Ragg

by Daniel Beazley

Journalist Samuel Finch likes a good story almost as much as he loves his whiskey, and the papers pay him well for them. He thinks he’s heard it all over the years, but nothing can prepare him for what he discovers within the foreboding walls of St Luke’s asylum, where he meets the enigmatic Mr Ragg. As a sinister and unlikely bond develops between them, and tales of murderous deeds emerge, Samuel is forced to struggle with conflicting feelings of loyalty and loathing as a heavy burden is laid on his shoulders.

In the dark streets of London murder is a profitable tale but how much can the conscience take before cracking and dragging you into the terrible depths of despair left in its wake? Will good ever truly triumph and flourish or have the roots of evil spread so deep that it's now an inherent part of us all?

68 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 12, 2017

About the author

Daniel Beazley was born and raised in the South West of England. Growing up he became captivated and drawn into the World of fantasy courtesy of the writings of Tolkien, Feist, Gemmell, Lewis, Livingstone and Dever. These together with films like Conan, Red Sonja, The Dark Crystal, Willow and Krull, truly inspired him to want to join the creative journey that is fantasy.

He began writing in 1996 whilst spending some time in the sunny climes of Sicily. This continued periodically whilst working in the Army and then the Police; living in various parts of the country as well as overseas.

In 2012, after winning a short story competition for the Fantasy Faction Anthology about an orc and goblin he decided that there were more adventures that needed to be told. Six months later the first book of the Trivial Trials series, ‘Goblins Know Best’, was complete and ready for publishing.

Daniel now lives with his family in the rural countryside of Devon.

Reviews

[Stephanie Dagg]

Daniel Beazley is a favourite author of mine. He’s so versatile, you never know what he will come up with next! He’s written science fiction fantasy very successfully (Goblins Know Best and Sepherene: The Complete Chronicles), and in this book, Ragg, he turns his hand to a period thriller.
The scene is mid-nineteenth-century London. Samuel Finch is a down-at-heel journalist with too great a liking for whiskey to ever be really successful. However, he stumbles across a truly sensational story within the walls of St Luke’s hospital for lunatics. One of the inmates, accused of several murders, has more secrets to share. These are passed on to Samuel by the enigmatic Tobias Ragg, an orderly at the hospital, who gradually becomes a friend. But as Samuel soon discovers, there is more to Tobias than meets the eye, and this will leave a lasting legacy.
The author portrays Victorian London in wonderful, atmospheric detail, and presents us with some superb characters. All are rounded and charismatic, and make for interesting company in this punchy, original novella. There is menace and intrigue, also touches of wit and humour, and you don’t see the ending coming at all. ‘Ragg’ is entertaining and well written, and thoroughly enjoyable.

[Tracey Norman]

I really enjoyed this dark and atmospheric novella. The protagonist, journalist Samuel Finch, has his flaws, but they are nothing compared to the evil he encounters within the walls of St Luke's Asylum. Chasing a newsworthy story to keep the dogs from his door and liquor in his belly, Finch heads to the asylum full of optimism, for the story he has been promised is guaranteed to sell. Yet events take an unexpected turn and plunge Finch into a situation over which he has little control, forcing him to examine and question his morals and motives, as well as the nature of evil.

Would definitely read more by this author!