Norman Bray, in the Performance of His Life

Rarely is a character as finely drawn -- and loathsome -- as Norman Bray. But hate him, or merely pity him, you can't help but be drawn to follow his decline. Trevor Cole has a remarkable eye -- and ear -- for detail, and he knows how to tell a story. This is an exceptional first work of fiction, and promises great things to come.

This is a great book. The main character is compelling and brilliantly portrayed. There is not a false not in the actions, words and thoughts of Normand Bray, an impossibly self-centred actor whose inability to see beyond the end of his nose comes back to haunt him. The humour is dark and the story unsentimental, and there is just enough of a mystery to keep you turning the pages. That is, if just waiting to see what Normand Bray does next isn't enough in itself.