Rhyming Rings

by David Gemmell

David Gemmell was the UK's number one fantasy and historical novelist until his death in 2006. A regular Sunday Times bestseller, and international sensation, his legacy lives on through his novels, his influence on the genre, and through the David Gemmell Legend awards.

Rhyming Rings is a never-before-seen Gemmell novel, discovered in his papers by his widow, Stella Gemmell. Merging autobiographical details of Gemmell's life as a journalist in South London with a serial killer and a tinge of the supernatural, this is perfect for fans of David's work, as well as readers of gritty crime novels. Set against the backdrop of a London simmering with poverty, change and racial tension, this taut thriller is a fitting legacy for the great writer.

This book includes a brand new introduction from massive Gemmell fan Conn Iggulden, and an afterword by Gemmell's friend Stan Nicholls.

An ambidextrous killer is murdering women, leaving virtually no evidence behind, and struggling journalist Jeremy Miller wishes he was covering the case. Instead, he's stuck with heart-warming local stories about paraplegic teenagers and elderly psychic ladies.

So when his stories and the murder case start to converge no one is more surprised than Jeremy.

Or, it turns out, more at risk.

Genres: Thriller, Crime, Mystery, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Murder Mystery

272 pages, Hardcover

First published May 18, 2017

About the author

David Andrew Gemmell was a bestselling British author of heroic fantasy. A former journalist and newspaper editor, Gemmell had his first work of fiction published in 1984. He went on to write over thirty novels. Best known for his debut, Legend, Gemmell's works display violence, yet also explores themes in honour, loyalty and redemption. With over one million copies sold, his work continues to sell worldwide.

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author was a well known writer of fantasy and historical fiction who died in 2006. This novel was recently discovered and is a crime thriller set in 1980s London. Gemmell uses his lifestory and profession as a journalist for the main protagonist. It depicts a London seething with racial overtones, desperate poverty, sexism, homophobia and a city undergoing change. A young cynical and ambitious journalist, Jeremy Miller, longs to cover the major story of a serial killer mutilating and murdering women. The crime scenes have uncovered no clues and the police are baffled.

As Miller writes his usual fare of disabled teenagers and elderly psychics, he finds his stories begin to merge with the murder investigation. Ethel Hurst, his psychic, thinks she can make a real contribution to the murder case. Miller writes an article on this, and the killer's attention is drawn to him and Ethel, putting their lives in danger. There are supernatural elements to the tale. Miller is not a particularly attractive character but this did not prevent my enjoyment of the book. We follow the multiple characters as they endeavour to uncover the ambidextrous killer. This is a short novel with an introduction by a fan of the author, Conn Igguldon. An entertaining read. Thanks to Orion for an ARC.

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tremendous standalone crime novel is sadly the final chapter of this author's fabulous oeuvre.

Storytelling is unique, all characters come vividly to life in this tale about revenge, riots and death, and the changing times of the late 80s in London, with all its good and bad moments.

Although this crime novel was written originally a few years later according to Stan Nicholls's afterword, the story is situated in 1987 in London, where riots and unrest were causing strife between black and white people, and also the famous storm is featuring in this great work.

The story is about Jeremy Miller, a young journalist at the Herald and doing local stories, but when one of his stories with psychic Ethel will converge with hideous murders, he will get seriously involved at one point himself.

This journalist, Jeremy Miller, is at first hated by his colleagues for his laziness, but will get their approval when he starts making progress by informing the police about the culprit(s), and together with the help of psychic Ethel and the giant and gentle killer Mr Sutcliffe from Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), they will encounter and tackle the culprit(s) of these lethal crimes in the end.

Although famous for this fantasy novels, this is a terrific crime story that is superbly written with a great storyline and that will end with a magnificent executed plot, to make this book such a fascinating last read by this amazing author.

Very much recommended, for this is a wonderful standalone crime novel, and that's why I like to call this awesome book: "A Most Suitable Farewell"!

[Petros Triantafyllou · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Gemmell was one of the greatest fantasy authors of the last century. Apparently he excelled in thrillers as well.

A serial killer is murdering and mutilating women in the streets of London, circa 1980s, and the detectives can't uncover any clues. Jeremy Miller, a young and ambitious journalist, wishes he was covering the story. Instead, he is stuck with disabled teenagers and elderly physics. But when his stories begin to converge with the murder investigation, Jeremy is afraid that his own life might be in danger.

"There is one word guaranteed to make any journalist reach for the wooden cross or the clove of garlic. It is rarely spoken in any newspaper office, as if it carries some mystical power and will cling to the walls like dry rot.
Ordinary.
The history of modern journalism has been a crusade to wipe the world from reality. A woman who raises her children well, despite the harshness of a life of poverty, becomes a 'supermum'. The pensioner who tackles the post-office robber is a 'have-a-go-hero'.
In the world of headlines, all of life's potent dramas are played out by special, and interesting, people."

Apparently, Rhyming Rings is an auto-biography of sorts, based on Gemmell's own experience as a journalist. Although a fairly short story, it's more than enough to delve into social problems that plagued London almost four decades ago, such as poverty, homophobia and racial tension. The story-line is intriguing and well-worked out, and the result of that is a thriller equal to the works of Thomas Harris and Dan Brown. Gemmell didn't try to modernize the story (no mobile phones, no internet), therefore avoiding the use effortless plot devices, and that worked out pretty well, giving an enjoyable historical aura to the novel. All in all, Rhyming Rings is an amazing read, and I recommend it to everyone, regardless their preferred genre.

In the ARC that I received from the publisher (but probably in all other formats as well)an introduction from Conn Iggulden, who's a big Gemmell fan, was included, as well an afterword from Stan Nicholls, a close friend of Gemmell's, and one of my favorite authors. Although the intro was interesting and informative, it was the afterword that brought tears in my eyes. I hope Gemmell's legacy will live for ever through his work, and the David Gemmell Fantasy Αwards.

[The Tattooed Book Geek (Drew). · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found as always on my blog The Tattooed Book Geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...

I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

You know me and my blog by now and know that I stay away from spoilers or elaborate on the story of a book. With that being said, there's really no need for me to mention the story in this review as it would just be rehashing the blurb which already gives you the overview you need. Though I will add that Rhyming Rings is in part based on Gemmell's own experiences as a journalist.

I really liked the characterisation in Rhyming Rings, Gemmell creates well-developed characters and manages to bring them all to life making them believable and realistic.

Jeremy Miller, the main character isn't instantly likeable, simply put at the start of the book he is a jerk with questionable opinions on a variety of subjects, socially awkward, lacking in friends and unpopular with his peers, he thinks himself better than others. As the story progresses you start to see him change, from your reaction to his first appearance you find him to be a 'shades of grey' style character with more to him than initially meets the eye and you get to see his transformation from the self-centered jerk he was into a far more mature and likeable guy with redeeming qualities.

Ethel Hurst, the psychic is a great secondary character, there really isn't much to say about her other than she is a kind and elderly old lady who is simply likeable. Mister Sutcliffe is my favourite character, a giant who in his past was capable of murder and now in his later years is a neighbour and friend of Ethel. The snippets of his backstory were my favourite part of the book as you got the chance to delve into who he used to be in his younger years and it's a really interesting side story.

The supernatural element featured in the story is underplayed and the addition of a psychic adds an extra dimension to the hunt for the murderer.

The book does contain some violence. However, it's not sensationalised by today's standards and the killings that take place are more of a menacing style with a sinister undertone than visceral murder.

Rhyming Rings switches between narrative styles and while it could be confusing, it isn't and works really well. The parts of the story focusing on the main character Jeremy Miller are told from a first person narrative and the other chapters are all written in the third person perspective.
Gemmell's writing in Rhyming Rings is often sparse and uncluttered, he doesn't use an overabundance of meaningless words. He manages to evoke emotion and has/had (sadly he is no longer with us) the ability to tell a fine story using the minimum wording, allowing for a fast paced style of storytelling. Gemmell also incorporates a dark gallows style of humour into the book which is fitting for the overall bleak tone.

The late 1980's setting is well realised and depicted. In Gemmell's hands, you are transported back in time to the grim London location, the smoking, the lack of computers, the often frequent and casual racism, sexism, homophobia, politics and the attitude of the police all showcase the attitudes of the time. Bringing the period to life with a genuine authentic feel.

Rhyming Rings is a lost manuscript from Gemmell, written in the 1980's and taking place in 1987 it is not a modern book, but to me at least it holds up well and I found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable crime/thriller read.

A good story is a good story regardless of when it was first written and I found Rhyming Rings to be a good story.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here’s something I didn’t expect to be typing about in 2017 – a new David Gemmell novel! The background is that the manuscript was found in David’s papers by his widow, Stella Gemmell. It is a book that I believe was written early in his writing career but never published, until now. David died eleven years ago, in 2006.

Before readers get too excited, though, it must be said that this is not the usual fare from Mr. Gemmell. Set in the 1980’s, it is a crime novel, where our protagonist, journalist Jeremy (Jem) Miller, spends his time in a grimy London, surrounded by a grim world of poverty and racial tension.

Whilst working for a local newspaper (no online Internet here!), Jem seems to be pretty miserable, getting on badly with his co-workers and spending his work time on what he sees as the minor stuff – heart-warming tales of people who have overcome challenges, and so on. Jem feels stuck writing these basic human interest stories whilst there are much bigger items he could be writing about. There’s a serial killer on the loose, killing women. He, or she, mutilates the bodies horribly but leaves little other evidence behind and the police are appropriately perplexed.

He finds himself involved in the serial killer case by accident when one of his usual interviews reveals something more. When Jem interviews Ethel Hurst, an elderly lady with a psychic gift, Jem finds that he may have a connection to the multiple killer after all. Ethel believes that she may be able to offer help to the investigation. And when the killer reads about it in the newspaper, Jem finds that both Ethel and himself are at risk…



As a crime novel, Rhyming Rings fits the usual profile. The text is precise and direct, almost to the point of bluntness. There’s not a lot of flab here, to the extent that it is a rather short novel, filled out a little with an introduction by Conn Iggulden and an afterword by someone who knew David (and one of the creators of the David Gemmell Legend Award), Stan Nicholls.

With that in mind then, don’t go expecting Druss and his ilk here. Instead this is a more contemporary perspective of London, albeit a dated London of the 1980’s /90’s, dealing with issues of racism, sexism and homophobia. The book is clearly based on David’s own life as a journalist (write about what you know!) when he worked in South London before moving to Hastings.

It’s rather like watching an old TV police programme, something like Life on Mars, quite watchable (or in this case readable) but rather out of step with what we would see today. (Mentions of old cars like the Ford Mondeo and a lack of the Internet and mobile phones are a definite giveaway, for example.) There has been no attempt to modernise the story, which I think is a good idea, but it does make the novel feel a little out of sync with modern police procedurals.

But here’s the bottom line. Ignoring that it is dated (for acceptable reasons), and that it’s written by David Gemmell, does it work as a crime novel? Of that, I’m not so sure. It is quite violent, yet not as violent as some contemporary reads. There is an undertone of violence and menace that works today perhaps as much as it did in the 1980’s, but to me in the end as a crime novel it seems rather unsophisticated for contemporary tastes. I pretty much got who was the killer straight away once his/her name was given.

On the positive side, the point that it is a crime novel means that, in most cases, you can pretty much recognise what characters we’ve got – the kindly elderly character with a certain steel to their mettle, the well-meaning yet stressed police officers doing a difficult job in difficult circumstances – besides Jem, there’s not a lot of time spent developing detailed character outlines. Usually their actions and motivations are clear and what happens to them and because of them not too unrealistic.

Weirdly it is aspects of the lead character I’m unhappy with, which is a surprise considering that characterisation is something usually seen as a Gemmell strength. However, Jem is a character who at times I found to be actually quite unpleasant, although I accept that this may be deliberate. Strangely, by comparison, some of the characters around Jem, such as Ethel, her loyal neighbour Mr Sutcliffe, the policemen on the case and Jem’s workmates I liked as characters much more.

My concern was that, worryingly, I rather got the impression that many of the rants Jem spouts and the attitude he presents were lectures to the reader, rather than something to propel the character or the plot. They gave the impression that this was less of a character trait and more of a chance to allow the author to express beliefs that were unnecessary. Surprisingly, such asides felt rather clumsy or worse, didactic diatribes rather than something of benefit to the book. It felt forced or, at best, inappropriate.

That is a big issue. It must be said however that such lapses are not entirely throughout. Jem redeems himself to become a better person and set things right at the end of the book. This tempered my reaction a little, though it could be said that such actions are nothing new – it was often the essence of a Gemmell fantasy novel, for example.

This does sound rather negative. However, it must be said that despite my issues I kept reading. At the core of Rhyming Rings there is a readable, if short, novel, By the end the strength of the prose is such that, even with my other reservations, you want to know how the plot ends, although I personally found the end rather troubling.

I applaud the attempt to try something new, though, even if it isn’t entirely successful for me. Unusually for David’s work, there’s a supernatural aspect to Rhyming Rings which may mean that the novel will appeal to readers of that sub-genre. (See also lovers of TV series such as Afterlife, The Dead Zone, and The Ghost Whisperer.) Again, though, don’t go expecting full-on horror stories, though – it’s not what David was about.

In summary, Rhyming Rings is an interesting but not totally successful attempt to try something different from a talented author. Despite my own issues, based on this, it is quite possible to see that, given time, David could have ended up with an author’s alternative career. (It has happened to others – see also Christopher Fowler and Stephen King, for example.) But Rhyming Rings isn’t quite there, for me at least. Worth a look, but not for everyone.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been working my way through the books of David Gemmell now for a while ever since a friend kept on getting me to read the Jon Shannow series so you can imagine my surprise when I came across this book I believe that was published over a decade after his death - not only that but which was actually a crime thriller rather than his signature genre of high fantasy.

Well I was not disappointed I can tell you- the story teller had deftly turned his hand to a different genre but within pages made it his own (it is interesting to read the afterwards that suggested that had David lived he could have made just as much a name for himself writing crime as fantasy - which after reading this book I totally agree).

True his style and even the setting on this book is not for everyone but I thoroughly enjoyed it and am disappointed that he did not write more (at least that I know of) but I am glad that this book saw the light of day.

So if you want a fun and fast paced crime thriller with an interesting setting and intriguing characters (there is so much potential for more stories alas) then you could do a lot worse than read this book

[Jason Waltz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, great climax with a fistful of stellar characters. Sparse yet emotional storytelling that delivers mystery, hope, and a well-drawn character arc of our hero. The book closes with a spectacular and loving salute from Stan Nicholls.

[Ed McDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a major Gemmell fan and was excited to read this last hurrah from the great man. I was a little nervous about it however, since this is a book published long after its time, and I think that a reader can see that clearly.

The good: Gemmell's easy prose style, the warmth of the relationship between two characters (one of whom you can read as a proto-Druss), and the pacing were good. This is not a long book, and it doesn't need to be. There's touching emotional payoffs, there are heroes and villains. The characters are mostly well realised and painted with Gemmell's usual clarity.

The less good: Rhyming Rings read to me very much like a first novel. It was confused in some respects; I didn't feel that the overall plot was as tightly structured as a thriller needs to be. I am not a fan of blending first person narration with third person narration either and would rather have seen the whole book from first, or third. The main character seems rather autobiographical, but it was hard to really support him because he's basically a dick (although I don't think that in any way he reflects Gemmell in that). A dick trying to do better, maybe, but still a dick. I also struggled with the supernatural element simply because everyone accepts it so readily, and I found that jarring. Also, there's a random scene of sexual content that left me thinking, "really?" It's not gross or anything, just oddly placed.

There are some further interesting points to note. With hindsight, it's so clear that this book precedes Legend and the other great works Gemmell put out. There's effectively a siege, there's heroic dying, there's the unstoppable warrior. All of that felt like a warm cuddle from an old friend. But there's also the fact that it was written in the late 1980s and reading this was like being immersed into a time gone by. I live in London, and the London he describes isn't one that's familiar to me now. That, I enjoyed, even if some of the terms of prejudice used throughout the book might shock someone who didn't grow up with them.

I'm glad that I read it.

[Simon Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had many and mixed emotions with this book, firstly a never before published book by the late and oh so great David Gemmell. ....wow, elation rules! Then finding out that not only is it not fantasy but a crime novel with the hint of the supernatural. ....elation wanes......but I was never going to not read it, it is Gemmell after all.
Slightly more than a touch autobiographical this story follows Jeremy a reporter for a small local newspaper. ....stuck doing fluff pieces rather than following the story of a serial killer Jeremy is most put out....not realising that his own attitude is holding him back. But the interview of an elderly psychic brings Jeremy uncomfortably close to the world of old African warriors, the police and serial killers!
As a crime drama this is fairly run of the mill stuff, not the best but by far from the worse, set in the 80's West London.....this is a time sprawling almost monolithic concrete housing estates trapping the good and the bad, a time of homophobia and rampant racism and Gemmell does well to tap into the simmering violence of the time, this has a real expectation of a pressure cooker about to blow. By far the best of the book is what Gemmell has always done which is write characters that literally leap of the page and in turns could be living next door or grab you by the throat. ....The wonderfully realised Mr. Sutcliffe and the paraplegic teenager Dawn Green to name but two! If at first like me you find yourself disliking Jeremy.....just keep reading....

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Incredibly pedestrian thriller comprised of laughably predictable twists, amateur writing and characterisation which is at best flat and uninspiring and at worst is downright bizarre.

The protagonist is a young journalist who by his own admission is universally disliked and puts it down to people not understanding him. Let me also add that in the first few chapters he joins some colleagues for drinks and when a female colleague makes a sarcastic comment about his presence there, he responds by throwing a drink in her face!? That's not anti-hero behaviour, that's fucking sociopathic.

Said colleague ends up in a relationship with him later on the novel. AS IF.

The whole thing is just a disappointment from start to finish. As mentioned, the character development is non-existent and the setting is never fully explored (which is a shame because the murders are set against a backdrop of civil unrest between the police and an impoverished black community in London - great potential mileage but was not given the airtime it deserved early on and so when it finally boils over it completely jars the narrative).

Also the police work is an absolute joke. I mean I know that the whole point of a thriller is that the killer has to be known to the reader, but seriously the links that were overlooked by the detectives had me full on LOLing whilst reading the last few chapters. We get to see the lead detective's internal monologue as he curses himself for not seeing everything sooner. Yeah mate, I think you should actually be sacked for incompetence to be honest.

AVOID.

[Arjun Iyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blurb: From beyond the grave, Gemmell entertains.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I must say that my rating and review are heavily biased. David Gemmell and his characters are what cemented my imagination in the Fantasy-Fiction genre. The Drenai series single-handedly gifted me with some of the greatest moments and avenues of escape from reality, so suffice it to say that reading a new Gemmell novel after almost 5-6yrs was a big deal for me. Therefore, my review will be heavy on praise and light on criticism.

Rhyming Rings rings true in several ways. Written in Gemmell's unmistakable style which blends descriptions and emotions beautifully. A novelty was the use of both First person and Third person narrative, and while I didn't think that anyone but Rothfuss could pull off the seamless transition, I must echo the words of his friend Stan Nicholls who wrote in the afterword, "It works."

In terms of the story Gemmell does an excellent job of painting an accurate image of the late 80's. The police-procedures, the fashion trends, the racial/communal tensions, everything serves to mold the characters and their perceptions of what happens in the story. The best thing by far is that Gemmell did not sacrifice his penchant for the fantastical in favor of an all-out Murder/Mystery story. There are elements of fantasy and nods to more than a few of his own characters (like Druss) and that makes this book an all the more engrossing experience for a David Gemmell fan.

One could criticize the fact that the final revelation isn't a very complex one. Many might crack the plot in less than half the book, but in my opinion those who appreciate a good story and excellent story-telling will be far to pre-occupied with the characters to actually care about figuring out the whodunit element of the book.

Is it an eloquent book? No. Is it a deep book? No. Is it a book that could win a Dagger from the CWA or perhaps the Agatha Christie award? No. It's simply a book that focuses on the most basic (and in my opinion the most overlooked) aspect of what makes reading worthwhile for any bibliophile, and that is a sense of enjoyment, and as he has done with Druss' axe, Waylander's crossbow and Skillgannon's swords, Gemmell provides an entertaining experience through the cynical mind and sharp nib of Jeremy Miller.

[Bernard · Rating 3 out of 5]

At least 3.5 stars.

An enjoyable read, I don't know when it was written (though set in 1987) or why it wasn't published during the author's lifetime, but it was it was found among the author's papers, and finally published in 2017.

I wasn't familiar with the author's popular books, fantasy not really my genre. But this book is a gritty crime tale set in a troubled London, and the first-person narrator is a journalist, Jeremy Miller, who may have been (partly) based on the author himself(?). The author, from what I've read, started his writing in journalism, and this book may be a partly autobiographical account of his reporting days as well a fictional tale of a serial killer.

Jeremy is a young reporter working for the Herald paper. He is not totally likeable, has few people skills, and not popular with staff. He is usually regulated to the paper's minor stories, feel-good stories, not the major scoops that out there. One day he is sent out to report on an old lady psychic, named Ethel. Expecting nothing to come out of it other than fluff piece, he finds that - over time - Ethel's psychic findings are to become very useful and handy to the local police. They are on the hunt for a serial killer that has been murdering and mutilating recently divorced women. Do these victims have anything in common with each another?

Other characters include a member of the police force, Inspector Fletcher and Ethel's intriguing neighbor, Mr. Sutcliffe. As the book progresses Jeremy shows signs of self-improvement as a person, and becomes more directly involved in the pursuit of finding who this killer is and help police put him away for good. I made a few guesses on who the killer must be, but my assumptions were wrong, which isn't a bad thing.

Sometimes the dialogue could get a bit repetitive, I don't know how many times the inspector would ask "Mind if I smoke"? This was the 80s though, when smoking inside wasn't the serious crime it is today.

While I'm not sure why the book was left unpublished for years - whether the author was unhappy with it, or if it faced a publisher's rejection - I'm glad it was made available for the public to read.
I enjoyed reading it, but I probably won't be checking out Gemmell's other books as fantasy tales are not really my thing.

[Erik Martenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flawed Masterpiece

RR is a gritty crime novel, set to London during turbulent times. It was never released, at least not until after the author’s death. While still flawed, it’s tons better than White Knight/Black Swan. I would like to give the story an 8/10 score, or four stars, but unfortunately the Kindle version is so poorly formatted that I have to deduct one more star, leaving it at three, or 7/10. it has obviously not been proofread before being published.

The indentations are too short, and random words are split in two all through the book. Some examples: bitter ness, re porter’s room, adren aline, furni ture, ac cent, and so on. Also on page 152 there’s «Have many friends did she have?» That should be «How many …»

In addition to this there are factual errors and bad calls that only the writer can be blamed for, although a decent proofreader should’ve corrected the mistakes:

«Aids» should be «AIDS».
«earth» should be «Earth».
«Tracksuit» should be «track suit» as it was written in WKBS.
«Holland» should be «The Netherlands» because Holland is just a region within the country.

Clearly David Gemmell wasn’t familiar with guns and how they work. Handguns don’t fire shells, that is artillery. Handguns fire bullets. And once again he writes «machine guns» where «assault rifles» or «submachine guns» would be appropriate. Bullets don’t cause you to be «punched back several steps» or «catapulted back». That sort of thing only happens in really bad action movies.

And again with the jogging and the terrible dietary choices in the UK. It’s bad enough that everybody smoked, maybe that was so, but when he writes about people adding sugar and milk to coffee and tea, eating toasted bread before bedtime, drinking orange juice, eating bagels with jam … it’s no wonder that so many die from cancer in that land.

Well, everyone’s a critic, and I’ve done my share of mistakes, in life and in writing. As I said, the story is amazing. It’s the presentation that is flawed. I truly enjoyed the book, and in-between the lines I also could see David Gemmell as the reporter, formerly lorry (truck) driver, bouncer, etc. He wrote himself into the story, and not in a bad way like a certain horror writer.

[Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here's an unusual one: a rare foray into non-fantasy writing for bestselling author David Gemmell, his only such effort alongside WHITE KNIGHT, BLACK SWAN. This previously unreleased work lay in a drawer in manuscript form for some thirty years only to be released long after Gemmell's untimely death. It's quite obviously going to be a flawed work - there were good reasons that Gemmell chose not to submit it, after all - but nonetheless fans of the author will want to encounter it anyway.

Overall, the story is something of a mixed bag, but there's plenty of interest generated along the way. The story is semi-autobiographical at times, and the brash young reporter is quite obviously based on a youthful Gemmell himself. I liked him a lot, probably because of the flaws that make him all too human. The detective aspects of the tale are weaker and all over the place, throwing in psychics and police procedural elements but failing to make much stick. The decision to swap between first and third person perspectives doesn't really work either.

However, RHYMING RINGS is so much more than that. The background of simmering violence and rioting is perfectly portrayed, adding a real tension to the story. The supporting character of Mr Sutcliffe is an excellently written one, straight out of the pages of one of Gemmell's fantasy epics; any fan of Druss will instantly recognise him and he makes the book come alive. Despite the flaws, RHYMING RINGS will still doubtless be unputdownable for Gemmell fans still mourning the early death of their favourite writer.

[Anthony Lavisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

My apprehension mirrored my excitement at the prospect of reading a 'new' Gemmell, to experience that feeling all over again, when I had never expected to have that chance.

It took me one page to relax...

Despite being in a different genre, this early work from David Gemmell is, in its own right, a thrilling read, despite being shelved elsewhere in a store or library. From the outset, his wonderful style and taught prose sweeps you along, as does the journey of his characters.

This is a wonderful read from a writer who, whilst he will always be remembered for his Heroic Fantasy, could well have been up there amongst the best in the Thriller genre, had he taken a different path.

David Gemmell's fantasy novels inspired me to become a writer, myself. The day I first read Knights of Dark Renown, unlockled my imagination like no author had ever done before. If you have not read his novels before, this is a wonderful read in it own right, a great introduction to his work.
Who knows what Rhyming Rings will unlock for you.

[RG · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr Gemmell was probably one of my favourite authors through my childhood. Every book was just amazing. This obviously was a written a little earlier and unpublished. Its a completely different genre of crime but mixed with a supernatural element. Great writing that flows off the page, solid setting but I just found it didnt really pack much punch. The 1st person/3rd person narratives just got a little confusing at times.

[Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars, because (in my humble opinion) Sir David Gemmell, was and will always be the best of the best for me, a Legend.

[Anindita, A Bohemian Mind at Work]

review pending

[Phil On The Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

For twenty years David Gemmell was a driving force in British Fantasy. His first novel Legend impressed me with his lead character and if anything with the thirty odd novels that followed it was ability to deliver character that drew me into his historic fantasy. Yet unknown to us all he had written a crime novel and now thanks to Gollancz it is seeing the light of day.
Jeremy a young and inept young reporter is struggling to find his way in journalism, as a series of horrific murders take place. We follow a group of well-drawn characters as they strive to resolve the crime. I found the return to the nineteen eighties quite striking in terms of attitudes. If anything this gave the book a good framework. As always it was Gemmell’s ability to spot aspects of humanity that stands out and I have always thought he shared this ability with Terry Pratchett. While Jeremy matures during the story, it is Mt Sutcliffe and Ethel who stand out as a strong supporting cast.
Not having read a Gemmell book in many years it was refreshing to return to his clear and precise prose. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and while it is not the greatest crime novel I do think it is a refreshing crossover for those who delve into crime or fantasy and wonder what the other looks like. Well done for Gollancz in taking a risk. I am sure it will prove worthwhile.

[Druss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Gemmell is so easy to read. I flew through it.Good story, well written. Hints at the biographical. I miss New Gemmell.

[Gareth Otton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have little to base this on beyond a gut feeling, but it wouldn't surprise me to learn that this novel was actually Gemmell's first finished attempt at writing.

Most successful writers will admit that they have one or more unpublished novels sitting in a drawer somewhere from before what the world recognises as the author's debut novel. Getting that practice novel out of the way is almost a right of passage to becoming a published author and I imagine most authors wouldn't be pleased to see those early novels published after their death when a loved one finds the manuscript in amongst their belongings (as was the case here).

Whether it's in the mixture of clashing tones, the protagonist who was a little all over the place, the autobiographical elements (as alluded to in the afterword), the awkward romance, or many more little elements that didn't quite gel; this just didn't seem like the work of the master storyteller who produced so many amazing books. It didn't even feel like a first draft in need of a polish. I think that this was a book the author wrote to get the idea out of his head, and then moved on.

The other day I finally read White Night, Black Swann, the other novel Mr Gemmell wrote using some of these characters and set in 1980s London. Though a far cry from his usual heroic fantasy, it felt like Gemmell at its core and it was a pleasure to read. I'm guessing that book was actually the author's second attempt at a contemporary novel (for when it was written) in which he borrowed the characters from this book.

It's all speculation though, and I may be way off the mark. Either way, this was the first novel I've ever read by the legendary author that was sub-par and if I'm honest, I could have done without reading it.

If you're a massive Gemmell who has read every one of his books time and again and just can't live with knowing there's one of his books out there that you haven't read yet (like myself), then I suppose pick this one up to scratch that itch. Otherwise, I'd suggest giving White Night, Black Swann a read, or better yet, go pick up Legend and start on a journey in which this author earned his status as the greatest writer of heroic fantasy bar none.

2.5 stars rounded up simply because it's David Gemmell and I'm biased as hell.

[Helen Leecy · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I think this may be the last recommendation I take from my husband as he isn’t racking up a very good reputation. This I’m afraid wasn’t very good. I’m not sure if I had such high expectations as Morgan has been on at me to read this for years now. Every time I’m umming and ahhing about wanting a really good book to read Morgan plucks this one out of his armoire, once again. The problem is he sold it to me as us seeing everything through the killer’s eyes. I do like to be a bit sadistic from time to time and read as if I’m the killer. This book doesn’t do that, though, there are only a few pages dedicated to that. He also compared it to Cara Hunter and John Marrs’ books. I think this was pushing it a bit. Now I’ve read it and didn’t enjoy it; he’s back peddling a little and declaring it’s been years since he read it and can’t remember it at all, so I’m completely bewildered as to why on earth I subjected myself to this!
Anyway, what was wrong with it!? Well, it was quite short, and it covered so much. It was supposed to be about a killer killing divorced women; however, for about 60% of the book, this was a secondary if not a quinary storyline! We were mainly following the life of the journalist, and after reading the afterward, this felt more like a tribute to David Gemmel’s life than anything as it seemed to be based on him. We had so many storylines going on there wasn’t enough space or time to really invest in any of them. Case in point, Dawn Green, we meet and lose her in the space of a few days.
Once the killings become the focus, I could understand how Jeremy comes to the conclusions that he does, but not how the police do. The police, however, have decided to occupy themselves with something else entirely, which came out of nowhere and completely sideswiped me.
I wasn’t expecting the psychic element, and if I’d known about it, I wouldn’t have picked up the book at all as I’m not a big fan of that in crime novels, although I did like Ethel’s and Sutcliffe’s characters.
The ending was ludicrous. Something that we had been told was a lost cause suddenly, by magic was turned around and had a happy ever after. I was left bewildered and cheated over a lost couple of hours reading this nonsense, thanks, Morgan!

Thanks for reading! If you want to see more of my reviews visit www.pinkanddizzy.com

[Ije the Devourer of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish we could have known what was in the memento box that Sutcliffe gave Ethel.

This was excellent. Obviously it would be because it was written by David Gemmell. I am a David Gemmell fan. I was sad to learn about his passing in 2006 and intrigued to find that some of his work was being published posthumously. My intrigue became curiosity when I realised that this story is actually a thriller/murder mystery.

My curiosity is now satisfied. This story is brilliant! The story is set in the eighties amid the racial tensions of London and non-existent community relationships with police. It is a time of 'political incorrectness', community divisions and dividing lines. Into this tension appears the seemingly random murders of a number of women who were married in 1975.

Jeremy Miller a young arrogant journalist is drawn into the murders when he interviews a psychic who says she can help solve the crimes. Ethel can see things by touching objects and the police though initially sceptical, realise that she may indeed be able to help them. What Ethel doesn't realise is that this will eventually put her into the path of the murderer.

Jeremy realises that this is exactly the kind of story he wants to report and as he gets to know Ethel (and her friend the mysterious Mr Sutcliffe) he gets to learn a bit more about himself and the work colleagues who usually shun him, but he doesn't know that this new friendship with Ethel may end up costing him dearly.

This book is 264 pages of reading bliss. I loved the way the story whisked me back to London of the eighties and the back drop of community tension provides a dark and gritty backdrop for a puzzling thriller.

The characters are brilliant and so well developed they could step off the pages into real life. The mystery was both so simple and yet very complex reaching deep into the darkness that can exist with the human mind. Together with the frisson of mysticism this book is superb and a good reminder that I still have a few David Gemmell books to catch up on.

Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd never read anything by David Gemmell before my husband passed this along, but he was familiar with Gemmell's body of fantasy novels, found this posthumously published murder mystery in a local bookstore and was intrigued.

As I understand it, this one is a bit different than most of Gemmell's work. First of course, it's not fantasy. And second, according to the introduction, the main character is a semi-autobiographical version of the author himself, whose day job was as a journalist.

Rhyming Rings is a kind of coming-of-age novel/murder mystery/thriller mashup. The hero, a lonely, socially awkward junior reporter at a local London paper imagines himself to be a star reporter, but though he's actually talented, he manages to step on everyone's toes in pursuit of good stories, management recognition and internal accolades.

His ham fisted behavior gets him third rate assignments, criticism from management and ostracism from colleagues. However a series of events push him into the limelight and slowly he's forced to change his ways. One good outcome leads to another and our hero is ultimately redeemed, even as he finds himself in the thick of a series of murders.

It's all rather sweet really, though I did feel the ending--which wasn't quite as tightly plotted as the rest of the book--was telegraphed a bit. In all fairness I'd probably rate this an enjoyable 3.75.

[Tim Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really glad to win this Goodreads giveaway, and I was not disappointed. Having read some of Gemmell's fantasy books I wondered what he could do with crime fiction - quite a lot it seems.
The book has a strong plot, the murder mystery aspect is well handled - it has, as you might expect from Gemmell well developed characters. The 'historical' aspect of it adds to the charm in many ways, the lack of mobile phones means a lack of desperate plot devices to eliminate their usefulness for example. If I didn't know it was Gemmell I'd have read it, enjoyed it and rated it (possibly a 4 in it's own right). If you like crime fiction - you will like this book.
The real bonus here is the insight into Gemmel's early writing - an early version of his flagging warrior looking for one last battle is beautifully realized here. There is an autobiographical edge at times - the journalist hero is writing a fantasy novel for example, and gets in trouble with his editor at times - both true of Gemmell himself. It's a hidden gem brought to the light of day - I feel very lucky to have had a chance to read it.

[Marcos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until recently, I wasn't into crime/thriller/police novels. This was because back in high school there only seemed to exist books about divorced detectives persecuting rapists, and I grew tired of the genre.

However, a few weeks ago I read Faceless Killers and finally made peace with the genre again (that book is a blast, 100% recommendable). So, when I discovered that D.Gemmell had written a book about a serial killer, I had to give it a try.

Oh my God, what a surprise! Well, not really, as I had previously read books by Gemmell and had fallen in love with the author. Rhyming Rings is really well written and has a historical background. Furthermore, portraits 'grey characters' (characters that are neither godly good/white nor viciously black/bad, but a blend of benign and malign traits, that is, grey), as happens in other books by Gemmell.

Summing up, if you like crime books or the style of David Gemmell, you should read this one (even if you don't really like those things, give it a try and you'll hopefully be gratefully surprised!).

[Laura Newsholme · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book a delight to read. It tells the tale of Jem, a cynical young journalist as he investigates a spate of murders with the help of a psychic. The story is set in 1987 and it perfectly sums up the time. There is casual racism and homophobia on display frequently, which is distasteful but unfortunately accurate. The prose is concise and efficient and the plot moves at a great pace. This is not at the expense of character, however, I must confess that Jem, despite his questionable political views, is a wonderfully appealing character. He is socially awkward, which manifests as extreme arrogance and Gemmell has him absolutely pitch perfect. Much of the story is told from Jem's perspective and there is a touch of 'American Psycho' in his tone, in that he narrates trivialities with depth and a wry wit. The plot is a little predictable, but this did not defer my pleasure in the story and I think it's a shame that this book was never published in Gemmell's lifetime. A really fun read.

[Sharnelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book quickly but I can’t say I loved it.

It’s easy to read in terms of language. Nothing tricky. No need to run for the dictionary but the story line is confusing.

Without warning paragraphs switch to completely different scenes. I’m used to jumping between scenes and characters and it’s made very clear either by it happening at the start of a new chapter or perhaps an asterisk to silently signal - end scene- but this book doesn’t do that.

I also liked the psychic character of Ethel and I know that’s believable, we’ve all seen the real life detectives who use
Mediums in their work, but her neighbour who seems to be some kind of giant with a freaky sixth sense just kept reminding me of the main character out of the green mile. It didn’t fit and felt jarring.

There were also chapters I read with side stories that I felt didn’t need to be part of book. I found myself glazing over.

It does however have a nice ending that makes you think - hmmm ok maybe it wasn’t that bad.

[Ken Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a five star book that ends up with four stars because of a Kindle edition that sucks in terms of layout and proofreading. There are loads of words that are cut in two, like “un necessary” and “in credible”. I have no recollection of this being the case in the hardcover edition that I read back in 2017.

Anyway, this is a much better book than White Knight / Black Swan. Gemmell certainly mastered the crime genre. Rhyming Rings was probably not released because of the commercial failure of its predecessor.

This is part autobiography, part fiction. Rather, Gemmell bases this novel loosely around his own life. Gemmell fans will notice.

We follow a male reporter writing for a small newspaper, plus some other characters, chief among them an old psychic lady and a giant of a black man bestowed with the gift of seeing things. They assist the police in their hunt for a serial killer that is known as Deathmask.

This is a well-written story with compelling characters, just like in Gemmell’s fantasy novels. A truly enjoyable read, warts and all.

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

David Gemmells books made me fall in love with reading in my 30's, so I have fond memories of all his work and I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that this had just been published after being an 'attic find' long after his death over 10 years ago (where does time go..).

This is a crime thriller set in the real world (albeit the 1980's) with a supernatural element and is not the type of book that really appeals to me or that I would typically read. However, I felt I had to give it a go.

It was okay, and some of the characterisation worked well enough, but it felt like it must have been written very early in his career. It felt, for want of a better word a bit 'clunky' and obvious in places.
It was quite a quick read, and tbh I am glad it wasn't any longer; at times I found the flipping between 1st person/3rd person narratives distracting.

So, I wouldn't really recommend this unless you were a Gemmell fan and wanted to check out something different from him.