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“I really enjoyed your book. Once I got going I could not put it down. We have now passed the book on to other members of the family, and credit where it is due to you. What`s next ?” April 7th, 2025.

“I couldn`t put it down!” February 5th, 2025.

“Informative,moving and often entertaining, this is an impressive debut” Goodreads and Net Galley Reviews, January 20th, 2025.

“I really enjoyed the book-when is the second novel to be published!!!” December 5th, 2024.

“I was very impressed, it was just like reading a well-established historical novelist…what he did really well was he got you into the characters, particularly the Menorcan woman`s anger towards the priest and the church” October 27th, 2024.

“…such a complex plot…so many different and various people and places, so wonderfully presented to us with such rich language, especially the dialogue bringing it all to life…had us on the edge of our seats…” September 22nd, 2024.

“.Well-drawn characters and intricate plot twists and turns base on historical events. An exciting and informative read.” Goodreads Review, August 20th, 2024.

Finished reading your book and thought I would let you know how much I enjoyed it. Liked the characters, the humour shown. An engaging story line with a few twists and turns nicely set up.Nice twist at the end. Leaves for more. July 22nd, 2024.

“As I read it I thought, Sebastian Faulks meets Rudyard Kipling!” July 14th, 2024. ^{_{Author Comment: Esteemed company}}!

“The Poet Laurie Ate expertly lifts the lid on the prevalent, but little appreciated, cacophony of competing interests amongst the allies of World War I. A creative historical fiction, predominantly set in wartime Cairo, sheds light on the increasing chaos of Britain’s Egyptian protectorate. Ash James’ entertaining work is a collision of narratives as corrupt officials, ingenious traders and heroes interact upon the complexity of the Mediterranean context. The novel follows the policeman Thomas Laurie, based on the grandfather of Ash James, who was posted to the streets of Cairo. A military deployment, beyond his Worcestershire village experience, to the Arab Bureau; an intelligence environment, in which he grows in confidence and reputation as his undercover work bears fruit. An undertaking which interfaces with wider geopolitical forces at work as Laurie uncovers a web of smuggling across the Mediterranean. A thrilling story filled with insightful religious, social and political comment, as well as poignant reminders to the realities of war, and plenty of descriptive hilarity reminiscent of Dad’s Army. The Poet Laurie Ate is simply a must read!” A review posted by reader Jackson Turner on Troubador, the publishers of Ash`s book,July 13th, 2024. ^{_{Author Comment: Wow!}}

“…was reading a Robert Galbraith book but stopped reading it once he picked your book up” July 6th 2024. _{^{Author Comment: Galbraith is a brilliant writer so that is quite some compliment!}}

“I love the title, The Poet Laurie Ate; very very clever.” Hannah Murray, host of Talk Radio Bookshop, Europe`s leading English Language book show July 4th, 2024.

“If you like Sebastian Faulks and William Orme, you`ll love this book.” June 29th, 2024.

“I have never read something that was set in the intersections of England, Cairo and Menorca. The concept and the core idea are brilliant….I like the themes of loyalty, betrayal, love, the incompetence and the evil of those in power.” Google Reviews, 25th June, 2024.

“I was stopped in town by friends who have been reading the book. They told me all about the Menorca section they have got to. I did remind them I have read it.” 14th June, 2024.

“…this book is much more ambitious and includes a large swirl of issues from the treatment of women, class prejudice, Egyptian resentment against the minority Coptic christians, Jewish desire to return to their ancestral homeland, imperialism and resulting resentment against the British as well as fighting within the British army. There is also a parallel and connected story focused around a matriarch in Menorca smuggling art and wanting revenge for past wrongs, her son, who is a poet and the the importance of love. This is a lot for one book to sustain and I think James manages it….I enjoyed the novel and will look out for more books by this author. Goodreads Reviews, June 12th, 2024.

” I am well into your book Ash. There is some heavy stuff in there. I had to look up some of those words. Were you an English teacher?” 12th June, 2024. _{^{Author comment: English Teacher? Afraid Not. Oh, and I cut out a few other big words following my Editor recommendations. She is definitely someone to be listened to}}!

“I`ve been talking about your book. 5 stars!” 9th June, 2024.

“I`ve just finished “TPLA” .The ending blew me away. Fabulous story and so well researched.” 8th June, 2024

“I don`t generally read novels as i tend to go for non fiction autobiographies and politics stuff. That said I have read TPLA and absolutely loved it.Emotional.” 5th June 2024.

“Definitely 5 Star. Should be made into a film!” Goodreads Reviews, 30th May, 2024

“Finished your novel and really enjoyed it. Trying to spread the word. It`s a heavy book to hold and there`s heavy stuff in there too.” 29th May 2024.

“I couldn`t put it down-I had to stay up to 3 am to finish it.” 28th May, 2024

“Finished reading it this afternoon. I really enjoyed it. It flowed well and I wanted to know the outcome. The last quarter is very taut and well-structured.” 20th May 2024.

“Really enjoyed the descriptions of Cairo and Menorca-I felt I was actually there.” 18th May, 2024.

“Just started reading the book, it`s brilliantly written. Hooked already.” 9th May, 2024.

“Left wing crap, and the Bible according to Ash.” 8th May, 2024. _{^{Author comment: `How did this reader know the titles of my next two books?}}

“Even being taken to the bowels of a Cairo British Army latrine was engaging. Superb writing. Thank you.” 1st May, 2024.

ARSEY VERSEY

_{Photo ©Ash James}

 The Book of Arsey Versey