Published by Serpent’s Tail - £10-00

A news item in a recent issue of ‘Prism’ put me on to this novel, Serpent’s Tail being one of the more "Extreme" publishers in the UK, I thought I’d give it a go. I’m certainly glad I did!

The author Chris Kenworthy now lives in Australia but hails from sunny Preston, Lancs. I should imagine he’s known at least to some BFS members, as the ex-editor and publisher of Barrington Books. He’s also written a short story collection, ‘Will you hold me?’. Michael Moorcock speaks very highly of him apparently and judging by this first novel not without cause.

‘The Winter Inside’ is a powerful romance, which it certainly is, but it’s a lot more as well. The writer’s gift for creating oh so believable events and characters only add to the lull of false security, as the reader is drawn quietly and cleverly into the creeping darkness.

The story centres around Nick, a bored thirty-something art teacher and Wendy, an aspiring young artist, nearly twenty. They meet, fall in love and then it all starts to go pear-shaped. Can’t live with each other, can’t live without, can it be resolved? Life moves onwards.

Added to the mix is Wendy’s parents, Mr & Mrs Normal at first, but all is not as it seems.

The mother is a sexually frustrated divorcee wannabe, while the father is a slightly psychotic, obsessive control freak. Both Wendy and her mother are desperate to escape the family nest.

Nick joins the great escape and they flee to the Isle of Skye. The plot moves action around the UK, focal points being, Bath, London, Leicester and Ludlow. The writer builds a sense of menace, unease and impending doom cuts a large dose of subtlety. Although the reader can’t put an exact finger on places and happenings that highlight unnatural threats, they’re there all the same. The way the father keeps finding the runaways, no matter where they hide is more than a little spooky and disturbing. I shall reveal not a jot more of the plot, suffice to say this book’s tense, erotic, gripping and dangerous. For a first novel a cracking effort and surely a name to keep an eye on. Good skills indeed!

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