After the incident at Level 72
Bad Boy (A Jason Davey Mystery)
by Winona Kent
New Westminster: Blue Devil Books, 2024
$19.99 / 97817390418
Reviewed by Valerie Green
*
Bad Boy is the fifth book in New Westminster-based author Winona Kent’s Jason Davey Mystery series. The story stands alone, although it does continue from Ticket to Ride, the previous volume.
The novel opens as musician and part-time amateur sleuth, Jason ‘Figgis’ Davey has just returned from a fiftieth anniversary reunion tour of England —34 days, 18 cities—with Figgis Green, his late father’s (and now mother’s) band.
Davey is a talented musician with considerable knowledge of several musical genres, from jazz to classical. Between gigs at The Blue Devil in London, he takes on cases to investigate and, hopefully, solve. The last one almost cost him his life, so he is more than happy to get back to his first love again—music.
Soon after his return, Davey is pestered by a man who claims to be a fan and would like him to sign a concert program. Davey ignores the calls and texts, but eventually decides to answer, simply to get rid of this stranger. Much to his surprise, the “fan” (Marcus Merritt) wants to meet with him for something else: “There’s something I’d like to discuss with you. A possible job. Investigative. I think you’ll find it worth your while,” Merritt says.
Davey is reluctant, as all his investigative work seems to land him in trouble. And to end badly. This one seems a little different, though, because it involves the works of famous composer Edgar Elgar. Encouraged by his band members Dave and Rudy, who believe the case could possibly be “a new musical adventure” for him, Davey decides to meet Merritt the following day at the designated meeting place—Level 72 at the pinnacle of the Shard building in London. “How will I recognize you?” Davy asks. “Don’t worry, I know who you are. I’ll find you,” is the response.
Although Davey is immediately intrigued, the meeting does not go quite as planned. Merritt delivers a strange message, along with the program to sign, some instructions, and an envelope tucked inside the program. The message is simply: “I want you to remember something for me, Jason. Newlydale. It’s in Derbyshire.” And he mentions the name Judy.
Then, while Davey is signing the program, Merritt runs towards the open-air glass window at the building’s southeast corner and leaps.
The sight of Merritt plummeting to his death shakes Davey to the core. It is obvious that Merritt intended to die and for Davey to witness the suicide before he’d read the instructions. It appears he must now follow a series of clues to solve a mystery and right a wrong.
Thus begins an intriguing mystery, written in Kent’s captivating, enigmatic style, that takes her protagonist on a paper chase of clues through England. Kent’s knowledge of music and particularly of Denmark Street in London’s Soho district in the 1960s and ‘70s is incredible. (Having briefly worked at Foyles’ bookstore on Charing Cross Road myself during that era, I can vouch for the authenticity her portrayal.)
The Merritt mystery is linked in a captivating way with Sir Edgar Elgar’s music and requires Davey to find and return the stolen parts of his works to their rightful place. Kent’s research about Elgar’s Variations is remarkable and corresponds fruitfully to each clue Merritt has left on the journey the sleuth must take.
Davey’s travels begin with Merritt’s ex-wife, Judy, in Newyldale, and takes him on a mystery tour that discovers people, places, and events in the notes he must follow. The journey includes a visit to bakery, a Russian gangster who is also searching for the stolen collection, a fire, Merritt’s sister, and a decades-old case centred on a crime lord’s missing daughter. He must also take a four-hour walking tour in Soho and the old musical glory days of Denmark Street, where names like The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Elton John, the Sex Pistols, and so many more began their careers.
This book is full of twists and turns, imagination, music and, above all, mystery. It requires a lot of concentration to follow the plot and is not an easy read. With that said, all the characters are strong and carry the story along with pizazz and style. Davey is a likeable character who narrates his journey with both humour and exasperation at the task Merritt set for him. The final dark scenes build to a thrilling end and a revelation at that point ties everything up nicely.
As Bad Boy depicts the image of a suicide, Kent is aware her readers might be troubled by it. At the onset of the book she offers help and support by listing various organizations, both in the UK and elsewhere around the world.
*
Valerie Green was born and educated in England, where she studied journalism and law. Her passion was always writing from the moment she first held a pen. After working at the world-famous Foyles Books in London (followed by a brief stint with MI5 and legal firms), she moved to Canada in 1968 and embarked on a long career as a freelance writer, columnist, and author of over twenty nonfiction historical and true-crime books. Hancock House recently released Tomorrow, the final volume of The McBride Chronicles (after Providence, Destiny, and Legacy). Now semi-retired (although writers never really retire!) she enjoys taking short road trips around BC with her husband, watching their two beloved grandsons grow up and, of course, writing. [Editor’s note: Valerie Green has recently reviewed books by Michael L. Hadley, Jason A.N. Taylor, Johanna Van Zanten, DL Acken and Aurelia Louvet, Carly Butler, Daniel Kalla, and John Delacourt for BCR.]
*
The British Columbia Review
Interim Editors, 2023-25: Trevor Marc Hughes (non-fiction), Brett Josef Grubisic (fiction and poetry)
Publisher: Richard Mackie
Formerly The Ormsby Review, The British Columbia Review is an online book review and journal service for BC writers and readers. The Advisory Board now consists of Jean Barman, Wade Davis, Robin Fisher, Barry Gough, Hugh Johnston, Kathy Mezei, Patricia Roy, Maria Tippett, and Graeme Wynn. Provincial Government Patron (since September 2018): Creative BC. Honorary Patron: Yosef Wosk. Scholarly Patron: SFU Graduate Liberal Studies. The British Columbia Review was founded in 2016 by Richard Mackie and Alan Twigg.
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