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The Last Lemming - Chris Chalmers

























BLURB 

TV naturalist ‘Prof Leo’ Sanders makes it to his deathbed without a whiff of scandal — then confesses his career-defining wildlife discovery was a hoax. 

A National Treasure shattering his own reputation on YouTube is enough to spark a media frenzy, and the curiosity of part-time journalism student Claire Webster who makes him the subject of her dissertation. 

Her investigations lead to Prof Leo’s estranged family, and a high-flying advertising guru he also slandered in the video. 

Ultimately Claire uncovers the truth behind the discovery of the Potley Hill Lemming — the first new species of British mammal in a century. 

It’s a mystery spanning four decades; a tale of greed, obsession and long-forgotten murder at a lonely beauty spot.'


A revered TV naturalist with a guilty secret, a cute critter, a brand of stout and a lovelorn personal trainer all collide with tragi-comic results in this witty whydunnit. The Last Lemming combines pathos, humour and mystery to irresistible effect.’ Suzi Feay, literary critic



REVIEW


The blurb for this book had me intrigued and wanting to read it, and I'm so pleased I did.


The book is based around the current day story of Claire, who is undertaking a journalism course and writing her dissertation. The subject of her dissertation takes us back to 1987 and Prof Leo who recounts for us his journey of the discovery of the Potley Hill Lemming. It also took me back to reminisce about so many things in the 1980s I had forgotten. With the references being spot on for that time frame, including that famous storm.


Whilst Claire is on the trail of Prof Leo and what his confession means, we also get the back story of her life. I really liked the character of Claire. As her dialogue appeared I had to double check who had written this book, because he has really got inside the head of a woman - it all reads so true to life. Claire is a PT at a gym for her day job and I did like all the little tidbits of insider knowledge drip fed into the book, maybe some of it will rub off! She's also looking for love - but this is no romance novel and her love interest left a lot to be desired on that front!


The book flip flops between the present day and 1987 as Claire delves deeper and more of the mystery is uncovered. There's certainly a few laughs in the book which can bring you up sharp when the darker side of the book is finally revealed.


I think there is mileage in Claire appearing in another book she's certainly got a lot going for her. A really good read and a little different journey taken to most books. I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars.


My thanks to Random Tour Books for the invite onto the tour today.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 



Chris Chalmers was born in Lancashire and lives in south-west London. He's been the understudy on Mastermind, visited 40 countries and swum with marine iguanas. His first novel, 'Five To One', was winner of a debut novel competition and nominated for the Polari First Book Prize; his latest, 'The Last Lemming', is out now in paperback and ebook. He has written a diary for 42 years and never missed a night.

Click on a reading from 'The Last Lemming', or a Five-To-ONE-MINUTE-MOVIE for a 60-second intro to the main characters and themes of 'Five To One'. Or search 'chris chalmers novelist' on YouTube, for clips of Chris reading from his other books, poems about Christmas Eve and butcher's shops, and fox cubs dancing to ABBA. (Yep, it's as high-brow as that.)

Blog, news and more about his books at http://www.chrischalmers.net/



Twitter @CCsw19



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