Are we even awake?
The sleepy South Coast seaside resort once known as Biscuit Town is struggling under the weight of the twenty-first century, crumbling away like the cliff by which it stands.
But when a high-profile murder brings a detective down from the Smoke, it ignites a blaze that blows through this old smugglers’ haunt and across the rest of the country. A disgraced copper and a French supermodel are an unlikely crime-fighting duo but then Biscuit Town is an improbable brave new world.
Is this the death of a rich businessman or the death of a way of life?
Britain decides.
Jim Pollard’s pacy murder mystery thrillingly navigates the highways and byways of contemporary Britain – great characters, irreverent plotting and a little humour.
‘People have been asking me since even before the novel came out whether Biscuit Town is Worthing and I’ve always ducked the question,’ says author Jim Pollard. ‘Tax Return is, after all, a mystery so I thought the more mystery the better.
‘But to come clean, it’s not exactly Worthing because Biscuit Town has a dangerously high cliff nearby, a bit like Seaford Head perhaps, and this cliff plays a key role in the plot. But it’s certainly true that many of the places and characters are inspired by Worthing life: the intriguing diversity of dogs and their walkers in Victoria Park, for example; the bowling green at Marine Gardens which is perfect for enjoying an ice cream beside; and, of course, the hospital where a number of vital scenes take place. Both the real one and the fictional version feature dedicated staff and volunteers battling against the odds.’
Thanks are always due to songwriters but specifically, in Tax Return, to the creators of the following which are relevant to the story, random though some of the connections might be. (If you like music novels, check out Jim Pollard’s first novel Rotten In Denmark.)
- Communication Breakdown – Led Zeppelin
- Rosalita – Bruce Springsteen
- How Does It Feel? – Slade
- Wishing On A Star – Rose Royce
- The Night – Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
- Is Vic There? – Department S
- Here Comes The Sun – George Harrison
- Something Changed – Pulp
- Valerie – Amy Winehouse
- Theme to The Big Bang Theory – Barenaked Ladies
- Turn, Turn, Turn – The Byrds
- I Can’t Stand The Rain – Ann Peebles
- Ruby Tuesday – The Rolling Stones
- Theme from Jaws – John Williams
Available on Spotify.
Tax Return has excellent reviews and ratings on Amazon. Some highlights include:
- “The author, clearly the love child of Naomi Klein and Nick Hornby, creates a whodunnit for our time.”
- “An engrossing mix of murder mystery, kitchen-sink realism and witty dialogue combine with a poignant study of loss.”
- “A highly engaging and erudite comedy thriller, full of plot, subplots and colourful characters.”
- “Uses the conventions of a crime novel to take us on a more interesting journey.”
- “I read it in one sitting. Always the sign of a good book. Very engaging and so topical. Great choice for a book group.”