Go West

This is a clever, romp of a novel that I would have read in one sitting, if possible. I loved the protagonist who seemingly happened upon one challenging situation after another while on a "simple" journey to evaluate a manuscript for an auction house.

I gravitate toward books about art and artists. This story touched on authenticating works of art and the ethics of the auction business. Despite the comic pace of the novel, it was still possible for the reader to feel that they learned a bit about the art trade.

Quantick's sense of humor is present on every page. The book is silly, but with heart. The denouement is unexpected, and satisfying.

I loved everything about GO WEST and hope that David Quantick will reprise his hero in subsequent novels.

NETGALLEY provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a candid review.

I like David Quantick’s journalism and broadcasts very much and I’m pleased to say that I enjoyed Go West, too. It’s amusing, completely bonkers in places and rather a gripping read.

Charlie Bread is an “Antiques Whisperer” who is employed to spot fake antiques. He is sent to Devon to examine a manuscript...and things get complicated. An absurd but entertaining plot ensues involving sinister men pursuing him, a beautiful but mysterious woman who keeps cropping up, fake identities and so on, plus a strange journey though the South West of England.

David Quantick is an accomplished and witty writer, so the book is a pleasure to read. Don’t expect a serious thriller, although it is quite an exciting story; there are ridiculous coincidences and unexplained absurdities in places, but I didn’t mind that at all. The whole thing works on its own terms and we also get quite a lot of obscure musical references (of course) and some enjoyable commentary on aspects of English life and travel which reminded me a little of some of Stuart Maconie’s books – which is high praise.

Go West is involving, witty and often funny and it is built on rather erudite foundations which gives it some substance, too. Recommended.

(My thanks to Unbound for an ARC via NetGalley.)

Go West is a light hearted and very funny novel set, loosely, in the art world. Charlie Bread is a slightly shambolic hero whose job it is to authenticate art for the third best auction house in Britain.
He is sent on a mission to evaluate a rare manuscript in Devon. I know it can take hours to get to Devon on a bad day, but Bread somehow turns it into an epic journey like Homer's Odyssey. He encounters shadowy men at every turn and a beautiful siren who seems to appear at will.
The journey is more important than the destination. The plot is not quite irrelevant but certainly secondary to the enjoyment of getting there.

Unbound press does it again. It being introduces me to a new great author via a new entertaining book. I was after something light and this was very light, without veering into stupid, a balance surprisingly difficult to maintain. I actually selected the book based on the fact that the author wrote for the ever hilarious Veep tv show and the mention of forgeries in the plot. The latter always makes for a good story, especially when it’s literary forgeries or any sort of bibliomysteries. And this one involves J.M.Barrie and his possible involvement with a popular book purportedly written by a child. There are all sorts of weird and wacky shenanigans, made all the more quaint by their inherent britishism, that the semi intrepid protagonist (apparently improbably) named Charlie Bread (which really isn’t that farfetched of a name) gets into as he tries to solve the mystery of a manuscript. There are thugs after him and a gorgeous mystery woman who finds it all very entertaining and some very real dangers that one wouldn’t necessarily assume would come with being the self stylized Antiques Whisperer that Charlie is. So yeah, it’s that kind of book, quirky, charming and funny…very (at times very, very) silly, but (and this is crucial) not stupid, so it works lovely. Just right for my mood at the time. And such a quick read too. Thanks Netgalley.

I didn't know the book and requested this book as I was attracted by the synopsys.
I'm happy I did it because it was and engaging and entertaining book.
The book is fun to read, paradoxal and sometimes surreal. At the same time it is entertaining and engaging.
I liked the plot, the style of writing and the humor.
It was a good read and I look forward to reading other books by this writer.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Unbound and Netgalley for this ARC

Go West is a multifaceted, at times hilarious ride to the western edge of England with a self-styled freelance 'antiques whisperer' driving a well worn and quirky red Jaguar Mark 2 to the tune of randomly dated, taped John Peel radio sessions that are just a bit fresher in time than the car. Parts of the journey our hero Charlie Bread is in pursuit of the unknown bad guys, sometimes pursuing Penelope who sort of fascinates him and pops up in his passenger seat regularly, and occasionally after a different set of bad guys in a classic Rolls-Royce. The bad guys in the Prius are almost always following Charlie.

This tale will grab you fast whether you are fond of art, a classic car buff, a music lover, one of those who worship at the feet of English radio's yesterman John Peel or just looking for a break from today. Rarely a page goes by without a chuckle, and Bread is a very entertaining lad.

Hired by the third-well-known auction house in England, Charlie's mission to either authenticate or prove felonious a rough child-scrawled school tablet that could prove once and for all that the 1919 novel "The Young Visitors" was actually written by 9 year old Miss Daisy Ashford as presented, laying to rest the rumor that JM Barrie of Peter Pan fame was also responsible for "Visitors". The auction house would profit either way but solving the authorship would bring much attention to the auction and the final bidding would be awesome. If he could just find Cora Vanstone of Palmer House. The right Cora.

Go West is a tight, fast read and will cheer your day. You Tube has a few John Peel offerings, which play nicely in the background and of course the 1960-1970's rock that he loved is available everywhere. This is a novel I am happy to refer to friends and family. David Quantick is a very versatile fellow.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, David Quantick, and Unbound Digital in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s daft but cleverly daft. Charlie Bread is an ‘Antiques Whisperer’, hired to spot fakes. He finds himself caught up in a race to find the notebook in which Daisy Ashford’s The Young Visiters was written. It is rumoured that JM Barrie wrote the book, or dictated it to Daisy who was only 9 when it was written. Bread’s job is to verify whether or not that’s true. The result is a wild goose chase through the English countryside from London to Devon and Cornwall. It really is great fun. If I have a complaint it’s that there is just too much information on John Peel. I was never a fan and nothing I read in this book is likely to change that. If you enjoy clever but silly humour, like Nigel Williams’ The Wimbledon Poisoner, you will enjoy this.

Charlie Bread, the "Antiques Whisperer", is in search for the truth about a document possibly written by JM Barrie, the author of Peter Pan, in GO WEST, by David Quantick. His employer is pushing him to get the job done, a mysterious woman shows up and becomes part of the search for truth and eventually all the lies, and double crossings, secret identities, and more are revealed in this entertaining novel.
The protagonist, Mr. Bread, is an antique analyst at the top of his game, but he is also a peculiar and socially challenging individual. He uses a radio program by John Peel to relax and focus his mind and takes great delight in vexing his employer with his quick wit and superior antique knowledge. His sense of urgency comes and goes, he is easily distracted, and has a habit of stumbling into trouble. Now whether it's because of these characteristics or in spite of them I'm not sure, but the reader can't help but be entertained by Mr. Bread.
Quantick's story is well crafted and effortlessly sways between the bumbling humor and social challenges of Mr Bread, and when attention by our protagonist is put towards it, the unraveling of what is really going on and who Mr. Bread should trust. The book takes a little while to settle into the plot, but I felt that it reflected how Mr. Bread takes a while to settle into a job. By the end, Quantick reveals all and does a stand up job of tying up the loose ends.
With the exciting search for the truth and a good bit of British comedic bumbling, GO WEST is a fun, easy to follow, light thriller. I certainly want to read more by Quantick in the future.