Book Review: Runaway by Peter May alluring, poignant and beautifully crafted



 



Peter May is a versatile writer and, in my opinion, is at his best when he delves into the past and has a good rummage around to tell a contemporary story within the context of its history.  Runaway is a perfect example of this.

 

Peter May

In 1965, a group of five 17-year-old lads run away to London in search of fame and fortune in the music business.  A few months later three of them return home to Glasgow with a plethora of experiences under their belts.  Now, fifty years later, Maurie, on his deathbed, enlists the help of fellow runaways, Jack and Dave (and Jacks disaffected grandson Ricky to retrace their youthful journey in order to solve a 50 year old murder.





As usual, May delivers a wonderful
story backed up by some hard core research. One of the things I loved most about Runaway was the 'Forrest Gumpesque' way he grounds us in 1965.  His characters brush shoulders with John Lennon at a recording studio and witness at first hand Bob Dylan’s iconic Subterranean Homesick

Blues video recorded behind The Savoy Hotel London brilliant to set the mood of the era!  It is this attention to detail
that lifts Runaway to more than just your average crime book.                               


Quarry Hill Flats Leeds 1965

The boys' journey from Glasgow, through South Lanarkshire, 
down the M74, 
through the Lake District and then across to Leeds (before finally heading to London from York station) was very personal to me, having made that journey repeatedly over the year to Leeds's sister city Bradford.  I loved the way the men retraced their steps giving the reader a before and after view of the area.  The boys visit to the Quarry Hills flats (a social architectural experiment  in Leeds city centre) was described beautifully.

Leeds City Centre 2015

Runaway delivers a convincing portrayal of the wistfulness, regrets and occasional satisfaction of elderly men looking back over their lives.  the characters are intriguing, the plot enduring and gripping and the research excellent.
So, who would I recommend this book to... well the long answer is... crime fiction fans, Dylan fans, Beatles fans, residents of Leeds, Scotland & London, those who lived in or are interested in the 60's, those who loved The Lewis Trilogy, those who like substance in their reading material ...
The short answer is anybody who likes a cracking good read.
Available on Amazon kindle £3.99, HB £11.99, PB £3.85, Free on audio download.http://www.amazon.co.uk/Runaway-Peter-May-ebook/dp/B00MELZJKY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1457275203&sr=1-1&keywords=runaway+peter+may