The Killing of Butterfly Joe

Description

I killed Joe once, in a manner of speaking. But not twice. Not in the way you mean.' Twenty-four year-old Welshman Llew Jones is in jail. All he wanted was to see America and write about it. Then he met the extraordinary Butterfly Joe and his freakish family and got caught up in an adventure that got way, way out of control. Now his friend's gone and Llew has to give his side of the story . . . Part neo-gothic thriller, part existential road trip, part morality tale, The Killing of Butterfly Joe is a thrilling, funny and epic story of experience, desire, friendship and family. It's about leaving the life of introspection behind to participate in the Great American Dream: the one that takes you from 'rags to riches via pitches'. It's about the end of innocence and the dawn of consequence; the forces of revenge pitted against the powers of forgiveness; and, ultimately, the search for freedom and self-definition.

Rhidian Brook is an award-winning writer of fiction, television drama and film. His first novel, The Testimony of Taliesin Jones, won several prizes including the Somerset Maugham Award. His short stories have appeared in numerous publications, including the Paris Review, New Statesman and Time Out, and have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4. He is also a regular contributor to 'Thought For The Day' on the Today programme. His 2013 novel, The Aftermath, was translated into more than twenty languages and has been made into a movie, staring Keira Knightley and Alexander Skarsgard, and produced by Ridley Scott.

A wonderful entertainment . . . a thoroughly readable and appealingly eccentric book * The Times * An exuberant, coming-of-age romp . . . a bittersweet comedy of sentimental education . . . larger-than-life fun * Daily Mail * A wild-eyed road trip across America, filled with colourful characters, crazy anecdotes, sparky dialogue . . . Brook's writing remains as considered and enchanting as ever. And it's funny too, which is always a wonderful thing * Big Issue * A boldly unique book with an adventure story at its core . . . the biggest joy of this novel is in the brilliantly teased out sense of dread that starts the moment you pick up the book and read the title . . . a beautiful story, and beautifully told too . . . This novel is an adventure in every sense of the word * culturefly.com * The Killing of Butterfly Joe is such a compelling, unusual, character-rich novel; a great pleasure to read. -- Gerard Woodward, author of I'll Go to Bed at Noon A mixture of thriller and great family saga, told in a rich literary style. Like having all the cakes and eating them. If I condensed my thoughts into one word in would be "epic". -- Joy Kluver, Literary Blogger The Killing of Butterfly Joe is one of the most original books you will read this year. -- Jenny White * Western Mail * Part neo-gothic thriller, part existential road trip, part mortality tale...this book is quirky, witty and impossible to put down -- Jenny White * Western Mail * Wildly original -- Jenny White * Western Mail * A love letter to an extraordinary character - one who will stay with you long after you finish the book. -- Jenny White * Western Mail * A riot of erudition, both faux and real . . . a triumph -- Richard Hopton * Country & Townhouse Magazine * With humour, tragedy and suspense, bringing, at the same time, the feelings of freedom sought by the adventurous; I cannot praise The Killing of Butterfly Joe highly enough -- Bill Spence * Gazette & Herald * You have to get the new book by Rhidian Brook. It's bold, brilliant & beautiful. Highly recommended. * Omid Djalili *