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Genesis
Even woke-allergic sociopaths have a coming-of-age story.As disturbed adolescent Dyson Devereux discovers, murder is sometimes the only appropriate answer.
Dyson despises Cousin Beatrice. When a family tragedy strikes, her gleeful reaction enrages him.
To compound matters, there’s a lecherous doctor plying his mother with pills; ghastly old twins from the local café tormenting him about his scandalous father; and a blue-blooded brat making life a misery at his politically incorrect boarding school.
Set in the 80s — AIDS, famine, Thatcherism — the perfect conditions for an emerging murderer with zero tolerance for nonsense.
If serial killers are made, here’s your instruction manual.
Step into this gripping and darkly humorous crime fiction series. Grab your copy now.
‘You feel Dyson’s anger. His frustration. And his bubbling, seething, longing for revenge’ – DLS Reviews
‘Guy Portman is one of our funniest living writers’ – Fully Booked
Dyson despises Cousin Beatrice. When a family tragedy strikes, her gleeful reaction enrages him.
To compound matters, there’s a lecherous doctor plying his mother with pills; ghastly old twins from the local café tormenting him about his scandalous father; and a blue-blooded brat making life a misery at his politically incorrect boarding school.
Set in the 80s — AIDS, famine, Thatcherism — the perfect conditions for an emerging murderer with zero tolerance for nonsense.
If serial killers are made, here’s your instruction manual.
Step into this gripping and darkly humorous crime fiction series. Grab your copy now.
‘You feel Dyson’s anger. His frustration. And his bubbling, seething, longing for revenge’ – DLS Reviews
‘Guy Portman is one of our funniest living writers’ – Fully Booked
160 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 11, 2025
2 people are currently reading
About the author
Guy Portman
18 books316 followersAs far back as anyone can remember Guy has been an introverted creature, with an insatiable appetite for knowledge, and a sardonic sense of humour.
Throughout a childhood in London spent watching cold war propaganda gems such as He Man, an adolescence confined in various institutions, and a career that has encompassed stints in academic research and the sports industry, Guy has been a keen if somewhat cynical social observer.
Humour of the sardonic variety is a recurring theme in Guy’s writing. His first novel, 'Charles Middleworth', is an insightful tale of the unexpected. Like the author, the protagonist in 'The Necropolis Series' is a darkly humorous individual – though, unlike the author, he is a sociopath.
Guy is a dedicated blogger and an avid reader. Reviews of the books he has read can be found in the review section of his blog.
Click on my website link below and get 'Mangetout' for FREE.
These shocking and suspenseful stories are a must read.
Throughout a childhood in London spent watching cold war propaganda gems such as He Man, an adolescence confined in various institutions, and a career that has encompassed stints in academic research and the sports industry, Guy has been a keen if somewhat cynical social observer.
Humour of the sardonic variety is a recurring theme in Guy’s writing. His first novel, 'Charles Middleworth', is an insightful tale of the unexpected. Like the author, the protagonist in 'The Necropolis Series' is a darkly humorous individual – though, unlike the author, he is a sociopath.
Guy is a dedicated blogger and an avid reader. Reviews of the books he has read can be found in the review section of his blog.
Click on my website link below and get 'Mangetout' for FREE.
These shocking and suspenseful stories are a must read.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 14, 2025
Guy Portman has written a splendid series of dystopian satires centred around a sociopathic killer called Dyson Devereux and, after his demise, his son Horatio, who has inherited his father's rather peculiar intelligence. Now, in the first of two prequels, Genesis gives us a glimpse into the life of the eleven year-old Dyson. It is 1985, and Dyson's father, long since separated from his mother, has died of what we would coyly come to describe as 'an AIDS-related illness.' Portman's black humour kicks in early when, at Devereaux senior's funeral, there is a grotesque spat between a rather fey young man (presumably the partner of the deceased) and Dyson's aunt.
Within weeks, Dyson is an orphan. His mother never recovers from a coma induced by the prescription drugs provided by her lover, the predatory Dr Trenton. Dyson vows revenge, but shares his maximum venom for his hateful cousin Beatrice, who has taunted him relentlessly over his father's death. After living with her and his Aunt for a while, he is sent away to boarding school. Intellectually he thrives. His rapid grasp of Latin singles him out, but his status among his peers - minor foreign royalty, sons of the landed gentry and dimwits who happen to be good at rugby - is less certain. His heroic status among (most of) his fellow pupils is cemented, however, after he engineers a memorable encounter with a boy's glamorous mother in her Mercedes, with half the members of Upper Four B watching from behind the bushes. This memorable feat is also his downfall, as it leads to his expulsion.
Dyson's main obsession is his cousin Beatrice. He daydreams of ways he could cause her demise. In his most exotic and Byzantine vision, he has written to Jimmy Savile (this is the 1980s, remember) asking for Beatrice to be guillotined live on TV, as the climax to that week's Jim'll Fix It. The unfortunate girl's actual demise is, however, marginally less less spectacular, and it involves a parish church outing to visit Beachy Head.
Readers who are familiar with Portman’s books will know what to expect, but for novitiates, here’s a brief primer. The author has a high powered literary rifle, and in its cross-hairs are Britain’s ‘lanyard class’, metropolitan socialists, indoctrinated social workers, people whose social consciences overlook all manner of atrocities, Guardianistas, bumbling teachers and so-called ‘community leaders’. Portman’s aim is unerring. Just like Finland’s fabled White Death, Simo Hayha, every time he squeezes the trigger, the target falls. Yes, this is satire, and fiction, but his writing carries a salutary message.
Guy Portman pushes the boundaries of humour up to - and occasionally beyond - the limits that some people might find acceptable, but he provides me, for, one, with laugh-out-loud moments. He is also a great literary stylist with a vast amoury of cultural references, and is one of our funniest living writers.
Within weeks, Dyson is an orphan. His mother never recovers from a coma induced by the prescription drugs provided by her lover, the predatory Dr Trenton. Dyson vows revenge, but shares his maximum venom for his hateful cousin Beatrice, who has taunted him relentlessly over his father's death. After living with her and his Aunt for a while, he is sent away to boarding school. Intellectually he thrives. His rapid grasp of Latin singles him out, but his status among his peers - minor foreign royalty, sons of the landed gentry and dimwits who happen to be good at rugby - is less certain. His heroic status among (most of) his fellow pupils is cemented, however, after he engineers a memorable encounter with a boy's glamorous mother in her Mercedes, with half the members of Upper Four B watching from behind the bushes. This memorable feat is also his downfall, as it leads to his expulsion.
Dyson's main obsession is his cousin Beatrice. He daydreams of ways he could cause her demise. In his most exotic and Byzantine vision, he has written to Jimmy Savile (this is the 1980s, remember) asking for Beatrice to be guillotined live on TV, as the climax to that week's Jim'll Fix It. The unfortunate girl's actual demise is, however, marginally less less spectacular, and it involves a parish church outing to visit Beachy Head.
Readers who are familiar with Portman’s books will know what to expect, but for novitiates, here’s a brief primer. The author has a high powered literary rifle, and in its cross-hairs are Britain’s ‘lanyard class’, metropolitan socialists, indoctrinated social workers, people whose social consciences overlook all manner of atrocities, Guardianistas, bumbling teachers and so-called ‘community leaders’. Portman’s aim is unerring. Just like Finland’s fabled White Death, Simo Hayha, every time he squeezes the trigger, the target falls. Yes, this is satire, and fiction, but his writing carries a salutary message.
Guy Portman pushes the boundaries of humour up to - and occasionally beyond - the limits that some people might find acceptable, but he provides me, for, one, with laugh-out-loud moments. He is also a great literary stylist with a vast amoury of cultural references, and is one of our funniest living writers.
December 21, 2025
Incredibly engaging from the first sentence, this is a novel that is almost parasitic in nature as it crawls under your skin.
The dark inventive mind of the author creates a splendid macabre story full of darkness, tinged with a sense of humour that breaches the surface to offer both light and shade.
Akin to all of the author’s books, this is a treasure that should be opened and I wish him every success.
The dark inventive mind of the author creates a splendid macabre story full of darkness, tinged with a sense of humour that breaches the surface to offer both light and shade.
Akin to all of the author’s books, this is a treasure that should be opened and I wish him every success.
December 31, 2025
Ever since picking up Dyson's *first* adventure in 2014, I've wanted to know how the things in the tin got there. That story is now book 3 in the saga and this is where everything kicks off. And it really does. I can't say I was surprised by this one, but I really enjoyed filling in Dyson's backstory. Mr Portman crafts very enjoyable yarns indeed.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews