First 'Friendly' Review...

My good friend, Charles Ricketts, agreed to read The Pink Herring and give me some critical feedback. I've known Chaz for over 30 years and we share a love of reading, particularly science fiction. He has pointed so many great books my way over the years:

• Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks
• Weaveworld by Clive Barker
• The Mote In God's Eye by Larry Niven & Gerry Pournelle
• Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K Dick

...to name but a few.

So, a little apprehensively I sent him a copy of the first draft, knowing that I would get an honest appraisal - no friend rates accepted. Apart from a bundle of grammatical errors that he meticulously documented, the overall view was good:

"Overall, I really liked this book. There is a good pace to it and each chapter made me want to read on. I enjoyed the crispness of the characters..."

But, there's always a but. Basically, the feedback was:

1. My characters needed more depth and backstory;
2. Some needed more strife in their life to reflect the real world;
3. Everyone seems quite intelligent and faintly genteel giving it a "slightly ersatz Agatha Christie feel at times";
4. The investigation moves along a little too smoothly - it needs more set backs and mundanity in the police work.

All good and valid stuff from my good friend which I will now incorporate into the next draft...

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