Review of ‘New Holland (A White Nights Mystery)’ By Saul Isaq Pope

Saul is my nephew. His father and I are very close as brothers. I give you these two pieces of information so that you are aware from the beginning that I’m going to lie and tell you all about how wonderful I think my nephew’s story is and how you should all rush out and download the novel.
Well, I’m not a liar.
I shall be telling the truth.

Set in St Petersburg, Russia, in present times, we meet again the private detective Jonathan David living in a seedy flat with his Ladybird books, sorting out the marital problems of rich Russian ladies, getting paid to see whether their husbands are committing adultery.

One morning he is dragged out of bed by his friend Paul from the consulate who has a job for him that is going to pay real money; one hundred thousand dollars. The local governor has been kidnapped and his wife has asked that Jonathan find him.

As the story unfolds Jonathan begins to realise that there’s considerably more to the case than he first thought. As kidnapping follows kidnapping, and police corruption becomes obvious, Jonathan ends up being drawn far further into events than he ever intended – along with his best friend, his ex-girlfriend, and a potential new flame.

I would guess that as a child, Saul loved Famous Five and here we have an adult version, though not so adult that it couldn’t also be teenage fiction. I was never bored by this story. I never felt that I’ve got to finish this because it was written by a family member. I simply enjoyed it. The novel is well written, the twists and turns are unexpected, the conclusion inventive.

Saul lived in St Petersburg for a time so we have an honest reflection of the city. He knows Russian culture. We do not have a westerner believing they know Russia from clichés.

A few minor criticisms, I wish Saul had made more of the psychological effects of the white nights and less of the alcohol. The characters really did seem to drink so much that I’m surprised they could function. There were typos and proofreading errors which I think if espresso are going to put themselves on the stage as quality publishers they should sort out.

For you Saul this is a very different novel from your first outing, ‘Russia, The Man and Jonathan David.’ I found that novel difficult. Some first time authors believe that they have to write a terribly clever novel and they get lost in their own meanderings. I think you should rewrite/re-edit your first novel to make it far more accessible and then give it to espresso and see if they will publish it. Many background details to Jonathan David will then be filled in. You have a great character in Jonathan David and strength in those that surround him including the city of St Petersburg.

‘New Holland’ deserves a wide readership. As well as in the form of download Saul deserves a contract with a publisher who will edit, proofread and distribute his books, in paper form, to major retailers.

Jonathan David could become cult.

I wish Saul ‘Good Luck’!
Buy it. Here’s one you won’t be wasting your money on!

My novel 'The Doctor, The Plutocrat, and The Mendacious Minister' is now available as Nook from Barnes and Noble, store and on line, as well as an iPad, Amazon Kindle, and sony. Also at the Cactus Rain site http://www.cactusrainpublishing.com/the_doctor.html and at http://www.stephenbutt.co.uk/shopcatalogue.htm priced £9.99 including world wide postage.
or from me, Glyn Pope, at £9.99 or 11.50euros inc. worldwide postage.
Send a message to gjpopeuk(at)gmail.com


NB if you want a copy of 'The Doctor, The Plutocrat, and The Mendacious Minister' (paperback signed) then it is cheaper to buy it from me than the American publishers, unless you live in France. From me it will cost you either, £9.99, 11.50euros, or 17US dollars. All prices include postage. For other currencies please ask.

Review of Saul's novel by Glyn Pope.
Editing from Diane Keziah Robertson author of 'The Lacemaker's Daughter' to be published by CRP.