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David Melville Edwards
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The Spirit of the Age: Murder, mystery, mayhem, metaphysics ... and mermaids (The Spirit Novels Book 1) Kindle Edition

by David Melville Edwards (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.6 out of 5 stars 19 ratings

The Spirit Of The Age is a Satirical Metaphysical Literary Contemporary Paranormal Fantasy Mystery!



Non-halal and non-kosher sacred cow slaughter is the order of the day as Probationary Police Constable Skandi Khan, transplanted from famously decaying multi-cultural Hounslow, cuts a swathe through rural Dorset, grappling with a crime wave whilst struggling to get her arranged marriage back on track.



It's idyllic rural touristy Jurassic Dorset as you have never seen her before. Monumental statues disappear, and bodies turn up in the ocean. There's murder, mystery, mermaids, music, Muslims, marriages, mages, mayhem and mirth, all served up with lashings of sex and cricket.



Drawing inspiration from Tom Sharpe, Mikhail Bulgakov, Louis de Bernières and Terry Pratchett, it melds magic, mystery and metaphysical speculation with intricately drawn and engaging three dimensional characters. Its unique story line makes for a most enjoyable read.



Praise from readers:



★★★★★ - "One of the most unique novels I've read in years. Hugely imaginative, very entertaining, and has plenty of humor to boot."



★★★★★ - "A beautifully crafted tale that forces the reader to face the stark realities of country life in modern Britain one minute, then suspend belief in reality the next. Thoroughly enjoyable reading."

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  1. Print length
    451 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    May 15, 2019
  5. File size
    1.3 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07RYZQZQW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bluefish Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 15, 2019
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 3rd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.3 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 451 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.6 out of 5 stars 19 ratings

About the author

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David Melville Edwards

David Melville Edwards

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

This is me, as I present myself to customers. "Mr Edwards has spent the last thirty eight years as an Independent IT Consultant (e2-systems.co.uk), carrying out assignments all over the world ... strategic vision ... mastery of detail ... blah, blah, blah". Were we to meet socially, you would learn that I have been married for forty one years, have four children, and have recently swapped the last of them for my demented mother.

I set out to write books that I would enjoy reading. I cover issues that I care about: Peoples' relationships with each other and society at large and how these are influenced by nature, proximity, and belief, in healthy and unhealthy ways; how proximity builds community; aspects of our society that could work better. But I always leaven serious themes and events with humour.

I always wanted to write, and apart from software I have spent much of my working life writing consultancy reports. I abandoned the novel I started the year after I graduated, feeling that with so little experience of life beyond school and university, I could have nothing interesting to say. I leave others to judge whether this remains the case.

Customer reviews

3.6 out of 5 stars
19 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Frank Scozzari
    5.0 out of 5 stars and the author has added some mysticism and love. Yes
    Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE is one of the most unique novels I've read in years. It really took me by surprise. It is hugely imaginative, very entertaining, and has plenty of humor to boot.

    An eclectic group of characters gather in the small English town of Dorset. The story winds through the happenings of this village and its people; its city politics, its intercultural relations, and the author has added some mysticism and love. Yes, in many ways it’s true to life, but also a fantasy. The descriptions of the town and terrain are vivid enough to take you there. The constantly evolving interactions between the town’s people never stops. Most appreciative, when I thought I new where the story was leading, it threw me a curve. It's one of those novels that, once you're into it, you never want it to end.

    THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE is a delightful read. Find a nice chair, sit back, and be ready for a wild and amusing ride.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars An English Romp
    Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    The story line jumps from one improbable happening to another while you ponder the strangeness of the human and nonhuman race. What is it about selkies that brings out the sexual writings of an author? This is the third author I’ve read using a selkie as one of the main characters, and, of course, like the others, sex is immediately introduced. Not that I’m against that. I just wonder why that is the trigger. The writing is excellent, the characters funny and well developed, but the long chapter on cricket left me limp and bored. Play by play of any sports game is boring in the extreme. Then the murder wasn’t exactly solved, nor was the fate of the stolen statue. The poking fun at certain modern day beliefs was amusing. You won’t be bored except for the one chapter. If you love cricket, you will like that chapter best of all
    One person found this helpful
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  • Joseph
    4.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing mix of the mundane and the supernatural.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2016
    This book is certainly unique. The descriptions of the village and its people are vivid and complex. While some parts of the novel are extremely detailed and lengthy, the mix of the supernatural and the mundane are unusual and intriguing. If you are interested in Islam and cricket and you enjoy satire you will love this book. It will be a long time before I forget Mabel Gutbucket!
    Helpful
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  • Sashadoo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Strange events in an English country village, a real 'tale of the unexpected.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2016
    I found this book to be one of the most entertaining pieces of fiction I've read in some time. This is not an easy one to pigeon-hole into a specific genre as there's mystery,, murder, a touch of fantasy and it proved a thorougly delightful read. It would appear that ll is not always quite it at first appears downin deepest, darkest Dorset, (though perhaps we all knew that already). Seriously though, this is an author who really knows his subject, both in his descriptions of the geography and the sights and sounds of Dorset, and in his knowledge of the Muslim religion, which he is either fully acquanited with already or has taken no little time to research Islamin order to portray it convincingly within the framework of this story as it applies to the young couple Majid and Skandi who marry and who run the local post office, as well Skandi being the local policewoman, The characters within these pages are quite cleverly constructed, from the stereotypical 'upper-class' twits of the university educated cricket playing Hooray Henry types to the strange, engimatic creature, Sireen who seems to appear as if by magic one night from within a thick sea mist, only to entrance the hapless James, who falls madly in love with this siren of the sea, with surprising results. Oh yes, and we mustn't forget Mabel Gutbucket! This is a beautifully crafted tale that forces the reader to face the stark realities of country life in modern Britainone minute, then suspend belief in reality the next as the strangest events occur in the presence of Sireen. Thoroughly enjoyable reading!
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • C. Morgan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Weaves a tapestry that will warm the heart
    Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2017
    I thought I could dive right in and tear through this book in a weekend, but I was outmaneuvered by its wildly creative author. Filled with vibrant, intricate descriptions that had me reading, then re-reading so I could immerse myself in the landscape, and a diverse, ingeniously developed group of characters that filled me with curiosity as well as confusion; the story transported me through time and place to a small village in Dorset, a place I’d love to visit at any invitation, though now, perhaps, more than usual.

    The contrasting incidences and multifaceted relationships kept me intrigued even when I hadn’t a clue what was going on. Humorously recounted in a pace that made me want to settle back into a setae with a fine cuppa, this unique tale is definitely one for the bookshelf or TBRList. Spirit of the Age weaves a tapestry that will warm the heart.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • yop
    4.0 out of 5 stars This is definitely an original read.
    Reviewed in Spain on August 16, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Set in Dorset, this is a real mix of situations, some comical and others dark from murder, and caches of guns to sexual problems and choir singing.
    With a real mix of characters including Muslims and mermaids, this sure is an eclectic group. There’s Majid who runs the post office and his policewoman new bride Skandi. Not forgetting Sireen a mermaid, with less than dubious looks, who appeared one misty evening and entranced James into a relationship. There’s a female vicar who coerces most of the characters into the church choir, and the subsequent resurrection of the cricket club all add to the multicultural relationships in the village.
    I loved the deliciously funny names of the characters from farmers (Mabel Gutbicket) to the upper class: Tara Bonkington and the Marquess of Fondlesham.
    My one qualm would be that not being into sport at all (I even flick past the Quiddich matches in Harry Potter books) I found the description of the training and cricket match a little long, but the book is definitely an original read.
    Report
  • Sashadoo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Something strange in deepest Dorset. Enjoyable from start to finish.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 14, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I found this book to be one of the most entertaining pieces of fiction I've read in some time. This is not an easy one to pigeon-hole into a specific genre as there's mystery,, murder, a touch of fantasy and it proved a thorougly delightful read. It would appear that ll is not always quite it at first appears downin deepest, darkest Dorset, (though perhaps we all knew that already). Seriously though, this is an author who really knows his subject, both in his descriptions of the geography and the sights and sounds of Dorset, and in his knowledge of the Muslim religion, which he is either fully acquanited with already or has taken no little time to research Islamin order to portray it convincingly within the framework of this story as it applies to the young couple Majid and Skandi who marry and who run the local post office, as well Skandi being the local policewoman, The characters within these pages are quite cleverly constructed, from the stereotypical 'upper-class' twits of the university educated cricket playing Hooray Henry types to the strange, engimatic creature, Sireen who seems to appear as if by magic one night from within a thick sea mist, only to entrance the hapless James, who falls madly in love with this siren of the sea, with surprising results. Oh yes, and we mustn't forget Mabel Gutbucket! This is a beautifully crafted tale that forces the reader to face the stark realities of country life in modern Britainone minute, then suspend belief in reality the next as the strangest events occur in the presence of Sireen. Thoroughly enjoyable reading!
    Report
  • glasgow reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars very satisfying read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 24, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I found this a most unusual read, crossing the boundaries of supernatural and traditional mystery with a sprinkling of crime and romance, all served with lashings of wry humour.

    The central characters were well defined and interesting to a level that you really cared and needed to read on to learn what would happen to them. They were supported by a curiously strange range of characters to come together in a small Dorset village.

    Descriptions were sometimes lengthy and detailed with the overall result being a very satisfying read
    Report
  • Mrs Burn
    5.0 out of 5 stars Different, in a very good way.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 26, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Fresh, complex, original and at times frankly a little bonkers but always engaging with many hilarious moments.
    Report
  • EL D
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 6, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Great read for long evenings. If you enjoy well-observed, witty descriptions of life in London, this book is for you.
    Report

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