Who said "Suicide is painless"? Are there any other options when you're going to die anyway; when your life has been blitzed, pulverized and steamrollered into meaningless chaos? Ask Ian Gidman; it's his life, and his death.Was the view from the lawyer's garden worth it? Only his wife knows.Did the skullduggery merit the gain? His business partner can tell you - or can he? Maybe you should ask Ron Scott or his perfidious niece - the one who aims below the belt.Is his life worth fighting for? Ian thinks not; Claire disagrees.In a paperchase you might never catch up.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From the Author
The story is an elaborate, interwoven plot of fraud, misunderstandings and duplicity. The diverse themes of love and hate, tenderness and cynicism that are used to further the intrigue, are elaborated by false trails that pose questions about who is who and what is what. Tinted with the light hand of humour, the final twist is delivered by an innocuous, marginal figure who ultimately provides the key to the complex relationships between some of the main characters
About the Author
Graham Hamer has variously worked as accountant, pig-herder (briefly), businessman, systems analyst and business advisor in U.K., France, Middle East and The Netherlands.Happy with the concept of having a French wife and an Italian boss, he accepts the idea of a homomorphic Europe like a pigeon accepts rain - badly.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An accomplished novel,
By Celia Corris (Los Angeles, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Paperchase: A Novel (Paperback)
Paperchase is a provocative novel with an interesting premise. It's by far the most absorbing book I've read in a long while. I kept pacing myself trying to make it last but found myself in the "just one more page" syndrome again and again, as I rushed to piece the puzzle together. The characters are multi-dimensional and you quickly get right into their heads, especially the protagonist, Ian Gidman. There were moments of drama, moments of high suspense, tear-jerking moments, moments of tenderness, moments of laughter and, most of all, moments when you thought you'd got it all puzzled out and found that you hadn't, because Graham Hamer's tight control of the various threads leaves the reader guessing through most of the book how and when these diverse worlds will collide. (I admit now that I never did get it all worked out. It really was only the final chapter when everything came together and the unknown became the obvious). The plot was fast-moving, with some clever quips and some excellent social observations... somewhere between the cynical sense of humor and acerbic dry wit of Robert B. Parker and the gloriously in-depth characterizations of James Patterson when he's in top form. Even with a two-week delivery, this book was well worth waiting for.Incidentally, I read it and felt it was a book for women; my boyfriend read it and said it was a man's book! Work that one out!!
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good plot, good characterizations, killer ending!,
By Mandy Harris (King's Lynn, England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Paperchase: A Novel (Paperback)
I bought this book with caution because I'd never heard of the author before. I'm glad I did. The narrative is excellent with gentle humour, dark hatred, deep tenderness and mind-boggling greed all combined. Despite it being a tale of oppression against one man, I found myself more inclined to laugh than to cry, and to fall in love instead of into a depression. The author has delivered gripping suspense, deep mystery, and high drama - all in one story. You can't read past the first chapter without getting hooked, and you can't put it down till you get to the last page. What made Paperchase even more entertaining was that it was written like a you would view a film - one scene moving logically into the next. (Maybe Hollywood will get to hear of it - the plot is highly marketable and thoroughly entertaining.)While some of the characters aren't likable they aren't totally unlikable either (except, maybe, one) and the reader's interest is held with the interactions between them. Some books are filled with action and sudden (sometimes illogical) plot twists, this book is much more subtle and always leaves open many possible plot paths to hold your interest. The various strings only come together right at the end and, unless you buy it, you'll never know. SO BUY IT !
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intrigued right to the end,
By Marie-Danielle (Bruxelles - Belgium) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Paperchase: A Novel (Paperback)
I didn't understand page one - after page two I was hooked! In a subtle interweaving of love, hate, greed and cunning, Paperchase had me guessing from beginning to end. The story builds cleverly but relentlessly from the nitty-gritty of a man's mundane job to a climax of murder, suicide and mayhem. Gripping stuff, and all tinted with a delicate touch of humor.Graham Hamer has managed to spin a web of intrigue into a tale of ordinary people who are doing nothing more than getting on with their lives - or think they are. He has dealt delicately with their passions and their weaknesses, leaving me feeling that I was well acquainted with the (wholly believable) characters (you'll love Ian and you'll sympathize with his dilemma). The main events take place on the Isle of Man (a small, independent island situated between, England, Scotland and Ireland) and in Paris (France), both of which I have visited; and descriptions of the settings, though not interfering in any way with the story, left me feeling that I knew these locations even better. I'm looking forward to his next book.
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