Book Description
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"You can’t help being tickled" - The Guardian
"Not many books make me laugh out loud, but The Perpetual
Astonishment of Jonathon Fairfax is one of them… A comic gem" -
Stylist magazine
"Shevlin was rightly picked up by the literary agency that
represents the likes of David Nicholls" - Metro magazine
UK bestseller: #1 Political Humour, Top 10 Humorous Fiction, Top
20 Humour
When Jonathon Fairfax accidentally helps a murderer bump off
Sarah Morecambe, the secretary of a senior politician, he sets
off a chain of events that astonishes him. Jonathon is
wrong-footed by even the most everyday things, so he’s
particularly shocked to find himself caught up in a conspiracy
that goes right to the heart of government.
Teaming up with a suave private investigator, a glamorous grannie
and the probable love of his life, Jonathon must confront his
greatest fears - including talking to girls and balaclava-clad
killers - and answer some very difficult questions. Who murdered
Sarah Morecambe? What is the strange secret that unites the
entire British government? And what exactly does it feel like to
kiss a real-life woman?
With its naïve, reluctant hero and wry look at life, The
Perpetual Astonishment of Jonathon Fairfax has been compared to
books by Douglas Adams, Carl Hiaasen and PG Wodehouse.
Some comparisons...
“When Christopher Shevlin sat down to write this book, the spirit
of Douglas Adams sidled up next to him and said, ‘Here, let me
help you.’ This book is probably – definitely – the funniest
thing I have read since The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.”
Geek Boy, .com
“It reminded me of a very English Carl Hiaasen – filled with
throwaway detail, joyously funny dialogue and slightly absurd
characters.” Francesca Brown, Stylist magazine
“In the same vein as ‘The 100 year old man that climbed out of a
window’, it's a non-stop page turner. Great stuff!!!” Andy, UK
“Shevlin has been compared to Wodehouse, and I'm sure he'll
garner more compliments as the book is read. I would give it 11
if I could.” posh sith, UK
“If you like tight writing, a great pace, smart references and
laughing, this book will be on your top five list! Like reading
an Arrested Development script.” Bridget Aureli, .com
“I sincerely hope there will be another work from this author in
the near future, to my way of thinking he is up there with Stella
Gibbons and Saki.” lizzieay, UK
“Shevlin's writing style, his wonderful way with eccentric
characters, and his knack for combining kindness, silliness, and
more than a few touching surprises, all fill a spot left by
Adams.” Avery Elizabeth Hurt
Some more reactions...
“I was laughing so much whilst reading it that my son downloaded
it at the same time so we could laugh together.” CJB, UK
“New year's celebrations became an unwanted distraction as I
couldn't tear myself away from Jonathon and gang. You have been
warned.” Liz Palmen, UK
“I can’t wait for more. It made me laugh on the tube. It made me
happy.” T Forsdyke, UK
About the Author
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Christopher Shevlin grew up in Doncaster, in
Yorkshire, and consoled himself for it by reading a lot. His
favourite authors include Douglas Adams, Henry Howarth Bashford,
Geoffrey Willans, Thackeray and PG Wodehouse. After school he
worked briefly as a door-to-door vacuum-cleaner salesman in
Yorkshire and as a labourer in Tel Aviv. At 23 he moved to
London, where he has stayed ever since. He works as a freelance,
helping companies to write better - by training, coaching,
advising and doing the writing himself. His desk is clogged up
with novels that he hasn't finished writing. The first completed
book to emerge from the pile is The Perpetual Astonishment of
Jonathon Fairfax, which he hopes you enjoy. To find out more,
visit his website: christophershevlin.com.