The Story Behind This Book
'The Dance of the Pheasodile' simply turned up. I woke up one morning with the first chapter verbatim in my head, and I had to keep writing it to understand why this naked man was hanging from a helicopter outside his wife's 18th floor office.
Praise and Reviews
Comment by Tony Bayliss, author of 'Past Continuous': This is a fascinating take on the Jekyl and Hyde scenario, and one with which a lot of readers will associate, if not empathise, given that we all dream to be better than we appear, but are often worse. In Keith's case, it's considerably worse, and you handle all the implications of that with consumate ease and intelligent writing. This is a very high-brow thriller, deeply psychological, cunningly satirical, and cleverly constructed.
Comment from Sandie Newman, author of ‘The Crown Of Crysaldor': This is hilarious and brilliant. I love the beginning when he is hanging out of the window, just so funny, brilliant, brilliant writing.
Comment from David Brett, author of ‘All These Are Memories Of My Voyage’: The first two chapters are the funniest start to a book I have ever encountered (well, I may exaggerate, but it felt like it). It keeps it up too. When our hero become the villainous Harry and kicks the blue lights out of sundry bad men, then it felt even better.
Comment from Zehra Mustafa, author of ‘Shadows’: What a fantastic matter-of-fact humour you have; it's just too funny! I loved your narrative from the very first sentence making it an addictive read.
Comment from Sue Edwards, author of ‘A Boy Named George’: This is laugh out loud excellent!
Comment from Nick Quantrill, author of 'Black & White' and the upcoming 'Broken Dreams: With a smooth and engaging writing style, Roux cleverly paints McGuire as a man unsure of where he can turn or who he can trust, constructing a darker and more complex spin on the 'Life on Mars' scenario which builds to an impressive and exciting climax.
Comment from Francesco Scannella, author of ‘Sicilian Shadows’: Your writing has a unique voice that I find enormously entertaining and this work, once again, shows it off at its best.
Comment from Danny Birch, author of 'Clipped': This story is told brilliantly, with clever dialogue brimming with realism, and excellent characterisation. I actually gave a damn about the main character, Keith, which is rare for me. It truly is like a mix of the ace movie 'Face off', and the old TV series Quantum Leap, only this is cleverer. Definite recommendation.
Comment from Stuart Aken, author of 'Breaking Faith': Sometimes a book is so unusual it defies categorisation. This is such a novel. Tim Roux has merged the reality of life in parts of England, with a fantasy that allows the writer to explore deep human conflicts in revealing ways. Hull is not a glamorous city and this refreshingly raw depiction of how environment can impact on moral, social and personal values is a great antidote to the modern obsession with the superficial. Here we have real people, people with flaws as well as courage, struggling in real lives to make sense of a world that seems determined to beat them down .... The plot of this novel twists and turns surprisingly so that the reader is jolted out of complacent assurance that he knows where the action will take him next .... Some will read this book as crime novel, and it can easily be seen in that light. But, as with all good novels, the story is capable of appreciation on more than one level .... I read this book over a couple of days and found the narrative intriguing, making me eager to discover the outcome. I empathised with the main character more than I expected and felt some pity for all but the most irredeemable characters. I happily recommend this book to all readers who enjoy a novel worthy of the name.
Comment from Genevieve Graham, author of 'Under The Same Sky': Fantastic! I'm entirely sucked in, loving the tone, the pace, the story, both Keith and Chrissie ("do you have anything to say to this hotel manager before we never come back?" - sorry if I misquoted, but omg. SO FUNNY).
Comment from Stephen Wyatt, author of 'Presumed Killed': I found myself drawn to the first-person narrator and his quiet, self-deprecating voice, from his absurd opening predicament and onwards. The portrait of his marriage to the childhood sweetheart Chrissie, and their children’s home background, is touching – especially the forced separation that made them “[will] ourselves, and each other alive”. You build a pleasant picture of a happy marriage, bonny children and a busy social life. It’s almost a little too idyllic…but of course the reader knows that soon Something Bad Is Going To Happen. And it duly does, as Keith emerges from hypnosis a different person. Not a different personality – a literally different person, hundreds of miles away in another therapist’s consulting room. Not an architect happily married to the love of his life, but ne’er-do-well Harry Walker from Hull. You have an excellent premise and a good story, engagingly told with a sufficient sprinkling of jokes to keep the reader smiling. There are diversions and vignettes such as the old couple in the hotel, with its own punchline at the end of the chapter. The style is light and readable without descending into whimsy. This deserves to do well.
Comment from Robert Young, author of 'Auctoratus': This would translate superbly to the big screen, such is the strength of the opening scene and the action packed, almost slapstick, comedy. I really enjoyed the read.
