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Beetlebum
Liam O’Shea, a grad student who thought he had life neatly figured out (spoiler he didn’t), gets a rude awakening when his estranged father, Francis Henry O’Shea, kicks the bucket and leaves him an unexpected small fortune. Now, you might wonder, what kind of man inherits a winning Wonka ticket from a father who could’ve been the poster child for trainwreck, absentee parenting?” The answer a very confused one.
Francis was a self-made businessman, if by “self-made” you mean someone who became wealthy mastering the art of bending the law just enough not to break it. Well, most of the time anyway. And yes, he was not quite Brady Bunch Father of the Year material—perhaps more like a “two towns over pretending you don’t exist” knockoff low-rent model. So naturally, when Liam, who hasn’t spoken to his paternal stranger-danger in years, finds out he’s the lucky heir to a surprising pile of cash, you can almost hear the universe chuckling.
Beetlebum is the first in a trilogy following Liam as he tries to put his life back together, like a jigsaw puzzle with half the pieces missing. It’s dark, it’s funny, and it’s about a guy searching for redemption—but much more likely to stumble on it by accident.
Francis was a self-made businessman, if by “self-made” you mean someone who became wealthy mastering the art of bending the law just enough not to break it. Well, most of the time anyway. And yes, he was not quite Brady Bunch Father of the Year material—perhaps more like a “two towns over pretending you don’t exist” knockoff low-rent model. So naturally, when Liam, who hasn’t spoken to his paternal stranger-danger in years, finds out he’s the lucky heir to a surprising pile of cash, you can almost hear the universe chuckling.
Beetlebum is the first in a trilogy following Liam as he tries to put his life back together, like a jigsaw puzzle with half the pieces missing. It’s dark, it’s funny, and it’s about a guy searching for redemption—but much more likely to stumble on it by accident.
113 pages, Paperback
Published February 12, 2025
About the author
Christian Basso
1 book1 followerChristian Basso is a writer with over twenty years of experience in the publishing world. After years of working behind the scenes and crafting several short stories, he is finally ready to share Beetlebum, the first book in the Down All the Days series. Christian’s journey to novel-writing has been full of valuable lessons, and Beetlebum marks the beginning of a new chapter. When not at his keyboard, Christian enjoys the slower pace of life in the Hudson Valley, where he lives with his family, an ever-growing army of cats and dogs, and the constant reminder that there’s always a new story to tell.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 30, 2025
A Brilliant, Hilarious, and Unexpectedly Heartfelt Debut
Beetlebum is a triumph—equal parts dark comedy, messy family drama, and accidental self-discovery. From page one, Liam O’Shea’s voice pulls you in with just the right mix of sarcasm, cynicism, and reluctant hope. He’s a protagonist you can’t help but root for, even when he’s stumbling through the wreckage of a life he thought he had figured out.
The writing is razor-sharp and delightfully irreverent, painting the late Francis Henry O’Shea as the kind of charming disaster you’re glad you didn’t grow up with—but can’t stop being intrigued by. The dynamic between father and son—one dead, the other emotionally scrambled—is handled with a deft touch, balancing absurd humor with real emotional depth.
What sets Beetlebum apart is its ability to make you laugh out loud one moment and then quietly reflect the next. It doesn’t chase redemption or neat endings; it earns them in the most chaotic, sideways fashion imaginable—much like Liam himself.
This is the kind of book that stays with you long after the final page, and luckily, it’s only the beginning of a trilogy. I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble Liam crashes into next. Highly recommended for fans of Nick Hornby, Jonathan Tropper, or anyone who appreciates stories that are as emotionally messy as they are wickedly entertaining.
Beetlebum is a triumph—equal parts dark comedy, messy family drama, and accidental self-discovery. From page one, Liam O’Shea’s voice pulls you in with just the right mix of sarcasm, cynicism, and reluctant hope. He’s a protagonist you can’t help but root for, even when he’s stumbling through the wreckage of a life he thought he had figured out.
The writing is razor-sharp and delightfully irreverent, painting the late Francis Henry O’Shea as the kind of charming disaster you’re glad you didn’t grow up with—but can’t stop being intrigued by. The dynamic between father and son—one dead, the other emotionally scrambled—is handled with a deft touch, balancing absurd humor with real emotional depth.
What sets Beetlebum apart is its ability to make you laugh out loud one moment and then quietly reflect the next. It doesn’t chase redemption or neat endings; it earns them in the most chaotic, sideways fashion imaginable—much like Liam himself.
This is the kind of book that stays with you long after the final page, and luckily, it’s only the beginning of a trilogy. I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble Liam crashes into next. Highly recommended for fans of Nick Hornby, Jonathan Tropper, or anyone who appreciates stories that are as emotionally messy as they are wickedly entertaining.
March 17, 2025
Beetlebum is a sharp, witty, and wildly entertaining read that blends dark humour, existential musings, and a touch of family drama. Christian Basso’s writing style is energetic and playful, full of snarky observations and quick-witted dialogue that make the pages fly by.
Liam O’Shea, a struggling law student in New York, suddenly finds himself thrust into unimaginable wealth after inheriting a fortune from his estranged, larger-than-life father. But instead of a dream come true, the windfall comes with financial and emotional baggage. What follows is a fast-paced, introspective ride as Liam wrestles with his unexpected new reality, old wounds, and the question of what wealth really means.
Basso’s prose is razor-sharp, with sentences that sometimes feel like they’re smirking at you. The dark humour and philosophical tangents sometimes take over, making the plot feel more like a meandering thought experiment than a structured story. And while it’s a great character study, it does feel like part one of a bigger journey rather than a fully contained novel.
That said, Beetlebum is a thought-provoking and wickedly entertaining read. If you love your fiction laced with satire, existential dilemmas, and a protagonist who stumbles through life with a mix of charm and disaster, this is one to pick up.
Liam O’Shea, a struggling law student in New York, suddenly finds himself thrust into unimaginable wealth after inheriting a fortune from his estranged, larger-than-life father. But instead of a dream come true, the windfall comes with financial and emotional baggage. What follows is a fast-paced, introspective ride as Liam wrestles with his unexpected new reality, old wounds, and the question of what wealth really means.
Basso’s prose is razor-sharp, with sentences that sometimes feel like they’re smirking at you. The dark humour and philosophical tangents sometimes take over, making the plot feel more like a meandering thought experiment than a structured story. And while it’s a great character study, it does feel like part one of a bigger journey rather than a fully contained novel.
That said, Beetlebum is a thought-provoking and wickedly entertaining read. If you love your fiction laced with satire, existential dilemmas, and a protagonist who stumbles through life with a mix of charm and disaster, this is one to pick up.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews