George Barry: Peril in the Palm Oasis

by Jesse Basset

Retired council administrator George Barry heads to a Spanish resort hoping to rekindle his marriage. Instead, boredom awakens his long-dormant alter ego: Fairness Man.

When the Palm Oasis Social Committee launches a fiercely patriotic “Great British Week” to keep local culture at bay, George rebels. Armed with an anorak cape, a Level 42 mask and an unshakeable belief in decency, he teams up with Spanish farmers battling a corrupt water-theft scheme.

From donkey-led charges through tomato fields to flamboyant confrontations, George takes on small-mindedness, injustice and his own fading sense of purpose. Along the way, he rediscovers not only romance, but himself.

Sun-drenched, comic and warm-hearted, this post-Brexit reimagining of Don Quixote asks a simple question: what divides us and what brings us together?

Paperback

Published July 28, 2026

About the author

Jesse Basset has a career in marketing. He started writing fiction when his children were small. Through the process of writing for children, he found what came most naturally to him was comedy. He turned his attention to writing a comedy novel for adults. George Barry: Lost in Burhampton is his first published book. Jesse lives in Hove, England with his wife, Louise, and two daughters, Edie and Lexi.

Reviews

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I will tell you all something!
I have never laughed so hard in a long time! I literally had tears in my eyes from laughing.
I thoroughly enjoyed this latest installment of George's antics.
What made this even better was the dynamic duo elements and other characters we meet along the way.

The first book by this author is fantastic and I highly recommend reading this. This one is on another level! The expertly timed puns, imagery and shenanigans are second to none.
I still can't believe what I have just read 😆.
Ohh Jesse Bassett, what an imagination you have. A fabulous example of creativity and skill.This jumps from borderline crazy straight into full blown madness!
This book will get you out of any reading slump and widen your horizons.

Epic and completely genius on the comedy spectrum.

George Barry should be a household name! He gets my vote.

[Riette Beling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my greatness, I laughed so hard while reading this my cheeks are hurting!

This was one of those stories that will forever stick in your mind due to the level of crazy it contains!! Hilarious from the first page to the last. We meet George's alter ego - Fairness Man.... and let me tell you this story is wild! Fairness man - complete with a super hero outfit and mask - is such a delight! I mean this guy has only good intentions in mind, albeit a bit unorthodox but beneath the crazy lies a heart of gold. This story had it all, even a donkey named Henny!

@jessebasset_ gives you a heartwarming tale with a dash of madness and it really works! The vivid descriptions had me locked in to the story as if it was playing out in front of me. Very well written and gripping. Readers looking for a feel good story, this is the one!

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://sarahreads4.wordpress.com/202...

[Emma Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

💚 Blurb-
Retired council administrator George Barry heads to a Spanish resort hoping to rekindle his marriage. Instead, boredom awakens his long-dormant alter ego: Fairness Man.
When the Palm Oasis Social Committee launches a fiercely patriotic 'Great British Week' to keep local culture at bay, George rebels. Armed with an anorak cape, a Level 42 mask and an unshakeable belief in decency, he teams up with Spanish farmers battling a corrupt water-theft scheme.
From donkey-led charges through tomato fields to flamboyant confrontations, George takes on small-mindedness, injustice and his own fading sense of purpose. Along the way, he rediscovers not only romance, but himself.
Sun-drenched, comic and warm-hearted, this post-Brexit reimagining of Don Quixote asks a simple question: what divides us and what brings us together?
🩵 Review -
This was such a fun and quirky read. From the very first chapter I was hooked and I loved following George on his adventures whilst on holiday in Spain. This was the first book that I have read by the author and I will definitely be reading more by them. I loved the author's writing style, it was fun and easy to follow and had brilliant pacing. As well as George I loved the other characters in the story. If you are looking for a fun read then I highly recommend it. I look forward to reading more by the author.
❤️ Thank you to Zooloobooktours, the author Jesse Bassett and the publisher The Book Guild for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Rustic_Reads_ Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

George Barry travels to a Spanish resort hoping to breathe new life into his marriage, but a quiet holiday is the last thing he gets. Before long, his long-forgotten alter ego, Fairness Man, is back in action as George finds himself standing up against injustice, teaming up with local farmers and getting caught up in one unexpected situation after another.

George is a genuinely likeable character, and I found myself rooting for him from the start. His determination to do the right thing, even when it lands him in the most ridiculous situations. There are some entertaining moments throughout, but underneath the humour there’s also a story about purpose, relationships and finding where you belong.

The humour is quite quirky, so I think it’ll depend on your personal taste whether every joke lands. That said, I appreciated that the book had more to it than just comedy, touching on themes of community, fairness and bringing people together without losing its light-hearted feel. This really was a warm, easy read with an endearing main character and a story that doesn’t take itself too seriously while still having something to say.

[Pree&Vi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐ rounded to 4

George Barry tries to change the world for the better, by evoking Fairness Man or the Knight of fairness, his alter-egos who help him fight bigotry.

Holidaying with his wife in Palm Oasis, a Spanish resort for the British, he sets his sights on overthrowing the capitalistic and nationalistic evil manager Cox. With his newfound friends Pablo, Jacinta and donkey Jenny, he starts on this mission.

George completely believes in the prowess of Fairness Man, and it was so funny to read how he keeps getting into more and more troubling situations while being totally oblivious to the reality. My favourite scene was George and Pablo taking part in the strongest man contest 😂

We soon find that the villains, Cox and Martinez are actually upto something bad, and George ends up solving the problem, and convincing the Mayor to take their side.

I love the cover, it gives off a holiday vibe. And also enjoyed that the book is set in Spain, one of my favourite holiday destinations. The descriptions of Spain were really good!

It's a short, funny read, with a lot of quirkiness, so do give it a shot if you like crazy stories!

[Bianca Duthie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found out after starting this that there had been a previous book, and given that things kick off quite quickly in this with regards to fairness man, I think its probably beneficial to read the books in order to try and get an understanding of who Fairness man is and why George and his long-suffering wife Nancy need the holiday they are on in this book.
The capers and adventures are apparent from the off, and continue all the way through. It's genuinely one of the most mad-cap books I've ever read! Despite the emphasis on the madness, which was intended to provide much hilarity, it didn't quite hit that spot for me, I just kept thinking what a buffoon, and feeling very sorry for Nancy.
There was a deeper message here however for doing what's right, and the importance of cross-cultural relations and thats an important one.

[My Scottish Bookstagram · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the funniest, most unique books I've ever read. George's alter ego, Fairness Man comes out of, what his wife Nancy had hoped was a permanent retirement, whilst the pair are on holiday to try enhance and improve their dwindling marriage. The reason for Fairness man's return is to stop this holiday resort in Spain, The Palm Oasis which they are staying at, from getting rid of the local traditions and local influences when they introduce the visitors to 'Great British Week'. He sets off on his mini adventures with his very best intentions at heart, making new local friends along the way as they try to save the local traditions.
This is the second book in the George Barry series but can be read as a stand alone. George is such a quirky character as he blunders though his misadventures with his unusual approach. This is a fun, hilarious, fast paced story that you wont want to put down and at just over 200 pages, its a perfect weekend read.

[Melina Lobo · Rating 4 out of 5]

George Barry: Peril in the Palm Oasis by Jesse Basset is a different kind of contemporary humour read that leans into classic British humour.

George is such a quirky character, and his alter ego, Fairness Man, is definitely something! It was an entertaining and quick read that isn’t just focused on comedy but also takes a more introspective approach, giving the story a surprising amount of depth. It also left me wanting to go back and read the previous George Barry book.

The pacing is on the slower side, which suited the more reflective moments. However, there were times where I found myself feeling more sorry for the characters during scenes that were supposed to be funny because the jokes just didn’t land for me as intended.

Overall, this is an entertaining and unique read with an eccentric main character and a thoughtful story beneath the humour. If you enjoy British humour, quirky protagonists, and character driven novels with a reflective side, this is one to check out.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, light-hearted read with a lot more heart than I was expecting. George is such an easy character to root for, and watching him become “Fairness Man” led to plenty of funny moments.
There’s a nice balance between comedy and a more thoughtful story about finding your purpose and standing up for what’s right. The Spanish setting was a great backdrop and made me want to keep reading.
A couple of parts felt a little slower than the rest, which is why it’s a 4 rather than a 5, but overall I really enjoyed it. If you like quirky characters, gentle humour and stories with a positive message, I’d definitely recommend giving it a go.

[The.Curly.Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the funniest books I've read in a long time!!
Jesse Basset has such a way with words.....and he uses a lot of them 🤣
Usually wordy books either bore me or boggle my brain but this is written in such a way it didn't even register. I was too busy laughing at the many antics of The Fairness Knight and King Pablo I!!!
The bedroom scene....(IYKYK) is one of the most hilarious scenes I have ever read.

But underneath all the hi-jinx and hilarity is a man with a heart of gold just trying to do the right thing, in his own unique way ❤️
I will definitely be seeking out Jesse's other book and look forward to seeing more of George Barry.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was kindly sent a free copy of this book as part of a book tour in exchange for an honest review. This book was completely different to what I was expecting. It’s one of the strangest and most hilarious books I’ve read in ages. I found it was completely ridiculous and unbelievable, like a literary acid trip and I could not put it down. I loved the idea of the alter ego “Fairness Man” and I am in love with the noble donkey stead! It’s complete and utter nonsense with a heartwarming undercurrent of good intentions and it really worked. The writing is so descriptive it really sucked me in and despite the ridiculous events I could somehow still actually picture them happening.

[Fatguyreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I can honestly say, it's been quite some time since I laughed so much while read a book. Giggles, belly laughs and laughing out loud throughout as we follow the escapades of Fairness Man on his mission in Spain.

Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up, you won't be disappointed.

I haven't read any other books in the series, but for me, that didn't matter and this worked well as a standalone. But having enjoyed this so much, the other books in the series are now in my TBR list.

4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.

[Faye Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

George Barry Peril in The Palm Oasis
By Jesse Basset 🌟🌟🌟🌟

A feel good story, 2nd in the series, but I read it as a standalone. To get a better understanding of the characters, it probably best to read the 1st book

Adventures, laughs, sighs. How Nancy stuck around I have no idea. I did laugh more than I have in a long time and enjoyed the setting in Spain

Feel this book could be loved or left. I loved it

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do enjoy a book that pushes me out of my comfort zone and this was definitely one of them. I loved fairness man and how he fought for everything he believed in, although there were times when I found myself laughing through sheer disbelief at the utter bonkers of it all.
There were quite a few words in this book that I had to look up. Not sure if that says more about me than anything else though.
Although this is the second book and I do feel it can be read as a standalone, I also think it would be beneficial to read the first to understand more about where the character of fairness man came from.
An absolutely chaotic fight for fairness and equality with a mix of fights, street chases and imprisonment all wrapped up in newfound friendships with locals and of course Henny the donkey but with an important underlying message about embracing other cultures and places.

[Karolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is my review for George Barry, Peril In The Palm Oasis by Jesse Basset

I quite enjoyed reading this fun and quirky story which follows George Barry on his holiday to a Spanish village to a holiday centre called The Palm Oasis. He’s trying to rekindle his marriage with his wife, Nancy but unfortunately he gets bored when the social committee announces a ‘Great Britain Week’ to keep the local Spanish people away, George rebels. He re-invents his alter ego: Fairness Man. He doesn't have his original suit so improvises and gets into a few scrapes along the way whilst trying to help his new friend Pablo.

There was a lot going on in this story and George had one or two people he wanted to sort out and help get justice for his friends. He tried to use tact and diplomacy but the first altercation went horribly wrong. Fairness man is an intriguing character and sets out with the best of intentions but they don't always work. The author has created quite a character and I will be interested to see what happens next for George Barry, Fairness Man.

Synopsis :

Retired council administrator George Barry heads to a Spanish resort hoping to rekindle his marriage. Instead, boredom awakens his long-dormant alter ego: Fairness Man.
When the Palm Oasis Social Committee launches a fiercely patriotic 'Great British Week' to keep local culture at bay, George rebels. Armed with an anorak cape, a Level 42 mask and an unshakeable belief in decency, he teams up with Spanish farmers battling a corrupt water-theft scheme.
From donkey-led charges through tomato fields to flamboyant confrontations, George takes on small-mindedness, injustice and his own fading sense of purpose. Along the way, he rediscovers not only romance, but himself.
Sun-drenched, comic and warm-hearted, this post-Brexit reimagining of Don Quixote asks a simple question: what divides us and what brings us together?