A Detective Story By Peter Scholes
‘Once Upon a Time There Was a Man’ by Peter Scholes is an ambitious, sprawling detective story with a missing person mystery that will keep you delightfully hooked til the very end.
Paul Brunskill is a private investigator stuck moving from job to job in a temporary lifestyle with no great future or commitments. He is good at tracking down errant lovers and family trees, but never really finds what he is truly looking for. When a wealthy benefactor gives Paul the task of finding Ernie Grimshaw – a man whose story becomes more and more remarkable as Paul’s journey progresses – his life takes an unexpected turn in more ways than one.
The attention to detail, plotting, setting and dialogue in this novel are all excellent. The story beds in slowly, helping you to get to know Paul and his current empty lifestyle, but soon picks up once he begins his search for Ernie. Stretching from Cumbria to New York and back, the locations and minutiae of Paul’s quest – the cups of tea, the biscuits, the breakfasts, the pints, and more – are lovingly detailed in a way that leaves you feeling as though you are right there with him.
The diary entry style works well, giving an insight into Paul’s inner thoughts, and it doesn’t feel contrived as a device to keep the story moving forwards; it allows us to grow as Paul does. There is a real, authentic feel to each of the characters in the novel, however small, and a warmth and sense of humour that sits finely balanced throughout.
There’s the odd moment when you think ‘how many lucky breaks can one P.I get?!’ but, honestly, I was enjoying the story so much that I really didn’t care.
Well drawn and tightly written, I thoroughly recommend this for those who love a good old-fashioned detective story with a delightful dose of intrigue, humour, and genuine, personal growth.
‘Once Upon a Time There Was a Man’ was originally self-published in 2021 and then re-released this year by indie publisher Veneficia Publications. It is available for purchase at: https://amzn.to/458lNvG