A Season in the Sun

Henry Fanshawe, the last family member of Fanshawes Commodities in the City of London, leads a quiet life trading spices in a large dealing room. His day consists of ignoring requests to tidy his desk, making money and spending it on his three great loves: French landscape paintings, fine wine, and cricket. But the new City does not agree with him, and he finds himself falsely accused of financial chicanery, and summarily dismissed. In a stroke of extremely good fortune, a legacy from an elderly aunt allows Henry to move to the Seychelles – though there are strings attached. He must manage her Village Cricket Club, and propel it through the formative years of the Seychelles Cricket league to the position of greatness it deserves. For his colourful and talented team of amateurs, who include a depressive ex-county opener, a drug-taking fast bowler, and the local Chief of Police, this would be difficult enough a task. But in addition there are darker forces within Seychelles cricket, forces from the murky world of gambling who wish to twist the beautiful game to their illicit ends. Henry’s first season in the sun becomes a high stakes contest of amateur talent against organised crime, leading to a thrilling climax...A Season in the Sun combines cricket, crime and comedy in the beautiful surroundings of a south sea island. Similar in style to PG Wodehouse and William Boyd, it will appeal to fans of suspense and sporting pursuits alike.

Robert Rees was born in Berkshire and educated at Eton College and Trinity College Cambridge. He retired from the City of London in 2007 and now works in the music and drama media industry. He regularly writes, directs and composes music for local amateur productions. Robert lives with his wife, bestselling author Deborah Lawrenson, and daughter Madeleine in Kent.