Intracellular messengers Book

This tale from the Welsh valleys was an absolute treat, brimming with comedy and pathos, capturing perfectly the days when children were allowed – and indeed encouraged – to roam freely outdoors. It’s an admirable depiction of childhood in all its irreverent, sweary, sniggering, snotty-sleeved glory, a time when bodily functions are a constant source of fascination and amusement. Particularly the rude ones. The writing is so sure of its time and place it could make you nostalgic for the days of the outside privy even if you were too young to have ever had one.

There is a thread of mystery snaking through it, relating to the disappearance of one of the children, and the author recognises the importance of maintaining the element of suspense by withholding the child’s identity until well into the story. This necessitated some stilted conversation to avoid giving the child’s gender away but it was all done in the best interests of the reader. Worth bearing in mind, also, that there is a glossary at the end which can easily be missed – very useful if you don’t know your pwp from your gwlis.

In all, the best, funniest, foulest-mouthed book I’ve read in a long while – more more more from this excellent author, please!