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All The Livelong Day and other stories is an omnibus of five short stories by award-winning British author, Mick Herron.
The title story, All The Livelong Day, describes a married couple walking in Derbyshire on the third day of a five-day break. Missing waymarkers set them on the wrong course and, halfway down a hill with no mobile reception and ominous rainclouds approaching, Jon falls and fractures his ankle. Helen heads off to the farmhouse below where an enormous flock of birds swirls above the barnyard. It’s a tale that demonstrates how an ailing marriage that can just about survive the good times will fracture badly when under stress. A rather dark twist at the end.
The Usual Santas is a perfect little Christmas tale in which eight rather disillusioned Retail Outlet Centre Santas find their number swollen by one at their usual Christmas Eve buffet. With their anonymity preserved, as always, by their costumes, they are unable to detect the imposter. A philosophical discussion ensues, the outcome of which is a mass action bringing great delight to those who really need Santa’s generosity.
Proof of Love is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. Zoe’s husband and partner, Joe Silvermann takes on a case for one of Oxford’s richest men, promising to deliver a blackmail fee whilst also discovering the identity of the blackmailer. He’s going to need Zoe’s help: Joe is more of a “traditional” PI; this might need Zoe’s internet expertise. Joe delivers, as promised, but with an admonition for his client. Zoe’s solution comes from a different angle. Delightful!
Mirror Images is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. A client comes to Joe Silvermann with an unusual problem: the man he shot dead sixteen years ago on the boathouse balcony has suddenly sprung back into his mind, and won’t leave. After first suggesting a therapist, Joe takes on the case. “His normal reaction to a new problem was to seek Zoe’s input, ideally without her noticing that he was unsure what to do next. The word ‘ideally’ was unavoidable here, as Zoe not noticing never actually occurred in practice.” Not wanting to attract her scorn (again) leaves “… Joe’s fallback position: What would Marlowe do?” Joe’s investigations include poling up the river on a punt (and falling in) to view the site of the since-burned -down boathouse. This one has a brilliant twist, and Zoe Boehm provides a neat solution.
Lost Luggage: On her way to work early one morning, Jane Carpenter is taken from a nearby park. Some hours later, at a motorway services café, Peter Mason and Jennifer Holmes, on their way to a party, indulge in some people watching. They make observations about a lone diner who sits where he can keep an eye on his car. A sinister twist to this one!
Herron has a marvellous turn of phrase: “The sloth of others was best enjoyed in their presence.” and “… Joe had liked Italy, once he’d worked out that zebra crossings were designated accident spots, not safe places to cross.” Five excellent doses of Herron, and for those not familiar with her, two tastes of Zoe Boehm. Quick but very enjoyable.
Genre: Thriller
The title story, All The Livelong Day, describes a married couple walking in Derbyshire on the third day of a five-day break. Missing waymarkers set them on the wrong course and, halfway down a hill with no mobile reception and ominous rainclouds approaching, Jon falls and fractures his ankle. Helen heads off to the farmhouse below where an enormous flock of birds swirls above the barnyard. It’s a tale that demonstrates how an ailing marriage that can just about survive the good times will fracture badly when under stress. A rather dark twist at the end.
The Usual Santas is a perfect little Christmas tale in which eight rather disillusioned Retail Outlet Centre Santas find their number swollen by one at their usual Christmas Eve buffet. With their anonymity preserved, as always, by their costumes, they are unable to detect the imposter. A philosophical discussion ensues, the outcome of which is a mass action bringing great delight to those who really need Santa’s generosity.
Proof of Love is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. Zoe’s husband and partner, Joe Silvermann takes on a case for one of Oxford’s richest men, promising to deliver a blackmail fee whilst also discovering the identity of the blackmailer. He’s going to need Zoe’s help: Joe is more of a “traditional” PI; this might need Zoe’s internet expertise. Joe delivers, as promised, but with an admonition for his client. Zoe’s solution comes from a different angle. Delightful!
Mirror Images is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. A client comes to Joe Silvermann with an unusual problem: the man he shot dead sixteen years ago on the boathouse balcony has suddenly sprung back into his mind, and won’t leave. After first suggesting a therapist, Joe takes on the case. “His normal reaction to a new problem was to seek Zoe’s input, ideally without her noticing that he was unsure what to do next. The word ‘ideally’ was unavoidable here, as Zoe not noticing never actually occurred in practice.” Not wanting to attract her scorn (again) leaves “… Joe’s fallback position: What would Marlowe do?” Joe’s investigations include poling up the river on a punt (and falling in) to view the site of the since-burned -down boathouse. This one has a brilliant twist, and Zoe Boehm provides a neat solution.
Lost Luggage: On her way to work early one morning, Jane Carpenter is taken from a nearby park. Some hours later, at a motorway services café, Peter Mason and Jennifer Holmes, on their way to a party, indulge in some people watching. They make observations about a lone diner who sits where he can keep an eye on his car. A sinister twist to this one!
Herron has a marvellous turn of phrase: “The sloth of others was best enjoyed in their presence.” and “… Joe had liked Italy, once he’d worked out that zebra crossings were designated accident spots, not safe places to cross.” Five excellent doses of Herron, and for those not familiar with her, two tastes of Zoe Boehm. Quick but very enjoyable.
Genre: Thriller
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