Sunday, November 22, 2009
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Comedy/Humour Book Reviews

James C. Ferguson: Context Clues – A Basil Coventry Misadventure

Rating:

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Context Clues follows the misadventures of Basil Coventry, an "information gatherer" employed by Sir Francis Walsingham (Chief Secretary) on behalf of Queen Liz. Basil Coventry would see himself (if he could think forward through time) as the typical dashing James Bond character. Unfortunately this view is not shared with those who meet him, they tend to think arrogant, incompetent, imbecile with a serious drink problem. Basil can easily ratify this differing in opinion because he actually is an arrogant, egotistical, coward with a serious superiority complex.

Essentially Context Clues follows our unpleasant hero on his latest assignment. Unfortunately Basil was on an all night drinkathon so he hasn't got a clue what was said to him at the briefing. Now I don't want to say to much about this but he somehow manages to pull together a crack team to help him, who's members include, amongst others, a pub landlord, and… erm… a lady of ill repute shall we say?

These unwitting members, who also in the main despise Basil, are in fact his (Basil's) saving grace. Why? Because they aren't complete idiots and are capable of applying their brains to the situation and actively voicing their opinions.

Context Clues was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Setting a James Bond parody in Elizabethan England was a twist I particularly enjoyed – particularly with the little nuggets of Elizabethan trivia that are thrown in, such as where the English word "loo" (for toilette) came from!

Give it a go, I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

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