Book Jacket

 

rank 5465
word count 15598
date submitted 12.09.2008
date updated 10.02.2009
genres: Fiction
classification: moderate
incomplete

River Dreams

Patrick Raggett

This is a literary thriller about a man who thinks the world owes him a living but instead discovers he owes it a death.

 

Dominic Merlock’s life is reaching a crescendo. He is an immature, conflicted character. A lawyer with City giant, Lantraps, he dislikes the venality, and the greed, but feels compelled to finish a race for partnership against his rival, Simon Steelson. He is also due to marry Sal. She doubts his commitment.

Amid fraud allegations that threaten the existence of the firm, he quickly finds himself out of his depth.

During a visit to the corrupt clients' offices on the Isle of Wight, Dominic gets entangled with Gwen, who wants revenge for her father’s death. Dominic falls for her and is both overwhelmed by the situation and trying to transcend it.

Meanwhile Sal, disillusioned by Dominic’s evasiveness, has met the sexually ambiguous barrister, Fletcher Haarl. They commence an affair.

Dominic enlists the help of the firm’s motorbike courier, Eddie, in an attempt to get into the partners' secret files to find proof that they are also fraudsters.

He then discovers what greedy, driven men will do in a whirl of double-speak and sudden death. Just at the moment he believes he has lost everything, he is shown the way that liberation lies.

 
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tags

commercial funny thoughtful, tragi-comic literary

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11 comments

 

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Nick Poole2 wrote 824 days ago

ARISE, AUTHONOMY GHOST!

Ease those weary, withered limbs from your coffin. Push away the stone from the mouth of the tomb.

You have one last task to perform. One last, sacred shelf to confer.

Whether you were plugger, spammer, gusher or troll, whether you flirted or fought in the forum or beavered away in the shadows, now is the time for your resurrection.

One last time. Marshall your strength, muster the last vestiges of your power and carry out your final Authonomy act:

Back my book, MIRROR IN THE SKY.

Then, only then, you may rest easy in your Authonomy grave.

Nick Poole2 (formerly known as NickP)

The Reaper wrote 1288 days ago

Beautifully crafted by a writer at the height of his powers. Humour, pathos, insight and underlying all a character who gives us the courage to live with and struggle against self destruction.

Mysty wrote 1335 days ago

Fascinating and intriguing. Sexy, compelling characters. More please!

mallago wrote 1335 days ago

I started reading this when I should have been putting my children to bed. I couldn't stop reading and the children went to bed late! I am gripped. I love the pace, the characters and the verbal rallys. I need to read the rest please.

Niall O wrote 1337 days ago

I read this over lunch in the office and it is as well there was only one chapter as I probably would have scived off for the afternoon to read more. The characters are so cleary described, you can almost picture them...I look forward to seeing how their story lines are ultimately unravelled...it also makes me glad I didn't pursue a career in law, if the politics depicted are a reflection of the reality.

Le Quinquis wrote 1338 days ago

Give me more please. After this chapter you really do you to read the rest

Le Quinquis wrote 1338 days ago

Give me more please. After this chapter you really do you to read the rest

anna wrote 1342 days ago

I was drawn into the gritty narrative of River Dreams from the outset. The pace and wit of the story and the characters draw you in like a magnet. If the rest of the book follows suit it will be a riveting read.

MariaPrice wrote 1344 days ago

This is not the sort of novel I would typically read but it was very believable, utilising many preconceptions of city lawyers. The pace was good, and it kept me reading through to the end, although I did find myself skipping little sections, as I got the general idea. Sal seems to be a side character at the moment and the story is very much focused on the other lawyers, the characters of which may need a little more describing just to be able to picture them. Overall though the plausability of the characters and context make it a good read and I was able to connect enough with Dominic to care about the decisions he may take.

Fenella Blackwell wrote 1348 days ago

River Dreams is gripping and well written - a smorgasbord of love, tragedy, intrigue and corruption. Eugene Stedman never lacks an insightful description or clever turn of phrase in which to couch his tale. His disillusioned protagonist is both hero and anti hero and highly sympathetic for that. A character one won't quickly forget.

Rod wrote 1348 days ago

I was completely engrossed in this book from the very first page. It has a pace to it which leaves you panting for breath and a suspense which keeps you on the edge of your seat. Unlike a lot of action thrillers, this puts very real characters in a real life context and a plot which is believeable yet complex. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys the action and suspense of the The Bourne Identity with the intrigue of The Usual Suspects.

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