Paul Clayton – The Punishment

‘The Punishment’ by Paul Clayton is a superbly crafted mystery laced with plenty of dark humour.

Daniel Maple is an ex-soap star and now an out of work actor. Just managing to gain the odd small part and this is really not enough to pay his bills. A one night stand with a hot bloke, who turns out to be a burglar with an offer to help Daniel on the money front if he is prepared to stray from the straight and narrow, cue Daniel getting up to his neck and his life and everything in it spiralling out of control.

The book is split into three sections Action, Subtext and Back Story. The Action parts of the novel follow Daniel and are written in the first person from his perspective whereas the Subtext and Back Story sections are written in the third person and this is where the darker portions of the book begin. The Back Story shows us a young boy who falls down a mine shaft and changes forever, while the Subtext chapters give us an insight into a person who has their own deadly agenda

As the pieces of the story start to slot into place, the connection between the three begin to become clear and Daniel will need to use every available skill he possesses, along with his friends to get out of this one.
Well plotted and full of dark humour, I really enjoyed this story, not your run of the mill book, but something just a little bit different and it works! I was engrossed from start to finish with this book. Paul Clayton definitely knows how to draw an audience and keep them on their toes, that is clear.

With thanks to Rachels Random Resources and the publisher for the book and allowing me on this tour today.