In most books, you have a protagonist and other characters which feed into the main characters life either as a help or a hindrance. The book starts with Cory, but there is also the Reverend Jacob, Charlotta, Tommy and Jarvis, all given nearly equal priority. This makes it difficult to see where the development of plot and character is going, as you have competing influences. One way to do it would be to treat Cherries as one entity as a business and three-way love triangle and Cory and the Reverend Jacobs as the other group. The plot then becomes Cherries development as a business and the romance between the staff. Cory and Reverend Jacobs are more problematic as they are unequal in the attention given to each, Reverend Jacobs being far better developed as a character. Like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine the reverends descent into depression is shown quite well, but I do find his spiteful and judgemental attitude more reminiscent of a 19th Century vicar drawn from the aristocracy, rather than a modern vicar called to the ministry.

Not wishing to sound like an advert for Strictly, (America’s dancing with the stars), but where is the rise and fall in this book? I don’t mind a sedate read, but there should be some central problem or conflict, the protagonist needs to overcome, a setback and then a logical conclusion. I understand that Jarvis wants to develop Cherries as a business and the acts he books for his Jubilee may not be quite what he is expecting, but this is not really a conflict or a setback. Equally Reverend Jacobs has problems with his sermon, maybe even a mild crisis of faith, but even the potential closure of his church and assessment by the Bishop, is more of an aside than a prominent plot point.

In terms of the language, it is very literary in style with its description and attention to detail. There are also some good scenes between Tommy and Charlotta and the reverends tortured inner monologue which help to draw the reader in, but generally, it lacks the tension and focus needed to drive the story forward. Why the title of the book, (apart from the fact that it is the same as a James Bond novel) is called Devil May Care I don’t know. Possibly that the reverend throws caution to the wind, that would certainly link to the mask on the cover, but it is tenuous at best. Black and red are a good contrast, but it does make me think of vampire novels.

Personally, I would say the writing has potential, I would focus on the reverend who I feel could get into far more trouble than he has done in this book, which would, in turn, add drama to the plot. More Kazuo Ishiguro than Ian Fleming (James Bond). ( )