London businessman, has taken on a lucrative side job. He’s doing the books, old school, (because these days the only trail you can’t trace is a paper one) for a rogue MI5 outfit, the Shadows, headed by clever, psychopathic Sebastien. When the game is rumbled, he sends their hitman, Mr Phipps, to kill Severin and get those books back.
For a simple man, Severin has a complicated life. He’s developed a sudden and wild passion for Lottie – aka ‘chaos on two legs’. Who is in love with Patrick, the next hot young black actor. Who is obsessed by Sonya, a gorgeous Russian escort. Who has one night to make the final money she needs for her daughter’s cancer operation. With MI6 onto them, and the books missing, the Shadows panic. And a day that begins with a hit in Finchley ends in violence and betrayal on the steamy night streets of Portobello.
ONE LONDON DAY is a daisy chain tale of characters and connections, a contemporary London Noir. Like that genre’s 40’s origins, this story has its hood, its moll, its femme fatale, its fancy boy. Everyone is both protagonist and antagonist. No one gets out unharmed – and some don’t get out at all.
What 26 year old doesn’t love to be moving in with Mummy?’
Canadian author Chris Humphreys (aka C.C. Humphreys) earned his MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia and is a novelist, playwright, actor, and swordsman. He has published eighteen novels to date – both historical fiction and epic fantasy – and was the recipient of the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel in Canada in 2015 for his novel PLAGUE. He now offers ONE LONDON DAY – a mixture of satire, mystery, romance, and ‘noir crime.’ One of the threads that keeps the story flowing is Humphrey’s wry wit and scabrous plotline.
For those acquainted with Humphrey’s at times quixotic prose, the opening lines of this new novel will feel familiar (for those newcomers, settle in for a fine ride): ‘Mr. Phipps was in the gym. It wasn’t one of the best. He had memberships in different parts of the city because he always liked to work out before a gig and all he’d heard about that so far was that it was in North London. So he knew good gyms from bad. This one wasn’t serious, more an add on to the squash club. Basic machines, one rack of free weights. Still, that meant it wasn’t busy, not just after it opened at 7am. No one there, so he could play the CD he’d brought – they still had a stereo, crappy old thing but one plus to the place. He didn’t like wearing headphones. He liked to hear when a door opened. Lenny Kravitz sang about an American Woman. Mr. Phipps checked his stance in the floor length mirror and slowly raised the twenty pounders towards his reflection. One. Two… A phone rang. Playing ‘Rondo a la Turk.’ The phone he’d bought last night didn’t play tunes so this call wasn’t the one he was waiting for. This call was Sharon. The Ex. Always up early.’
The action follows this outline: ‘July 30th 2018 It’s the hottest Summer in fifty years and Joseph Severin, a respectable North London businessman, has taken on a lucrative side job. He’s doing the books, old school, (because these days the only trail you can trace is a paper one) for a rogue MI5 outfit, the Shadows, headed by clever, psychopathic Sebastien. When the game is rumbled, he sends their hitman, Mr. Phipps, to kill Severin ad get those books back. For a simple man, Severin has a complicated life. He’s developed a sudden and wild passion for Lottie – aka ‘chaos on tow legs.” Who is in love with Patrick, the next hot young black actor. Who is obsessed by Sonya, a gorgeous Russian escort. Who has one night to make the final money she needs for her daughter’s cancer operation. With MI6 onto them, and the books missing, the Shadows panic. And a day that begins with a hit in Finchley ends in violence and betrayal on the steamy night streets of Portobello. ONE LONDON DAY is a daisy chain tale of characters and connections, a contemporary London Noir. Like that genre’s 40’s origins, this story has its hood, its moll, its femme fatale, its fancy boy. Everyone is both protagonist and antagonist. No one gets out unharmed – and some don’t get out at all.’
Chris Humphreys imbues this tale with his many talents – music of substance, character development enhanced by his play writing, and the art of acting as the plot pummels along. It all works extraordinarily well. Very highly recommended!
