The Demolition of the Century by Duncan Sarkies

This book alternates between two points of view, Tom’s then Spud’s then Tom’s then Spud's and so on.

Tom, we learn early on, is an alcoholic. He ran away from Town because he got involved in a scandal involving a horse, Fire Chief, who was put down suspiciously, and which he should have reported as part of his job, but he decided not to when the socks containing bribe money came his way. Then news got out about it and he lost his job and ran away before people started asking for their socks back.

Now he has returned to face up to his past, find his son, and pay Robert Valentine his socks back.

But it appears that people are still after him. He finds out the vet involved in the scandal has died, of food poisoning, and Tom is trying to get away from the people following him whilst trying to find out who the mysterious head honcho Robert Valentine is.

Then there is Spud who has problems of his own including regular panic attacks, relationship troubles and a faulty mobile phone. He is also the guy behind the demolition of the Century, an old theatre, which is where the title of the book comes from although it isn’t the main focus of the story.

Both characters have similar voices, which was confusing at first, but there is a reason for that. And the big reveal half-way through was confusing to me too to start with too because of the way things had been portrayed before that moment.

I got the book because I thought it would be really funny given the publicity quote “The Demolition of the Century appeals to fans of kooky, quirky humour similar to Flight of the Conchords” but it wasn’t. It was more sad in places, for example Tom despairing after his lost son and his wife, and sentimental too at the end. 

(I got this book through Amazon Vine UK. It is listed HERE.)