Synopsis/blurb….
Incarcerated in a
home for young offenders, Wee Danny Gibson has learned how to act in front of
his teachers, his educational psychologist and the institute's supervisors. And
if he continues to keep his nose clean, he could be rewarded with a day-trip to
Castle Ward. But good behaviour is no easy task when his fellow inmates are
determined to get in his face. Then there’s Conan 'The Barbarian' Quinlan, a
gentle giant who Danny feels compelled to look out for. Friend or liability?
Danny can't be sure, but he knows he needs to stay focussed on that little
taste of freedom.
Wee Danny is an
18,000-word novella by the author of Wee Rockets.
It’s been a couple of years or more since I read anything
from Gerard Brennan and seeing as this was a tick in all the boxes, it’s a slap
upside the head for me and a reminder not to leave it so long next time around.
Wee Danny, who may or may not feature in the full length
novel – Wee Rockets from Brennan (when I pull my finger out and read it, I’ll
know more) - is the star of this 70 page blast.
Here Mr Brennan had me from the start………
Miss moves as if she knows I want
her. She can read my thoughts sometimes. Sends me wee signals to prove it too.
Like when the pencil rolled off her desk at the start of this class. It landed
right in front of me. I pushed back my chair, ready to pick it up for her but
she just raised her hand, cool as fuck. And then she stepped in front of me,
hunkered down so that her perfect arse almost touched the floor, and snagged
the pencil. She stood and twisted in one dance-like motion and I caught a
glimpse of her knickers above the waistband of her black trousers. Then she
adjusted the hang of her green blouse. The patch of pink cotton and tanned
lower back disappeared and took the spit from my mouth with it. It happened in
seconds, but I've replayed the images of Miss's graceful retrieval over and
over for the last twenty minutes.
Danny is in an institution, I don’t know why. He’s growing
up, he’s getting an education. He butts heads with other boys and some of his counsellors
and he regrets being confined with the restrictions on his freedoms.
I like the mental jousting Danny has with Alan, one of the
therapists and with Adrian, a fellow offender both sharing a mutual antipathy
for each other. Danny would happily get physical but is cute enough to assess
the angles and use Adrian’s lack of control to his advantage. Street smarts.
An unlikely friendship with big lad, Conan – Conan being
borderline autistic, provides comfort to them both and allows Danny to focus on
someone other than self.
A trip to Castle Ward offers both friends some time away
from the institution. This sniff of freedom has consequences.
Pace, characters, setting, dialogue, confrontation, action
and outcome.
5 from 5
It was short but was March’s best read. Sadly with the
recent closure of publisher Blasted Heath, Wee Danny appears to be currently
unavailable. Hopefully this situation is only temporary and the author secures
it a new home.
Gerard Brennan
has his website over at Crime Scene NI.
I have lots more from him to enjoy yet – Wee Rockets, The Point, Breaking Point and Undercover
all sit waiting.
and Other Stories And Nothing But Time have featured on the blog previously.
As has his contribution to the Fightcard series - JACK TUNNEY - FIGHTCARD: WELCOME TO THE OCTAGON
Read in March, 2017
Published – 2013
Page count – 71
Source – purchased copy
Format - Kindle
This sounds really interesting, Col. The characters in particular really fascinate me. Interesting sort of premise, too, actually. I may have to look up Brennan's writing.
ReplyDeleteMargot - Danny is definitely someone I enjoyed spending time with. I believe he is quite central to WEE ROCKETS, so I'll see him again at some point. I do like Gerard's writing - so lots more for me to enjoy yet!
DeleteI'd certainly like to know what happens at Castle Ward.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't like to spoil your surprise mate! Hopefully it finds a new home and is soon available again.
DeleteLove everything Gerard writes! Just an amazing author.
DeleteLes, you've probably read more from him than me, but I would agree with you.
DeleteI keep meaning to read some of Gerard's stuff. After all, he and Mike Stone had the exquisite taste to put a story of mine in their crime anthology, so . . .
ReplyDeleteI didn't realise you were in that collection. It's one I don't have on my shelves.
DeleteI think some of his output may be a bit tricky to get hold of at the minute, because of Blasted heath closing their doors. At least on Kindle - print versions will still be knocking around I reckon.
Sounds interesting, sounds like a good story. But not an author I am adding to my TBR at this time. I hope he finds a new publisher.
ReplyDeleteTracy, no problem. I'm sure you would enjoy him if you did, but not enough time or money for everything.
Delete