OFF KEY.

OFF KEY* by MARK ROBERTSON.
{*Whilst available to download now the paperback version that Mark kindly sent me is not available until the 28th of June.}

SOURCE: Received for review from the author. The image of the cover is courtesy of Troubador. 

THE BOOK {According to the back cover}: Charlotte has supported Kyle's precarious musical career for three years. Now she thinks it's her turn. When Kyle doesn't want to play the breadwinner, she looks to a future on the other side of the Atlantic. 

Saxophonist Kyle has no money, no career and has now lost the love of his live. Can an autistic twelve-year-old boy and an alcoholic 'has been' be his salvation?

FIRST SENTENCE {Prologue}: She looked around the bedroom.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 18}:"Kyle". 
Oh God! It was that tone, the red button one! She was going to use the T word. He hated the T word more than anything.
"Look I really can't go on like this. We need to talk."
There it was the God-awful 'T-word'.

MY THOUGHTS:  Though I'd hesitate to Off Key is in any way biographical I think it fair to assume that as a musician himself the author may well have come across similar situations and characters which is what, along with his 'northern humour', makes it such a engaging story. My only niggle with it being that amongst all of the various threads - Kyle and Charlie's relationship, Charlie and Dainty's friendship, Harry's comeback etc - twelve year old Craig's story did get rather lost which was a pity as I felt his character had so much more mileage. 

Still, a great read for those into their music and especially jazz. I'm sure it will appeal to those living in the north east of England who will doubtlessly have heard of many of the places mentioned. And as for those familiar with the workings of your typical Working Man's Club - well, I'm sure they'll be delighted by what we are assured is 'the greatest story ever told about love .... and jazz. 

Worried to begin with that it would be of limited appeal, after all its not every reader who is a jazz loving 'northerner' into live music. A few chapters in I realised my fears were totally unfounded as jazz and location aside the book's central themes of relationships (both lost and re-found), hope and second chances are universal, its characters with all their flaws and idiosyncrasies, their hopes and dreams easy to relate to.

Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper. All original content on http://pettywitter.blogspot.co.uk/ is created by the website owner, including but not limited to text, design, code, images, photographs and videos are considered to be the Intellectual Property of the website owner, whether copyrighted or not, and are protected by DMCA Protection Services using the Digital Millennium Copyright Act Title 17 Chapter 512 (c)(3). Reproduction or re-publication of this content is prohibited without permission.
Disclaimer:  Read and reviewed on behalf of the author I was merely asked for my honest opinion, no financial compensation was asked for nor given.