Walk A Lonely Street has all the hallmarks of a thriller: a complicated plotline, great characters, plus tantalising pieces of the jigsaw which leads up to the denouement of the tale and beyond. Recounted in a sprightly and often comic way, it holds the reader’s attention throughout and does what all good books should do: engage, entertain and illuminate.

 

The author’s writing style is vibrant, highly literate, and compelling, drawing the reader into the complex narrative, but doing so in a most accessible way, judiciously employing literary devices such as repetition to underscore points and help signpost what is to follow.

 

Coincidences and parallels abound in the careers of Eddy Arnold, Elvis Presley and countless others! People whose names previously have merely been just that – names – have been fleshed out and made real, and their roles put into context with reference to Elvis.

 

Although much of the material is historical – some it dating way back long before Elvis existed (the first story begins in 1865) – it is extremely well researched (using source material from eminent and highly respected writers) and beautifully written in a rather droll and ironically amusing manner.

 

Presented as a series of short stories (many bearing pithy titles) -  in which the writer seamlessly merges fact and ideas from his own imagination in a very credible way - clues are laid down for the reader to follow as all the bits in the jigsaw (involving a huge cast of players) begin to come together in a coherent and powerful way.

 

Crucially, you get the feeling that you are there – and so can visualise the action in an almost cinematic way - as he unravels the stories and, of course, it makes you want to read on – as you would with a gripping novel.

 

Fascinating stuff!